The reason Mooch runs the point and Steve moves to the 2 when Mooch is in the game is not because of Steves inability as a point but because he is so dangerous as a 2. Moochy is a pure point guard not a 2 guard and never will be a two guard so why would you move him over to the 2 spot? Steve is an elite point guard and after a couple of more years he will be the top point guard. ------------------
deletion - for reasons of stupidity... ------------------ [This message has been edited by treeman (edited December 09, 2000).]
Simple and effective reasoning- Coach needs to design and run plays(other than alley opps, teams can smell this a mile away after a few) for Steve when Mooch is point. Coach needs to limit Mooch's ISO's a tad bit and give a couple more plays to Steve, designed plays btw. Steve needs to ask and/or demand the ball some. Do either of them do this.....???? I'm not the answer....they are the question. Seems Mooch's(superb play I might add) play is encouraged, his ISOing...Don't blame Mooch...blame the designer if anyone, if blame is even needed at this point. 950 or so post away from being respected, lol ------------------ [This message has been edited by Digaida (edited December 09, 2000).]
Does that mean I'm 500 away? Hell, I'm probably still a thousand away... Basically, you're saying that Mooch needs to pass to Steve more often, right? I agree. ------------------
IMO, Moochie is better at running an offense while Francis is a much better scoring threat. If only we had some decent big men to complement our strong backcourt. Oh how I'd love to see J. O'neal in a Rockets uniform. ------------------ www.dsscake.com
Basically I am saying plays need to called for Steve(by Rudy and maybe once in awhile by Steve)...and so yes Mooch would have to pass to Steve...but the way it seems from my dull and unimaginative view, Rudy gives Mooch the reigns(damn my elemetary(SP?) spelling lol) and the approval to ISO like crazy, to create...which I think is the right call but not to the extent it is...I think a couple more plays should be called with Steve's number in it... ------------------
To add(to the point, not my post of course ) I don't like how it's being percieved Mooch is a ball hog....I really think it's more along the coaching lines and their decisions... ------------------
Digaida and FB: Where were you guys earlier?... Only problem is that there's no way for coach to enforce his decisions. It's all on trust. No guarantee that Mooch is gonna pass it to Steve. All you can do is train... Practice. ------------------
Yes the coach has a big part of it. Plays are called throughout whole game by Rudy...timeouts are called and plays are setup, game plans are made and executed....I doubt Mooch is sitting there calling his number over and over, his role has been defined by Rudy and staff and I'm sure they figured he could spark plug us which he did. Yet Steve needs some plays ran for him even if Mooch is playing at point...Coaches call plays(moreso) as well as PG's. I love Rudy but everybody questions his play writing skills...not accusing just stating the above, lol. Anyways plays need to be made and used for Steve, even when at SG...it's not Mooches fault.... ------------------
Uhhh, Francis has always moved to shooting guard when Moochie and Steve have been on the court at the same time this season. That was even the case last season when Moochie started getting more playing time. Moochie is so skinny that he can't really take the punishment of playing against a big guard, so he strictly runs the point. At 6' 3", Francis is versatil enough to run the point or play the off guard. Moochie is, in essence, a shorter Steve Francis....Quick first step, good crossover, and nice handles, so Rudy feels comfortable letting him run the point. Our backcourt is fine...Now, our forwards on the other hand.... ------------------ If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding!!
Moochie is a real point gaurd, I like how he runs the team when he comes in. Like A -Train said the problem is the forwards. They dont understand the meaning of defense or offense. Yes kenny blocked 3 shots but doesnt matter. They need to find a way to stop players that are making easy shots, you cant let players have easy shots inside and then say he was on fire , we couldnt stop him. Double team was very slowly to reacting , rockets could of won but the forwards.... ------------------ Vice President of the Jason Collier fan club!
I have no complaints with Mooch coming in to take point and Steve moving over to SG. IMHO, Mooch handles the ball better than Steve (fewer travels/TOs), and he is totally unselfish, but is fully capable of scoring if necessary. It never ceases to amaze me how that little man can plow past his guard, a center, and a PF - straight up the lane - and float it in... With Moochie in, we have a REAL point guard in there, and Steve (and/or Cuttino) is free to attack. When Rudy puts Mooch in and keeps Steve in, this should send up flares in the opposing coach's head. If Cat's in too, then doubly so. He opens up scoring options. ------------------
A-train, all this you say I know. And this is exactly what I have a problem with. For 24 min last night Moochie Norris had total control of the offense. The box score has Steve playing 47 minutes...well, but in actuality he ran the offense for only 23 minutes last night(francis). Moochie Norris skyrocketing confidence allows him to jack up 11 shots in 23 minutes, while Francis manages 14 in 47 minutes. Why? Cause the ball is completely taking out of Francis hands when Norris is on the court. Francis concedes like an unselfish Gore. Moochie Norris's herky-jerky clock consuming isolations are maddening to me when a Steve Francis relaxes with his hands on his knees at the top of the key. ...And don't say moochie Norris is a shorter Steve Francis...that ain't right. ------------------
treeman, I don't understand your statement when you say having Moochie in, supplies us a real point guard. To imply that Steve Francis is not a real point guard is ridiculous. ...And when Moochies in, the only person free to attack, is Moochie. He controls the offense by his power to release the ball at his will to whoever he wants. Rudy gives him this freedom at all times while Francis is in the game, and that is what I do not understand. Sometimes maybe, but every possesion changes the whole complexion of the offense and oppossing defenses. Moochie is not double teamed. Francis is. Francis was flowing, he had like 6 assists and many nicely timed buckets in the first quarter, and then all of a sudden Moochie comes in and is giving complete control of ball and Francis becomes a watcher having to react to Moochies herky-jerkiness instead of having defenses react to him. ------------------
