Miller's line against the mighty Hawks: 34 minutes, 3-13 fg, 0-3 3pt, 0-1 ft, 2 reb, 5 assists, 1 steal, 4 turnovers, 6 points Why is everybody lusting over this guy again? OK, so he had a rough night, but still
Nick Van Exel. He lives in Houston, is friends with Steve and practices at Westside. Career Averages Nick Van Exel 7.3 assists to 2.2 turnovers (3.3:1 ratio) Gary Payton 7.4 assists to 2.5 turnovers (2.9:1 ratio) Steve Nash 5.5 assists to 2.0 turnovers (2.8:1 ratio) Jason Kidd 9.3 assists to 3.4 turnovers (2.7:1 ratio) Stephon Marbury 8.2 assists to 3.3 turnovers (2.5:1 ratio) Steve Francis 6.4 assists to 3.7 turnovers (1.7:1 ratio) How about this offseason trade ? Mobley + Cato = Van Exel + Najera ROCKETS SF: Posey + Morris PF: Griffin + Najera C: Yao + Taylor PG: Van Exel + Norris SG: Francis + Hawkins MAVERICKS SF: Finley +Williams PF: Nowitzki + Cato C: LaFrentz +Bradley PG: Nash + Johnson SG: Mobley + Bell Yeah Mo isn't a true backup 5 but I can live that as long as he can score off the bench. Najera is the type of hard nosed player this team needs desperately. He can be Yao's enforcer.
Hehe, I hate to diss Stevie, but it's funny how noticable this has been. As an example, in all the basketball video games I've played since his rookie season, Francis is the fastest guy you'll be able to play with on offense, but he's about half that speed on defense. It's especially strange because it's easier to sprint when you don't have a ball to dribble with you as you run... Anyone who's played basketball knows this.
Can we trade Cat for Ginobili or Jaric ? Ginobili is 6'6", excellent passer and excellent defender. Jaric is 6'7", played PG in Europe, good defender. Rox can keep Steve at PG, and both Ginobili and Jaric would complement Steve very well.
how many of those are in the league? Charlotte had pretty good success last year with Davis and Wesley in the backcourt and both are shorter than Steve.
Ginobilli's passing is impressive, but the "excellent defense" is questionable. He gambles a lot on defense and gets in the passing lanes for steals. I haven't seen him enough to say, but "excellent defense" is Doug Christie, and is that what Gino does? hmmm. We'll see in the playoffs what his one-on-one defense is like against Kobe or Finley...or Wally for that matter. Hell, will he even guard them more than Bowen. Gino plays what we used to call "possum" defense, like a free safety who is looking at the eyes of the passer, and pretends to be asleep, then steps in for the steal of the pass. He's got quick hands, but the quick feet of "excellent defenders" is rare. We'll see.
Ginobili reads the passing lanes well and sometimes gambles but he can stay in front of his player very well too. He draws a lot of charges, including a couple on Kobe, and he'll get even more when he gets more respect from refs who sometimes call a clear charge a blocking foul. Manu actually gets most of his steals from his cobra quick hands not from reading the paasing lanes, though he is good at that. Also if you watch him he's one of those guys that sees where the balls going to come off the rim and is always in the area for a rebound, offensive or defensive. And as noted his passing is all-star level. Right now even after a miserable start because of the ankle and Pop keeping a straight jacket on his play, Manu leads the league in steals/48 min. Ginobili IMO is the second best player on the Spurs and next year will be getting 1st or 2nd al NBA defensive team votes.
both would be great fits for rox, especially jaric since he is unselfish and a team-oriented player, the antithesis of cat. no way clips or spurs trade those guys for cat. they are both on the first year of rookie contracts which means they will be cheap for their teams for a few more years.
I don't have a problem w/ Francise playing the 2 guard (pls refer 2 my posting "Trade Mobley"). I said that all along.The only problem I see is Steve NOT starting or making the All Star game b/c of Kobe and now of Ray Allen. Peace Out! BottleRocket
Excellent defense might be a little excessive for right now but the guy is in his first year against NBA talent and will only improve. I would say he plays good defense right now but you can see the potential in his game not only on defense but also on offense. I'm sure that Kobe and Finley should have their way with him during the playoffs but I can see him turning into a defensive stopper like Christie or Snow.
No sg for francis...hes too small to guard the sg's in the league. He wont be as effective as people think, when mooch is in the game francis plays 2 and he is not effective. he needs to have the ball in his hands at all times to be at his best. LEave him where he hes at expecially since he has started to be more of a team player this year.
Playing SG? That squirt has been redefining the position. I hate to say this but AI can and does play. Like a man. A real man.
Something from Jazz next year. If John Stockton returns, they would have 4 point guards J. Stockton Mark Jackson Raul Lopez Carols Arroys If they are still pursuiting A. Miller, half of the roster will be point guard. Rockets can get either M. Jackson, still have 2-3 year left, who is excellent passer and half court organizer, we do not need another scorer. Raul Lopez Spanish media quote him is best product from Spain, so that means better than Gasal? Carols Arroys, Good young potential guard, lots of upside, you can get him for mim. This guy got the quickness and good decent touch. Mark Jackson's price with be vet minimum plus a little bit more. We can get Raul if Utah sign Miller, but we need to return someone for the trade, like Nachbar plus a second round. Carols Arroys will be a minimum dollar contract. Any thoughts?
I agree - we should see Francis and Mobley switch on defense at times. Given how weak our perimeter defense usually is, this is a move that should have been tried already, imo.
AI is also the fastest player who has ever played in the NBA. He can gain separation by getting anyone on their heals unlike any other player. You cannot compare AI to anyone. So, what AI has done is in no way transferable to just any small guard. Plus, AI actually knocks down shots on the move and fading back, something Francis has not needed to do, so we don't really know if he can do it. As for freaks, Dejuan Wagner for instance, is also a freak of nature with the longest wingspan:height ratio of anyone drafted. His span is 8 inches longer than his height, and he's ultra fast to boot. Calvin played PG until the Rockets landed the #1 pick in the draft and took John Lucas. Well, what are you going to do when you take a PG #1 in the draft. You are going to slide Calvin over to SG, since the future of the team is Moses Malone, anyhow, and Calvin took a wee bit too long to figure that out, I'd say.
Steve Francis is probably right behind Allen Iverson... Juan Dixon and Dajuan Wagner are pretty good...
