Why can't we have a balanced offense with "INSIDE OUTSIDE" stuff and like a motion offense and guards offense..a mixture. Not just dump it to Yao every single time even though I know they will not do that anyways.
Since the main roster seems set for the season, this is what the Rox got -- two great players in Stevie and Yao neither of whom are yet ready to lead this team deep into May. Mix in JVG, and perhaps optimism is allowed. Rudy used to, back in the good old days, get the Rox to start out the season with great winning streaks. This year's destiny is for the winning streaks to start in January or February, led by Stevie and Yao. No one will want to play this team in Round 1. Let's watch these three (SF, YM, JVG) grow the team.
Why will no one want to play the Rockets? I still am not convinced that they can compete against the top 5 in the West....
1. Steve 2. Yao 3. Cat Sounds right to me maybe once Yao takes his game to the next level that might change. But based on last season Steve is should be clearly the #1 option for this offense
i only heard the first quote from steve but i had to come here to see how far the "steve is a selfish loser" crowd had gotten. didn't know there was more to that article these are pretty important: "Given enough time I'm confident he'll be able to dominate the middle." In the meantime, Francis declares, "I'll do anything to win and make any sacrifice to make the playoffs." steve said it himself, yao passed the ball out too much. YAO PASSED TOO MUCH. sure doesn't sound like steve is demanding more iso from coach. at this point he is perfectly right. he is still the best player on the team, the more experienced of the 2, and the most consistent offensive threat. even steve recognizes that a championship comes through the middle but he wants yao to show that he's ready for that. when he does he'll defer.
I have to say I've never been prouder to be a Clutchcity BBSer. This is actually a very intelligent debate about the Yao/Francis situation. Pretty civil too! I agree though that right now, Steve should be the first option on the team. Yao just breaks down too easily physically for the team to put themselves into a situation where they rely on him heavily. That said, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't be an inside out team, but the inside should be used to open things up for Steve and Cat. If Yao is open under the basket, he should get the ball. That's just common sense. But there's no reason to force the issue if the zone is collapsing on him. That kind of situation should be Steve's to exploit. It's probably trite to repeat that the team should have balance. If both Steve and Yao can get ~20pts a night, we're going to be really hard to beat.
no, being the second best center in the league who just went through one of the most gruelling rookie years of any player ever, who has one of the toughest basketball schedules of anyone, who should've won or at least tied for rookie of the year, who endured much severe and harsh criticism and skepticism and overcame them, who is predicted to blow up this year due to natural talent, gained experience, and more strength, who is the centerpiece of a big-man minded new coach, who shoots and passes as well as anyone on this team, and whose basketball IQ surpasses anyone on this team...should be the franchise player. just cause stevie franchise has the word "franchise" in his name does not mean he deserves that right indefinitely. it's a new team with a new coach, new strategy, new arena, new attitude, etc...., it's time for a new franchise player. give him a chance. stevie had four years.
Stevie's got to sacrifice, but not just for Yao...this is what JVG undestands. What about Eddie? What about our three, be it Pike, Rice, Nachbar? All these guys need to get some shots and become integral parts of the offense. The PG needs to make ALL his teammates better, bottomline. This is what the great ones understood and did, sacrificing their own stats. You don't think Magic and Isiah could have avergaged 10 more points a game if they wanted? Please! Their primary concern was winning and that meant sacrificing their own scoring and getting everyone invloved. I believe Francis wants to win, but only after he gets "his." I see some major headbutting this coming season.
Thank you! I'm glad someone else brought this up. Yao got the ball and had plenty of chances to score last year, but whenever he got the ball, he'd pass it back out to Steve, who would then go in and score! Yao hasn't showed that he's aggressive enough to be a #1 option. The #1 SCORING option role should go to our best SCORER, and right now that's Stevie Franchise. In all the debates of "should Steve play the PG or the SG?", everyone likes to say that Steve is a natural scorer, blah blah blah, but then when this debate comes up some of you try to say he shouldn't be our main scoring option....
I think Steve is right in most of what he is saying. I also think that most of his comments were most likely taken out of context to make some controversey out of it, and to make it more of a must read. Thats my take atleast. It is Vecsey after all...
It's not about who's the number option to play offense, but I think they just to do Inside Out game and see who's open.
Before Yao came along, Steve was getting beat up day-in and day-out going toward the hoop. I don't know how much longer Steve would have endured all that pounding his body was taking. Yao's excellent passing really helped Steve as witnessed by far fewer injuries. Also, all the double and triple teams sagging down on Yao created many scoring opportunities for the other players. The only thing was, they couldn't hit the side of a barn or throw it in the ocean to save their lives. If they had scored when Yao kicked it out, we would have been alright.
Steve is right. When Yao begins to dominate the middle like a man 7'5 should then he will warrant more touches. I just hope we dont become too predictable by force feeding him in the paint(like the Barkley days)BORING, until he is PHYSICALLY ready to handle the responsibility. No doubt Steve Francis will still get his looks that is why we brought in Adrian Griffin, he can live off 5-6 shots a game. The thing that I am most looking forward to is for the Rockets as a team to play better defense.. Yao needs to block more shots & Steve needs to move his damn feet
Yao got plenty of blocks, that was one of the problems! Steve's and Cat's (to a lessor extent) D allowed guys to get past them, causing Yao to have to come over and play Help defense.
Ostertag, Bradley and A.Foyle averaged more blocks per game than YAO. Your not a great Center if you are 15th in the league in block shots. His numbers will improve. Mobley plays solid defense against the best scorers in the league. Francis however gives up to much penetration.
Because they are destined to jell under the tutelage of JVG. Because they will be hot and tough and hungry. Because their main guys aretwo of the very best at their positions. Because I am a wild eyed optimist? Why not be, Go Rox!
How many blocks you average is not an indicator of how "great" a BB player somebody is. Do you expect somebody completely new to the NBA to come out in his first year and average more blocks than established players? Thats foolish, wake up.
