I appreciate the fact that ever since his sorry ass got stuffed by Shaq, we haven't gone to one single playoff game. Best defensive G on the team? I guess you are right, now that Oscar Torres is gone! And you are exactly correct, alternative does suck, which is why we haven't made the playoffs the last four years, cause we have no alternative.
rockbox - I stand corrected on Walt's FG% (have not checked since game 1). However, Walt is #21 in 3pt FG%...a function of getting touches IMO. Langhi is at least in the Suns rotation and his 2 shots per game represents more shots per minute than he got last season as a Rocket (most were end of the season 1 on 1 garbage). None the less, I still agree with codell's original premise about touches and rhythm. Let's both watch Griffin tonight to see what I meant about getting the ball in good position.
BTW, good post Nero, but I am not a big fan of Rolando Blackman simply b/c the guy just used to kill the Rockets all the freaking time. But I can appreciate his game. I was glad when he left for NY.
If you want to turn this into a name calling game that is fine. Take the childish route. I NEVER ONCE mentioned Moochie Norris. NOT ONCE! So, let's get back to my point. They need to create more movement and more than one person should touch the ball on a given offensive set. It is nt something that could happen this year bc we have to play with the hand we have. Looking for a PG via trade or NBADL is not likely so looking toward next year. Move Francis to the 2 could accomplish that as well as bolster a very shallow bench (scoring wise) from the front court. Throw in Hawkins or Pete, or Norris, or whoever else, there is no quality depth in the front court. Francis could likely be a much better scorer if he were able to move a little more without the ball and get better positioning via picks or receiving a pass. The other thing that is accomplished by bringing in Mobley say... half way through the 1st quarter is you get him matched up against another team's 2 group, or starters who have been doing quite a bit of running vs Steve. You have them in there together at that time and create more scoring threats for a longer period. When its time to sit Steve (early 2nd quarter) then Moochie comes in (hey look mav... I finally said "Moochie"!!! ). Then half way through 2nd, Francis is in and you adjust your substitution patterns to get the most out of your players. and so on... kind of like the Sam Cassell days with Kenny. Sweet dreams princess
Horns, You're letting your bias cloud your memory, and you are also exaggerating. This has not simply been Steve hogging the ball all the time. It seems more pronounced because of all the hoopla surrounding the idea of a new and improved offensive scheme, and around Yao, but Steve has not sominated the ball quite as badly as you make it seem. Besides, has MoT, Rice, or KT been out there for all 3 games so far? No. We're 2-1. Steve has had to carry more than his share of the load so far. Be happy that he has been capable of carrying it up to now. And what exactly do you expect to see out of the new offense after 3 regular-season games? If you actually watch the games objectively you will see parts of it starting to take shape. Learning a new offense is like learning a new language. How quickly do you expect them all to have it down pat? I mean geez, have you ever played organized basketball? It's going to take at least half the season before these guys start to play the new system like it's second nature, instead of having to think about where they are supposed to be and what they are supposed to be doing. And please do NOT bring Phil 'The Cherry-Picking Gravy-Trainer' into this conversation. That guy is the biggest weasel in the history of sports.
Nero, it is so refreshing to read someone talk about round pegs in square holes. mav, TheHorns rationale about benching Mobley and starting Moochie is all about turning Francis into a catch n shoot player like Reggie Miller. btw: what makes the old Indiana offense of running Reggie around so many picks an exciting offense, much less one that gets others involves or has any type of flow? Does anyone else think offenses that rely heavily on picket fences just to get a catch n shoot shot are more boring than watching Francis and Mobley drive. Rex Hamilton last year with Wash was running around many picks ... but his teammates weren't in the flow. Sprewell does the same thing. When it comes to plodding offense that have no flow, running one guy around a bunch of picks is really not that much movement at all.
OK, so now let's get this straight: 1. Francis is playing out of posiition as point guard, and he simply must be a shooting guard; as NBA bylaws require a "1-2-3-4-5" approach with no permissible deviations, so therefore the solution is 2. to bench one of the top shooting guards in the West and the Rockets second best player, and lose his productivity; and 3. put in 12th and 13th man- NBA roster fillers Juquan Hawkins or Pete Mickeal, who would ALSO be playing out of position at point guard and would be liabilities simply trying to get the ball up court, and be absolute non-entities on offense to allow francis to be doubled, or the little dribbler Norris? so in your opinion: "out of position" Francis + Mobley < "out of position" Hawkins/Mitchell or Norris + Francis? That pretty much speaks for itself. There's some hot Yao Ming for Ostertag trade talk going on in other threads, why don't you go join one of those? Of course you didn't mention Norris earlier, it would reveal your argument to be a r****ded excuse to bash Mobley for no reason, and start a stupid flame war. But I mentioned him for you, so don't worry about it, "princess".
HP, don't hate what you don't know, Imagine stevie doing his patented "crossover curl" routine and shooting fadeaway J's all day. Remember, when he misses an open jumper after faking out his man he's selfish, but when francis misses after Juquan hits him in the corner after a double screen it's teamwork. But when Juquan gets trapped in the backcourt and loses the ball, it's also teamwork, but it's mobley's fault for not helping him in practice too.
mav, but why doesn't Mobley just drive? why does he have to shoot, too? Ginobili is a great driver who can't shoot. Why can't he be more like Ginobili and just do the give and go with Cato?
He's too busy protecting the ball from defenders so he can look good on ESPN instead of driving like Manu. It's as if he's never heard the term "driving guard"......
I wouldn't take Carter now because of his injury situation. I don't think Iverson & Francis would work together, but I'd probably still take Iverson over Mobley. Rose is a 2? I'd keep Mobley over Sczerbiak too. However, I wouldn't mind getting Sczerbiak and playing him as our 3.
That's because those teammates are NOT being setup for the easy score to get the assist in the first place. You have to realize that Magic was able to get assist by setting up his players for EASY SHOTS!!! EASY!!! Average players became better! Francis and Mobley (if he ever passed) only pass to players that end up going one-on-one. Or they have to shoot 3-pointers. That's not the same thing as getting the ball to someone right under the basket. Another thing is that Bird's Celtics didn't get assist the same way that Magic did. They played the three man passing game. Where Bird would pass to the guy that would make another pass for an assist. So, Bird didn't get credit for some assist even though he played a part in setting up the offensive play. Steve Nash is the same way. He doesn't get credit for a lot of setup plays that result in scores (someone else gets the assist). Then next time it will be someone else. That's why Nash'es assist ratio is deceiving. All this requires team play. Not just individual talent.
Nero, Interesting points. While you're watching the game, look for times that Francis setups his team mates. A few times during the Raptors game he had some really awesome attempts at passing plays. They came up "this short (holding my index-finger and thumb an inch part)". But, when those plays happen (even though they were turn-overs) it gives me goose-bumps! Because it shows they are working on playing and passing as a team. So, turn-overs aren't really what's bothering me about Francis/Mobley. It's what they did to get those turn-overs. Some are forced shots (BAD). Others are attempts at getting the easy score/assist (GOOD).
