I have no idea what has got our players to play their hearts out each and every night, but whatever it is I hope they keep on doing it. Cuttino Mobley has ben able to score without missing 60% of his shots, Dream with his 4 blocks, Shandon with concentrated defense effort, Mo Taylor beating up his competition, Jerry Stackhouse shooting like hes addicted to laxatives. With the way they have been dominating lately, I think we have a very good chance at the playoffs. ------------------ "The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century." -Dan Quayle
Dream with 7 blocks. That's awesome. ------------------ Charles Barkley on TBS on the "fat track" poll: "What? 47% said I'd gain more.....why those.....they better be glad this is a family show."
It was Francis taking the leadership role. Telling the players who were not hustling to wake up. Win or lose Francis always hustles. He expects the same from all his teamates. ------------------ When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Everyone is trying to impress Webber ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
Francis rightfully asserts leadership By FRAN BLINEBURY SAN ANTONIO -- He talked. They listened. He didn't single out anyone by name. Never pointed accusing fingers at an individual. But they knew who he was talking about. And he knew they knew. "I got the look from some of them," Steve Francis said. "The kind of look that says, `Guilty.' " Everybody's been telling him this is going to be his team since the day he arrived, and the kid point guard finally decided it was time to show some pride of ownership. The Rockets had been slapped silly in consecutive games on their home court, losing by 18 to Miami and by 17 to the LA Clippers in affairs that were never really that close. Both times Francis cut loose with stinging criticism of his team's play. He questioned the commitment and professionalism of some of his teammates. He said he didn't blame the fans in Compaq Center for booing the Rockets, even though it hurt him deeply to hear it. He said it was time for some of the characters who had been half-stepping it up and down the court to step hard on the throttle. He said it was time for all of the hanging heads to be lifted and to start playing like they cared. Francis cares. Nobody has ever doubted that. You see the way he is all over the court with the energy of a twister and you know the sagging NBA would be better served if there were several dozen more like him. Using his crossover dribble to create space between him and a defender and then sticking a 3-pointer. Taking off on those rocket-launch drives to the basket that send him seemingly toward the top of the backboard before throwing down the dunks that leave him swinging on the rim, and grabbing rebounds over bigger, stronger men. Banging on the floor, punching at the air, pleading with the referees for any kind of a break or an edge. Yes, he cares. Rockets respond in kind Saturday night at the Alamodome, what was significant was not that Stevie Franchise went out and got the Rockets 29 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, but that he got his teammates to look like they give a damn again. "I got my team back tonight," said coach Rudy Tomjanovich. It was another of those down-to-the-wire, can't-quite-make-the-last-play 90-88 losses to the Spurs that have been the trademark of this season. Only in horseshoes, hand grenades and presidential elections is close good enough. The last 19.2 seconds were played with Francis looking on helplessly from the sidelines because nobody on the bench bothered to remind him he was just one personal from fouling out when he reached out to grab Derek Anderson. The last 8.2 seconds wound down with the ball in the hands of Moochie Norris on the right wing and then kicked out to Maurice Taylor beyond the top of the key. Taylor's 3 missed everything. But Francis' cutting words to his teammates, delivered in the newspaper and on the evening TV news didn't miss. At least they got the Rockets to play with some fire again. "It's my team," Francis said. "People have been telling me that since day one. But I didn't feel like I had the right as a young player to just come in an act like that. I figured I'd know when the time came." That time was a pair of back-to-back whippings that made him so ashamed of the Rockets' performance that he wouldn't even show his face in his favorite restaurants for a postgame meal. And he woke up with more than just his stomach growling. Sets example on the court He watches the story unravel with the franchise player Hakeem Olajuwon and doesn't like it. But knows it means even more that the franchise is in his hands. "Losing games is one thing," Francis said. "Not playing hard is different. I always play hard." So hard he often hurts himself. He comes with many of the trappings -- tattoos, styling, bravado -- of the modern player who is so often criticized. But Francis is the kind of player who would thrive in any era. He is a throwback, the New Age kid who is making millions, but plays because he likes to play. He is growing, blossoming, learning about this leadership role and still has lessons to absorb. For instance, it might be seen as an inopportune time to get on teammates when you arrive at the game for the start of third quarter following an excused absence Thursday. "I messed up," he said. "But then I played hard. And I still didn't like what I saw." This is not natural for him, being the stick that prods. But if it's what it takes. "A couple of the veterans came up and said they were glad I spoke out," Francis said. "Told me they were waiting for me to do it." So he did. The Franchise is growing. ------------------ When we tire of well-worn ways, we seek for new. This restless craving in the souls of men spurs them to climb, and to seek the mountain view. -- Ella Wheeler Wilcox
You know what got into our players? Good things man, good things. ------------------ The Rockets will be the NBA champions. Believe.
While noone is promised Webber, our chances would be increased if we could land a spot in the playoffs. The bottom line:Us with Webber are better than the Kings with Webber Now 4 years ago, who the hell would think webber would the most prized PF in the game?(arguably of course) ------------------ President of the Charles Barkley fan club...Oh he retired? When?
Yep thats true. Webber with the Rockets and a GOOD draft pick will make us contenders next season. ------------------ President of the Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford,Larry Hughes, and Charles Woodson fan club.
No doubt, our team is much better all around than the Kings. Jason Williams sucks, Hakeem can kick Vlade's @$$, Shandon and Christie is pretty equal, but Taylor gets rocked by Webber. ------------------ "The Holocaust was an obscene period in our nation's history. I mean in this century's history. But we all lived in this century. I didn't live in this century." -Dan Quayle [This message has been edited by DaneB (edited February 08, 2001).]
I am simply in awe of our last two performances. Dream is playing like a man possessed. Francis and Mobley are killing opposing guards. Mo keeps getting better and has shown a lot if fire to go with better performances. Shandon's defense is stifling and he scores when he is needed. On top of this, our bench has been awesome. It looks like we have been fielding a team of all-stars the last two games. Our potential as a team is just incredible. I think Steve accepting the leadership is what has gotten into our team. GO ROCKETS!!!!! ------------------ "Salt Lake City, Utah. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villany." --Olaju-Won Kenobi, to young jedi Steve (Fran)'chiseWalker
You know, I'm really happy about all this, and I hate to be pesimistic but.... Does this mean the the team doesn't try it's hardest until it needs to? Cause we'll never make it anywhere that way....Does that mean that they didn't play to full capacity in the first half of the season? Makes u wonder, are they really pushing themselves to the limit? Cause that's what it takes to win... But other than that..... WOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I TOLD YOU GUYS DREAM WILL RULE, THIS SEASON! ------------------
What has gotten into our players is Hakeem Olajuwon's improved play. I think it makes everyone play better. ------------------ "Stop your grinnin' and drop your linen" -Hudson
