Quotes from todays Chronicle about the Franchise.. "Guard Steve Francis joined the team in Long beach, although he will not play in the summer league. Francis, who underwent surgery on his right (shooting ) shoulder to repair the labrum cartilage, has been working out with the Rockets' coaching staff and has been impressive." "Steve's been awesome, just awesome," Jones said. "He's been shooting the ball real well. The problem now is keeping him from over doing it. I'm in the gym with him all the time---No, Steve, you can't do that. No, Steve, you can't do that, either. Yes, Steve, you can do that. Hey, Steve how about we get back to that later?' "He fights it a little bit because he's so anxious to get back to playing, but he's really been great." Seems to me that someone is pretty darn excited about this up coming season. I guess that makes two of us. They also said that Cato was expected to join the workouts.
yes!!!! I guess steve is just so excited about all those passes he'll recieve from Ming for uncontested dunks. AGHHHH!!! 2 more freakin months to go.
Come on! Everybody knows Francis went to that gym to issue demands to Rockets management, and treat the Rockets and Ming like a little kid! He just wants CONTROL!
He can get more control when he... 1. protects the ball better 2. Takes care of his health 3. Plays better D Those three things will not only give him more control, it will also benefit the team greatly. Hence he would be able to exert more control.
How about a little Mo good news? "Another bit of good news was having Maurice Taylor also show up, ready for serious workouts with the coaching staff. Taylor who missed the 2001-2002 season after tearing his right Achilles' tendon, appears recovered and has shed much of the excess weight he gained during his idle time. He checked in at 285 pounds." Sounds like most of the team will be there, either playing or participating in some sort of drills with the team and/or coaches. Go Rockets!!
I'm amazed at the fact that so many of the guy's on this web site, have so much hate for Steve Francis,because he was not overjoyed with the drafting of Yao Ming. The simple fact is I don't blame him, Steve is an Allstar and baring injury he should be a Hall of Famer. What has Yao Ming done againts NBA type calaber of players, that's the complaint that he had. Until Yao Ming put's up atleast Rik Smits type numbers give our franchise point guard the benfit of doubt.
mac.c Yao Ming is the champion of China.He became this when his team won their National Championship. Steve has'nt done anything yet! He will of couse, with the help of his team mates, become a great player and even a Champion. He must pass the ball, more asists, less dribling and play defence on the player he is suposed to be guarding! No I am not anti Francis but I am Pro Rockets. Francis is only a part of the whole picture.If the picture is to be complete, Francis as TEAM LEADER has to make everyone else on his team better! IMHO
Rocks4life. You surprise me! Isnt Francis the Point Guard. If this is correct then surely he will be looking forward to leading the NBA in assists. He will get these as he is making everyone on his team better!
We cannot win w/o The Franchise (can anyone say 2-21 last yr?) so he has to be doing something right. Of course he could dribble the ball a little less but that will happen as soon as we start running some plays (I know you can do it Rudy T ). So lets all leave the hate alone what do ya say? Its the offseason. Its time for eternal optimism. Francis is coming back strong, Mo & Rice will be back, Griffin's development is coming along nicely, and we had an outstanding draft. Right now all is good in Rocket Land and I can't wait to see the Frachise & Crew back in action!
JWD- Who cares who won the Chinese basketball championship? This is the same guy who got shut down by Chris Antsey IN China just a few days ago. I am not saying that Ming isn't the bomb (although I think he is highly overrated for someone none of us have really gotten to see play), but I am saying that Steve is. I am getting so tired of hearing all of you guys jump ship because Steve/Cat (and I am sure that there were others) had the audacity to actually question Rudy's judgement. It seems like verything is peachy keen in Rocketsland now, let the Steve bashing subside (you sound like a Vancouver fan).
Did you see the game? If you had you would know that Chris had the help of his teammates to double and triple-team Yao...and the next time he played them, he still managed to lead his team to victory. I love Steve/Cat too, but we've seen how they can be hurt by double teams as well.
UT Baller- You are on the Ming Haters register already! But I thank you for your coments. I have had a residence in Houston for 35 years. Rockets fan, true red blood . I am also a Steve Francis fan but you must be realistic- His best times are stiil to come. I expect him to lead the NBA in asists for many seasons!
I don't know about "jumping ship" on Steve and Cat. They're free to have opinions...although Cat's opinion was "draft Ming" until he talked to Steve. I'm glad Steve's calmed down since the draft, anyway (he needs to be on the same page as the organization: max contract time). Steve leading in assists? It would be nice, but a surprise. So I hope it comes true. You should see on another web site that will go nameless (the thread will get locked). People still posting how Chris Anstey raped Yao Ming on the court. Nothing about Yao getting doubled, tripled; nothing about Yao's hip injury; nothing about Yao having to carry his team every game, every day. After the draft, another web site (more national oriented) posted how Ming would be a bust, didn't even mention Nachbar, and said Maddox is the best player we drafted....which makes me think that the sportswriter needs to understand that there are good non-African American basketball players, he just has to look around. Even Barkley and Kenny, such great co-hosts, let me down. So many people want Ming to fail, and that sucks. They just KNOW he's gonna be no good. Ignorance is bliss....until Ming comes into his own and dominates, that is.
