OK. Football (soccer) is a stupid analogy. In the majority of formations, only 2 of the 11 players are in a regular position to score. In fact, given the area of play available on a soccer pitch, it is unlikely that the playmaker, wherever they might play, will be the leading scorer, since he has to drop deeper to link the play. In actual fact Zidane is consistently on of the highest scoring midfielders in world soccer. I believe that he was France's top scorer when they won the World Cup in 1998. Bottom line, you are making some fairly sweeping criticisms of the Rockets point guard, even though the admit that you've only been watching the Rockets this year. So far, Yao has had a handful of below-par games, and a handful of good games. There isn't enough evidence to talk about 'an incredible learning improvement'. Hey, and I apologise if I came across as attacking you personally. Your post annoyed me, that's all.
Thank you for supporting my point! Zidane is a good soccer. However, he knows his top prierity is setting up players, which is also what he is best at. He does a worderful job of making that balance. Steve could thrive or even better than he is if he moves to SG. I know that steves has a winnning heart and so compatetive. But the coatch should know what is the best for the team! Averson is super star, i doubt more than 5 teams want him if he is tradable now. It is just matter of fitting team for the wining!
Did I say Ming is the leader? I am saying steves should move to SG if you want to win Now! and He could be even better. Why expose your lack of making palying by playing PG which requires much of passing ability, and do not take full advantage of your amazing athietisim by playing SG which requires more paternating, slashing and the like?
...and they just keep coming. Please see my post above BBEN, you were mentioned. I'm not even going to do you the honor of ripping into that dung heap that you call a post, but I must take a quick second to point something out to all of you Yao Ming fans who have recently jumped onto the Rockets bandwagon and have the nerve to come here and suggest that this team would be better w/o Steve: This team can not win or be successful w\o Steve. (fact) This team did win and was successful w\o Yao. (fact) This team is better with both players. (fact) Do you Yao Lovers look stupid when making comments like the ones above. (definite fact).
bben212, The "Francis to SG" is a regular on this board. There are several reasons why it won't happen: Francis wants to play point. He was drafted by Vancouver as a SG to play alongside Bibby, and he forced a trade. He's only an average defender at PG, and he's 6'3" opposing 2 guards would kill us. SF thrives with the ball in hands. He becomes less effective when he slides to the 2 in games at the moment. We don't have a starting-calibre PG on this squad. [/list=1]
If coach defers to his Super Star, that is a sad thing. I am not on Yaoming bandwangon. I even questioned his starting last night. From what I have observed(I used to watch Yao's games a lot in China), move the ball well and put Yao in motion if he gets pushed around. It will still take some effect. If steve keeps playing his style and Yao will be always out of postions and never get the ball and aways look ineffective. I am not saying Yao should be the focal point, it is even a good thing to bench him if he has a stamina problem or physical disadvantage. I just question Francis's leadership interms of winning and address the PG concern again because I want rockets win too. They are supposed to win more games and bring more fluid games rather than playing without much team sense.
Half the skill of being a professional coach is in dealing with the egos involved. I'm really not sure I understand your last post, but allow me to retort... Steve Francis is a winner. That is evidenced by the difference he made to an injury-ravaged squad last year when he played. Without him the Rockets were lost. He isn't John Stockton, or Magic, or Kidd. He's a scorer, but he wants to win every game he plays in. Two seasons ago (when I'm sure you weren't watching), the Rockets posted a 45 win season. They were around .500 coming into the All-Star break, but went on a run of good games after that. Know why? Because Hakeem came back from what as thought to be a serious injury, and started to show some flashes of his old self. SF didn't have any problems giving Dream the ball, or recognising when the team needed him to score. Francis can play with a dominant inside player. Wait and see.
Many things are being overlooked when the SF lovers only look at the stats. They should work in some stock trading companies. Where do you work Dr. Dunk??
OK lets see, if I read your statement correctly.... You mean that ONLY YOU may use stats to prove your point( 8 turnovers) but anyone who disagrees with you may not. That sounds a bit one sided......
I wouldn't criticize SF if those turnovers were forgivable. Please look at the tape again if you have one. Throughout the game, Calvin Murphy criticized him for those turnovers too.
jlaw, I am sorry, but you are getting really annoying. I really like Yao Ming, but you are turning your support for Yao Ming into some Anti-Steve-Francis-Campaign and that is just totally stupid. Please stop.
The 8 turnovers could definitely be improved on, but what really needs improving on is our ability to close out games. Lately we've stunk up the 2nd half of the 4th. I didn't see the Phoenix game, but people said we didn't play well at the end of that one. Someone brought up the point that we didn't play well at the end of the Lakers game, and I sited our shooting percentage & points scored in the 4th to combat that, however I did take notice that we had a 24 second violation and did look a little sad at points towards the end of the game. In Dallas, we slumped in the end. And now vs. the Clippers, our last 2 minutes cost us the game. We need to start executing in crunch time, or we're gonna start having lots of "moral victories" like we did last season, and we all know those don't count for diddly in the record books. That's not Steve under scrutiny, but it's the entire team (under Steve's leadership) under scrutiny. And to all those Yao Ming lovers out there, please don't bring another Rocket down to raise your favorite Rocket up. That's all I'm gonna say about that issue, and all I hope I should have to say.
That's what people have been trying to get across to you! How exactly is a turnover forgiveable? Is that why I can't find "stupid" and "non stupid" turnovers? Maybe I should be looking for "forgiveable" and "non forgiveable"?? Trust me, Steve has been criticized plenty for his turnovers, even by me, but try to stay away from blanket statements like "Steve has no leadership qualities" and then bust out his turnover statistics, because leadership can't be measured in any statistical category...
Ming had what, 3 TO in that game. Doesn't sound too bad, but he only touched the ball like 4 times Should we not give him a chance? That's what your line of thinking would say, but in the next game, Ming is still gonna play center and they are still gonna give him the ball down low. Damn, what happens to people when they make mistakes in China?
Well we are not talking about critizing the turnovers themselves...are we? You are questioning his leadership and your reasoning is based on those 8 turnovers....correct? Now stop me if I am off base. I have concerns about those turnovers too but alot of the turnovers are the result of learning how to setup your teamates and staying in control. I will admit that Steve needs to play within himself but it has already been proven that JKidd has turnover numbers very similar but you seem to think that they are forgivable because of who he is. Yet Steve has more rebounds, scores more points, and shoots a higher % than JKidd.....but damn that Steve Francis...he's no leader. Did I get it right?
Well, you can say whatever you want to say. I'm just saying the facts. The Rox desparately needs to play team basketball to win. But I'm not denying the merits and hardwork from SF. He is a great basketball player and he'll be one of the greatest. But his tendency of over dominating the ball and recklessly driving to the basket and knowing the risks of getting seriously hurt would damage the Rox very badly if one day he is not available for the team for whatever reasons, like injuring himself. And Yao is doing almost the opposite. Team comes first. He could give up his scoring for the team to succeed. And it is the balance that SF must achieve to reach the level he wants to be at.
The truth is that a fan becomes A team's fan mostly because he/she is a fan of one/two players on the team. There is no reason for a fan to become a fan of a team that has no players he/she likes. Having said that, a Yao-Only fan is for no reason annoying, for a Yao-Only fan is a Rockets' fan already, and they want the Rockets to win. To lose a game like the one yesterday is really annoying. Numerous mistakes have been made by both the coach and the guards. People like you think they are annoying because you don't see the problems with the team that they have seen. It's the stupidity of people like you that is annoying. Let me give you a hint as to what the problem is with Houston, just take a look at Lakers and Phil Jackson's coaching way. Let me make another statement to clarify this. I've never watched a Houston game last year, but almost missed none of them this year. The reason is that Yao is there. I never gave a damn whether Houston wins or loses in whatever ways last year, and I become excited and ANNOYED by this team this year. The reason is Yao. We want to see Houston win, and get so annoyed by their guardsssss. Steve is ok. And you can see him improving every game and trying to pass the ball more often. But that Moochie guy, what can I say! But of couse then, that is the coach's decision! Damn, I hate to see a loss like that.
hmm, leadership, hmmm... Right now, only SF is in a position of providing that. But, I sure don't want a team leader on the court just throw away the ball to EG, beginning jawing with opponents with play becomes rough. EG ended up travelling. From here, you can look at other aspect of the game. debate should not be WHO should be the leader, rather HOW can the person be a better leader. Hope this provide some perspectives.
Wooo, those are very strong comments. But please don't put me one the Yao Bandwangon list. Let's recheck the facts you listed: Was it true that this team is almost like #1 down from the bottom last year with SF( sorry, no Franchise bashing )? And was it true that this team won two Championships w/o Steve? Answer my question and eat your words and kiss the "dunkey"'s rear. If the "so-called" Yao lovers look stupid, what about yourself? We'd better put you on "The dumbiest Americans". Next time when you make strong comments like this, think twice before you do. Steve is a good player without question. But to win rings, you need Yao to get involved. Look at Lakers' story. Without Kobe, they will still get some rings. Without shaq, I don't think so. Don't make me call you Steve Lover.
