The crescendo of dissatisfaction with our point guard play is disturbing to say the least. Trading Steve Francis is not the answer, but perhaps moving him to SG is. However, that leaves the Rockets with a very short backcourt if JVG uses Moochie or Wilkes at PG. Futhermore, trading key players to get a flawed PG -- the Rocks won't get a Kidd, Nash or even Bibby -- is not a wise solution. Alvin Williams has not recovered from past injuries. Snow would cost too much and give us too many liabilities. Etc. Etc. Perhaps we should look to our own roster. Jim Jackson is steady, smart, a solid defender, good passer -- and he's 6-6 so he can defend against the taller opposing guard. He has some experience as a point guard, and I would trust his decision-making much more than I currently do with Francis. Francis is a great player. Apparently, he is in the wrong position.
Interesting thought. We all agree that JJ is a good decision maker. However, is he a good enough ball handler to play the PG position, especially under defensive pressure? I didn't know that he played PG before. If JJ could play PG, that could greatly help the team. We could easily move Steve to the 2 spot and move Cat to the bench. We can then start either Pike or A. Griffin (when he comes back) at the 3 and the team would be in much better shape. Steve can concentrate on scoring which is his strength. And Mobley can provide a socring punch off the bench and still play close to 30 minutes per game. It is obvious that if we were to move Steve to the two, we have to have a tall PG. Otherwise our backcourt would get abused defensively every game.
I disagree. I think you move JJ to the two and bring someone in via a trade involving Cat(yes, I've given up on him) to play a point forward.
Which someone would you suggest? I don't see anyone on the radar who is attainable without damaging our core. I am open to trade. I just don't see any that would be both possible and worthwhile.
Thats the rub, there really isn't anyone whom we know is available. Moving SF to the two, to me anyway, is just not an option. Defensively, he will be a bigger doormat than ever and offensively he'll be lost trying to learn a new postition. We are in quite a pickle.
I thought in the Clipper game that Cat was playing more of the point guard role in the first quarter and Steve was playing off the ball. It seemed to work. In the Utah game, Steve had the ball in his hands and the mismatch was obvious to start the game. Steve was getting his shot at will. He did a good job for most of the 1st quarter. Then the wheels fell off and the 4th quarter was a disaster for him offensively and defensively. I have to wonder if he was physically wore down or something because of how bad he played. That being said, I would like to see Cuttino with the ball in his hands running the half court offense more being forced to pass the ball. In the Clipper game, Cat actually fed Ming in the post like 3 times in the 1st quarter. I'm beginning to think that Cat could be better running the break (what break) and letting Steve and JJ fill up the wings. Our break is nonexistant now, except for Steve going 1 on 3. I don't see JJ being the answer at the point.
I like Cat as a player, but he doesn't seem to have the ability or inclination to make the entry pass to Yao. I really do not want to see him traded either. I see his role as a great sixth man, akin to Joe Dumas in the Detroit years. I think Francis has a better chance defensively against SGs as opposed to even average PGs who understand the concept of passing. As incredibly gifted an athlete as SF is, he still cannot move faster than a decent pass.
I agree with you completely. When Cat was a rookie and he HAD NO CHOICE but to defer to almost the entire team. He IMHO looked like he had the potential to be a pretty exciting point guard. I think he could do it again, with the proper motivation from JVG. I don't know if he needs to be codled or browbeaten, thats for the coach to know.(if he is this great coach) Cat KNOWS how to be a pretty good low-post entry paser, time to MAKE him. On to SF and the break, to put it bluntly he stinks at it. Occasionally he is athletic enough to pull something out of his ass but if he wasn't we'dd never score. If he isn't taking it all the way down the wing, without thought of passing it to the middle like they teach us in Jr High basketball, he's trying to make a bull**** 'And 1' street ball pass for a turnover. Cat can't be worse, he just can't. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy overall with the team. It just infuriates me that something as basic as a 3 on 1 break get screwed up on such a consistant basis. Other teams are putting up highlite real slam dunks on us, while we're missing ally-oops and crying about no-calls. It upsets me a little. Maybe Cat will be happy being the new role. He certainly doesn't like being a spot up jumper.
Thumbs, That is a very good suggestion... I keep reading how everyone wants a point guard and to move Steve to the SG. Well JJ is your man, JJ played the point in Dallas before they drafted kid. Moving JJ to the point would allow Steve to go to his natural position at the 2 spot. This would be like making the same move as Portland last year when they moved Scottie to the point.
JJ might even excell as PG. His shooting percentage as a small forward and SG has been less than spectacular, but the rest of his play has been an asset. Perhaps making him a big PG makes more sense than being a very small SF. I think Boki deserves the playing time at that position.
Who would you use for trade bait? Why? And are you forgetting how much Crawford wants next year despite not really doing anything great on a consistent basis thus far?
Crawford Crawfish. That dude is a selfish, immature brat. Yes, he has skills. So does Stevie. I don't want him without a big time attitude adjustment. An adjustment that would probably require him to get a lobotomy.
rummors are desmon mason is not the happiest camper right now, deal for him? would you guys like to get him....
SF is the problem, doesn't matter what postion he plays, he will continue to hog the ball and lose it...so the best solution is to Trade him period..he's been here long enough and still doesn't adhere to fundamental bb..we should package him and mobley for tmac..then sign FA tim hardaway as PG.
What would it take to get Bobby Jackson from the Kings? We could move Steve to the 2 and bring Mobley in off the bench if he wasn't involved in the trade. I can't believe I'm posting about a trade possilbity. Uggh.
Good point. JJ knows how to play team ball because he was in Kings last who play the best team bal in NBA ,and SF is capable in sg. Cat can be the best 6mn.
Kings wouldn't give up Bobby for Francis, I can guranteed u that. Bobby has better all around game than Francis. And yes, even more athletic too!
blazer_ ben are you suggesting that Desmond Mason can play as a PG? He is a SG who doesn't shoot the 3 well and can't solve our problems at the 1. If you are suggesting trading a frontcourt player like Cato for him and then trading Mobley for a PG then we wouldn't have a useful backup for Yao or a PF to help Mo out. Both Alton Ford and Man-Boobs can't help out much in the frontcourt.
