1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Chron:No contest: McGrady a better choice than Francis

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by gotrock?, Nov 15, 2004.

Tags:
  1. gotrock?

    gotrock? Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2002
    Messages:
    322
    Likes Received:
    5
    Apparently not everyone thinks so, here's the post from Richard Justice's online column along with current poll results...

    http://www.chron.com/content/chronicle/sports/justice/blog/index.html

    No contest: McGrady a better choice than Francis

    Question: Why is it taking so much longer for the Rockets to "come together" than the Magic who have revamped their entire rotation too? Could it be that Steve Francis is a greater talent and leader than Me-Mac, and it was Jeff Van Gundy's system that brought him down?

    Rudy T recognized that great coaches create around great talents .. They don't try to fit square pegs into round holes. I miss Steve Francis, I'd much rather have him than Me-Mac.

    Jeff in Memorial


    Answer: You've may have set the indoor world record for making an evaluation on a player. I can't imagine anyone would see Steve Francis as a better player than Tracy McGrady. They're different. They do different things.
    But I'd take McGrady every day of the week, and I imagine every coach in the NBA would.

    As for evaluating the trade, it's way too early. McGrady has played five games for the Rockets. This group of players hasn't played a single game at full strength yet and won't until Bob Sura is healthy.

    From what I've seen, Tracy McGrady is everything the Rockets could have hoped for. I disagree with you that he's selfish.

    I think one of the early problems is him passing up shots. Jeff Van Gundy has attempted to fix that by having McGrady handle the ball more.

    No question that Rudy Tomjanovich was a great, great coach. Van Gundy has had some success and is clearly a bright guy. He has been in Houston just over one season. Let's see how things work out.

    WHO'S BETTER? Tracy McGrady or Steve Francis ... Take the poll ...

    SPORTS POLL
    Which player is a better fit for the Rockets?


    Tracy McGrady:
    52%
    Steve Francis:
    15%
    Neither. Both are ego-driven:
    7%
    It's too early to tell:
    26%

    Total Votes: 558



    Posted: Nov 14 2004 9:16PM | E-mail the writer
     
    #1 gotrock?, Nov 15, 2004
  2. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2001
    Messages:
    22,025
    Likes Received:
    4,552
    why did i know it was justice dropping this amazing insight on us.
     
    #2 francis 4 prez, Nov 15, 2004
  3. Hippieloser

    Hippieloser Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 25, 2003
    Messages:
    8,213
    Likes Received:
    1,973
    If you didn't want his answer, you shouldn't have sent your letter, Jeff. ;)
     
    #3 Hippieloser, Nov 15, 2004
  4. parlaynhustle

    parlaynhustle Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    6
    is howard and lue better than cato and mobley? i dont think so
     
    #4 parlaynhustle, Nov 15, 2004
  5. Dave2000

    Dave2000 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2001
    Messages:
    11,091
    Likes Received:
    813
    I can almost bet you that it was someone on this board that sent that Richard Justice. I can bet you 100% that its not our Jeff. :)
     
    #5 Dave2000, Nov 15, 2004
  6. mogrod

    mogrod Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2003
    Messages:
    4,257
    Likes Received:
    322
    Who cares? If, as a GM, you let that keep you from pulling the trigger on acquiring a top 5 talent then something is wrong with you. You do what you can do to deal for someone of his caliber EXPECIALLY if you are going to team him up with the best up-and-coming big man in the league.
     
    #6 mogrod, Nov 15, 2004
  7. SamFisher

    SamFisher Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2003
    Messages:
    58,949
    Likes Received:
    36,509
    Wow, Scoop Justice does it again! Who would have thought...?

    I got a hot tip that says LeBron James is better than Bimbo Coles. Somebody get him on it.
     
    #7 SamFisher, Nov 15, 2004
  8. gucci888

    gucci888 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 20, 2002
    Messages:
    17,088
    Likes Received:
    6,358
    Who's your source and is he reliable?
     
    #8 gucci888, Nov 15, 2004
  9. meh

    meh Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2002
    Messages:
    15,386
    Likes Received:
    2,259
    Actually, stating the obvious is not exactly a sure thing for sportswriters. In the NL MVP balloting, 8 out of 32 voters gave the 1st place to vote to someone not named Barry Bonds.
     
    #9 meh, Nov 15, 2004
  10. m_cable

    m_cable Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2002
    Messages:
    9,455
    Likes Received:
    73
    Um... he prefers to be called "Scoops" Justice. I mean, this T-Mac > Francis story isn't an isolated incident.


    Keep the GARM Civil!
     
    #10 m_cable, Nov 15, 2004
  11. SamFisher

    SamFisher Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Apr 14, 2003
    Messages:
    58,949
    Likes Received:
    36,509
    This engaging little fellow; I just bumped into him in the coffee room:

    [​IMG]
     
    #11 SamFisher, Nov 15, 2004
  12. parlaynhustle

    parlaynhustle Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
    Messages:
    244
    Likes Received:
    6
    i meant u cant compare francis and tmac because they are not in the same group....tmac is great francis is good...and giving up cato and mobley was suppose to even it out...
     
    #12 parlaynhustle, Nov 15, 2004
  13. mogrod

    mogrod Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2003
    Messages:
    4,257
    Likes Received:
    322
    oh, ok. I think I'm following you now.
     
    #13 mogrod, Nov 15, 2004
  14. DrNuegebauer

    DrNuegebauer Member

    Joined:
    Mar 29, 2000
    Messages:
    11,921
    Likes Received:
    8,505
    As for evaluating the trade, it's way too early. McGrady has played five games for the Rockets. This group of players hasn't played a single game at full strength yet and won't until Bob Sura is healthy.

    Huh? What has Bob Sura got to do with evaluating the trade? It wasn't like he was part of the deal - seems unfair to suggest that you can compare the trade because of Sura's contributions...



    I totally agree that McGrady is better than Francis - no contest! But I think that when you throw Mobley into the mix it becomes a little more of an even trade - Orlando don't pick up a "superstar", but they get a good player and a good sidekick! And Cato gives an almost passable big man.

    Still, T-Mac a MUCH better fit in Houston - we needed a player who can step up and lead the club to the playoffs and deeper - and we needed that player to be someone who could "float" at the perimiter from time to time when Ming is on song - not many players who make more threes than McGrady!
     
    #14 DrNuegebauer, Nov 16, 2004
  15. BigM

    BigM Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 1, 2001
    Messages:
    18,000
    Likes Received:
    13,183

    lmao!
     
    #15 BigM, Nov 16, 2004
  16. StupidMoniker

    StupidMoniker I lost a bet

    Joined:
    Jul 18, 2001
    Messages:
    15,109
    Likes Received:
    2,143
    [​IMG]

    LeBron? He's garbage. Penny Hardaway is where it's at.
     
    #16 StupidMoniker, Nov 16, 2004
  17. glynch

    glynch Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2000
    Messages:
    17,791
    Likes Received:
    3,395
    Tracy is just too good. In about an eight play sequence that broke the game open Tracy had roughly 4 steals, 4 assists or perfect passes, a bucket or two and some free throws. He did it all seemingly effortlessly as he is so smooth. Incrediible.


    I will hand it to Steve that he put out great effort that was often very noticeable, but the results were almost never like what Tracy accomplished in that stretch last night.
     
    #17 glynch, Nov 16, 2004
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now