Now w/ Mark Jackson close to signing, will Francis eventually move to the 2?

I would not expect MJ to be a full-time starter...sorry.
He will enable SF to do some time at the 2 during games...but at the age of 38...do you really think he can handle a fulltime starting gig?

I dont.

He is a quality backup...no question..

but as a starter so that SF can do fulltime SG work....no

lets just hope that MJ is in good enough shape to not be a liability on the court defensively.

and for the record...I do think that he can teach SF a few things...and SF will be man enough to accept the help.

 

Jackson is coming in to teach more than play, IMO

 

We officially get the first PG ever in 5/6 years. I just hope this is working...

 

FWIW, check the TO per 48 minutes stat from the 2002-03 season....Guess which player turned the ball over more frequently than Steve Francis, as well as more than everybody else in the league?

Hint: His initials are "MJ" and he does not wear #23.....

 

I am sure you will see at times MJ at the 1 and SF at the 2 but I dont think for long amounts of time. It is a nice option.

While Jackson will do well for us offensively and on the fast breaks he still is a very average defensive player. So that has to be taken into account. In fact I believe that is the one fact that had us NOT signing him initially. I think JVG values defense so much, he didnt look at Jackson intially. But we are at the point now were turnovers are a HUGE problem and Francis just isnt getting a break from Wilkes so something HAD to give.

I think Jackson will be positive for this team. I have been pushing this move since the Summer.

 

Why has no one thought about Tim Hardaway ? Yes he has bad knees but he is a better player in my opinion.

 

Jackson was a liability on defense even when he was in his prime. I'm sure we can't afford to have him log starter's minutes, much less be a starter.

Besides, Francis is probably not going to be a very good two as he doesn't move that well off the ball like Cuttino does. Talk about being a poor man's Allen Iverson...

 

I think so too. Also JVG might want to see if Yao is feedable. wheaher a veteran PG can make Yao play better.

 

Thanos brings up another negative about moving SF to the 2 and trying to make MJ play most of the time at the 1...

It would displace Cat who has been very consistant defending opposing SGs...SF does not have the defensive abilities of Cat..



re: Tim Hardaway...you answered your own question..

bad knees...can you say IR? no thanks..if we are going to fill the roster spot..I would prefer we did it with someone that would actually spend time on the court.

 

Watch what Pippen has done in Bulls. Do you think Jackson can help ROX in the court a lot? No way.

JVG is an out-of-date guy. He is supposed to give wilks, Boki and YAO enough credits.

 

And that is primarily why that backcourt combo will only be used in stretches. I agree. For Francis to play time at the 2 then we need the PG to have solid D. If you had a backcourt of Francis and JJ then that would be a different story. Francis would play the 2 on offense and the 1 on defense. But Francis defending against 2s is not a good matchup by any means.

 

i hope MJ does a better job mentoring francis that ewing has done with yao.

 

I wouldnt have a problem with JJ splitting time with Cat at the 2..with the resultant switch on D of SF on the opposing PG and JJ defending the opposing 2..but that would only be effective if we got us a good 3.

Imagine if we could get a good 3...

SF and MJ splitting time at PG
JJ and Cat splitting time at the SG

with limited stretches of

1) MJ
2) SF
3) JJ

as a quasi three guard lineup..

it has possibilites.

 

Many of the leagues most elite players are at the two....probably the reason Mobley doesn't get more credit than he does considering his sweetheart contract.

Does anyone REALLY want Francis guarding the likes of Iverson, McGrady, Kobe, and all of the other marquee players out there that happen to play the two?

 

Could u imagine our D w/ Jackson and Steve starting in the backcourt Even a froncourt of KG, Duncan, and Wallace couldnt prevent all the penetration and layups these guys will give up

 

ANOTHER former Knick?

 

I like this as I agree its more of a teaching role, than anything else...I would expect a rotation in the middle of the 2nd of Cat out, and MJ in running the point...

 

Mark Jackson is a stopgap measure at backup PG. Maybe he'll do some mentoring, but I think JVG just wants a veteran true point to take over Moochie's minutes. I'll be surprised if they sign him past this season.

Hopefully he'll do a better job than Moochie. On the bright side, Jackson's had a lot of experience playing with supersized big men (Rik Smits)

 

Imagine M. Jackson running the pick and roll with Yao.....now imagine YAO actually GETTING the ball on the roll.

DD