Have you even been watching the games lately? Rafer has been a beast! He runs the offense, has been attacking the Defense and has been knocking down big 3's. No way SF3 beats out Rafer, or Brooks and for that matter probably not even Head or Wafer for playing time.
Yeah, and by the law of average he will not be a beast for long. How i wish he prove me wrong, but he have shown that again and again for the past 3-4 years. Playing well in patches. And playing bad for a couple of month. Its interesting thou, that rafer managed to raised him game only when one of the main guys is injured. Just off my head, i think he played his best basketball of last season when tmac is out, then he suck, and he "return" to form when yao is out. Somehow in my bias eyes, i do think a SF3 at 50% is better than head/wafer and at 70% his easily the best guard behind Tmac. I know, he will never get over his injury, bla bla bla. But hey, its all speculative and the chance of him recovering to his previous best is as the same as never being able to play in the NBA again.
How are his eyes Biased? 70% of a former allstar> bottom ten point guard. Artest is not a guard. Brooks is still a young guard who doesnt even have Adeleman's trust. And dont even get me started on Wafer, Head, and Barry's problems. All im saying is if healthy Steve Francis will be an asset for the team.
Steve does not necessarily have to come in a point guard, he in my opinion plays better off the ball. That's why Vancouver back when he was drafted wanted to play him as a shooting guard. Steve was always a good passing shooting guard, who happened to play point guard. Ideally this is what I would like to see as a rotation: Starters Backups Bench IR guys Yao Mutumbo Dorsey Scola Landry Hayes Artest Battier Wafer McGrady Francis Barry Alson Brooks Head
I think that's a great lineup (WE WANT STEVE! ), although I feel that Battier would complement Yao and Tmac better since he can defend the other team's main guy, shoot 3's, make the pass to Yao or Tmac and hustle for the loose ball. Well, actually Artest can do those things too but yeah...whatever Adelman does, I'll be happy.
What is that suppose to mean? Are you saying if (big if to some of yall) Steve gets close to 70% of where he was, you still not play him over Barry/Luther/Wafer? Practice is practice. Coaches see who is better. If Francis gets back to game form, Rick will play him. Rick won't sit him down saying, where does he belong? Because if Francis out practices the rotation players, then he'll belong in the game. Very simple. There is no debate over Francis. Francis out practices the players in the rotation, then he'll play. I trust Rick, he doesn't have stubborn ways. No doghouse, no drama, just basketball.
I agree. If Francis outplays the others during practice he will end up seeing floor time during games. If he still has anything left after he knocks off rust he will see floor time.
I have the same response as Go_Korea and clos4life. Really it's Adelman's decision and he will play whatever combination of players is best. But I am rooting for Francis to make the final roster going into the Playoffs. If he doesn't though, I hope he works for the Rockets organization so he can get a ring too when the rest of the team gets it .
I'm saying at this point in his career there is a good chance that a 70%, 80%, 90%, 100% SF3 won't be able to beat out the people in front of him for playing time. SF3 never had the highest Basketball IQ and Coach isn't going to play him if he's a liability on the court and doesn't know where he's suppose to be. The old days of Iso, Dribble, try to drive and take a bad shot are gone. I have faith in Rick and Morey. IF and thats a big if SF3 can learn the offense, is back in shape, and can beat out the players in front of him then he might get a few minuets a game. Big IF. If he doesn't contribute before the playoffs there is no way he's on the roster for the playoffs. He's no longer the Franchise, or the savior of the Rockets some of you people think he is. Portland paid millions of dollars NOT to have him on the team. The Rockets foolishly paid millions for a broken down player. He's an old, injured, out of shape guard that IMO was never a great team player to start with. Great individual offensive talent but never a great team player. Bringing him back in was Les's decision. I have faith in Rick and Morey. IF (and thats a big if) SF3 can learn the offense, is back in shape, and can beat out the players in front of him then he might get a few minuets a game. Big IF.
Steve Francis is a good enough basketball player that even if he does not know the offense to a tee he can make quick decisions and be our second most versatile guard........... He has weapons in his game that NO PLAYER on our team has...... Would it not be nice to see someone take it to the hole like Steve as opposed to Rafer and AB's irritating floaters? Especially off ball swings when our guys are content to take 3's...........
Oh Jeez VoodooPope. Francis understands he isn't the number 1 guy anymore, but he damn sure can be one of the top 4 GO-TO players we have on our team in the class of Yao,Mac,Artest. Note that I said go-to. Someone we can rely on to do something when needed. To make something happen and is the best at succeeding in doing so,especially in clutch situations. Alston has never been or will ever be a go-to player. Brooks needs time. Landry isn't that type of player yet. A person we can rely on to score,finish,make a play. I actually put him ahead of Artest in the go-to department because we've all seen how Artest tries to force a shot when everything else has failed and it's really bad. Out of shape? Already has lost 15 pounds from last season and has shown commitment to get even in better shape. Old? He's YOUNGER than Alston and Barry. Injured? The knee that he had held off surgery on is now NOT bothering him. Please get the hell out of here with these lame oft-repeated Francis-Hater reasons. Francis' role will not be a problem. I believe he should start, and heck he may just start soon enough by outplaying Alston, which would not be hard for him to do since he's HEALTHY and just needs to shake off rust. But if his role is to come off the bench, he'd be an excellent Jason Terry piece that we could use. Heck he can make 15 points off going to the line for Free Throws alone. He is a better passer and playmaker than people give him credit for, TOs will certainly go down because he's not the man anymore and has talent around him to up his assists. He's the most clutch guy on the team behind T-Mac and deserves to be in there at crunch time. His athleticism is still there now that knee probs are no more.
Oh Jeez VoodooPope. Francis understands he isn't the number 1 guy anymore ............... Yes, you said it! Bring Stevie back.
Of course the word IF can be used on other players too as well. How about, If Tracy ever come back to 04-05 form, we'll win a championship. If Rockets stay healthy, we'll get past the 1st round. Do you know what I'm trying to say? The word If, sometimes means there is a possibility. And a possibility is better than impossible. And I'll take it. And another thing... I remember the offseason where we got him; Morey said getting Francis was a long shot and said that if (love that word don't you?) they do get him, they'd be excited.
Well if Steve is healthy maybe we can see the PG in him who coach thought would be his starting PG. I know it will be a long shot for someone takes Rafer's spot but it can happen.
