Countdown to Steve exit

If Steve's gone, I'll maybe be happy for the team's sake. If we get McGrady, I'll definitely rejoice the gain in talent. But, aside from the Super Bowl, Steve's problems have been what he couldn't do, not what he didn't do, and he busted his butt for us for years, so I'm not gonna be happy to see him go for the sake of getting rid of him. He's always wanted to win, and tried really hard...I just don't think he knows how.

 

My sentiments exactly. Steve has worked hard, but he doesn't have the IQ to know what it takes to win. I'll watch whatever team he goes to as often as I can. It'll be really weird to see him in a magic, or any other uniform, but it'd definitely be for the best.

 

Agreed.

 

I have a different view: I would have NO reservations, sentimentality, or regrets to see Francis go. Admittedly, I have seen "some" adjustments/improvements to his game this last season; however, besides the playoffs, this year's performance has been his worse.

I have painfully watched Francis play, for what seems like an eternity, some of the dumbest, careless, most self-serving basketball the league has ever seen. I am dumbfounded that some so vigorously defend his play. He is IMO the most overrated player in the entire league. His negative effect on Ming, Mobley, and other Rocket's players will be become more obvious when he is gone.

While his All Star appearances are triumphs of marketing, he will never see a position on ANY of the three annual All League teams, nor the Olympic teams, and never, never the HOF. PLUS, I don't like his whiney, "it's all about me," streetball attitude. He has made watching and following my favorite team a very unhappy experience for FIVE long years. When he leaves (and oh please let that happen!) it will be my greatest sports moment next to the championship years. A journeyman PG would be a huge improvement at the position.

 

3-a-charm - While I think the wording in your post is a tab bit harsh, I agree with the premise; Addition by Subtraction.

 

Sometimes, a trade is the best move for both, the team & the player. It gives both, a fresh start. There's been a lot of players that didn't find their true identity, until after they'd been traded a time or two. McGrady, Bibby, Jason Williams, Chauncey Billups, Harpring, Damon Jones, & Brad Miller to name a few.

 

Steve would dominate in the East. Put him on a team like the Celtics and let him run the 1-4 offense.

 

On the right team, Steve would really dominate his position now. He has really matured this season, and has learned how to play defense.

Put him on a team that's not big-man oriented, and he'll be excellent. Basically, anywhere but the Lakers, Rockets, and Spurs.


Steve would be absolutely incredible on the Mavs, although I wouldn't want him to go to a rival.

I'd like to see him succeed, but it just won't happen on Yao Ming's Rockets.

I wonder if he'll diss the team once he's gone like most players do?

 

I hope wherever Steve goes, he makes all of you regret the Rockets trading him. He's had one year on the Van Gundy system, make remarkable improvements in said system, and we don't want to hang onto him for just one more year to see if he continues that improvement?

I'm offended when I hear people refer to our team as Yao Ming's Rockets. This is Steve Francis' Rockets, plain and simple. He has been the leader of this team for quite some time now, and if you think that Yao Ming can lead any team, you're wrong. He is soft, undemanding, and still has plenty of time to become a flop.

Steve has provided heart, determination, and strong leadership for years. I hope Macgrady can provide that as well. Otherwise, it'll all be on Yao Ming, and I think if you're honest with yourself, you'll see that he doesn't have the personality to do it.

I dread the day that Tracy Macgrady becomes a Rocket, for a couple of reasons.

First, it's going to mean Steve's departure, and I think I've explained my displeasure with this sufficiently.

Second, it's going to turn our team over to Tracy Macgrady and all kinds of fake fans. I do not want to see everyone walking around in Houston Rockets jerseys with the number one on the front and back. If you didn't support the team before, there's no reason you should suddenly love the Rockets. And that's what will happen. I wear my Rockets jersey around here, in San Antonio, and catch endless hell about it from Spurs fans. And now, all of a sudden, all of the pride I take in my team is going to be cheapened by these fans that don't follow a team, only players.

Keep Steve in Houston, where he belongs.

*Prepares to be flamed*

 

Wow!!! You are guys are sick. Steve busted his arse all year and this is what he gets. The guy is a better today than he was at any other point. You guys seriously do not get it! Steve is almost there! He is no Tracy, but he is an elite point guard and you guys will regret this crap soon enough!

 

AMEN...

While we will no doubt a much better offense going with TMAC, and we may even hold some players like Kobe down with his help, all we needed was a powerforward, and now it seems like we will still be without that, and instead we even disperse our solid backcourt, because we just may have to get rid of mobley along with francis... Imagine that, we will be left with holes at 2 spots instead of one in our lineup. and our weak bench, lets jsut say, we wont have anything on the lakers bench...

 

I'm really hoping that SF goes from this team, but just my luck and w/ the Rockets luck of recent years, he's going to stay here and make my life a living hell...

 

Man, my heart goes out for you. It must feel so sad to be the absolute minority. You may go on rooting for whichever team SF ends up with.

 

I will have the same feeling for Steve as I have for horry and cassell. Will alwyas root for them whatever team they go on, unless they're playing the rox.

 

elite points guard i. That is bold words. When did elite points guards shoot like crap, pass like crap, turn it over like crazy, and not be able to run a fastbreak.

 

Yes, and what is this "remarkable imrovement under a new system" you speak of from Steve? Actually, that wording would suit Cat best, Yao second and Boki third.

And for the person that holds no sentimentality towards Steve if he leaves. I don't think it's about being sentimental, but more of rsepecting the guy for his heart filled effort to try to be something he can't possibly be, and making the best of it, as bad as it was.
Gotta admit, the guy does try his best to help, he just can't.

 

Francis couldn't lead this team to anywhere before Yao became the leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker on this team. I wouldn't call that strong leadership.

If you are serious about the appraisal of Yao being a non-leader, then I don't understand why you would oppose trading Francis for a top 5 player in T-Mac. Francis is in the top 10 to 20 bracket. He isn't gonna become a player like McGrady, ever. A strong leader on a team means nothing if the leader is not a top 10 player for historically no title was won by a team without a top ten player. Francis isn't a strong leader, and even if he is he's not a leader in top 10 in the NBA. Therefore, a Francis leading team will never win a ring in the NBA. When you think that Yao isn't gonna be a leader, and the fact is Francis as the leader won't lead Houston to a ring, then there's no way not to break them up when trading one of them for T-Mac is available. T-Mac wants to play with a good big man. Therefore Yao stays and Francis goes.

The Francis fans are in a difficult position for if Yao becomes a top 5 or even a top 10 player, Francis for a top 5 player will increase the chance of winning dramatically. If Yao stays pat, then the Rockets MUST trade Francis for a top 5 player in order to be more competitive. Either way trading Francis for T-Mac stays correct.

I'm a big Yao fan, and I know if Rockets get McGrady Yao may not be the leading scorer, unlike when he was with Francis. However, the team's success is bigger than a particular player's stats. When the team's interest is on the line, I'd expect the fans putting the team above a certain player. T-Mac is just trade talk right now, so I won't hang all my hopes on it but it'll damn sweet to have him in a Rockets uniform.

 

If Steve is traded and We get T-mac. I'll be happy first ,thenfeel kind of sad because I'll hate to see Steve go and deep down in my heart, I wouldn't mind Steve lighting us up for 50 one game.

 

Steve has scored over 40 exactly once in his 5 year career (against the Lakers...of course). The odds of him putting up 50 aren't too great.