The future of Steve Francis

IMO Steve could very well up his points per game by three or four points up to 25 ppg’s or more. If he were going into this year with Kenny Thomas and Cuttino Mobley as the only other experienced offensive options then I think upping his scoring average is exactly what he would and should do. But I don’t think we will see Steve’s scoring average go up at all.

It is obvious that this year’s team is going to look much different from last year’s version of the Rockets. If healthy then I also think that this year’s version of the Houston Rockets will be better than the team that won 45 games in 2000 – 2001.

The most obvious difference in this year’s team and last year’s team should be the scoring options available to the team this season as opposed to last season. With all of the new scoring options that the Rockets should have available to them this year then I would think Steve’s scoring average will actually go down and hopefully his field goal percentage and his assists will go up. Steve should not have the need to force as many poor shots up but he will still be a very dangerous scoring option when he needs to be.

Here is a break down of our offensive options this year…in my opinion:

Cat: The teams first option this year. He will and should lead the team in scoring. Cat has the most polished offensive game of any player on the team. No one in the league has a better first step, Cat can get to the goal any time he wants to. He has a very good outside shot that he can shoot over anyone at any time and he is deadly out to the arc. I could see Cat raising his points per game but with all of the other options available to the team including scoring from the post I don’t think his ppg will rise much if at all.

Franchise: Steve could be the team’s first option if needed but I see him more as the teams second option this year. I think if Steve stays healthy and solves his migraine problems then we will see a big change in his assists and turnovers. I believe Steve will spend more time getting his other teammates involved this year as well as working on his defense. While Steve’s scoring average may decrease this year I see him putting up more triple doubles then in any of his previous years.

Third Options:

Yao Ming: The Rockets will find away to set him up close to the basket and Steve will love throwing the ball into a 7’5” player with offensive skills. If Yao can get the ball in his hands with in 5 feet of the basket then it is all over. He already has a hook shot and range on his jumper all the way to the arc and teams will not have the luxury of doubling him this year. The Rockets biggest offensive need last year was a threat in the paint, now they have one. Yao will be the main reason that Steve’s assists per game will go up this year.

Eddie Griffin: Here is a quote from ROCKET!!!, “Oh, saw (again) and talked to EG the other day...First - DAMN!!! He looks so much stronger. Second - he is ready in a big way. We talked about game improvement. Serious back-to-the-basket work was his focus. He said he expected to take a pounding this year.” That just about say’s it all. We all saw that Eddie could finish the break very nicely last year with some highlight real back to the basket dunks and he has a very sweet stroke all the way to the arc. With the Rockets wanting to get more out of the low post and reports of Eddie getting stronger and working on his low post skills I think he will be a very serious option for Steve this year. I think this will be Eddies break out year.

Fourth Options:

Mo Taylor: Not quite sure what to expect from MoT this year but anyone with an outside stroke like he has will see his share of playing time. Unlike many I think Mo figures into the Rockets plans in a big way I just don’t know how yet. We all saw that Mo could really light it up on a very consistent basis when he was healthy the 2000 - 2001 year. Every team in the league needs shooters and Mo is one of the leagues best inside the arc. Having MoT back should have a very positive effect on Steve’s assists as well as his over all offensive game.

Bostjan Nachbar: The type of Small Forward that Rudy T has been trying to get the last few years. A younger version of Rice that can take the ball to the hoop and should prove once and for all that white men can jump!. If his shot is as good as advertised then he will go a long way towards stretching the defenses and opening up the inside for easy passes to Ming, Eddie or a lot of uncontested drives for Steve or Cat. He is still a rookie so he has a lot to prove but as the only true small forward with offensive skills that is not a threat to fall apart after every play, he will see a lot of playing time.

Glen Rice: Reports are that Glen is dropping 40 a game in the summer leagues. That should mean that Rice should show up in shape and with his shooting touch (unlike last year) but how will all of the extra work effect his already old and worn out knees. Maybe Rice will start since he is a veteran but if his shot is really back then I think I would prefer to see him come off of the bench and preserve his knees. Like Nachbar, if he is strokin it from the arc consistently this year it would open up the offense for everyone else.

Kenny Thomas: He was the second option most of last season when Steve or Cat were hurt and the third when they were both healthy. What Kenny lacks in height he makes up for with all of his post moves and super quick first step. If for some reason Eddie or MoT are not ready then Kenny will do just like last year and show everyone that he may be the most underrated player in the league. KT would make a good starter for a lot of teams in the league and will be a good option for Steve if he is needed.

I think it is obvious that the weapons are there for Steve this year and he does not need to shoulder the scoring load, as he has had to do in his previous seasons. I also think that if he is healthy and on the court more we will not see all of the mistakes out of Steve that we saw last year. If Steve manages to stay healthy then he can’t help but be much improved.

Just a thought on defense: With a bigger stronger Eddie Griffin paired with Yao Ming other teams might find out that “getting the ball to the basket” will be a lot tougher than last year. If Eddie and Ming are effective patrolling the paint then that would free up Steve and Cat to change their defense and take more chances with out the fear of knowing if their man gets by them he is going to make an uncontested lay-up. We could see a nice increase in blocked shots this year as well as steals by our guards, IMO.

 

O.K. lets go ahead and assume that Ming and Nachbar are not ready to contribute and that MoT and Rice are not yet fully recovered and Steve's migraines are just as bad as last year...YIKES!

Thats a bad scenario so I change my mind. Lets imagine everyone is healthy and Boki and Ming are ready to contribute. Now we can all have a happy summer!