Francis got me confused.... The first 5 minutes of Houston-Memphis game. YaoMing played two very good pickNroll with Francis and sneaked into the paint, with no defender. But Francis didn't pass the ball. I thought 'Francis can't pass, or maybe he doesn't like to pass' Later 1st quarter, Cato checked in and also played a pickNroll with Francis, this time Francis threw the ball to him for an alley-op. I thought 'Francis can pass, and he may like to pass, but he doesn't like YaoMing' The 3rd quarter, YaoMing fell down in the paint, when no Rockets player near him. Francis was the only one trying to get him up. And he ran to Yao so fast like Yao's going to sink into a swamp. I thought 'Francis can pass, he may like to pass and he likes Yao, but he doesn't like to pass to Yao.' Several mins later Francis threw another alley-op to Cat..... I started to see the truth - 'Francis would only pass inside for an alley-op.' But.... it didn't make that much sense...... When I was pondering... Yao kept playing good pickNroll and got no ball...
His point is valid...Francis will make the Fancy pass to Cato for the Alley oop jam, but will not take the easy pass to Ming for the bunny under the rim. Francis has something against Ming, I think he knows the time is coming when the offense will be taken out of his hands, and he is VERY resistent to that. I think Francis does not see Cato as a threat to his status, but he DOES see Ming as a threat. Just my .02. DD
Seriously, Yao is clearly not going to catch some of the alley oop passes that Cato can. But Steve does need to pass on the pick and roll to Yao going to the basket.
i think he i jealous of all the attention that Yao is getting, Sports Center showed us that this morning. we miss at least 10 - 14 points every game, and instead of the points we get turnovers.
Who was the third shooter on the grass knoll. Playing those records backwards does give messages from the Devil. Bush just wants the oil, so did his dad, and he allowed 9-11 for popularity and justification for war on Iraq. What other conspiracies do you believe?
Jealousy doens't seem like the problem to me. The two have been very friendly, with Steve going out of his way to make Yao feel welcome, at least when the game isn't on. I think there is something to the fact that Yao's strength isn't the allyoop. So Francis may not throw him that pass, but that doesn't explain why Steve doesn't pass to him other times. It is confusing.
iOrange: uSee, Yao Ming doesn't play to an electric mandolin whereas Steve plays only to amp city. Yao is a rock and Steve is a roll. One day Yao will pick up his Old World mandolin and smash it Jimi Hendrix style, and Steve will learn that Rock and Roll were made for each other. Until then, they march to the beat of different drummers.
I'm not saying jealous of him his person, just the fact that he could be given more credit for the Rockets success than Steve. Steve wants to be an icon for the nba, and i don't think he has realized that if he was going to be an icon they would have made him one. Steve is in that second tier of all-starts (if he weren't he would have been one of the first invited to play for USA). Countless analysts have said that if this team is to succeed its through Yao not Steve. And to me Steve doesn't want to accept this. The result is erratic play at the end of most games by Steve, when it is easier to play through Yao.
Since actions speak louder then words, and EVERY SINGLE game that has the other teams announcers comments on Steve FREEZING out Yao, or the team ignoring him at crucial points. I seem to believe that Steve consiously or subconsiously is jealous of Yao, and at times in the games, especially crucial times, he ignores him. Until Yao becomes the focus of the offense, this team will flounder in mediocrity. Look at last night for example...every time Memphis needed a score they went in down low....we settled for Jumpshots...any wonder why they came back and almost won? Big people beat little people. Inside is better then outside. DD
How much did they lose by last night? Seriously, Yao not being the focal point of the offense is a Rudy T concious decision. He hasn't had enough practice with the offense. When Steve is a player coach, we can start blaming him for Yao not being the focal point, until then, everyone needs to relax and let Yao develop. He is a rookie from another country who has not had a rest in over a year. CHILL OUT.
Pgabrial, They won last night against a lousy team because of a 12 foot straight on bank shot when Steve, AGAIN, left his feet and had to shoot a terrible shot. Luckily it went in..... Truth is though, that the game should not have been that close. Also...wonderboy Francis, got caught peeking again, and JWill tossed one off his rump for an easy 3. DD
Wonderboy also scored 40 against the Lakers and had 11 assist. They have also beaten Sacramento and the Pacers this year. Two of the best teams. So he got beat on a High School play. They Won, Yao isn't ready to be the focal point.
Seriously, all NBA coaches have known the Steve-no-pass-to-Yao problem. Look at the bulls game, who was guarding Yao at the 4th quater? Blount? who's this guy? Marshall? 6'9"? Cartwright kept Marshall at court for his offense ability and ingored the height disadvantage against Yao, because he knew that Francis and Mobley were going to take the shots anyway. Last night, apprently Hubie Brown didn't intend to place Pau Gasol on Yao all the game. But he didn't even try that during last minutes. Because he knew the same thing Bill Cartwright knew. The ball was not going to be at Yao's hand. At that sense....Phil Jackon is a slow learner.... Why let Shaq guarding Yao at THAT game? Stupid...
pGabrial, Do you even read your posts....High School play? OK, so that is what it is...let's agree on that. So, our supposed PROFESSIONAL basketball leader got beat on a High School play. Does this imply that Steve has the mental makeup of a JR High player, since he obviously is not ready for the HIGH SCHOOL basketball IQ course. This is exactly his problem, he has gotten by on athleticism alone, and if he does not wise up, he will be done by 32. Any wonder why Stockton is still effetive at 40+, even more effective then Steve? Because smarts lasts a LOT longer then athleticism. DD
Rings....LOL...I would settle for playoffs right now. We are so far from even spelling the word Ring. DD
I kind of hope Stockton can be selected to the all star game and run a couple PnR with Yao to show Steve how that can be done (see how many open mid-range jumpers Malone made?). But if what DD said is true, then forget it. Shrimpie
