You're exactly right. Steve (IMO) used to have tunnel vision. He has finally realized that there are other aspects of basketball than scoring. What I don't agree with is improving court vision. Remember Dream with all the double and triple teams. At first, the defenders knew where the ball was going if or when Dream passed the ball back out. It was usually the guy that gave him the entry pass. Later he also passed to the guy at the top of the key. During the championship years, he passed to the guy that was open. Dream evolved as a player. Steve will evolve also. Dream started believing in his teammates, the rest is history. I think from what I have seen of Steve for the past 20 or so games, STEVE HAS TURNED THE CORNER! The lower shooting % is a good thing!(well, you know what I mean) Proves he is thinking. I predict his a/to ratio will improve before his shooting %. When the shooting % improves, that's when we will know Steve has arrived!
Translation:- He was a Terrible Playmaker then and he is not quite as Terrible now! The Truth be know, Francis was a better Playmaker in the past when Rudy gave him full control of the Game. Now he isn't in control of the Game he realy doesnt care anymore. It has to be true because how can such a great player as Steve Francis was, become such a poor player, almost over night. Answer JVG and Yao Ming.
I don't need you to translate my post. He is improving! He doesn't care anymore? That's not fair and not needed!
To be fair, in the SEATTLE game, Steve got 7 assists on a night when the rest of the team shot 38.2%. You could argue that they shoot such a low percentage because Steve doesn't set them up properly. I think you have to look at team FG% and offensive scheme as factors though. 01-02 42.8%, 02-03 44%, and 03-04 43.6%. This team is full of create-off-the-dribble players (Mo, Cat), and dumping it into Yao doesn't create an assist either. And all the spot-up shooters (Pike, Boki) can't shoot. Hell, CATO is your best change for an assist! Look at other teams with dominant big men. HOU, Francis 5.9 APG. LAL, Payton 5.9 APG. IND, Tinsley 5.3 APG. SA, Parker 5.2 APG. Nash and Cassell have better numbers, but they also have a better supporting cast. If you want to be concerned about something with Steve, it's not his assists, it's his shooting, IMO.
Yes, I concur and his turnovers. I am not so worried about his assist numbers as I am about his inability to shoot and to run a decent fast break, but my biggest concern is that his defense is terrible...... DD
TB- By shooting, you mean his % or his shot selection? I believe he has improved his shot selection. His % has suffered because he is thinking rather than doing. That to me proves that Steve has changed. He has bought into the system, he has bought into his role, it is just a matter of time. JUST BE PATIENT. If we do not make the playoffs then I won't have a problem with trading Steve. If we make the playoffs, we need to find the right players to surround Yao and Steve.
Based on the play I've seen, I wouldn't say that Steve has improved his shot selection. I would say that about Cat this year. I've seen fast breaks where he refuses to pass the ball and takes a low-pct shot. I've seen off-balance shots (although he seems to make more of these ). But Steve is missing open 3's and that is something that doesn't require much thought. He's down to 27.6% from 35.4% last year.
It's the thought process. He is still looking for other players. I on the other hand believe that Cat has improved defensively but he still freezes Yao out quite frequently. But, Both have improved! I will give these Rockets until the end of this year. But, I would love to get a small forward in exchange for Mo this summer.
As opposed to bricking layups? Yeah, that boy just ain't right for some reason. I have no answer why he misses from everywhere lately. But hopefully he'll come around - ASAP.
