Do you guys think Steve is capable of being the starting point guard with our starting unit? I think he's played really well when he's in and he's looked good with our other big stars....
It amazes me too, and, yes, I think Francis can start and be successful. He is not as good a ball handler as Rafer, but his scoring ability and rebounding are superior. Around the basket, Francis is money. He is almost "Wade-like" driving in the lane. Rafer is always one floater away from another miss. I think Francis might be the role player the Rockets are looking for. I would also like to see more of Brooks and Snyder.
Ok then who's the better passer D-Wade or Rafer? I say Rafer is the better passer so who would you rather start D-Wade or Rafer? See where I'm going with this?
What do the Rockets need more? Scoring or Passing? As desperate as the Rockets are for scoring, you can't have three offensively challenged players in the starting lineup. But they do. Career comparisons of Rafer and Francis are all over this board. Francis has the better profile overall. Rafer is an outstanding ball handler, but Francis is average. Both are average defenders, I would say Francis is a bit better because of size and strength. Almost everyone is a better shooter than Rafer. Francis is the better scorer. Neither is blazing fast, but adequate. Rafer is probably the better distributer, but not by much. I have seen Francis make some exceptional passes. I'll take Francis right now on intangibles alone. I never liked ISO Francis trying to be the human highlight reel, but as a third option, role player, I like his prospects.
would orlando give us redick for any of these 3? JJ is only playing a few minutes a game for them and obviously can make open shots better than these guys
Your posts live up to your name. I agree with your assesment. I also think Steve Francis is a very underrated passer.
We need someone that can make plays. Steve Francis can make plays. I agree with a lot of guys here that he's a lot better passer than he's given credit for. He's made some truly exceptional passes. I also think there are degrees of being "better" and they should be weighted differently. Francis isn't just a better scorer....he's a WAY BETTER scorer. Rafer was dead last in field goal percentage around the rim and almost dead last with longer perimeter shots. Francis has averaged in the 50% or more around the rim for his career and has a high percentage field goal percentage. Francis also jumps WAY BETTER than Alston. He attacks the rim WAY BETTER than Alston and certainly rebounds, blocks and creates contact way better than Alston. Teams leave Alston wide open, but Francis draws a crowd. It's not like Alston has been blazing trails at the starters role or the Rockets are on a tremendous win streak and a "why fix it if ain't broke" mode. Might as well give Steve a chance to show what he can do in the starter's role. He looked really good closing out the game against Phoenix with the starting unit and was giving the Suns fits for having to guard Yao, Tmac AND Francis.
Wow - already declared a bust huh? You do know he is shooting 50% from the field this year, right? JJ's stats Or that he is just coming off of injury and has been contributing these last few games? Nah, of course you don't....you have already made up your mind on a 2nd year player. Or Luther, or Bonzi, or.... DD
But the problem is not just that they're streaky shooters, unless all streaky players slump at the same time. The offense is not working yet. Having a lot of good but streaky players can be both a challenge and advantage. More players have to be available for the rotation each night, it could take a little longer for the offense to hit it's stride since more players have to gel, it will be difficult at times for coach to find the hot hand(s) for the night, but other teams won't be certain which Rockets team that they will be facing.
If they didn't shoot poorly last year, I would reserve assessments on players' scoring potential this year until the offense starts clicking. And if Bonzi plays average in many games but creates effective match-up nightmares for a handful of the good teams including the Spurs then no way would I want to trade him. The 14 (on over 50%) and 15 boards in the win against SAS was good and the 21/10/2/2/3 against LAL was impressive.
What we really need is a lights out three point shooter. Remember the Pacers with Reggie Miller and Rik Smits. Rik wasn't very athletic either and he was slow. Smits was 7'4" so only two inches shorter than Yao. If we had a lights out three point shooter with a quick release coming off a screen then we'd be talking.
A one dimensional 3 point specialist won't do it. We have that in Luther, a career 40% guy from 3 land, and he can't get minutes. Battier is near that level was well. What we need a more versitile guy. A guy who can hit a 3 pretty good, but also has a midrange or penetration game and ability to draw fouls to kill the overplay, something Head and Battier don't do much. Any help to overall team athleticism is a bonus. Bonzi + Head + pick for Mickael Pietrus on Jan 1. That is the deal I'd like to see.
If we had a Reggie Miller in his prime, I'd take him over Petrius any day. Course Reggie was an All-Star too so I'm really excercising my wishful thinking.
