Doc, you can't convince everyone but I happen to 100% agree with everything you have said over the last few weeks. Let's just hope that some other teams owner, GM, Coaching Staff does not get too caught up in the many points you are making about SF3. I got one question for you though. Have you heard anything from your source since his/her conversation after Game 5? Us folks that agree with you need to hear some encouraging news...
Doc- You are entitled to your own opinion. But, here is how I determine who is a better player. If Steve played for SA (and not Tony), I think SA would be as good if not better than they are right now. If Tony played for the Rockets (and not Steve), the Rockets wouldn't of made the playoffs. I'll say it again, moo....San An would not trade TP or Gino for SF3 - period!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! Never!! Ever!! " I don't believe that!!!!
my opinion: STeve will be benched in SA. Popovic won't tolerate his dribblemania. And With Tony Rox should have a more disciplined offense. He would make the other players better.
why? I know yao is not the presence that duncan is, but he does often get doubled team. Steve would still not be able to hit a jumper in San Antino to save his life.
Duncan, the big fundamental, wouldn't fit well with Steve. Duncan thrived in a disciplined offense. The Steve offense will limit his effectiveness. And the Duncan offense will take Steve out of his game just like the Yao offense.
Real deep analysis, huh? Look at it this way. All you are doing is taking a current successful team, the Spurs, then implanting a flashy player (Francis) into that system, and then suggesting Francis would just automatically fit it. Not true... All you look at is the physical aspect of the game: Francis has "madd hops." Big deal! You completely leave out current chemistry, disciplined offense, low turnovers and critical decision making. All things needed from your starting PG. So, although Francis maybe able to contribute in ISO-ball and rebounds, in the end, Duncan and crew would have to carry Francis's mistakes. Francis would not integrate himself into the team. Francis is a shooting guard in a point guards body that does not play well with others. Pop would not put up with that. So, the Spurs would make it to the playoffs, sure (not because of Francis, in spite of him). But they would have a hell of lot harder time winning close games, and more often than not, they would start scoring less because of continuity issues and sloppy PG play. Francis would bring as many problems as he'd bring "solutions (which aren't many)."
You guys give Parker too much credit. Did you guys watch him play during the season? Go back and look at his stats. He is good but not as good as you guys are making him out to be. I like Parker, but he is not as good as Steve. I can't wait until the next round, you guys will see his weaknesses. GP should play off of Parker. The guy can't shoot the three. When Parker starts slowly, he becomes a non-factor. Steve would not take away from the SA offense. Thinking Steve would take away from Duncan's game is silly. I am a big Yao fan, but Duncan at this point of his career would make the game easier for SF. Steve would be better because of Duncan; SA would not be worse because of SF. Yao did not show up in the playoffs. Sure his stats weren't bad but he did not impose his will. Yao did not make the game easier for Steve. Steve didn't have the GOTO guy like Parker did/does. Being the man is different from being a second/third option. Parker will never be a #1 option like Steve has to be right now (because Yao is not quite ready). I know! I know! Steve should not be the first option and I think he will know that next year. Steve has come a long way in one year, Steve has a long way to go. I believe he will get there. I think someone stated that Steve will not be very good when he loses his athleticism. I disagree. I think he will be a better leader because he will no longer depend on his hops, he will depend more on his "skills". Steve will be very good next year because he had a chance to experience the playoffs. He will be healthy and his shooting % will improve because of that. I doubt Steve will ever be the best at protecting the ball but he is improving. I was one of the first people to dog him. I was tired of him saying the right thing and doing the wrong. However, I believe Steve has turned the corner. I think trading him at this point would be a mistake unless we get a dominant power forward in return. We need help at the 4 not at the point! Parker is not better than Steve!
It's not only about Duncan. Putting aside any entry passing to Duncan in the post (which is another issue). Francis still has to play with the other supporting cast. And while those players are cutting and moving. Francis would not have the ability to spot them and recognize those opportunities. He does not have that type of court vision. He has enough time preventing unforced turnovers much less making pinpoint passes to cutting players. Every play is not a alley-oop to Cato. Thus having a negative impact on the offense as a team. Francis game is ISO. He's a rhythm shooter. He needs the ball in his has all the time in order to achieve his rookie numbers. But with that come at the exclusion of team-ball. So, pick your poison. Either his plays like last year where he tries to play the PG and run the offense while limiting his ISO ball. Or he play ISO ball at the exclusion of his teammates. The Spurs would not accept that type of sacrifice. The other issue that Parker is 21. And Francis is 27. So, the idea that Parker has had any struggling games should be considered reasonable at that age. He's doing great for such a young player. By the way, did you know that Francis shot 29% from 3pt for the year? Just wondering.
You said that, I didn't. You think Parker protects the ball? I had him on my fantasy team. He consistently led my team in TOs. His a/to was 2.3.(Steve's was 1.7) Very low compared to other point guards and even worse if you consider who he has on his team! Critical decison making? How many times did Pops bench Parker because he made bad decisions? How many times did you see Pops pull Parker by the shirt to discipline him? I know he is young. I am not taking anything away from him. But, comparing Parker to Steve is not fair to Steve. Basketball is a game of matchups. Parker matches up very well against these Lakers. He looks better than he is at this point. I will leave you with this. I play basketball three times a week. When I have a player that is better than me (better scorer than me) on my team, I look better than I am. The defense doesn't concentrate on me. My passes get better, my shots get better, my defense gets better... because my teammates make the game easier for me. When I am the primary option, I make more mistakes because I have the ball more. In no way am I saying I am a very good player. But, maybe Steve is a better second option (he doesn't have that luxory right now), just as I am. I tend to be the one that hustles the most on the court (similar to Steve), I rebound (like Steve), I am the first to protect my teammates (like Steve). Steve will be a better point guard when he doesn't have to carry the non-pg type responsibilities. I think Steve will be a better leader when his team gets better. Also, I am not as athleltic as I used to be, but my game has gotten better. For some reasons, my teams seem to be better now. My teams win more frequently. I wonder why? The point is... Having a player like Duncan makes the game easier for Parker. Yao will eventually do that for Steve.
Please tell me what stats are you looking at. Please... Show me here: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3325/gamelog http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3527/gamelog Parker's yearly TOPG is 2.3 which is excellent for any player. Francis's yearly TOPG is 3.7 which is very bad for any player, but terrible for PG. So, you are saying that he's could be a great PG if he didn't have to do the SG type responsibilities? Ha!!!! That's a joke. Do you think that he'd be a 14ppg-16ppg low turnover player? That's this year, and he still makes unforced turnovers. How appropriate that a someone like you, that plays like Francis, would also defend him.
David- I used to prefer the one-on-one game. I too did not have the court vision. I learned it. Steve can and will learn it. I think I know where we disagree. (correct me if I am wrong) I say better teammates will make Steve a better pg. His teammates will allow him to concentrate on being a pg. You say, Steve should make his teammates better. I think the following will happen: (Maybe hoping ) Steve and Yao will be surrounded by the right teammates. Yao and the right PF will allow Steve to be a pg. Steve will then make the game easier for his teammates!
I used to play like him. If I can change, he can. I think he has turned the corner. That is why I am defending him. I saw it in his game. I do agree that he should of realized this by now. But he might be a young 28. It's too early to tell. We will find out soon enough.
So, you learned "court vision" huh? Are you the same as Francis then? Are you the same person. Can he borrow your brain? No? That's what I thought... But here's the problem. Can he learn? That's what we've been waiting for for the last 6 years. Still after all this team I see no change. None! Zero! He's just as "good" as he was his rookie season. The same. Statistically and on the court. So, do you understand this problem. You can keep pampering him as long as you want... Note that, making your teammates better entails more than just being a role player. That's what you are suggesting, right? But why pay him max then? Why not get another SG that could do the job more efficiently for less money? Why not get a PG in here that can distribute the ball better? Why compromise? Because he's your "buddy?" Merely bring in more talent around Francis is only covering up the real problem. It's a ban-aid.
Not SG responsibilities... the right responsibilities. Simplify the game for him!!! He will simplify the game for his teammates. We will win if that happens!!! A power forward that defends, hits an open shot, and rebounds will allow Steve and Yao to realize their potential. EG was a big loss for this team.
Not a role player. The right role. He should be the second option. Next year, Yao will allow him to be just that.
Now, why would we have to "simplify the game for him? Hmmmm? Tell me? Also, please tell me what are the "right responsibilities?" What are we to take away from Francis responsibilities? Please tell me? And once you whittle away these "responsibilities" does that merit max contract? Sounds like a plan for making Francis a 5th option, not 2nd.
Do you see what you are doing? You are trying to make excusse for all of Francis's weaknesses and then coddle him in order for him to "just stay on the team." I think you should just push his desk into that corner over there just so that he's not fired (to make an Office Space comparison). Maybe we should just make him the janitor of the Toyota Center? Ya think? Then he can stay.
