It's known as the zone defense. Both SF & Mobley have been seriously affected by the playing of the zone. The difference is that Mobley, even though he's a very streaky shooter, can hit his jumpshots while SF's primary game is more like that of a 3 than a 1 with a lot of slashing into the lane and creating off the dribble. This is where I believe his problems this year lie. You will recall last year where SF would drive into the teeth of the zone time and time again, jump up and double-clutch the ball in an attempt to draw a foul. Often, this resulted in a turnover. This was his "goto move" but JVG put a stop to it this season and ever since then, SF's offense game has fallen into disarray. Among the starting PGs in the West, SF has to be the worse outside shooter and without a consistent outside game he simply disappears for long stretches of time. That's why he always looks so bad when playing against guards like Bibby or Nash, point guards who can really stroke it from the outside especially the 3-point line. Other teams know this about Francis so they play the zone and force him to make the adjustment. Most nights, he simply doesn't and ends up chasing himself and others, getting PO'd and winding up with a T. Far too often, the Rockets win in spite of SF's efforts and not because of them.
We were all wrong ... based on the first half of the Portland game, all Francis needed was a white headband.
DON'T DISS Charlie Ward!! He is probably the Greatest All-Around Athlete Ever in human history. (A) Football: One of the best college football players; 1993 Heisman Trophy winner. (B) Major League Baseball: Drafted by the New York Yankees in 1994. (C) Tennis: Beat John McEnroe in Arthur Ashe Challenge. (D) NBA: 10 times more playoff games played than all rockets combined, and (E) the first black Pope.
