But he absolutely showed flashes of being able to run an offense. Usually not for entire games, often for only a quarter... But every once in a while it seemed like something had just clicked inside of his head, and in spurts he ran the offense absolutely BRILLIANTLY. Then he would go back to being Stevie Turnover, and that's really what was so frusturating about him. I remember one game two years ago against Detroit (Yao's first 20/20 game) where Steve had something like 5 assists and no turnovers in the first quarter, orchestrating the offense beautifully, and we had something like a 10 point lead at the end of the quarter... But by the time the 2nd Quarter came around, he went back to overdribbling, taking too long to set up the offense, taking bad shots off the dribble, etc., etc... And it was just so disappointing, though we did end up winning that game. I don't think you need a whole season to determine a player's strengths and weaknesses. I think most of us know what we're getting in David Wesley and Jon Barry, and they weren't here for the entire year. James is a very good shooter/scorer who can create for himself off the dribble, doesn't turn the ball over too much, and plays aggressive pressure defense. He's not great at getting a team into its offensive sets quickly, and isn't a pure passer-type PG. He's more like a Bobby Jackson type. FWIW, I feel he was more or less the same player here as he was in Milwaukee prior to the trade.
That's a great 2nd unit. Love this team!!!!! Two 3pt. threats, a post presence, a versitile defender, and a shot blocking/ rebounding machine.
If Howard is healthy, I don't think it is a given that Stro starts (like so many assume). JVG likes solid vets and Stro has to prove himself that he can reliabely run plays and make defensive rotations up to spec. If Stro breaks plays and misses assignments, he won't have a chance at starting under JVG. Howard is reliable and that's what JVG likes.
I for one NEVER enjoyed watching Francis play. Although he had flashes of brilliance they were to few and far between and that ISO crap you can just take it on back to Fonde. With his speed and hops he could be a top tier PG but he lacks the understanding of a team concept. There is no Iso in team... The one thing that turned me off a little from MJ Biach! is when he waived T-Mac off while dribbling the ball up the court.....WHOOOAA NELLY!!! thats a major no no.....if T-Mac or Yao demand the ball the other guys had better give up the rock, that is a given. But having said that I like MJ coming off the bench with energy and ability to score. I will reserve judgement until I see him go a full season under JVG's coaching.
Of course you can see a player's strengths and weaknesses if you watch them play for any decent amount of time. That's a no brainer. But when you take a player from one system, and place them in another, it takes a good amount of time for the player to become well adjusted to 1.) the new offense 2.) new teammates 3.) new coach and coahing style 4.) defensive scheme 5.) practice regimen etc. etc. etc. Likewise, it takes time also to realize if this player is going to stagnate in the new system, learn and grow quickly, or be brought about slowly. In other words, you know what you are getting from a player as an individual by sheer observation. But you don't know with certainty how a player will adjust or perform in a completely new environment. 27 games, in my opinion, is not enough to make that determination. I think he performed well, and did exactly what was expected of him. Wesley's role changed when he came to Houston. Barry's, not so much.
MJ and Howard and Barry will be great bench players next season, they will provide the scoring we desperately need off the bench while Deke will man the defensive task. I like our bench a LOT with MJ on it, without him or another scoring guard we would have serious problems with our second unit.
I said in another thread MJ will benefit a lot from going thru training camp with the team and should fit in our offense better next season. So it remains to be seen how good a PG role he can play with us. When midseason trades happen, and a player is suddenly put into a brand new environment, the player tends to revert to whatever comfort zones he has. MJ's comfort zone is hogging the ball until he creates a shot for himself. This was the "scouting report" on MJ before he came here, not just the games he played for us last season. Like you said, next year could be a little different, but not much. Unless Sura goes down with an injury, MJ's offensive role will remain that of designated gunner off the bench, espcially since we have nobody else for that role on the team. I wish he was more consistent with his shot but streakiness is what you get with him.
Everybody cites this, but I honestly can't remember when this ever happened. I remember when T-Mac waved off James in one of the playoff games, but I never remember James waving off T-Mac. Does anybody remember which game this was?
Not to step in the middle, but I remember when we first got Steveie Franchise and seeing him do amazing things. I remember one game where he made some unbelievable move after being trapped under the basket and me and my buddy punching each other in the arm in disbelief and giddy excitement. He is just a kid still, how good can he grow to? I also remember allowing for his problems. Very high turnovers were explained away by youth, and a steady influx of new teammates who were not used to such "excellent/exciting" passes. Once they start looking for them, we will be rolling, I was sure. I remember Steve passing off for potential game winning shots to an open Jason Collier and then somebody else in consecutive games near the end of the season, (actually I think it was somebody else - made it, then collier a game or two later - missed, but I digress...) and thinking here was an unselfish player who would pass up the game winning shot to an open teammate. How great is that. But ultimately I realized that he was a ball hog. Had to have the ball in his hands all the time. Willing to pass, but he had to set up the play and make the pass. He had to be in the center of it. He had to be the creator of every play. And finally realized that he was not good enough to do all of that. A very talented player, but one who does not know his limitations. In the beginning I loved Francis for coming to Houston, but in the end I loved JVG for getting rid of him. I suspect that my experience is not that different from anybody elses.
sura over james any damn day... suras a huge reason we got to the playoffs, and james is a big one we left em.
I wonder which poster's bizarre hatred towards a certain player has the most merit...? adeelsiddiqui's towards James? Baqui99's towards Luther Head and Clarence Weatherspoon? JBII Rocket's towards Kevin Willis? tinman's towards just about any PF from Michigan? Ill-Skillz's towards Badiane? SamFisher's towards Eddie Griffin? (Not sure if that's fair, as I think Sam might hate everybody, and I know most here hate EG) Am I missing anybody? Does HillBoy's hatred of CD, or edc's hatred of JVG count? Someone really oughta make a poll...
Give me a break. James is the only reason we lasted 7 games against the Mavs. He was the only guard that could match up defensively or offensively against the Mav's atheletic players. I think James has room for improvement in shot selection and PG's skills...but I am far from all this James hatin' going on around here.
I remember. I beleive it was the same game. James waved off TMac first and came down court and blew the play. Shortly thereafter (maybe the next possession) TMac just grabbed the ball. James was calling for it and TMac waved HIM off this time. It was horrible. James should never waive off TMac. And for god's sake, if Yao is EVER calling for the ball (which isn't often), you should get it to him. Sura doesn't seem to like entry passes to Yao which pisses me off.
i agree, sura when healthy was integral to those winning streaks and the team ran at it's finest when he was out there. but in the playoffs his injuries left him with almost nothing left while james picked up his offense and carried the team for stretches. i think next year both make a great 1-2 compliment to each other but it's a joke if you think james is a big reason we got knocked out last season.
I think you are mistaken. James was out of control from the time he got into the game was was obviously not helping, so T-Mac took it into his hands to slow down and waves off James. If you have video and are positive James waved off T-Mac then Ill admit im wrong but even James isn't dumb enough to wave off T-Mac and I think people just get it twisted from the other way around.
James only played not even half a season with us, everyone forgot what he was able to come in and do in that short amount of time because all people remember is the playoffs, waiving off tmac or whatever, you do ONE thing wrong and now you're a terrible player that should be traded. I was impressed by James and thought he made a few mistakes in the playoffs, but no more than sura did. How about those left handed floaters that Sura threw up in the 4th quarter of game 4 at home when we had a chance to seal it? Now thats what I call garbage. But it still doesn't take away from what sura did in the regular season to help get us into the playoffs. Most of you need to look at the big picture, let James go thru training camp with Gundy, learn the offense, become molded and he'll easily prove himself, i'm quite sure the rockets had NO intentions of trading him, because they see the big picture.
That's good stuff dharocks and funny. Once someone has it in for a particular player, it becomes their life mission to hate on him. Your right someone should start a poll.
Mike James seems to be one of those polarizing players who has a lot of overly negative detractors and several who can't see his limitations. When he first joined the team and scored a lot in the first few games, many here wanted him to stay as the starter when Sura returned. That was one of the most illogical knee-jerk responses I've ever seen on this forum. People forgot how good we were when Sura was healthy. Even now, some of MJ's supporters can't see that he is what he is: An old dog who can't learn new tricks. While he should blend in better with a full training camp, the fact is MJ is a superb backup PG with specific skills who just will not be successful as a starter. He showed a lot of flash those first few games that took your breath away, but as time went on his limitations became glaringly obvious. That said, he was our most effective guard against the Mavs (on offense and defense) and without him the series doesn't go 7 games. If someone disagrees, please explain yourself with logic and facts, not emotions. And give the waiving off of T-Mac a rest pleeeease. If that's all you've got to say don't waste the space on Clutch's server. For those who think he's so great, the guy is a ball hog who can't pass to save his life. His inconsistency and bone-headed plays drive me insane. He's perfect for a spark off the bench or to have in the game with the 2nd unit. His on-ball pressure is great when he doesn't commit 3 fouls in 2 minutes. But he's 30 years old and unless he learns to pass and set up other players on occassion, there is no way he can start on a team as good as ours. You never know which Mike James will show up: The 5/10 MJ or the 1/8 MJ. When the 1/8 MJ shows up, you put him back on the bench in a hurry and hope for better next time. Overall, I'm an MJ supporter (and a realist). He fills a needed role for us at the right price and may be the best backup PG in the NBA.
