For those who want to trade Steve: I think we should stick with Francis maybe he could be a late bloomer? He could turn out to be way better than he is now, seeing how some guards like Cassell and Billups leading their teams further in the playoffs...I'm sure their former teams are kicking themselves to see how great they are, that's just what I think
Chauncey still isn't a playmaker, which is why so many teams passed on him in the first place. Cassell just needed more touches and more minutes. The thing with those to PGs that they were put in situations where they could play to their strengths. I think we've seen the best that Steve Francis has to offer. He put up some great numbers in offenses that were tailored to his strengths. Remeber that Denver game that clinched us a playoff berth? He was allowed to break Andre Miller down 1-on-1 and scored 33 points. I don't know if there's an offense that can take advantage of both Yao and Steve's strengths.
I hope you are right. The kid works so hard. If he only had the J working this past year, he did most other things right. All he really needs to do is get his J back from 2 years ago, and run a fast break. If he runs a good break, I'll live w/ the TOs even. I dont mind sticking w/ Steve at all next year and beyond.
Interesting point. I think if SF can get his jumper back into shape and if he can get more comfortable with JVGs system, he will have a good season.
Steve should practice J and watch Stockton's tape more this summer. I think he ran a decent offense most of time last season. And I like his attitude, but he needs to shoot better and cut down the turnovers.
I don't see why he needs a floater all that much. I mean, he doesn't post-up very often, and rightly so, and I'd rather seem him attack the rim hard instead of settle for little runners in the lane. Steve needs to learn how to shoot better off of screens.
Steve is being ruined by staying with the Rockets. His game is quite different from the team game which JVG wants to develop here. He needs ,a place where he can score at will and not be bothered by the need to take care of Yao, a place where he can be his best , a star in ther making, not a role player.
His first season under JVG and his FG% went south sharply. Oh, and the rockets made the playoff at 7th seed. He just need more time to adjust to the new offense system. He was anxious, apparently. He really need an off season to cool down and start getting comfortable with the new coach and the new system. You know his not a quick thinker. It takes time for him to learn almost anything. Steven will be all good the comming season. But I don't expect his TO will go down much.
Francis needs to grow a brain--that is where all his problems are from. Maybe we should wait till the stem cell research to have a breakthrough.
This is the funniest one yet: late bloomer! Please explain this devotion to Steve Francis. Is it his highlight reels, his dunking ability, his althleticism? What? Why is it unthinkable to trade him? Why he is he untouchable, beyond wonderful? I think some of you have little temple's of worship set up to "Steve," with his pictures, stats, memorabilla, candles; I can see it. But I don't get it. He is just not that great.
Steve is what, 27 or 28 yo. He is in his fifth year going to sixth season in the nba. He had a three time all star, one of the most popular pg's in the game at least in the fans standpoint. In his second season, he became the man, the leader because of age and injuries to the great hakeem olajuwon. He was injured most of his third year but still made the all star game for the first time. He was still the man on his fourth eventhough its slowly becoming clearer that yao ming is going to be the franchise of this team. In his fifth year, steve sacrificed his game to accomodate yao, jvg and he had his worst year. We dont need him to mature, or to grow. NBA players enter their primes in their late twenties. I believe if steve really wants respect from his peers, the league, he must grow as a basketball player. Meaning the mistakes that he made during his first few years must not be repeated over and over and over again. The stupid mistakes, the dumb plays, even a simple fastbreak, shooting jumpers, he should at least spend at least 3 hours in the gym practicing and not balling with cat. He must watch films of some of the great pg's in the game magic, stockton, thomas, price, hardaway, kidd, payton even steve nash. He must be first to admit that he needs to improve his game and work on it. The problem with steve is he is just talk just like cat. If baron davis can have a monster season, steve is good enough and even more talented enough to duplicate it or even better it. As a former francis fan, i will still him a chance to prove himself. He doesnt need to score 20-22 points, 16 ppg 8apg and 5rpg 2spg 45 fg 38 3fg and 2to would be a good start for him by shooting less like 12 to 15 fg but creating more for his teammates. He needs to shape up or be shipped out.
2 words: Pick and Roll. If we keep Steve we need to see alot more of this. All the games i saw when they ran the P&R it seemed very effective. Especially when you have Yao setting a pick for you. Then they would stop running it all of a sudden.
Fair enough. Now answer this - will you trade Francis for T-Mac? Do you think that Francis peak will be equal to or greater than Tracy's?
I think he can improve on last season. It would ruin his career, but he could get much stronger (muscle) and improve his midrange J. He would lose a lot of athleticism, but in the long run, it will extend his career by a few years and he would be a better fit for us. Does anyoen think he won't work on his game very hard this summer because he's hearing that he probably won't be here next year?
That's a poor excuse for not working on your game. People get traded all time. Actually it would help the Rox if he was traded and didn't work on his game so that the Rox can have a better chance beating the team Steve is trading to.
