Well the hiatus is over and the honeymoon has ended. For my own sanity, I thought I’d post a few observations and see if I’m insane or RIGHT ON TARGET! After watching the Atlanta game, I wasn’t happy. After watching the Denver game, I’m still not happy. Something is not right with this team but I can’t quite put my finger on it…of course, I will take a shot. 1. Steve is not a point guard…period. I know all the Steve lovers (Cuttino included) will disagree and argue their point by saying he’s so talented. They’ll also show how he averages this many assists and this many rebounds. I look at it this. A pick and roll is an assist. A pass off the double team is an assist. A reckless drive to the hole and then dishing out some wild desperation throw out to some three point shooter is NOT an assist. Technically, I know it is…but not to me. To me it’s someone who’s NOT a point guard. To me, it’s an extremely talented shooting guard who has the athleticism to ‘get by’ as a point guard! 2. Steve does NOT have the point guard mentality…perhaps not even a really good basketball mentality. He rebounds well for a guard. SO WHAT!! WHO CARES?? I don’t want my point guard rebounding. EG, Cato and Ming are doing fine. Get out on the break and get some layups – STOP REBOUNDING! Basically, it’s a trust issue and it’s not there. This trust issue also spills over into his penetrations which have been horrendous. Can he not see those four guys RIGHT THERE?? Seriously, there’s FOUR defenders RIGHT THERE!! I’m kinda thinking…pass it? 3. Stop turning the ball over in every clutch situation. Let’s see…uhh…pass it? Granted, Hilario, Boykins, and Sura are known for their UNREAL defense but again – pass it to someone else. I was thinking about it and as DeNiro said in Cape Fear – “Let’s just break this down…no, no... Let’s just break this down!” Steve is the point guard for the Houston Rockets. However, Steve can’t pass. Also, Steve can NOT play a LICK of defense. Steve actually can’t dribble that well, shoot that well, post up a player (BOYKINS!!!), run a break that well, or finish that well when you actually think about it. Granted, he is an above average finisher. #3 is an AWESOME talent. He’s extremely athletic but what does any of that actually mean? Can he run this team? Seriously, can he? I mean, it’s been four years and neither him nor Cat have shown any REAL mental improvement. How long do we go before we demand that these players STOP doing high leg kicks as you cross half court and get the ball in play? Why does a hairdo get you a bobblehead but a midrange jumper doesn’t? Why do we sit and athletic, slashing SF who’s the future for a guy who can barely shoot, can’t play D, and will NOT be a Rocket at the end of this season? Steve is athletic. Kidd is smart. There’s a difference. I’m tired of the dunk – I want the pass and the win. Maybe I’m just a little frustrated. Eddie, Yao, Boki, TMO, Posey…they just seem like the right kind of players to me. Steve and Cuttino have a place on this team easily. Steve’s a 2 and Cat is a 6th man – done deal! Anyway, I’ve missed going to the games but still see them on Direct TV. I’ll be back in Houston in April and hopefully will be finding out about all the GREAT offseason moves that we’re going to make!
Well, he seems to be doing pretty well for a guy that can't pass, can't shoot, can't dribble, can't post up, and can't play defense... screw it, let's trade him...
Hey Doc, any possible trades this winter before the off season? I agree, and have posted about this myself... Is there any way we could get someone like Miller, since LAC probaby won't pay him what he's worth? And, would Steve ever move to SG? And, do you think LAC would trade Mobely (and whatever) for Miller? And, would Steve put up with losing Mobely, if he believed that was what it would take to pull off a championship?
Pretty well compared to what? A leader? Is his team ready to play? 20pts does not a point guard make. Steve could be one of the best. It's called disicpline and it usually comes in late 20's/ early thirties...or at least it will here. RIET said it better than I - "If you want to become a championship team, it's not going to happen with these players"
I also said it here http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=49484 We are 2 things away from being a contender. 1. Consistency at PF. Eddie needs to bulk up and refine his shooting. He needs to work on that line drive shot and make effective moves to the hole. He has a very athletic body but gets pushed around too much. A little muscle will come in handy. This I believe will happen as he matures. 2. A true PG. He doesn't have to be fantastic, he just has to drive the car.
Doc Rocket has spoken! I agree that something is "not right" with the team, but being the eternal optimist, I think that it will all improve as we play more together, grow older and more experienced (mainly Griffin and Yao), come up with more plays, and read defenses better through our plays.
Since you watch the Rockets on DirecTv you saw tonights game through the eyes of the Nuggets announcers. Bill Hanzlick hit the nail on the head by saying "The 3 guards for Houston, Francis, Mobley and Moochie are all the same type of player. They look for their shot first." There is no way a team with this "Talent" (there's that word again) should lose to the Jazz, Knicks, Hawks, and almost blow games against the T-Wolves and Nuggets. You said it perfectly Doc, Francis is not a point guard. We need a player who's first priority is to get the ball to the player with the best percentage shot. Not one who dribbles between his legs or does crossovers when there is no need.
Doc Rocket,I agree that Francis is not a good point guard and his defense is really bad but I don't think he is a good enough shooter to be a SG either. Mobley is best suited as a 6th man.
Seems like there's a good chance that Steve can't be an effective 2 in this league because he just isn't tall enough compared to most other NBA 2's. Iverson (6-0) is the exception to the rule. How is Steve (6-3) gonna guard Kobe (6-6)? Tmac (6-8)? Pierce (6-6)? Gawen Deangelo (6-5)? Richardson (6-6)? Brent Barry(6-6)? Artest (6-7)? (after Reggie retires) Christie (6-6)? (ok, forget I said Christie) Since I agree that he is not a point guard, I'm pretty much stumped on this one. What do we do?
saleem, Steve averages 44% from the field and 44% from the arc. Thats a pretty decent percentage for a player that shoots as much as Steve does. Imagine if he didnt have to worry about trying to run point and received easier shots in the flow of the offense as opposed to trying to challenge defenders continuously.
Francis seemed like more of a passer 2 seasons ago. Now he has this MVP mentality where he has to be The Man on every play. I don't think his defense will ever really improve that much, but I do think his passing and PG skills can improve. We could be much worse off at the 1 position. Would love to see Cat come off the bench though.
He's not guarding them anyway so what difference will it make. When Earl Boykins torches you, what else is there to say. He's smaller than Mini-Me. Gawen Deangelo? Never mind. It took me a second to figure out who that was.
Personally, I think either Steve or Cuttino will be gone in the long run...the question is which one...
Odom is looking quite incredible these days, while the Clippers are falling apart. With the offense running exclusively through Yao Ming and Lamar Odom, I.E. relieving Steve of PG duties, how much more effective will Steve be? Mobley's looking good lately though. It would be sad to lose him, but if it means getting Odom, then send him away. Rice needs to go too. He does NOT deserve more shots than Steve, Mobley, or Ming, but he thinks he does. If Odom continues to look brilliant and comlpetely healthy till just before the trading deadline, what do you guys think? It would have to be a 3-way, but it's probably workable. Ming Griffin Odom Posey OR Mobley Francis With Francis relieved of distributing duties, I think his offense and defense can improve dramatically. He can also be a secondary distributor, while teaming up with Ming to be an unstoppable scoring force. It's obvious that, by next season, a VERY decent portion of the offense can and will be run through Ming. If we can get our hands on Odom, then Francis would only minimally be handling the ball, and that's the recipe for success. We don't have a size disadvantage (Francis stays at "PG") and the ball flows smoothly through 3 capable distributors. Thoughts? Doc, are the Rockets completely against making a trade? Are they sniffing for what's out there? What's the status?
moomoo, Consider this.... The height difference between Steve and Cuttino is negligible at best. The profiles say 1 inch taller for Cat, but if you have seen them stand next to each other in person, the height difference is very negligible. This basically means that Cat's 6-4 listing is slightly fudged. Thus, the Rockets height at the 2 position wont change much at all. Consider the fact that opposing 2s will have much difficulty handling Steve off the dribble plus the fact that Steve has developed a reasonably consistent jumper will make him EXTREMELY tough to defend at the 2 spot. I just cant see Steve losing his matchup on many nights. Also, as far as the defensive side of the ball goes.... I have stated before that defense at the point of attack is a LOT more important than defense at the 2 spot. Steve has been giving up way too much dribble penetration this season, and that causes serious havoc on a team's defense. A guard that can help limit dribble penetration moreso would more than makeup for whatever height Steve gives up at the 2 spot.
Ah, how could I forget, "The Zone." How did I let that one get past me? Since, "The Zone," is what kept Steve from posting up Mini-Boykins (ref. Toast), we could do the exact same thing! That's it! Let's call Rudy! Move Stevie to the 2!
That SG-Francis SG-Mobley SF-Rice PF-Griffin C-Yao sig of mine seems appropriate for this thread. Francis was never a point until he was on the Houston Rockets. I don't know what makes people think he can run the point. He's just not a smart point. Maybe just because he is 6'3" he has to play point.
