I know this Rockets team is better than their play in tonight's game. I know JVG came into Houston to mature these players and change up the game, but has there been any change besides the defense? Why isn't JVG implementing a better offense instead of this dribbling crap? It's the same crap so far in every game, even in the wins. What do you guys think?
I think JVG needs to pull SF by ear and instruct him that turnovers, overdribbling and errant passing does not help your team. Here's my theory though. Whether it's Damon Stoudamire, Stephon Marbury, or Raul Williams, anytime SF gets shown up in a game, his ego gets the better of him and he starts to do crazy stuff. theSAGE
I don't think it's that selfish. They just don't know how to play. Francis isn't a point guard! He's designated as our point guard and he screws everything up. He can't run the offense. Our offense is supposed to be give it to Yao! And ball movement. Unfortunately..I don't think Yao is fast enough to react to defenses and pass it out quick enough and the other players don't know how to play. I think Piatkowski and Jackson know how to play. Mobley can play with them as long as he just stands there and shoots 3's and penetrates when he knows he can. I don't mind having Mobley isolate and go on his man 1 on 1 as long as he makes the shot. Same with Taylor. Now why even bother giving it to Cato down low??? What happened to those days with alleyoop passes to Cato...I think Cato can score if they get him involved. Francis..I don't know..he was just horrible tonight. We have plenty of good role players who can shoot and somewhat play defense...and they hustle. Yao should be our primary go-to guy in most cases. But yes..I wish the Rockets moved the ball like the Kings or Mavericks or Jazz...and remain not as "blithe" as them.
Sometimes even garbage players can be better than Steve Francis, you know why??? Cuz garbage players even though they are not athletic, they play within the rules and play fundamentally. Francis has no fundamental whatsoever. He's a turnover-prone player. Streetballer is what he is. Not a PG, not looking to assist and help better the team. Also garbage players can be better than him because garbage players don't let things get into their mind like Steve does. When someone like Wood in Portland can get into your head and messed up your game and concentration, it shows Steve have a long way to go. You see, the good players are able to block these distraction out of their mind and able to concentrate on the game. Steve, if he can't block this thing out and respect opponents like Lopez and not taking them likely, then he's not a true superstar caliber player.
What a Way to Ruin Thxgiving Here's a classic game where with both teams over the limit, it PAYS to get to the line. SF has that ability to do just that but does he get to the line??? NO! ARGHHH!!!!! Where is he when we need him during crunch time! Raul Lopez made SF look like a rookie. theSAGE
To clarify in advance...I didn't see tonight's game... ...having said that, I honestly believe that, if selfishness means putting individual goals ahead of the team winning, Steve is not selfish. I think that he just doesn't know how to lead a team, and when push comes to shove, he thinks that him taking over is the surest way to winning. But from everything I hear from those around the Rockets, Steve cares more about winning than anything else, he just doesn't know how. The seeds for losses like this are planted in every victory which has resulted from Steve taking over.
It was Raul Lopez and Mo Williams... I think the Rox have basically one play: SF (the PG) brings ball up, Cato (4) sets a pick for Mobley (2) who cuts to the right wing; Cato (4) rolls over to pick SF's (1) man, and then rolls to the basket. Stevie (1) dribbles to the top of the key or the left wing, dumps it into Yao (5). Jimmy (3) is on the same side in case of double team to drain a 3 or short range jumper. I know that Yao is the focal point of the offense, and that JVG is a defensive-minded coach, but there are plenty of other sets to run to optimize everyone's talents on the team. JVG just seems to be trying to get them to buy into defense first and then try to implement more offensive sets...so that means that when a play breaks down or the team gets frustrated, they revert.
it looks like after each good team basketball game, we don't do so well in the next one.. we play good team ball one night, and totally lack that the next. bleh we have 3 more chances. we'll school them at home. no doubt
Ego...arrogance...it seems like everyone has his career game against the Rockets for some reason... Turnovers and fouls are our main problems. Rebounding as well..as a team..I think we can rebound well. It's usually just one man that's letting his man get an offensive rebound. And when going for the rebound..like 3 of our guys all jump for it still..which isn't bad...as long as they don't turn it over! A good point guard should know when to pass and when to shoot! I don't know..if we want to win, we need some replacements...or some attitude adjustments...
I think SF IS Selfish Selfishness manifests itself when a person's ego gets the better of him. If you buy my argument that SF tries all the harder when he is getting shown up on the floor and that SF is more prone to making mental mistakes when he's intent on going after his opposing player, then you see how SF's ego keeps getting the better of him. If there's any player who can create his own game, it should be SF! But the turnovers are just unacceptable. What kind of assist/turnover ratio is it when you have 8 TOs??? madmadmadSAGE
Hey, Hey, Hey Don't put too much blame on SF3, Yao sucks tonight also and he should share the same blame. Actally the whole team seems all sleeping except Pike
Your right, ivanyy2000. I'm just sooo frustrated right now. That Portland loss hurt. This loss hurts more. SF has to live up to his nickname and be the franchise. How can we lose this??? Ans: stupid selfish play. theSAGE
Sage... email me thru the board if you would, I have a question for you. depressed about this loss...
Sorry MacBeth Our established Guards are still playing a selfish Game! There is no mistake about it.Also Dribble Mania is still alive and we have three Guards that love to dribble. I thaught Yao Ming was slow at making his move but our Point Guard is just as bad. Regarding Steve Francis I cant believe that such a great player could play so badly in the last two games, I wonder whats going on?
Done. ----------------------- ASIDE - If I were JVG, I'd be pretty mad right around now Stats don't tell the whole picture. The entire night, w/ the exception of Cato, where was the boxing out on defense? Inasmuch as MoT had a decent offensive stat line, he was practically invisible on defense against AK. Net, net, did MoT win the battle at the forward position? I doubt it. And despite the streak of free throws, did Yao win the battle of the centers? I doubt it. But the worst thing of all is SF's performance against Raul Lopez and even Williams. Hopefully, tonight will be a humbling experience to SF and get him mentally prepared for UNselfish play against Sactown. I really don't want to see Bibby and Jackson light him up two days from now. theSAGE
The Rockets' offense had in the first half degenerated into such a mess, that when Kirilenko tipped a missed Kelvin Cato free throw into the basket, Francis lobbied hard and shamelessly to be credited for the basket, as if he was uncertain if there were be another. How people can still believe francis isn't a selfish player after that is beyond belief.
None of us know how it is to be labeled the "Franchise". I'm sure Steve feels that he has to make something happen. I'm sure that plays a part in people's perceived selfishness in him. When Steve is trying not to be selfish, he looks for the homerun pass. Driving in and kicking out to a shooter, instead of passing to the shooter if he's open already...eg in the Utah game(Pike was open for a 3 on the left wing...Steve could have passed to him but elected to drive in, coax a foul, and finally kicking it out but not before being called for a travel...) Sometimes it's good to be passive and let teammates do the work...if they are sagging off of you, then you make them pay. Steve is trying to make things happen when the opposing defense is focused on him....
This is what I've always thought. Steve (and Mobley, to a lesser extent) is not selfish. He's just not very smart as to how best to win games. But Sage's take is worth consideration. If his ego gets into his way to play smart ball, then maybe we can call it selfish.
In the Phx agame Marbury was the one who tried to do it all. Steve just played his game, and even helped shut Marbury down in the second half. Marbury's ego goes far beyond STeve's. I agree to a certain extent with what MacBeth said. Steve has not habitually dribbled the ball into tripple teams this year. He gets the ball up court faster, passes more, and plays with much more control. I've noticed that a lot of Steve's TO's the past few games have come from offensive fouls. It's not even crazy dribbling or selfish desire for shots that cause those TO's. Does he always play smart? No way. Are there times when his bad habits show? Yes definitely. Does he need to improve? Yes. Is it fair to critique Steve? Definitely. I just think that the critique that Steve's selfishness gets in the way fits what people want to think of Steve, and not the reality of the situatioin. It would fit more into the stereotype of a brash young flashy guard who cares more about style than stubstance, and would be easy to stick Steve into that nice, neat, category, but it isn't the reality.
In critical times, why does SF take it upon himself and try to be the man of the hour? There are other players on this team that can contribute. Why wasn't the ball given to Piatowski when he had the hot hand? SF needs to focus more on the other players rather on himself.
