I think most people will tell you we don't even need a true point guard. Even an adequate point guard will do. Any high school junior varsity point guard who can handle a press, run a decent fastbreak, make an entry pass, recognize that his big man is 7'6 and 10/14 from the floor, and get into the offense quickly will do. I honestly can't remember the last time Steve Francis was able to run a fastbreak correctly. The fact that we are completely rattled by any type of pressing defense or zone indicates that we need a better decision maker handling the ball. I love Steve Francis and have always been the first one to defend him. He plays harder than anyone else and has as much heart as anyone. But for this team to progress, he cannot be the point guard. He is seriously setting this team back and his skills are not being utilized. If this team could use his trade value and salary slot to bring in smart, good shooting players, we would infinitely improve.
Hey at least they are in the NBA, not on some chat board playing with themselves while slobbing on Yao's stats. I love all these so-called Rox fans who think they know everything about basketball yet couldn't execute a single play if called on in a pick up basketball game. Francis may not be the most efficient PG in the league, but he has been improving since the allstar break...Let's put it this way, if Steve was shooting close to his career average which is about 44-45%, this team would without question be at least the 4th seed. He has struggled on his shot, but it's not like that can't be regained and worked on. It would be a grave mistake to get rid of him. When we had K. Smith Rox fans were crying for a more athletic PG that could break his man down and take it to the hole, now we've had it and we want to get rid of him. Be careful what you wish for.
Steve Francis is a heck of a iso ball player! but his defence is poor, his passes are poor, his turnovers are poor, his playmaking is poor, he dribblers too much, his mind set is not that of a player on a Center oriented Team, he will never play his best ball with a Star Player that is considered the Best Player above him, when he does its to the detriment of the Center position.He isnt a Point Guard!
What are you talking about? So we can't be critical because we're not in the NBA. Then what gives you the authority to tell us we're wrong, YOUR NBA experience? Get real. Thats your opinion, and the only reason you have to back it up is that he can work on his shooting. Like nobody else in the league can do that... Steve is a horribly inconsistent shooter, he needs the ball to get into his little rhythm otherwise he shoots less than 40%, yeah, it'd be nice if Steve could shoot 45% but he's not and probably won't. Hell, Steve's had plenty of time in the league to work on his trade, how much more time does someone need to learn how to fastbreak or beat a press?
Yeah, he's absolutely right. I'm just sitting here while I can't do anything on the court, so I should just shut up. The samrt thing to do here is to listen to the guy on the keyboard who STARTED this thread, because logically, he's the one with the brains and the on-court plays too. Rivaldo, if you want to discuss the need for a true PG, that's fine, but what do you expect to accomplish by trashing everyone who disagrees with you? IF Francis' shot improves? If Iverson shot better he'd be the best player in the history of the game. If Shaq could hit free throws like Yao, he'd be the best player in the history of the game. If Yao could play 40 minutes a game, he'd be dropping 22/12/2.5 on the whole damn league. There are a lot of "if's" out there and you know damn well that Steve improves after every All Star break since his career started. But what's the point when he turns to CRAP again beginnning next season, escalating back to this same point right after the All Star break where the next "Rivaldo" will come on here and say "yeah, but he's improving...if only...." Francis did not play well last game, and for most of the season, hasn't played well. When he does, we are amazing, but he doesn't do it often. He was never much of a shooter, long range or midrange, but now it's ansolutely necessary that he is a good outside player. You have a damn good player but you have to turnt he team inside out just to make him fit. At some point, you just want to bring in someone who fits immediately, and adjusts to the MAIN player, Yao Ming at this point.
You're right, the Rox don't need a true PG, they need someone who actually fits well within the system of this team. Someone who can actually run a play or two without getting confused, someone who can actually react to pressure defense, and someone who can feed the big man consistently. Up to this point in this season, do u really think Francis is that player?? The guy absolutely loses his poise when the opposing team starts doubling Ming and pressuring the ball.
I was saying that I would be fine with no improvement in playmaking from the PG spot, as long as it was accompanied by an improvement in shooting and defense and a reduction in turnovers.
Steve's career average is 43.1% and he hasn't broken 43.5% in his last three seasons, around the time zones were allowed, taking away the ISO, all the other guys on the other side of the court above the three point line, play.
They are "true" point guards because they do what they're suppose to on offense, in terms of setting up the play. Until you can convince me that Francis makes the right decisions on offense, he's not a true point guard. I think of Jason Kidd and John Stockton as true point guards. Both are first or second option on the team. Because I trust them to do the right thing on offense just about every time down the court. I don't with Steve. I'm sorry, but all these years of dribble-mania has made me a huge skeptic in this area.
I love the way you wait for a particular PG's career to be OVER then say, "Zero rings." You know, for someone to lose there has to be someone that wins, right? Remember that guy named Jordan? Oh, what about Kobe/Shaq? How about Duncan? Hakeem/Drexler? I'd think those guys had a little bit to do with Stockon, Payton, and Jackson not winning a title. You have to look at both sides. Are you saying that Francis, with his turnovers and subpar shooting, would do any better? I think not. Also, I think you are confusing "true PG" with having to GIVE SOMETHING UP (Points? Like if he's proficient in that!). Scoring isn't the only mesure of a PG. Listen, most anti-Francis members don't care if Francis is "true PG" or a "hybrid" or a "SG." All they care about is that he does his job EFFICIENTLY; whatever position he plays. Just like Cassell, Smith, Drexler, Lucas, and Murphy did. Francis not efficient as PG (Stockton) nor a SG (Drexler). And he's NOT good enough to be called a hybrid like Payton or Cassell. He's a sloppy "lead" guard.
Although you make so good points, you're right that those great PGs like Mark Jackson(remain to be seen), Payton (remain to be seen), Stockton. However, the simple fact is that a great PG is good for a team and he can do wonders for a team. Also, Magic was a great point guard and he won some titles, Isiah Thomas was a great PG and he got some rings too. Payton and stockton never have a good big man such as Yao. A Good PG will definitely elevate Yao's game as well as the performance of the whole team. If we can get a good PG, by all means go for it. At least it won't hurt a team to have someone that actually knows how to play a team game.
The Rockets don't need an awesome point guard like Jason Kidd or Lebron James to improve dramatically. Just someone consistent and well versed in the fundamentals. Someone like Derek Fisher could benefit the Rockets. He plays hard every night, plays good defense, takes the occasional charge, nails the occasional 3-pointer, but most important, he has years of practice dumping the ball into a big man on the post. He's not a great player, but he's also not a player who's going to hurt your team with bone-headed plays.
Yeah, you're right, I waited 16 or 17 years or however long stockton's career lasted in order to post this thread...it was a lonnnnnng wait but finally I got it off my chest. I was terrified a few times that he might actually win a title and then I wouldn't be able to post this thread...Phewww...that was close Please read the thread before replying, I clearly stated within the last 10 years. As far as Payton and Stockton never had a good big man, did you just start watching the NBA my man? Shawn Kemp was one of the best before fathering 9 kids and eating/drinking himself out of the league. I guess Karl Malone is not a great big man either right? He's argualy the best Power Foward in history. I apologize for being 2 percentage points off, my apologies for not memorizing his stats. How many times has alley-hooped the ball to Cato this season? Maybe 30-40 times? The only people that looked confused on the court were the opponents my friend...I agree he has trouble feeding the post but most of the time it is when Yao is being fronted, and ask any NBA expert and they will say that is one of the hardest things to do. Francis is not the only PG who struggles in that aspect. I agree sometimes it looks like they don't feed Yao the ball enough but that has been occasionally rather than the norm. Since the Allstar break, they have been feeding Yao the ball alot. I think they are really coming together and thos haters are going to hate no matter what. Do you hear those idiots that call in to 610 with no reason at all they bash Steve...when asked why? they have no real answer, they just hate him, i don't get it....his play has improved, once his shot falls consistently, this team will be dangerous. Another point, Francis does turn the ball over alot but he doesn't average 16 TO's per game, the entire team does so to blame him for all the TO's and poor decision making is unfair. We all know that YAO is the focal point of the team, we need him in order to win, that obvious. I am just saying that just b/c Francis is having a subpar shooting season doesn't mean we let go of him. This guy is an amazing player, why not give him more time in this system, it's only been 3/4th of a season and he has improved his play making and has become less selfish but most of you refuse to accept that, only wanting to see his poor shooting and poor passing which is not as bad as you people seem to think. B/c this is not discussion about steve being a pure point guard, read the thread first before jumping in please
SF suks at pg. Forget about getting a "pure point guard", I would be very happy just to get us a decent pg. And I doubt very much SF would be effective at the 2. He definitively will be a defensive liability playing at that position. Why is it so hard for some of you SF admirers to let go of him? Trade him, so we could get at least a "decent" pg and a good power forward, who can rebound and nail open jumpers, in return.
You're right, my bad. You're saying that we don't need a pure point because we have an 'improving' Steve. Steve has had a good string of games, but still fails in transition and in pressure situations, NOTHING about these 2 skills have improved with Steve. But that doesn't matter to you, because he's good at alley oops. It's kind of strange that you don't have one reason why we should keep steve except 'we need a second star' Like there isn't another one in the league.
You misunderstood the use of the word "wait." My fault...Let me rephrase... I love the way you USE (past) PG's as EXAMPLES that lost to Jordan, Hakeem, Ducan, Kobe Shaq to justify why we don't need a "pure PG." Those "pure PG" lost because their teams lost to better teams/players. Not because they were "pure PG." As far as Francis is concerned...you're missing the point. It's not about other PG's histories, or Francis becoming a "pure PG", or bringing in a "pure PG." It's about whether or not Francis (or any PG we get) can ever become efficient. This year is not the only sub-par year that Francis has had. ALL his years have been sub-par. I don't just look at points per game.
How hard would it be to get another Matt Maloney? The Rockets need someone who can take care of the ball, pass the ball into the post, and shoot the 3. The extra Steve Francis money should be put into the small forward position and another another point guard who can shoot.
Don't we still have that fool under contract? Matt Maloney was pretty good for one year, then he just seemed to lose all confidence. His shooting started to suck and he was getting the ball stolen more and more. Strange.
