http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2421062 Press row view The Rockets won, and Steve Francis had some moments. But in making just 2 of 11 shots -- he has made 14 of 53 in the past four games -- he has seemed lost offensively, at times even excluded from the offense. Francis has increasingly seemed to be used as a scorer only when the shot clock is running down and the Rockets need him to find a shot, no matter what kind of shot it is. Even when he gets open shots, he has seemed out of rhythm and off balance. As the trigger of the offense, he has become more consistent. But the Rockets seem to be sacrificing a player who had been an outstanding scorer. Francis seems more unsure of himself than ever, and little is being done in the offense to get him going.
Good article.. I think the Rockets will hit the next level when Steve and Yao can both score 20+ a game. Just too much firepower to not use.
SF3 is not a traditional PG and you can compare him with A.I on FG inconsistency. Unfortunately, A.I always have no trouble delivering his 20+ attempts when Franchise finds himself more and more difficult to take his shots from Y.M and Mobley and perimeters.
Due to legal zone defenses and Yao's presence clogging the lane, Francis cannot get to the basket. Without a zone, no one could guard Francis one-on-one. But now, pretty much half of his game is gone. Even Sean Elliot noted that Yao brings so much attention on offense, usually the PF and C, that there is no lane for Francis to drive. When Francis does drive, the bigs cheat over and allow those alley-oops to Cato that happen once or twice a game. Stevie is going to adjust to a role of less of an all-around scorer and more of a mid-range shooter. Hate to say it, but he needs to pattern his offense after Mike Bibby.
I think if the Rockets would design a few plays for Steve designed for him to drive or even take a couple of jumpers and run them a little more it might help to get his confidence back. I don't know what else to do about it. His shot is gone, and it's obvious he isn't as confident in the shots he takes now. He does do a lot of other things on the court when he's not scoring, but he isn't nearly as effective unless he's a real scoring threat.
GIVE STEVE THE BALL! No, just kidding. But it's interesting to see at least an implicit acknowledgement that the problem is no longer about Steve refusing to pass the ball inside. Now it's a matter of helping Steve find his offense, which I hope will happen soon. There has to be a happy medium here, somewhere.
Steve's style is pedictable... when to shoot, when and where to pass.. And last night, 4 seconds to end the quarter, he dribbled the ball with 3 defenders, and he still forced and unbalanced shot, while 2 others guys were open...
Two things. If he made his open shots nobody wold be talking. But he's not. He's missing. And second, he's not getting to the free throw line. Something all scorers find a way to do.
On the one had, you've gotta feel for Steve, who is clearly trying to adapt his game to an offense geared throug Yao, although it's not a consistent effort. In that his offensive struggles and subsequent loss of confidence are due to this effort, at least in part, you've gotta have some sympathy. On the other hand, if the guy can't defer to a 7'6 player with skills without losing his offense and his confidence, what exactly have we got here?
The exact thing has happened to Mobley but let's be real here, this has been going on for 2 years now. If SF was the great player the SOF maintain him to be, he would have/should have adjusted his style of play by now. Instead, his entire game is locked into a slow downward spiral. Trading him somewhere else won't resolve his problem because the zone is played everywhere in the NBA. I see this inability to adjust to the new rules and not the JVG structured offensive system as the primary reason behind his "decline".
YaoWink, an astute observation, and Hillboy, we think so much alike that you make my posts unnecessary. But, I will continue to post, anyway!
I wish, though Seattle probably would never do it especially since allen is playing so well lately. (40 points last night)
That's pretty easy to answer. The Lakers are the only team that guard Yao one on one. There aren't double and tripple teams clogging the lane. Yao also does well against the Lakers because he can't be contained by just one defender.
