And I think your bulls fandom is causing you to go out of your way and shoot down anything positive that is said about the Rockets, whether it's in the media or on the BBS. I'm assuming it's bitterness, you have been all over the Rockets since your boy Brand got sent our West.
<i>those points <b>never</b> lead to wins when Shaq isn't playing. </i> I seem to remember a playoff game or two where he took the team on his back and single-handedly lead them to victory...
Kobe played in a grand total of zero playoff games without Shaq. He played one half of an overtime without Shaq, and managed to score 8 points. Single handedly leading the team the victory? Hardly. A nice performance, granted, but the Lakers wouldn't have been in the playoffs without Shaq.
Make no mistake. Vince is the overrated one, not Kobe. Kobe is the best backcourt in the NBA. You have to have seen the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Championship to see what he did. I'm a huge fan of Francis, and I love the Rockets. But seriously, Kobe for Francis? No one turns this down. I'd trade Francis and mobley for Kobe cause Kobe and Moochie are a better backcourt than Francis and Mobley. But I have to say, Francis and Mobley is better than Nash and Finley, is better than Marbury and Penny (these two WILL NOT co-exist) and would win the title if playing with Shaq. Sorry they're not Mercer and Greg Anthony, backed up by Guyton (?), but, I think they'll do alright.
Once again, English seems to baffle you. I already stated that I asked her without giving her any information...just, "how would you interpret..." and then when she answered, I said, "what about (your interp)?" She answered, and then asked why...I told her, she rolled her eyes at me. Anyway, this is pointless...even you have only given three backcourts that might be better than the Rockets...still making them "one of the best." I'm out...you are just being silly. Go to sleep.
Im a H.S. coach and know zone defenses well. If I am an opposing coach I don't go zone against the rockets. I really dont think the rockets will see alot of zone. I would however use zone d myself against bigger stronger post players to try to take away some of the advantage inside. A 2-3 or 2-1-2 may work to try to "pack in the d" against some teams. I can't wait to see what teams do with the zone this year.
Thanks for putting your answer to the zone defense question. The 86' Sonics played such good team defense against Hakeem, even when he was at the top of his game, that I'm hopeful that the team can use the zone to neutralize the dominant forwards.
Kobe and Moochie are a better backcourt then Francis and Mobley!? You have to be kidding me! Francis and Mobley are both capable of taking over a game, getting to the glass and rebounding, and handling the ball. Only Kobe is capable of taking over a game. Moochie is a solid PG, a solid BACKUP PG. I would take Francis and Mobley over that backcourt any day of the week. You can't tell me that if you dropped Shaq on the Rockets they wouldn't dominate the way the Lakers did. Nobody knows what Kobe is capable of doing without Shaq. Yeah people post "he had great games when Shaw went down", so did Corie Blount a few years ago, do you want him on your team? Our backcourt is one of the best in the NBA, and I wouldn't trade Francis for Kobe because it's easier to build a franchise around a PG then around a SG. Especially when you already have an explosive, and dominant 2-guard.
Kobe is PERHAPS the best guard in the league. However, Cat and Franchise are the best tandem bar none. Don't fool yourself. Shaq is the key not Kobe. If you put Shaq on any team, that team would immediately be one of the favorites to win the championship. Can you say the same thing about Kobe? I don't think so.
gettinbranded: I seem to remember a playoff game or two where he took the team on his back and single-handedly lead them to victory... Yeah, and I remember a few playoff games where he played like total sh*t. And I don't recall any playoff game where Kobe single-handedly led the Lakers to a victory (ala Jordan or Hakeem). I've seen him have some huge games (more like quarters), but then again......I've seen Robert Horry do the same thing. You mean to tell me that you would want the rockets to turn down a Francis for Kobe straight up trade? I sure would. I'm not saying Francis is better, but at least I know he can be the #1 option on his team and lead them to a victory. Kobe without Shaq has shown me that he can score a lot while the Lakers lose. Also, I know Stevie wouldn't b**** about playing second fiddle to the league's most dominant player. Sane: Make no mistake. Vince is the overrated one, not Kobe. Kobe is the best backcourt in the NBA. You have to have seen the Western Conference Finals and the NBA Championship to see what he did. Man, the Spurs sure did have great guards, not to mention their best one was injured.
Let me first say that I hate Kobe Bryant but, that being said, he is the most skilled player in the NBA. Shaq is the most dominant, but Kobe is the most skilled. His combination of body frame, athleticism, shot, range, smoothness, moves, ballhandling, desire, and defense make him the most skilled player in the NBA. Just because y'all think he doesn't win w/o shaq, remember when you lose the most dominant player in the game and have to change the game plan so drastically, even the Lakers have trouble. Pretend that instead of shaq, you simply placed a serviceable center on the Lakers and Kobe would dominate and the Lakers would contend. As much as I hate the Lakers and Kobe, I won't deny that Kobe is the best player in the game.
As good as Kobe is, Fisher's just a marginal starter in the NBA - that backcourt is NOT as good as a backcourt that boasts 2 players who are capable of scoring 30 on any given night; two players who average just under 20ppg each. When you play against the Lakers you know that you need a great defensive player at the 2 to slow Kobe down a bit (among other things). When you play against the Rockets you know that you're going to be under seige from the 1 and 2 spots and that you're going to need 2 great defensive players or get smoked by either Francis or Mobley. For mine that takes out the Lakers in the equations of which team has the best backcourt - theirs just doesn't ask as many questions of the opposition as the Rockets does. It's like suggesting that a frontcourt of Shaq and Darvin Ham is better than a Tim Duncan/ Rasheed Wallace combination. Sure Shaq dominates, but Ham just doens't bring much to the table. As for Hardaway/ Marbury - it'll be interesting to see two things about that combination. 1) how well Hardaway plays after 15 seasons on the sidelines 2) how well Marbury manages to play team basketball and co-exist with Hardaway.
Your right. I would turn down that trade in a heartbeat. Francis is better than Kobe in too many ways. Plus Francis does a much better job of making players around him better. Look at Terrence Morris at Maryland, without Francis on the court he dropped 30% in points, rebounds and more.
As has already been pointed out, Bryant's stats and performance are skewed from playing with Shaq. He is not, I repeat is not, the primary focus of the defense. Francis and Mobley are both the primary focus of the defense for the Rockets, and they still put up the numbers. They are the best backcourt in the NBA. Can you imagine what kind of numbers they would put up if teams were double and triple-teaming a post player on the Rockets? That's what it's like when you play for the Lakers. Drex -- I'm curious as to why you would say that. Are you trusting your players to stay with Francis and Mobley 1-on-1? Or would you just aggressively trap them, in which case you are still leaving people open. I think I would definitely use a zone against the Rockets, because they've only got one spot-up 3-pt shooter in Rice, and he's a question mark with his health.
I'm sorry, Rockets fans, but turning down a Kobe-Stevie trade is a little too homerish. Nobody in their right state of mind would turn this trade down outside of Houston. Did anybody watch the playoffs last year, and the job Kobe did on his opponents. Dunking over the twin towers, blowing by defenders, nailing threes in the opponents faces? Kobe is on another level, and I hope Stevie can reach that level someday. As far as choosing backcourts, I would say I'd rather have Kobe and Fisher over Mobley and Francis, just because of Kobe. I'm very high on Mobley, but he's still erratic and his selfish play must stop before it leads to his own undoing.
Erm; Say what you want about Walt Williams, but that man can nail an open 3 pointer. Steve Francis has shown on many occasions that he's an excellent shooter from range; and there's little doubt that Mobley would pull the trigger on a 3 given the chance. Kenny Thomas is a bit streaky, but if he's on he'll be in the game and shoots the ball well from range - Collier is definitely in the same basket. Dan Langhi has a very smooth stroke (although he prefers to take long 2's, they are as available as a 3 is against a zone). Morris would also be classified as a streaky shooter, but surely he or KT or Moochie has to be shooting well at any given time, which provides another solid option with the open look. Play zone against the Rockets and I think you get torched. Of course man is not much better an option - I guess it's pick your poison.
