we have to be a little different than that now EVERYTEAM can run the seattle zone that hurt that team so much the THREAT of steve driving helps Rocket RIver
Yeah, but Steve isn't really a catch-and-shoot type of player. However, if you hit him on the run, he can drain it. Funny, huh?
I think SF3 has been shooting better than his stats indicate.. if he stopped taking the last shots of every quarter his 3pt FG% would probably look pretty decent right now.. I figure he only takes a few 3 ptrs a game so to waste it on end of Q shots (long heaves/ half court shots sometimes too) lowers your % more than it should. If you took those out of the equation he might be a decent 3 pt shooter this month. Im happy that SF3 is playing better and I hope his production really picks up even more to make sure we play well in the playoffs. J
43% from the field is still crap. I think we've seen too many years of Me Myself and Iverson, Baron Davis, and other Jack Meisters to realize this, but guards need to be at or near 44-47% overall from the field. Since when is 43% any good.
But it's easier to drive if your man knows you can hit the 3 . Besides, this team is loaded with guys who can drive - both Mobley and JJ are reasonably adept. And flat out driving with the ball is always minimized by the presence of a big man in the lane. Steve's skills just aren't complimentary. Slashing is another thing - but for whatever reason - be it the offense, or the some characteristic of Steve... he's not a great slasher.
"I liked the shot he missed at the end of regulation," Van Gundy said. "We played up there (in Toronto). I think Steve had two shots at the end of regulation, and both were wild on a similar type of play. Tonight, he was very poised. He got a great look at it, and the ball just went in and out. Steve's been playing well and extremely hard. When Steve plays with that energy, it really brings a great dimension to the team. I was very pleased with how he's been performing." - Jeff Van Gundy in today's Houston Chronicle. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2467019
IMO his steals in games crosses out turnovers in the stats sheet. Man, it would be sweet to see him average 6-7 assists a night.
Well I'm not sure if its possible for a player under 30 to have declining skills over the course of one offseason not due to injury, but I'm not sure if I'd pick either of those explanation. The other day, somebody cited the FT comparison, where Steve shot a bunch more FT's last year, I think that pretty much says it all. Steve, partially because of Yao being underneath,is shooting more jumpers this year rather than driving (and getting fouled and going to the line). That has an impact on both his scoring (less trips to the line) and his shooting % (lower % shots). What it doesn't explain is why his jump shot is mysteriously less accurate....I don't know about that, I think it may be just hesitance on his part and lack of confidence as to whether or not he is doing the right thing (what JVG wants) on a given play.
His jump shot is less accurate because he's expending more energy on defense and having to run a more complex offense. He's also throwing up a lot of last second shots which is partially his fault but partially the team overall. The thing I notice so much is how few cuts and pick and rolls are set. The passing may come with time, but I also think Gundy ball is a bit like this. He likes to slow the game down. He forces his players to play with such defensive intensity that they are spent on the offensive end. I mean, we all know the Rockets tend to start off hot and then fade. Is it because they aren't pacing themselvs as a team?
On the other hand, there are 26 point guards that have an adjusted field goal percentage of .471 or higher, while Steve clocks in at #50 behind such notable sharpshooters as Speedy Claxton, Baron Davis, Andre Miller, Jason Williams, and Antonio Daniels.
Like some people suggested earlier ... Steve's FG% is low because he heaves up the last shot of every quarter. Makes you wonder who throw up the last second desperation shots for all other teams? Maybe those other PGs are smart enough to pass the rock to some dumb, unsuspecting teammates so those guys can get the low FG% instead ... On that thought, maybe, Steve has also caught on ... He insisted on inbounding the ball in the last second of regular time in the Toronto's game and made Boki heaves it up instead!
Man I can't believe Baron Davis has a higher % than Francis. That stinks. I guess I'd still rather have Steve though.
i assume you mean overall, not just steve. it's a combo of overall skill going up but shooting being slightly worse and defenses being much better and more sophisticated along with more defensive type players playing. players today are better than players from yesteryear (that's the way it is in all sports, bigger faster stronger better) but people do miss more open jump shots than they used to. of course, there are far less open jump shots to be had. as for steve shooting 35%, that is perfectly acceptable. i mean if he started shooting 40% i wouldn't complain, just like i wouldn't mind if jj started shooting 50% on 3's, but 35% is at least average. lots of guys shoot 35% and at that point you are at least not a liability. while it would be great if everybody was right up around 40%, if steve shot 35% like he has for his career (iirc) instead of the horrendous 28% of this year we would have much less to worry about. for comparisons sake, from 93-94: horry 32.35% smith 40.4% cassell 29.6% maxwell 29.8% elie 33.5% from 94-95: horry 37.89% smith 42.9% cassell 33.0% maxwell 32.4% elie 39.8% we were actually a 33% 3 pt shooting team i think in 93-94 so if steve is shooting 35% while the 2 and 3 hit about 40% i think we'd be doing alright.
When you say, "skill" I think you really mean "athletic." To me, "skill" is learned technique. And does not rely solely on a natural athletic gifts/strength training. I also think you underestimate this learned technique and its impact on the game as a whole... The farther back you go from the current league the better the shooting. So, lets say from 1975 until now...a gradual change....You will find that players took more time learning the skills of shooting and understanding team ball. The reason people call todays NBA a "defensive game" is because "no one can shoot anymore." Why? Because it's not celebrated. Dunks are. Athletic ability is. So, of course defense will stand out if offense (shooting and team play) has eroded. I mean, you can't tell me that the Celtics, Rockets, 76ers and the Lakers of the 80 didn't play defense. They played great defense (backcourt and frontcourt). It's just that their team offense and *shooting skill* was actually a requirement for players. They concentrated on these skills sets it in H.S. and college so that when they got to the pros they were more prepared. A lot of today's young stars are not prepared. They are athletically, but not skill/technique wise. Now, as for your last sentence...lets look at it. You said, "but people do miss more open jump shots than they used to." At least you acknowledge on that. So, you agree that players today miss more open shots than yesteryear, right? That means that if players of the past could hit their open shots, wouldn't' their contested shots go in more consistently too? Then compared that to a player today that missed OPEN shots, but also has contested shots to deal with. And don't tell me it's because they play such good defense today. Not all teams play D like the Rox/Pacers. And if defense is played so well, based on todays speed and quickness (better athletes), then why can't that same speed and quickness be applied offensively in order to get open shots which would defeat the "improved defense?" Thus, I wouldn't expect a player today that can't his his open shots consistently, to hit his contested shots any better....regardless of how good you think the defense has improved. Second part...you said, "of course, there are far less open jump shots to be had." Ok, why? It's not because of league wide defense or *great athletes* that exist now that didn't exist in the past. It's because of a love affair with the ISO and a reliance on athletic ability, rather than shooting skill and knowledge of the whole game (team play). In the past, players of "average" athletic ability could still get their shot of even though a tough defender was guarding them. How? They used their TEAM. They used P&R. They used screens. They learned the game. And then, when they did get an open look, wa-la! They *had* decent enough shooting skill to hit it on a consistent basis. And if a player of the past was athletically gifted (a "star") and had an advantage, he STILL USE HIS TEAM to get most of his shots. That's called, "knowing the game." The "superstars" of yesteryear used their teammates more often than today's players even if they could be quite comfortable getting their "STATS " without them. But it pays off in the long run to use your team, and not rely on solely on ones own "athletic speed and quickness (That's been Francis's problem for his career)." Today, even if a player was to get open, their shooting is soooo crappy that they miss it regardless (By the way, not all shooters today are bad. There are some. But they are rare). Don't get me wrong. I do believe that strength and conditioning has improved since the 70's and 80's. Sports medicine and treatment has also improved. I remember feeling the same way in the mid-80 compared to the 70's. But the NBA is a microcosm in the world of sports. The NFL, MLB and NHL have suffered LESS in regards to lack of skills. The reason is because the NBA starting unit is just 5 guys. So, it's much easier to inherit a "star player's" good AND bad habits/lack of skills, etc... (in the NBA). The team takes on a persona of that player much easier than say an NFL roster. Or a MLB roster. Those other sports are forced to rely on TEAM much more just due to the fact of the number a team roster is comprised of. The NBA is not so "lucky." They are only 5 guys on the court. So, the effect a players skill level will be much more evident and immediate in the NBA.
His jumper is not less accurate. Charvo found the stats that say he's not hitting less of his jumpers, he's just taking more jumpers this year than last.
1.76 asst/to ratio is average, but much better than the formerly 1.2 he carried through this year....... those 4 tos seem to be unforced, stupid plays too...so I know he can cut these down to 3......that would be ideal....you cannot complain about these numbers....shows his all around game....lets hope he keeps it up in April
No, a 2.25 asst/to ratio is average. A 1.76 is less horriffic than a 1.2, I'll give you that. For Steve, although we should be asking for SPECTALCULAR since we're paying him spectacular money, I would HAPPILY settle for a very average 2.25 ratio.
