What makes Steve Francis better than Cuttino Mobley?

Guess he aint feelin it this year, cause he sure aint playing good.

 

I can't say Cat is a better player than stevie but Cat is definitely a better shooting guard. We are better off trading Francis if we have to trade one of them because we can get a better player in return for Francis than with Mobley. Stevie could probably get us a good foward and a decent PG in return. Where as we would have to package Cat with someone to get someone of equal value in return.

If one of them has to go, I would prefer it be Steve.

 

Since the start of this season the Team has come under the control of a strong Coach- JVG.
Jvg is demanding major changes in the way his players execute their Game.
Cat Mobley has been slow to respond but now looks like he is beginning to be his own man and is moving more and more into the JVG molding. On the other hand Steve has said a lot and tried a lot but by observation he isn't playing his game in the JVG System.
Under JVG Mobley will flourish more as he buys into the Yao Ming Development Strategy. Last nights game against Plilly. indicates that he is. Steve Francis has the great natural athletic ability which Mobley has to work at, both are high volume low percentage shooters. Mobley looks firmly set to be part of the JVG Team while Francis has a lot of development to make before he becomes all that he can be in JVGs eyes. Alongside Moochie Francis was always considered the most valuable player on the Rockets. Now enters JVGs very own Mike Wilkes. Possibly the picture of Francis might tarnish as Wilkes shows up Francises inabilities to go the traditional Point Guard route.As Wilkes gains experience the need for Francis in an under achieving position might reduce his favourable standing.I expect Mobley to be here next season.

 

Steve Francis has a lot of weaknesses but he is the biggest scoring threat that we have even though Yao is the one who can help the most in getting the Rockets to a higher level.
Cat is a good role player who sometimes plays better than his overall talent but he is fitting into the team concept more than Francis.

 

Slight edge to Mobley. But Francis has more trade value IMO because he is a PG and the NBA (particularly the EC) is awash in SG's and most are taller than Cat. (The TE negates most of their contract $ differences).

I have been really impressed with the way Mobley has reinvented himself to fit into JVG's system. Cat's "heat check" shots are getting fewer and fewer.

On the other hand, I think JVG has placed more on Francis's plate to be learned. Much of Francis' lower stats are directly attributable to learning the JVG way.

This would be a good thread to revisit at say game 60 or so.

 

Steve Francis will be traded before Cat, maybe this offseason the earliest possible, depending on how this team ends this season.

Cat is a better 2 than Francis, period. It is just sad when Wilkes was on the court yesterday we had a 12 - 0 run but after SF was back to the game with two quick turnovers (two ridiculous lob pass) the lead immediately down to 8 and Philly was back to game again. He is just so incapable of controlling the game flow and making correct decision.

 

Sadly, but that was exactly what I saw too. One lob pass in particular was way beyond Yao's reach and with two Philis closer to the ball than Yao. The other appeared to be thrown at the back of his teammate, who was going toward a different direction.

 

I know we can't get Peyton Manning, but can we just get a David Carr? Passing is a skill like shooting. Forcing a player to be a passer when he isn't is a recipe for inconsistency. He might have flashes of brilliance in games against inferior defenses, but good defenses will snuff out incompetence.

 

LOL. You are right. It is difficult to correct Francis passing or court vision problem. I noticed even from his pre-NBA time, he dribbled with his head down. He needed to look at the ball to be dribbling effectively. That basically takes his court vision away. Such habbit or skill has not changed even now.

If you compare his dribbling style to Steve Nash's, you see a lot of difference. Nash always has his head up. I suspect Francis often pass the ball with the vision of a split second history. And that's why he passed to a wrong spot, where his teamate had been a split second before.

 

did anyone else notice this. I was watching the game on tv and yao started to demand the ball more when steve was out and wilks in. And Calvin said yao is demanding the ball more cause he knows he will get it (calvin probably didnt relize in a way he was calling steve selifish but it is true so no complaint from me).

 

Yes, I noticed that too. At one point of time, Calvin was saying Yao was crying for the ball and didn't get it.

 

Granted I haven't seen many games and I guess I am known to some around here as a basher of Francis and Mobley. However, I feel that both have the *potential* to be above average players in the NBA with Francis having more upside. But the problem is or has been their basketball intelligence or IQ. Neither has made good decisions, for the most part, in the past. It has been especially a problem for Francis since he has been expected to run the team since he is the 1. That is why so many people have wanted Francis to be moved to the 2 since he plays more like one than a 1 and have Mobley traded.

But getting back to this season, I have been impressed with Mobley's play so far. As several have said, I think there is more on Steve than Cat and that has caused SF to struggle plus the zone defenses as well.

But I will just come out and say it: JVG's offense doesn't appear to allow all the freewheelin' and do whatever you want out there that Rudy had. Francis seems to struggle in half-court settings or at least when he is playing point.

I will say that I still think that Francis is overall the better player than Mobley, but it is looking more and more like that Mobley is the better player for the Van Gundy system.

As GATER said, this thread needs to be revisited after 60 games. Oh, and if we are going to trade anyone, we need to trade SF because he can bring us back better value. But I am afraid that since he now has a max contract, that it is going to be hard to get a fair deal for him unlike Mobley whose contract makes him a bargain.

 

Woah!!!! How could you say something like that?? When Cat is ball handling it is very ugly but when steve is ball handling it looks very smooth. I definetely think Steve is a way better ball handler than Cuttino.

 

2001 shouldn't really count since he battled with manures disease or whatever it's called. He struggled badly in some of those games where you could really see the migranes affecting his shot.

99 44%
00 45%
01 41%
02 43%

I don't think that Mobley is a better player than Francis but he certainly is a better player in JVG's system then Francis is. Mobley is more controlled, putting up better shots, and playing the best defense of his career right now. I wouldn't trade Mobley for anybody unless of course a blockbuster came along.

Now this season it's obvious that Francis has not been able to adjust his game to JVG's system. If he is unable to get his offensive game going by the end of the year the Rockets should really look to move him. On the bright side though it looks like he distributing the ball better, he just needs to find his shot.

 

got to be joking right, most good dribbling technique means NOT dribbling ridiculously high, above the hips, and often steve dribbles up to his armpits, was closely if the D goes full crt, steve has lots of troubles and mobes usually brings it up

 

great thread Crash, the key for me is who out of the two of them has made more improvements and adjustments, every year Cat has changed, improved and added new strings to the bow, especially the zone introduction.... the ability to change is the key