Making loud assertion does not make it true. If nothing else, Alston is clearly better than Francis in running a fast break. Hmm, I thought you just asserted that Francis had never been asked to played in a structured offense that's why we could not say that he couldn't do it? Make up your mind what you want to assert. Williams is a good passer. He is just out of control sometimes, making dumb decisions, kind of like Francis. BTW, you know the Kings improved significantly after they traded Williams for Bibby. Jackson is most like Francis among these three guys you mentioned. He was Adelman's "instant offense" off the bench. I do believe that Francis can be as effective as, if not more than, Jackson coming off the bench, IF he accepts this role. I didn't say he was bad in Orlando. And there are other factors of his decline. But it is a fact that his game was never the same after Rudy. Either way, even with his rock-bottom play, he was still a better player (in much, much worse offenses) than any PG currently on our team has ever been. [/QUOTE] Again, making assertion does not make it true.
The nice thing is, we can yak away about this all day but the proof will be in the pudding soon. I'm highly skeptical but I'll be rooting for him.
Wow. Wow and a half. I am speechless. Have we been watching the same team??? Rafer Alston is quite possibly the WORST point guard I have EVER seen at running a fast break. If McGrady wasn't running with him, and he didn't pass it off very early, it was like watching a train wreck. You have got to be kidding me. Alston is absolute garbage on the break (and everywhere else). His best play was pulling up for a 20-footer, bricking it, and leaving the chance for a trailer to get a put-back. Hahaha, clearly you missed my sarcasm... The offense he played with in Maryland was not "structured". Definitely not in the kind of way that required off-ball movement with screens and cuts, or a "pure" passing PG. If it was, then Francis has already shown that he can succeed brilliantly in that offense, now hasn't he? You are the one that needs to make up your mind... Yeah, I know they improved after that trade, but I don't think Bibby was even close to the main reason for that... That team made many improvements at the same time that helped them. If Bibby was that much of a boon, they wouldn't suck so much right now. And I somewhat agree about Jackson, but I think Francis can fill that role even as a starter. I would love to hear how it's not true...
Francis "rock-bottom" play: 05-06 10.8 ppg; 3.5 apg; 1.0 spg; 2.42 topg Alston "ever been": 04-05 14.2 ppg; 6.4 apg; 1.5 spg; 2.13 topg James "ever been" other than the one year on a "worthless team": 04-05 (with Houston) 12.4 ppg; 2.9 apg; 0.9 spg; 0.96 topg Again loud assertion doesn't make it true. Facts do.
Hahaha, you're very good at selective editing... ... You picked the 24 games out of a 70-game season where he was playing for NYK, and averaging 10-12 mpg less than he ever had before... And this whole "loud assertion" gimmick of yours is getting very tired. I don't think it's possible to make loud noises in ASCII. Here's another one for you: posting twisted stats doesn't make it true.
Per minute facts make thing more true. I don't need to run the numbers but James 04-05 Rockets per minute stats are going to blow away either Francis or Alston.
Just for the record (on Francis) go and look at his 'shot attempts per game' statistic compared to other points. It's not massive. I do think he's struggled with decision making, but I also think it's tough to make a case that Steve is poor in clutch situations. All I remember is him making lots of crucial baskets in games!
You are wrong. Alston was actually pretty good on the break. He's much, much better than Francis on the break. That's one of the great flaws in Francis' game. Always has been.
I did, but I want myself to look good. Btw, very surprised to see your username. That's my moniker on several other sites.
as Easy told you, making loud assertions even louder does not make it true. Alston is better at the fastbreak than Francis. And this won't be an argument soon, because we are fixing to see it live. So, don't bother responding to this now; just mark down this conversation and we shall see later. And I won't be the wrong poster is this regard. Count on it. haha. next
Yes... yes you will. We clearly weren't watching the same team last year. Alston is garbage on the fast break unless he manages to get ahead of the only defender down the floor. Francis can actually finish and score on his own on a break, even though he may not be much better of a passer in the open floor. And Sam, per-minute stats have their place, but they are one of the most overrated way of evaluating players that there is... If Mike James or Rafer Alston were worth those minutes, they would have gotten them on at least one winning team at some point in their career.... and they would have kept up the productivity. But they didn't, and they didn't. Honestly, I can't understand what it is that would make anyone think James is better. People criticize Francis for his ego. James' is probably 10X that size. People criticize Francis for needing to dominate the ball and shooting too much. James has had the same issues follow him. People criticize Francis for not being a great passer, and being a tweener guard. Ditto on James. I think they both can and will be productive, and both will have an adjustment period to a new role, but it is absolutely ridiculous to me to suggest that one of them is a "great fit" for this offense and the other one is an outcast. Especially when the "other one" is Francis.
I am not trying to enter the debate between mike james and francis... One thing I want to say though, in my opinion, Rockets' management is trying to "flatter" Alston's abilities to inflate his trading value.. It just business..
Yes, I think you clearly aren't watching the same team as the majority here on this board. Obviously you are watching some other guy named Alston in another league. To give you a taste of your own medicine, Rafer Alston is CLEARLY MUCH BETTER than Francis has EVER BEEN OR EVER WILL at running the fastbreak. Francis is garbage on the break unless he has a clear lane for him to dunk. Sorry I had to knock on Francis, but you get the drift.
I have no problem with your spirited defense of SF. But certainly you can see that MJ and SF bring different skillsets to the table on offense. MJ handles the ball better and is a MUCH better shooter. He also is better at moving without the ball. These are three reasons why MJ could be a better fit than SF. When it comes to dominating the ball, MJ doesn't belong in SF's class. During his stint here, how many times do you remember MJ running an iso from the top of the key while dribbling down the shot clock? A few, not many. How many times each and every game did SF do that? You could lose count. If you feel it's ridiculous to think MJ is a better fit, fine. A lot of people disagree with you. We'll all get a firsthand picture starting tomorrow night.
supermariobro, no one is saying james or francis is better INDIVIDUALLY than francis b/c most likely they're not. but we're talking about how his skills fit into this team-which is mainly tmac and yao. james is a bonafide shooter and can play w/o the ball. alston WANTS to give the ball to tmac and yao and looks to pass first. individually francis is most likely better, but from the past, he shows that he needs the ball to be effective (he needs to bring the ball up; he needs to break down the D, he basically wants the responsibilities of tracy mcgrady => be a playmaker.) until we see what francis can offer to THIS team, we're going by the past. we've seen james playing w/ tmac and yao and he fit great. that's all.
That doesnt sound bad for Rafer to start, but man I really don't know whats going to happen if SF3 doesn't fit into this system, I guess he will play 2 or something because he has an Ego no doubt about it, and I assume he wants to start. (MJ will have ego troubles coming off bench as well). Thats only problem with this years team, there are a lot of egos, I am not sure I want Adelman's job to deal with that...
wow you lost the little credibility you had right there. francis is quite possibly the worst PG at running a break, simply because he DOESNT pass it. when there is a 3 on 1, he'll take it in himself because he doesnt know when to pass. francis makes head look like jason kidd. rafer does VERY WELL at running the break. he knows when the defender commits and when to pass. i also cant believe you said bobby jackson was worse than steve francis. i gaurantee you adelman, morey, and many other unbiased and knowledgeable basketball fans would prefer the sac-town bobby jackson over francis. i doubt you've even seen bobby jackson play so i dont think youd know that.
