David Aldridge predicts Steve Francis for Ray Allen

Yeah...I know...we're dreaming....sigh....

 

You don't trade Ray Allen so you can start Flip Murray. Especially if Francis is going to be the other man in the backcourt. That would be the smallest, most-shooting, least-passing backcourt ever. Even moreso than Francis/Cat.

 

This is very sad, I never thought there would be times like this. I would never in my life trade Francis for Allen. Thats like trading Kobe for Grant Hill. Damn folks, we lose one game and we should trade someone, c'mon now this is horrible. If they trade Steve I bet, this board will fall just as the Rockets.Dont get me wrong, Ray Allen is a good player, but for 35 games a season. Be smart, and be careful what yall wish for.

 

That would be their problem. Hopefully, they would just be really excited about the prospect of getting a starting all-star PG. Then after a few years they would realize that you can't win with Francis running the show a the point.

I see Francis having a basketball career similar to Marbury's in the amount of times he will get traded.

 

Steve is your father, Rockbox. Search your feelings -- you know it to be true.

Join him and together you can rule the galaxy!

 

The stuff about Weatherspoon and Padgett not being a good enough backup tandem doesn't necessarily fly with me. You have to remember it's all about chemistry. The Rockets won their second championship with the likes of Chucky Brown, Pete Chilcutt and Charles Jones. If they can do it, I think Padgett and Weatherspoon can as well, assuming they know their roles.

Even moreso when you have a chance to get a Ray Allen. Those you don't think he alone is fair are smoking crack. This is a SG who, especially since being put on a team that required more passing of him, can average 5 assists a game, what our PG does anyway. Except, he also has scored more points per game the Steve's career high 6 times with a nearly 0.20% better FG% and a 0.50% better 3 point FG%. Plus, he's taller and plays better defensive. And he likely can run a fast break better then our PG's anyway. Plus the potential of getting a Ridnour or Daniels or etc. And to complain because he is all of a year and a half older than Steve. Please. Ray Allen is clearly the better player.

In the long-run, you'd probably have to get rid of Mobley for a pure PG, but aside from the initial set-back, I think a line-up of Allen, Mobley, Jackson, Cato, Yao with a bench of Mo, Ridnour/Daniels, Griffen and Weatherspoon as your main rotation should get you in the playoffs and get you moving in the right direction.

Sadly, if someone like DA has metioned it in public it is likely to never happen.

 

I agree it's all about chemistry, but Weatherspoon and Padgett won't cut it, period. The game is a lot different than it was 10 years ago, and plus they had a pretty good C named Hakeem. The fact is Yao isn't ready to carry this team, not yet atleast, and needs legit backup. The west requires depth and strength, and trading MoT w/o recieving another big man would strip the Rockets of any of these qualities.

 

The Spurs seem to get by every year with "no-name" players. Granted, those no-name players begin to become recognized figures...but the same can be said about Chucky years ago.

That said, yes, the Rockets would be a little depleted, but if you have to give up Mo to get Allen plus, I'd do it.

 

Replaying the segment right now on the deuce.


pure DA speculation

 

gucci888,

I understand your point about depth. But I hope you aren't suggesting that we don't make a move for Allen because "Weatherspoon and Padgett won't cut it" as backups.

Weatherspoon and Padgett are easy to replace. "Allens" are not. If we got the chance, I'd say grab it! The benefits outweigh the negatives.

 

Cool...watching now...

 

I think you could run with an Allen/Mobley backcourt, because Jim Jackson can play the role of point forward. We see it every game at times when Steve and Cat are both off the ball with Jackson initiating the offense. The only difference would be that Allen can shoot off of the catch while Francis would get the pass from Jackson and the offense would stagnate for his dribblefest. Think of the punishment we could give to teams doubling Yao with Allen, Mobley, Jackson, and Mo/Padgett around on the perimeter.

Another added benefit is that Mobes would be allowed to defend the other teams PG, so the dribble penetration should be at least reduced, and the tall SGs will have more trouble shooting over Allen.

The fewest games Allen has ever played in a season is 69 (not counting the lockout shortened season, when he played all 50 games). He is not injury prone, this is the first season he has missed more than 13 games. For comparison, the fewest games Francis has played in a season is 57.

 

I may be a little late into this "news". But why would any trade involving SF3 not involve Cat too? I mean, Cat plays because of SF3, right? Wouldn't want to leave a pissed off Cat in our team, would we.

 

Having lived in Oregon the last year, I've seen Ridnour--he could be a very good point guard: premium filler to say the least.

 

I think you move them seperately if you must move them both unless the deal is right, you don't want to feel forced into a trade cuz that's when you're gonna get burned. You move one and if the other pouts then they go to. I don't think Steve has absolutely played his way out of town quite yet(althou he has in most of our minds), I think he has the rest of the season and the playoffs to prove why he should be around but if we miss the playoffs again I would think he is most certainly gone

 

We have a very good C. He's not done getting better. And does anyone else think Padgett's fine as a new age Matt Bullard? Weatherspoon is just senile and on his last functional basketball legs. Like Willis a couple years ago. He's gone pretty soon when we find someone easily who is just as solid if not moreso.

The game IS a lot different today but the zone just makes it easier to get good shots for shooters like a Padgett or an Elie or an Eddie Johnson, Bullard, Chilly Pete, etc. Just wait for Yao and co (whoever that may be) to start executing the system and getting these shots easily. Then Padgets not looking so bad. Or anyone else on the team for that matter.

 

I think Cat will get over it if Steve is traded. He is buddies with Jim Jackson already, sharing a condo with him near the stadium. If we can somehow bring in Rasheed Wallace, that is one more buddy he would have around. Cat is a pro that lives for the game. He would probably complain if Steve was traded, but in a few games it would all be copacetic.

 

This is almost the same as Steve Francis.

 

atleast the rockets were .500 and were in a playoff seeding race in the western conference, and was not a joke time like the hawks for eternity.

 

Everyone needs to calm down

1. By the time YM reaches his prime (in about 4 more years), RA will be on the down side of his career. The Rockets need a side kick for YM that is in his approx age range.

2. The Rockets (and by that I mean YM) need a power forward much more than a shooting guard.

If the Rockets trade SF for anything other than a stud power forward, it's a huge mistake.

SF for EB = dynasty.

Raven