Should Francis start or be the spark off the bench?

I'd have to see both scenarios to make a decision ...

But from what I've seen, the new Steve Francis would seem to fit fine in a starting role (though I doubt Adelman will allow it). He's passing a lot more and not iso-ing much at all.

But on the other side, a part of me likes the idea that Francis will be the #1 option, coming off the bench and just constantly driving to the hole and making plays. I'm not sure if he's capable of finishing the same way he was back in the day or not, but we'll have to see.

But I think it'll be a quite some time before Adelman cuts Rafer from the lineup. He seems to really like him as the starting pg.

 

I think that Francis should start because on the first instance the flor will be more spread for him as he is sharing time with both Tmac and Yao, so until the defense starts paying attention to him he can drive at will, after that Tmac and Yao will have more space themselves.

If Francis is played on the second unit 2 things can happen, first he won´t share the ball because he is selfish by default and he will be more selfish there. And second the defense will be focused on him not allowing him to perform the right way.

As for the second unit I would like Alston-James-Wells-Scola-Mutombo(yes, play him 10 mins at least).

The thing in this is try to have a good inside out combination in both units, having Yao-TMac/Francis and Scola-James/Wells in the other, both inside out with capable penetrators. (I would like Bonzi replaced with a shooter if he continue to perform as he is performing)

 

I have the feeling by the end of the season our big three will be:

Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady and Luis Scola.

 

Why wont we trade MJ ??? MJ is much worse than Rafer in my point of view, when he holds the ball, the whole team is suddenly losing the rythm.

 

because no other team would want that

 

summed up perfectly. exactly when has francis proven at any point that he can orchestrate the offense? never, that's when. we dont need another scorer in the starting 5, we need someone to make sure tmac and yao get their touches as well as someone who can actually facilitate the offensive game plan.

ps - i am perfectly fine with francis taking the bulk of rafers minutes outside of the starting role... especially with the way rafer has played lately.

 

Think you're all missing the point that Rafer is comparable with a WNBA player
Ticha Penicheiro =/< Rafer Alston

I dont think that low of him, thats wrong. Still WHY did the Rockets front office have a change of heart and keep Alston? They really didnt bring all those guys in to "push" Alston did they? Or, WHY must the team protect his starting spot? I just dont get it...anyways

Francis still needs to show he's starter enough and shouldnt be handed anything, I agree. Decrease Alston's minutes, increase Steve's and eventually he SHOULD outperform Alston. The team has more glue players than it does actual good players in starting lineup and it should be the opposite. If he doesn't make the team "gel together" then he's at very least an igniter off the bench. And screw a "9" man rotation if you have a 10th guy that has near All-Star talent.

 

I don't want Mike James starting... I'd prefer to see him with reduced minutes... and as for Rafer... he needs o be bought out or put at the end of the bench... so yes... I think Steve should be givin a starting role and allowed to pick up game fitness and blend in with whatever offence RA has made for the team!

 

Anything that gets Rafer as far away from the playing court as possible is ok with me.

DD

 

As much as Rafer sucks, he is still the best at delivering the ball and controlling the pace among our unfortunate collection of PGs

 

I would agree with you but we have not seen two of our PGs have that opportunity with the starters yet.

Steve Francis and Aaron Brooks.

So, saying Rafer is best, is a bit unproven.

But we do know that the other teams leave him WIDE open for a reason...



DD

 

Actually, I think it would be interesting to see if Alston can run the 1 guard and Francis the 2 guard. Move T-Mac to the 3 and use Scola/Hayes at the 4 with Deke and Yao at the 5. Bonzi/James can be the subs at the 1/2 positions. Battier can play some PF/SF relief role.

Too many glue guys without any steady scoring punch which is why I favor putting Francis at the 2 and let Alston set the plays up. Francis needs the ball and he should be the penetrating guard. Alston can't penetrate like that but he can handle the rock and dish. Seems to me they might actually be complimentary players unlike the Marbury/Francis tandem. James has not been so effective lately. He is not in the Francis mold of basketball player. James likes to shoot the three and penetrate but he can't get to the rim as effectively as Francis. He also doesn't pass off as well.

 

and the best at missing wide open J's. Everytime he jacks up a 3, I cringe. I say start Steve. What have we got to lose?

 

The problem is Steve is not exactly a reliable 3 point shooter either

My ideal is to see him and Scola be the core of the second unit when Yao and Mac goes to the bench. Everybody knows he's most potent when he has the ball and the freedom to do what he wants with it

This does not say that I do not think Rafer is a joke

 

Oh no, do not get your hope too high on Brooks. It's just my feeling that people who hopes Brooks to be the future of our pg will be very disappointed in the end. Defensively he will always be very deficient due to his size, which means he should not be a starter. But his forte is in passing and shooting 3's, not in scoring ala Iverson, which means there's little value bringing him off the bench.

so, I don't see much future for this kid. I don't understand Morey.

Perhaps AI is to blame for all the hopes people have been placing on small, fast guards. but there is only 1 AI

 

Having Steve on our starting lineup would make us absolutely deadly.. on paper. I don't know how that's gonna work out, especially when Tmac is on a slashing mood. We'd have 2 slashers bumping into eachother.

After seeing Francis get some burn, I think he'd be good in the second unit with MJ and Scola. They'd be fast as schiette. The only problem with that is.. none of them is a reliable 3 pt shooter.. especially not MJ. I'm really hoping that Novak develops his game quickly at the DL and comes back so he can get some run with our second unit to help spread the floor.

Is it possible to play Steve, MJ, AND Head together so we'll have an outside shooter? But damn are we gonna get burned on the defense. If we can play Steve/MJ/Rafer together like we did last night (although for maybe about 2 minutes) maybe we can insert Head in there too, instead of Rafer.

 

Bench

 

We need our Manu or Terry coming off the bench. Steve is the only one remotely close to having their ability of attacking the rim. Scola can be the offense facilitator for the second unit. Battier probably can play some minutes with the second unit as well and provide 3-point shooting. Leaving more minutes for Bonzi to play with the first unit. I like the tandem of Bonzi and Yao so much.

 

can i change my vote? >_< I messed up.

 

My opinion is that Steve would not fit in the starting line up, unless you slide out the normal 4 and go small. I don't see that happening.

I think Steve provides much more when Tracy and/or Yao are resting.