So many of the 51.6% still want Francis to have the ball for the last shot?

No, he was in the game, he just didnt have his A game tonight.He was hindered by a sprained ankle and the sonics doubling him the entire game. Rudy was not going to keep him out of that game, hurt or not.

No comment on Cato.

He had a good look on the shot at the end and was FOULED. I have the tape to prove it.

It was the missed layup he had that killed me, just because it was SO EASY.

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[This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited March 24, 2001).]

 

That's what I was saying, he was MENTALLY there. Ankle injury+ sonics defensive plan on him + him just not having it tonight shooting the ball= a bad game for him.

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Francis was playing with a sprained ankle and a sore back. I still find it ironic though that Cat misses a shot or makes a mistake, and even if he's as banged up as Francis, people run to the BBS, bash him to the ground and just trash him. Francis makes a mistake and it's just token insults and it's the "Team's" fault. Of course it's the team's fault, just like with Cat. I just don't understand why people can't cut Cat the same slack they do with Francis. I don't really blame Francis for this, he was playing hurt, but he showed heart. Same with Cat. As for Cato, I haven't seen a big guy like that play without any heart since Benoit Benjamin.

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Meow!

 

AMEN!!!

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"We're not settling for just getting in the playoffs." "We want a higher seed. There's no doubt. We expect to get in."-- Steve Francis

President of the Mo Taylor and Jason Collier fan club!

Draftsource.net
ClutchTown.com

 

I'm not trying to defend Francis, I'm just trying to explain the reason for his play tonight.

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Im more comfortable when Francis takes the last shot. Even if he misses, yeah its tough but he is the Leader of the team. The star player I think should always take the last shot so they can learn from it.

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"Break off the block like Maurice Green" --- Steve Francis

President of the Moochie Norris fan club.

 

Cato13, how can you first of all complain about anyone, when your namesake is a big freaking ZERO. Now granted, Steve missed some key shots down the stretch, but the Rockets loss this game because they were out hustled and out-manned inside. I just can't say it enough, the Cato deal is making the Rockets organization look so stupid right now.

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While I'd rather have the ball in Steve's hands on the last play, it does not necessarily mean he has to take the last shot. I like to see penetration to set up either an open shot for him, or a pass out to another player for an open shot. Tonight they did not do this, they ran ISO on the last play. If you are going to run ISO on the final play, I say give it to Cat. If it is a play where everyone is involved, give it to Steve.

I think the double-teaming threw Steve off tonight, not to mention the injuries. He does not see constant doubling very often, so he is not used to it. But still, he should have made the lay-up, so he deserves most of the blame for the loss tonight. I give Cato any leftover blame, as I do nearly every night.

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Let me just say this,

Would you rather have had Steve with the ball against a slower Ruben Patterson or Cat against all defensive first teamer Gary Payton?

I can just imagine the scrutiny cuttino would have gotten if he went up against Gary on that last play and didn't come through. People here would be all over him, questioning why Rudy went to him with a defensive killer on him. I almost feel glad for Cuttino that he wasn't the one to not come through in the clutch tonight,

I'm just saying Rudy was reading the situation, and he made the right call, but Francis didn't come through.



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Well you must be high on something. Francis is clearly a superstar in the making. Cat is a very good player but he's basically a scorer who could stand some improvement on his 43% shooting.

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"You have to think optimistic. I think it's never over till it's over." - Clyde Drexler after losing at home to go down 3-1 to the Suns in '95

 

It doesn't matter which one had the ball, they were both guarded by defensive fiends. Payton is slightly better than Patterson so Steve had the ball, it just didn't work out.

Of course the Rockets lost this game on the defensive glass.

Already six negative threads, and ZRB hasn't even posted his game report yet. Yummy.
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Founder and President of the Houston Homers Club(HHC) - Are you a homer? Join now!

The Rockets will be NBA champions. Believe.

[This message has been edited by Puedlfor (edited March 25, 2001).]

 

If Cuttino really does have the best 1st step in the NBA, then Payton should not phase him. He did take it to the hole in NY over Spree to win a game...and Spree is taller and arguably as good a defender as GP. I would have rather had Stevie take it all the way to the basket though...Seattle doesn't have a good shotblocker, just a goaltender(Mccoy).



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Diehardrocket,

Cuttino had a hard time tonight against Gary when he went at him one on one.Remember that play in the first quarter when he made Cuttino travel? THAT is good D.
You're right, offensive rebounding killed them.

I don't even think it was because of lack of hustle, with the exception of Cato, because every Rocket went to the glass, but the ball just bounced way off every time. Sometimes you just don't get the bounces, and tonight was one of those nights.

Still cringing thinking about the horrendous takeaway from Cato for a Sonics layup.

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[This message has been edited by tacoma park legend (edited March 25, 2001).]