does steve have to guard them first for comparison i think the question is dependent on what you feel the role of the pg should be
Could it be because *you* can't see them just like Francis can't? Ok, let me explain.... Right when a break starts, it's here where you'll have runners on the wings (one in front, one trailer). Most of the time the PG will get the ball...this is the most crucial time (you can apply this to a 2 on 1 or 3 on 1. Either example will do. Forget about 3 on 2s.). Francis is supposed to look up the court. He looks, but refuses to pass. Why? I don't know. I think it's because he just doesn't trust his passing abilities. It could be that he just didn't see the opportunity. Not sure. But the openings are there. He just doen't see them. So, then, he goes into his dribbing. He'll move up the fast-break, but dribble the ball up the court, with the mind-set of taking it coast-to-coast (he's really already made up his mind). This portion of the break is also cructial because you have one time to setup your defender for a cross-over or fake drive. These two options may create openings on the wings (or trailer) because the defnder will close in on the ball carrier. But this doesn't happen either? Why? Because Francis doesn't do these things. He never tries to get his player off-balanced the right way. He's right-hand centric. He's not good a crossing over to the left-hand with any sort of purpose. If he does, it's almost a cosmetic move (for show; pointless). It does notthing to fake the defender and really doesn't give Francis any leverage on the drive (or the pass later). Next, Francis is already bunching up the wingman's defender to the ball carrier's defender and the lane is now getting crowded (note, when I say wingman, I'm talking about any player involved in the fast-break that is not carrying the ball; this does not refer to guys that run out to the 3 point line and wait on a fast-break kickout. That's a copout). At this point it's too late to drive to the basket. Either there will be a trailer comeing from behind where Francis and drop the pass off, or Francis should just pull back for a "stop and pop" or abort the break all together. Even the stop-and-pop will sometimes open some wing-men under the basket. But this takes great timing. Now, if a player has a "mind-set" to score. How in the heck do you think he will be able to see of any these options? And I'm not talking about "Kidd like skills." These are just fundament fast-break plays that Bibby, Fisher, Cassell, Arroyo, and even little Earl Boykins know how to do. We're not talking Rocket Science. These are basic fundamental fast-break rules that will apply to all players. Sometimes the options are there. Sometimes they are not but the guard has to set them up. It goes both ways. Francis missed these lessons. Same with Mobley to a certain extent. pgabriel, for a person that knows about the difference between Old school and New school I'm surprised that you can't see the breaks we miss or mess up. It's almost like you are saying, "If we don't do them, then they aren't there." Not true. They are there. Francis just can't see them. This where the written word can't do much in helping you see these things. I'd have to sit down with you in front of a monitor and show you game tapes of what I'm talking about for you to see. That would be the only way for you to know what I'm talking about. After a few hours of game tape, you'll go home and start watching Rox basketball. And that's when you'd start seeing these missed options I'm referring to. You'd then start yelling at the TV, "Pass the ball!"
But Posey did receive the ball on the wing, so did Walt Williams, so does Jim Jackson when he runs to the three point line. The problem is that the wing players aren't always there. I'm not going to continue to argue this. If you want to just go back into the old "Francis refuses to pass the ball right away" routine that's fine. We could argue this round and round all day and get no where. There are no fast break opportunities. There are none when Mark Jackson is in the game. In the very few instances that Francis's teamates get up the court faster than he does, they receive the ball. Whenever Boki got minutes, he always seemed to get an opportunity. His famous play when dunking on Karl Malone was a fast break. Francis was in the game. He didn't hinder anyone's fast break opportunity. They will receive the ball if they run. Period. As negative as announcers were on Francis's game this year, from turnovers to shooting, no one complained about him continually blowing fastbreaks. Period. Teams that run fast breaks don't rely on their point guard alone, it's a team effort Period. Everything isn't Francis's fault, period. Have a nice day.
When I said "wingman" I wasn't referring to guys that stand on the 3 point line after a fast-break fails. I'm taking about player(s) involved in the fast-break (on the left or right, or trailer) going to the basket. Not the ones looking for 3s. That's not a fast-break. That's a fast-break that was cut off, but was kicked out for a 3 point shot. That's fine if you can get those, but thoes are more "bailout plays" than a fast-break. It's different. Please don't say it's the same thing as a fast-break, 2-1 or 3-1. It still doesn't address the competence on the actual running of the break from start to finish. That's why there will be roster changes next year. Heh...sorry.
The Rockets with Posey averaged a whopping 2.8 more FB points per game than this seasons' league worst team. I have the game by game in a spreadsheet in case there's a question. Van Gundy was continually hollering for the team to push tempo. They (mostly Francis) did not.
Francis, on more than one occasion, ended a 2-1, 3-1, or 3-2 break by getting a charging call. That is blowing a fast break.
Its simple. Francis just cant finish a ****ing fastbreak. He's just an average player who just happens to be an exciting 6'3 guard who can dunk and make cross over dribble. He's all flair, no substance. Jay Will at this point in their careers is a much better player becoz he listens and at least learned from the great hubie brown. Francis is just a stubborn, dumb player. He will never be an all nba team, an olympic player, or a future hall of famer. He just plain sucks.
Then you have a problem dude. If you are going to go to the spreadsheet analysis card on a stat that isn't even officially kept by the NBA, you win.
That's right, attack the poster rather than the issue. That's the ticket. Seriously though, GATER is one of the most convincing posters on this forum, he really knows how to hammer a point home.
Isn't that the root of this thread in the first place. Again, from what I've read, some of these people seem to throw logic into the wind anyway. I'm convinced that the sole purpose of this thread is just to get a rise from the Francis haters so that these select few can profess their undying love, in hope, to keep a good light shone upon Steve.
Dude, I'm just giving him a hard time. Seriously, who keeps a spreadsheet of fast break points? I'm serious when I say he wins, I have no desire to pay that much attention to the subject.
Yes you're right, Rocket River and I got together before he started this thread and decided to profess our undying love for Francis to get a rise out of you. Never mind that there were two idiotic thread just about Parker being better than Steve after the first two games of the Lakers vs. Spurs series. Never mind that probably one out of ten threads about Francis are anti Francis. You're right, its us people who still like him and would like him to stay barring some deal they can't pass up that are out to get you guys. You have figured out our master plan to take over this forum. We've been found out Rocket River, abort, abort, abort.
You see what, more anti Steve threads or more pro Steve threads. I mean a guy starts one thread on the page that favors Steve, and its the guys that defend him who have the problem? That's silly.
It pertains more to the content within the thread than the thread title itself, for the most part. In the case with this thread, it seems the exclusive purpose is to be opposed to the passive agressive Francis hating that some like to do. But when logic is brought into the situation it seems to be cast aside.
1. Kidd 2. Bibby 3. Nash 4. Parker (hesitant to put him there after the Lakers series) 5. Francis 6. Marburry 7. Baron Davis 8. Dwayne Wade 9. TJ Ford 10. ME
I agree on the purpose of this thread, however, we went off topic towards the end to "can steve run a fastbreak". Steve had his worst year as a pro. Yes, we made the playoffs and won...but from Steve, we have a right to expect him to get us to the playoffs AND play well. After his worst season, at LEAST statistically, how could you not expect more criticism than praise? It's not unwarranted.
Not trying to win...just hopefully being objective. Apart from playing music, I'm a numbers cruncher. Too analytical for my own good. Realistically, there have been times I felt somewhat strongly about a Rockets' issue but once I saw the data I changed my mind. To me, that is the essence of objectivity...being flexible enough to admit I'm wrong...and it happens often!
