I agree with you. I think Steve Francis is not distributing the ball very well. One good example, just look at the loss they served to Memphis. During OT, there was 12 seconds left on the clock. When Yao set that pick for Stevie at the top of the arch and then he went inside, he was WIDE OPEN!!! All SF had to do was just pretend like he was going for the 3 and then dish it into Yao in the last second. That way, the would've cut the lead down to only 1 point, still with 12 seconds left..more than enough time to make a defensive stop and come back. However, he had to take the dumb shot and I guess we all know the rest of the story...*sigh* It's dumb plays like that which makes me frustrated. If it was someone like Kobe, he would've definitely dished it into Shaq and left him dunk it home.
tothomas, best post in this entire god-awful thread. - Way, way, way too early to give up on the season or this team. - Like him or not, KT is HANDS DOWNthe best overall F on the team right now. As for SF, granted, Rice probably shouldn't be starting, but who else can man the position? Boki's not ready, Eddie's not a SF (and is a year away), Hawkins (hate to say it) can't shoot, so that leaves TMo, which is neither good or bad. And since we're being honest: - Wait until defenses actually prepare for Yao Ming before we start preparing his Hall of Fame campaign. Teams still seem to treat him as a complimentary offensive player, and haven't seen enough of him yet to form a way to defend him. Personally, as with all finesse, offensive-minded Cs, I think you have to be rough with him, frustrate him. No one's really done that, yet. And he's played all of 1 game (SA) and 1 quarter (in Seattle) where he truly carried the team. Yeah, he scored 20 in LA to spoil Kobe's monster night, but he was more of a spark. I'm just glad he was there and ready to play. Ditto for the Toronto game. You never know, he may struggle mightily if teams start zoning him like they did Dream. Has Yao seen a double team, yet? (FWIW, I think he'll be great even after teams REALLY start to pay attention to him on defense.) - Wrote it once, will write it again: Cat could be devastating if he would play off the ball more and handle less. - Steve has been underachieving on defense for his entire Rockets career, but it took 2 disappointing losses for some of us to realize this?! I'm still a big fan of his, and I wouldn't trade him for any other PG in the league, but he needs to step up his entire game, let Iverson try to out-gun people.
Unfortunately I am stranded here in NYC without Rocket games on the tv so I can't give my two cents from observation. However, I am rather curious about a few conflicts I noticed. In regards to Stevie's D I am really confused. Sports Ill.'s season preview (which rated the d of each team's starting 5 using green light, yellow light, or red light for best) gave Stevie a Red light and said he was becoming an exceptional stopper. I was just reading a scouting report on ************** and it said "Defense? Not Gary Payton yet, but approaching..." Now understand, I don't take this as the gospel to be sure, and have not had much experience with this site and have a pretty keen ear for audacious hyperbole BUT, excellent D (supported by the SI report) and the stuff you guys have been saying seem to conflict. What's the real deal? I'll say he looked lousy on sportscenter letting J Will get by him so easily and shoot such a high % that game, but Stevie's rep has always been decent at worst and his steals numbers have always been pretty good. On his heels? You don't need Greg Anthony to tell him to stay on the balls of his feet - not his toes silly - a wee bit of coaching ought to change that. This is not to say that I wouldn't LOVE having Anthony in town. I'm a big, big fan. In regards to EG - yeah, needs much time. I'd be nice for him to step up and make the starting role his own, but it just ain't gonna happen for a while, most likely not until next year. He's a low price high upside guy, ridiculous to speculate about trading him for anything they could realistically get in return. As for Rice starting, well I can tell you from when he was stinking it up in NYC and NOT starting that he b****ed about it every single day in the papers, became a real cancer. And anyway, he seems to be making an effort on D which was always my problem with him. In Mobley and KT there seems to be a slight dilemma. I can't comment fully on Mobley fitting or not fitting into the offensive flow from observation, but frankly I've NEVER read anything about him in these posts or any other source that DOESN'T complain about his dominating the ball. That being said, he can put the ball in the hole at an allstar level, if nothing else. Mobley has all the ability in the world and certainly has the potential (depending upon his learning curve) to step up to the plate and become someone who might escape critical clutchcity postings - right now he just doesn't seem to be that player. KT is a hard working player, seemingly a good teammate without the ability to do much more than he has done (and you gotta know he's come a ways from his 260lbs low post undergrad days). The problem is that both of these guys really fit the bill for top level 6th men. As starters, neither seems to fit (right now). But I see Rudy's problem. You don't give up on a player of Mobley's talent because he doesn't quite fit in, especially when Rudy aptly says that the ENTIRE TEAM doesn't really fit yet, because of injuries and inexperience playing together. KT on the other hand, give him some credit, he's holding down the fort, warts and all, without another viable option to play 30 + minutes at the 4. Next year it will be EG backed up by the soft, flabby, ubertalented, perpetual underachiever MoT at the 4. KT will be gone, signed to an extravagent contract by the Knicks. Rice will retire after knee and hip replacements and the team will be a year older, with a leaner and healthier roster with Boki and Tito getting into the rotation - then they'll bring in a 60 year old Mario Ellie to really kick some ass and all will be well. I'm all ready to purchase tickets for the 2004-2005 championship, just got to have patience and appreciate that it's going to take some time. Look, I pray for a championship EVERY year, but a 7th, 8th (maybe 6th) ranking this year in the playoffs and some good experience there, that's what can be reasonably expected. Sorry to drag on for so long, I'll try and be more concise in the future. Mike
