And Francis couldn't secure a starting position on these lottery teams? These teams couldn't use an "all star" talent? I mean if he can't start for a lottery team it is questionable at best to think he will lead us any where. Certainly I hope he does well, and I do think that for the money he was a risk worth taking. Of course if we lose our only low turn over traditional PG in Alston in the process then it becomes a significantly more risky move because at that point we WILL be counting on Francis regardless of what he is being paid. My main concern is that over the course of Steve's career he has been statistically best when dominating the ball, and on a team with Yao and TMac I don't see how that makes for a particularly good fit. If you just ask him to sit back and distribute and take open shots created by other players you certainly are not playing to his strengths.
Sure less of a role will mean less turnovers... and less points, assists, rebounds, steals. Point being if he is going to play a similar role to Rafer last year (ie only shoot when wide open and distribute the ball) then Rafer is better than Steve at that role. For all the grief Rafer gets for his 3 point shooting, Steve's shooting % from 3 is lower for his career. So expecting our shooting % to significantly improve with Francis rather than Alston is certainly not a given even if the amount of points does improve some. Don't get me wrong, I fully expect Steve to be vastly superior to Rafer in 1 vs 1 scoring situations, I just question how many times we want Steve taking those type of scoring attempts rather than passing to TMac, Yao, Scola, ect. As a bench player I fully support Francis as an option. As a starter I am significantly less excited.
One thing that i know about steve is that he plays in mood swings. He got traded to orlando, he plays great until mobley get traded, then he just sulk and mop until orlando trade him as well. At knicks, he played with starbury, both of them try to pass the ball so much that it hurts each other game, as both of them are pretty bad shooters. Then come curry who played the best ball he have in years, and steve starts getting injured again. Portland who are trying to build a new team around oden, ship out randolph, and to make the money match, francis go to portland in that trade. And they made a decision to cut him, when they never even seem him play for them, infact, there was not even a press conference to welcome francis. The way it came out, it looks like portland ship out randolph, get frye and cut some salary. Thats the reason francis got "ship out" from 3 clubs. Official statement made by portland, Also on Wednesday, the Trail Blazers requested waivers on Francis after reaching a contractual buyout agreement. Per team policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed. "This move will provide us greater financial flexibility as we continue to build a successful team for years to come," added Pritchard. http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Trail_Blazers_Acquire_James_Jo-231434-1218.html
It just amuses me to read so many fans here pile on Rafer as if he were the worst PG in the league and yet these same people have this fairy tale vision of Francis where he has the atheleticism from his first stay in Houston and magically increased his basketball IQ and general PG skills because he is older. They pile on Alston's poor 3 point shooting and seem oblivious to the fact that Francis has a worse 3 point % for his career. They remember the high light dunks from the last Francis stay, but forget the inability to run a simple two on one fast break. They remember the last second 3 pointer for the win, and forget the ball dribbled off his leg for the loss. I think Francis will help us this year, but alot of the fans here seem to have unrealistic expectations on just how much help he will provide. As a bench player providing depth he is a spectacular pick up. As a starter at point guard I would rate him average at best.
I am very happy to have Steve Francis back but one things for sure he better not mess up T-MAC's game. My hope/prediction 07-08 Steve Francis 15.8 ppg 2.4 apg 1.3 spg Tracy Mcgrady 25.8 ppg 6.9 apg 5.9 rpg Yao Ming 19.3 ppg 10.2 rpg 2.3 bpg I think we could have a really good trio if things go right
if francis averages 15 5 and 5 itll be at the expense of yao and t-mac. this guy isnt a veteran. veterans bring knowledge and experience. francis brings dribble diarrhea and no brain. he can't even run a pick and roll. brooks will be starting by mid season i guarantee it.
Sounds like a challenge I guarantee it will not matter SF will be either our 3rd or 4th leading scorer and will be more important to this team than anyone not named YAO or TMAC Rocket River
Steve still has a little athleticism left but he doesn't have it like he did when he came into the league. Steve should be given a chance to prove that he can blend into the TEAM concept,he adds depth which was needed,he can break people down and get to the basket,he just has to realize that he isn't the only guy on the floor for his team.Steve doesn't consider that there are 4 other guy's,his brain has never worked like this,he plays as if he is playing 1 on 5 or maybe 2 on 5 if he has a player that thinks the game similar to how he does like a cuttino mobley where the two of them would be playing 2 on 5 and totally not considering the other 3 guy's when they were together. Steve has to really learn to move the ball and not with a slight hesitation but move the basketball without strings. Steve can't hold on to the basketball and stop the flow and stall the offense with the mind set of taking them going 1 on 5. Steve must learn to move without the basketball and use his athleticism to to get open and score easy buckets. Steve needs to get rid of the basketballl runiing fast breaks 4 on 1, 3 on 1,3 on 2. He needs to stip thinking about dribbling and use the pas to advance the break. Steve basically needs to stop dribbling so darn much and learn to share the game.BY SHARING THE GAME good things will come to him and he will be able to maximize his talents for the whole as well as himself. Steve can be deadly running the pick and roll if he learns to use his teamamtes. By using his teammates steve can cut down his turnovers and get better looks and become a real triple threat. Steve is best suited coming off the bench in the bobby jackson role if he cannnot learn to share the ball freely wthout the strings attached. He must learn to spread the energy without subtely really in his heart craving to dribble the basketball and look for his OWN.
Yao will most definitely get more then 19.3, it will be closer to 25. About that 10.2 rpg..... i really hope he could do that, but with better rebounders around him, i be happy if he have 9rpg and not that 6.5 rpg he average in the final 2 games in the playoff.
Thats what is gonna happen even if alston gets traded or not. francis is a combo guard. if alston goes, i'm pretty sure james will start at the PG. even if alston stays, james will play as he's backup around 25 minutes a night. Alston/James Tracy/Francis Battier/Bonzi Scola/Hayes Yao/Butler or Moutombo if ha re-signs
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Rafer will get traded. He is the only player earning enough salary to dump so the Rockets can get under the luxury tax and it will not hurt the team. Adelman will not use Steve as a shooting guard when he has McGrady, Bonzi, Luther, and Kirk. James will be a backup, but to Francis, not Rafer. PG: Steve/Mike/AB SG: Tracy/Bonzi/Luther/Kirk SF: Shane/Tracy will interchange/Novak PF: Chuck/Scola/Landry (D-League) C: Yao/Deke/Butler
I agree. That's the lineup that I was thinking makes the msot sense too. Tracy and Shane are our best options at small forward. Novak can get the rest. Tracy will split his time between sf and sg and Bonzi plays his best at sg. Head would be good to get the rest with his awesome shooting. Steve should start, James back him up and Brooks come in to as a sparkplug if either falters. I would still feel more comfortable if we brought in a guy like Foster... and have the power forward lineup be Foster (or vet)/Scola/Hayes and have Landry on the inactive list.
pg: franchise, mike, brooks sg: t-mac, head, kirk sf: shane, bonzi, novak pf: scola, chuck, laundry c: yao, deke, butler not all those players will be active but i imagine that is wat the line-up will be.
Good news! Look at my ID name SF3,my best favourite. With this status,I think he can top his summit if he can avoid his injury problem.
Funny but this one is directly related to the NBA and has a cameo from Shaq at the end lol. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vybfyv4jyDk"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Vybfyv4jyDk" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
In the press confrence morey pretty much said Francis is gonna play a role bobby jackson played in sacramento . that tells me he will be a combo guard off the bench.
