What makes Steve Francis better than Cuttino Mobley?

Cat is having a better year than Steve but I'd rather have Steve take a last minute shot then anyone else on the team and also Steve was guarding Allen Iverson in the first meeting. I always said Cat was an underrated defender he has the quickness to gaurd anyone while Steve just doesn't move his feet. Sometimes it looks like Steve is stuck in mud. I catch myself yelling at Steve to move his feet instead of letting the ball handler blow right by him.

 

The Cat is a better shooter then Steve. Because of the advent of zone defense, the athletic offensive players (like Steve) can be shut down easier. Zone defenses can swarm over players driving to the basket. Players like Cat are going to be better because they usually don’t require to be double-teamed. They can wait in the background until they are open and put in an easy shot.

Steve Francis’ value dropped significantly when the zone defense was brought into the NBA. The NBA went towards the zone defense to get rid of the boring isolation offense that Steve was good in. To play well against the zone you have to be a good high percentage shooter (which Steve is not), a good passer (which Steve is not), or a smart player (lets not go there).

Steve will definitely have to adjust to the zone defense and to the JVG system if he is going to survive here. Unfortunately, he is not adjusting while Cat is. My feeling is we need to trade Steve while his perceived value is still high.

 

You can say that about everyone in the NBA today.

 

Why is everyone blaming the zone for? Zone defense is for teams that lacks defensive players. The zone is the easiest defense to play against if you know how to break it down properly.

 

Steve is having a hard time dealing with zone defenses and the JVG system, as we have already established numerous times. The problem is more in that he is trying to still lead the team and scoring while taking poor shots. IMO, he should recognize this and concentrate on making everyone around him better and dish the ball out more. The Rox are a much better team when Stevie gets at least seven assists. As someone said earlier, Yao got the ball much more when Wilkes was playing and the Rox went on a run vs. Philly. I just don't think Steve is willing to sacrifice his scoring average for the furtherment of the team. I think that if he just dished the ball out and played smart basketball, in time he would get all the shots he needed and he would still average about 20 ppg.

As far as Cat goes, he's playing great on both sides of the ball and I don't understand why people want him gone. Personally, I like both Stevie and Cat as players and it would be really hard to see one of them leave the city.

Yeah, I agree that we should look at this thread after 30 more games. Things could be much different.

 

True, but for a player (SF) who relied heavily on the 1v1 game, it's the hardest to go against.

 

Hehe! No offense, but am I the only one juvenile enough to crack up when I read this?!?!

 

Last second shots...I would rather have Francis take it or start it. I prefer that we win big and just never keep it close. Blow teams out and get 100 points at least every time at home. Mobley always screws up at last second shots. Well...Steve hasn't been successful this year at them. Just hopefully we don't have to have many of those situations..we don't have much luck this year...Glen Rice gave it to us last year.

They are both doing fine..Steve just needs to cut those stupid turnovers and make his shots...Mobley just continue your great shooting..very nice..he's going inside too which is nice as well.

I'm more worried about our forwards!

 

Mobley never brings the ball up court anymore like he did when Rudy was here.

 

Personally I don't think Cuttino has better handles than Steve. Over the years I've seen Steve do much more spectacular maneuvers with the ball than Cuttino could ever dream of doing. If you're talking about who dribbles more under control, then yes, Cuttino wins that. But if you're speaking of pure handles, then I gotta give it to Steve.

 

Now crash- I think you should do more than post fg% to say how effective a player is as a weapon on offense. AI is an excellent example. Few people would argue that he is one of the greatest scorers in the league, regardless of his low fg% and high fga. Just watch the guy, he's unstoppable.

Steve approaches AI's ability to be unstopabble at times. But he needs the ball in his hands to do it. With the ball in his hands, he can break anyone down, he can't be stopped.

I am so glad we have Mobley. I always have been. The level of performance we're getting for our cash is amazing. There is no guard in the league that I know of getting paid the same money who brings as much to the game.

Now, Mobes is having a carreer best year and Francis a carreer worst, and still Mobes is only a hair above him in stats. In the long run, I think most people will look back and take Francis over Cat, but that's speculation. Cat has always been a stud, and could become a star. I'm glad you've pointed out his one-on-one matchups, because that is the most amazing statistic of all. I don't think Francis will ever dominate his matchups the way Cat does- Cat shuts down his man and[/i/] blows by him with his first step, whereas Steve tends to just outperform his man, and has definitely lost some embarrassing matchups. Still, I believe Francis has the potential to be a Hall of Famer. Again, though, that's speculation.

I'm really so happy we have both of them, we're blessed really.

 

Yeah..either Jimmy Jackson or Francis or Wilks or occasionally Mobley or Piatkowski brings it up. Taylor used to do it when he felt like it..but after stupidly giving it to Gary Payton..he has never done it again.

Yeah Francis is definitely a better dribbler than Cuttino Mobley. But Mobley's a better catch and shoot guy.

 

Actually, when Steve sets up and shoots..he can make it just like Mobes.

 

Mobley is better this year.

I would have preferred Steve until this year. In fact, I thought last year was Steve's high water mark. He began to play in control for the first time ever. This year, he looks frustrated when he's not disinterested.

Cat's biggest problem will always be that he's a small shooting guard, which are pretty common. Steve doesn't have the same limitations Cat does, but it doesn't matter if Steve doesn't live up to his ability.

 

Yes, Nolen. I agree we can't totally rely on fg% to judge effectiveness of a player. But to combine that with other stat, that is the only objective way of measuring a player.

I have never been impressed with AI's play. If you asked me the same question when he broke into the league in his rookie year, yes, I felt that was a very flashy, nice-to-watch player. But then after a short while, I realize the type of damages he did to the team. Now, you can tell Philidelphia wouldn't go anywhere. Even with one good year, I don't think Phili will make any noise if it is in the Western conference.

Also with AI's flashy play, it won't work without Eric Snow's passing ability. Now, we are trying to get Francis to do both. God bless him. It is a tough job, not to mention Francis is not at AI level.

I am not to undermine the ability of Francis, but that is basically the dilema we face. We are asking too much from Francis. Just like some posters here thinking Yao will be dominant in the second year. Both are impossible, at least not now.

 

I agree.

 

Good thread. But I personally like both Steve and Cat, and hope we keep them both. . .

. . . unless the Lakers want to sign and trade Kobe for Steve next summer! If that happened, could Cat run the point again (like he did his rookie year)?

 

Yeah Mobley keeps the ball way out in front of him. It looks awkward..but he finds a way to score. I love it...he really only has one move. Quite predictable after watching him so many times hehe. He always goes left...always...and if he's like stuck..he just hesitates for a while and jacks it up. He always forces his way left...and amazing thing is he never gets called for the offensive foul!!! He uses that arm very well. He has done very well in adjusting and developing...much better at the pick and roll...he has done well...

Mobley's a better defender for sure...

 

...or he just has really big feet . j/k