The first statement is contradicted by the second, once you realize that of all the starters, Steve is by far the worst on defense.
for people who think Francis doesn't need to be a playmaker,,,and we can just get someone to hide his obvious faults that define this team... well...for those people...tell me one thing. name me a shooting guard who isn't a primary playmaker and I'll show you someone not deserving the max (thus should be traded at highest value) or I'll show you someone who shoots like Reggie Miller...who, btw, deserved the max as well. Anyone who doesn't think all the best shooting guards aren't playmakers as well (Kobe, AI, McGrady, Pierce for starters) are just Francis apologists, and in denial about what the team's true #1 problem is. Francis is not someone with lack of playmaking that you can hide as a fully off-ball Rip Hamilton type player, and he doesn't play defense like Sprewell to allow the half off-ball and playmaker role. anyone who says moving Francis to the 2 will turn him into AI, is a Rockets fan homey. There is no one like AI...and he most definitely is a playmaker....albeit the times Larry works him around picks to get him an entry. Francis will never be AI... a superstar Shooting Guard *is* a playmaker or can shoot like Reggie Miller. A mere *star* shooting guard can be less that a playmaker, and less than Reggie with less defense than Sprewell, but we can get more for Francis right now if we trade him at highest value.
Francis vs. all other point guards in the NBA Steals 2nd Blocks 1st he must be doing something right.... His problem on D is that he cheats off his man to help other players, which is a discipline thing I would have expected the coaching staff to have corrected by now. As a result he is out of position when his opponent catches the ball on the move and shoots right away or drives to the basket. He may have trouble defending this because he's never seen it in practice on our team. IF the coaching staff is telling him to play up tight on his man, they are telling him to pass more, and they are telling him to stop waving off the big man and he is not doing so then I blame them for not taking steps to correct the problem. Sit his butt down and start someone else until he gets the idea, but after four years this hasn't happened. So its the system they want or they aren't doing their jobs. When players fail to grow, when the stupid mistakes aren't corrected, when players incapable of grasping these things aren't moved, its the System not the the Talent. System = staff
In order of preference: Baron Davis Jason Kidd Elton Brand Jermaine O'Neal Vince Carter Gary Payton + another player (Mason?)
No one is saying that Steve Francis's playmaking responsibilities will drop to 0% if he is moved to the 2 guard spot. However, if you think that AI, McGrady, Kobe, etc have as much playmaking responsibility playing SG as Francis does playing PG, then you are deluding yourself. Francis's playmaking responsbilities will drop probably 50% plus he will receive the ball in much easier situations after the initial read has been made, and the defense is not as set if the move is made to SG. I hope this hardcore Cuttino apologist group will admit they are so wrong when/if the Rockets move Francis to the SG spot, his game elevates to the next level and the Rockets win 50 games. I sure hope you guys dont act like you were in support of this all along. One other point, Francis's trade value is NOT as high as its ever going to get. Steve will be 50% BYC thus eliminating many potential possibilities. If the Rockets wanted to go this route, they'd be a whole lot better off waiting until next summer atleast when his BYC is not as severe thus making him easier to trade. Ofcourse, the other option is to keep deluding yourself that Francis for Kidd is a 100% possibility.
Francis makes the game harder than what it is for him and his teammates. I don't know how many times I've seen him run a pnr with Ming, Ming rolls to the basket and is wide open only to see Francisyo-yo the ball and shoot a pull up jumper. I can't remember how many times I've seen Francis drive into the teeth of the defense, pull up his dribble and either have to call a timeout or gets tied up for a jumpball. I've seen him have easy wide open shots from a kickout, only to dribble the ball between his legs and try to go to the hole and try a circus shot. I don't think moving him to the 2 eliminates his poor decision making. I've noticed since Iverson has moved to the 2 guard, his asst to to's ratio has gotten worse. He used to be 2:1, now its not even close and he's playing the off guard now.
Yup, these are all examples of Francis making the incorrect initial read. It makes no difference if shooters are set up on the weakside or Ming makes the correct move after the screen b/c the whole play is broken when Francis does something like this. This is why he should not be the one initiating the offense. Steve Francis needs to be in a situation where he receives the ball much later in the play after the playmaker has initiated the offense, and Francis can be in more of a position to score. Also, as far as the AI assist to to ratio argument. Allen Iverson was a 1.7 his first yr and a 2.03 his second yr. Both of these numbers are unacceptable for a PG. Steve Francis has been terrible in this manner for the last 4 seasons. The problem is that Steve Francis has two players in the backcourt (Mobley and Moochie that are also horrible in this area). A championship team can get by with one player in the guard rotation sucking in this area but not three. This is why you keep hearing about complementing Francis and Yao with steady players that play within themselves and dont turnover the ball. Does it really matter that Bobby Jackson is a bad ast to to ratio player when Bibby and Christie are very good? Does it matter that Iverson is a bad ast to to ratio player when Snow and McKie are very good? Frankly, I could care less about Francis's ast to to ratio if he is playing a SG role and steady complements are brought in. Does it really matter if Francis has a bad ast to to ratio if he is averaging 28-6-5 as a SG? Do you really think Philly is disappointed with Iverson's 28-6-4 when they are on the verge of their second finals appearance in three yrs?
I agree...also add Paul Pierce. Kobe Bryant. Tracy McGrady. Tim Duncan. Shaquille O'Neal. Ray Allen nahh. But hmm...Allen Iverson?
You're welcome Smeg, I enjoy providing unbiased information to the hardcore Mobley apologist/tape watching/play call overhearing contingent.
Thanks MManal, I love reading unbiased information from the hardcore Francis apologist/AI, McGrady and Kobe are not play makers contingent.
Uh, Smeg maybe you should read my posts a little more closely before making lame comments. Dont you have to sit down with HP and diagram plays or something?
I know your are but what am I. Sorry but I am not interested in this elementary school type commentary. Just get used to the idea of Francis playing SG b/c it is happening. If you have any doubt of this, just go through some of the reliable inside info on this site.
