I do not mind seeing some bashing here because we are all a little bit disappointed right now. However, at least get your facts correct especially when you are arguing against the obvious. I personally think that a team with Cuttino running point and Dickerson at the 2 would be winning more ball games. Dickerson played with Mike Bibby and Abdur-Rahim and they won 22 games last years. Now, you let Dickerson play with Cuttino and Anderson and think they would win more than 34 games? Give me a break. We could barely win 15 games with such lineup. Walt is playing well, Cuttino is playing well, SA is playing well. Francis is the one who is playing like crap. I acknowlege that I would also like to see more improvements from him. But playing like crap? his 18 ppg, 6.5 apg and 5 rpg sounds very right to me. What is you definition of not being crap? What I mean to say, is that I PREFER a PG who distributes the ball FIRST, and scores 2nd. Stevie doesn't shoot very much. He attempted 14 shots per game last season, which is close to Kidd (12.5 shots) and Bibby (13 shots). I am sure Kidd and Bibby are you ideal passing first PGs. Heck, Brandon attempted more shots per game than Steve did. Steve did not shoot like GP (20 shots) or Marbury (18 shots). To me, he does not yet understand how to "WIN" the NBA game. Too often his teamates are standing around while he dribbles, and dribbles...well you get the point. To be fairness, pick up any NBA magazine and read player rating. Then you know how pathetic Francis's supporting cast is. Other than PG, we have no one rated high than 15th in any other positions. No one is able to take over tha game when Stevie is trapped by two or three players. I thought Mo could make difference, but he is really disappinting right now. ------------------
Peking Quack, Cuttino was running the point with Pippen and Barkley and was actually quit adept at playing that position. My whole point is that Francis is not progressing as a PG as fast as I would like. The others you compare him to, Kidd, Payton, Brandon...etc..etc...are all better then him at this point. I love Francis athletic ability, and his "Want" to win, I just do not like his game right now. Is it early, YOU BET !!! I hope I am wrong, I have been in the past. Also, how many of his points have come with Moochie running the PG and Francis at the 2? I think the numbers are a bit skewed, against Phoenix about 7-10 of his points came with him at the SG position, so I guess it is all a matter of perspective. DaDakota ------------------ If Mankind evolved from Monkeys and Apes, then why are there still Monkeys and apes?
Peking Duck, TURNOVERS. That's T-U-R-N-O-V-E-R-S. That's what a point guard ought to avoid, amongst dribbling pointlessly while other teammates have golden offensive opportunities. It's also a point guard's job to avoid the juggular and to play under control. Going one on three and then some isn't playing under control. In Francis' defense, it is his second year. I believe that he'll shore up his turnover problems, but a 3:1 assist/turnover ratio is and I believe will remain out of his reach for the season and his career. The league shouldn't have to ignore the fundamentals of basketball just so he can tear the league up. Francis DOES palm the ball. I just wish people (and Francis) would see what he needs to do to improve his game and to become a floor general. Nobody can say the guy sucks with a straight face. But I for one think that he needs some introverted reflection and a dose of pine if he keeps it up. I hate to say it, but Moochie is running the point better than Francis. DaDakota might have been anger ridden when he posted his assault, but he has a point: Francis ain't the Rockets' version of Jesus. ------------------ Vice-president of the Jason Collier Police
Ill give you Kidd and Payton. Brandon outscores Steve by 2 points, but he rebounds less and he has a worse Assist/TO ratio compared to Steve. Brandon is avg 7.3 assists and 4 TO's a game. Steve is averaging 6.5 assists and 3.3 TO's. So, even though Francis has sucked this year , he still holds up to Terrell. ------------------ "I know how hard it is to put food on your family." George W. Bush
Francis is the victim of his own ability. A lot of times when most people would be forced to pass, Francis does not because he has just PLAIN CRAZY handles and speed. When he is double teamed, instead of passing sometimes, he tries to go through or around the double team, and most of the time he is able to get past them. But the problem is that he either drives into nowhere and ends up jumping in the air and tryin to find someone to pass to. That's a lil too risky, and could easily be stopped if he just passes when the double team comes. Francis really needs to learn how to stop palming the ball... and that's gonna be really tough because he's been doin it alll his life. I think that if he just calms down, then he won't be called for carrying as much, because a good portion of the palming calls come from him doing one of his crazy unexpected moves. I thought Mo could make difference, but he is really disappinting right now. I actually think Mo's been pretty impressive. He hasn't been scoring that much because he still isnt accustomed to the offense. It'll take time. But from the times that I have seen him get the ball, he's looked really smooth. He's got a really good midrange shot, a bank shot that is just as good as Duncan's, good dribbling, and an overall good post game complete with fadeways and hook shots. Once he gets fully integrated, then he'll be ok. ------------------ president of the dan langhi fan club.
mobley played wit pippen which made it easier. Scottie brought it down and played point just as much as mobley or more. Steve is the third best player at his position right now. as a sophomore. He's doing excellently.
