On improving the Rockets offense: “We were down in assists the past two years. We have a lot of players who need rhythm when they get into their moves, so sometimes it's a give and take type thing. I’ve been playing the same way since I was nine years old. I play hard offensively, defensively, and I’m going to rebound. This is what the Rockets got when they got Steve Francis. I share the basketball, but I don’t think there is any coach in this league that will tell you not to take an open shot. At times a lot of players do take shots that they’re not supposed to, but if there is an open shot, I’m going to tell you today that I’m going to take it. They’re are a lot of things that you work on in the summertime, and you don’t want to have to put a seat belt on something you worked constant hours on. " Hmm, doesn't sound like he's looking to defer to anyone. I hope I'm reading too much into this, but it doesn't sound like running the offense through Yao is going to be accepted without some stubborn refusal to resist change. This coming on the heels of his "if we win or lose, I'm going to be the guy on the front page" quote.
Eh. I read it like he's just going to take open shots. I don't have a problem with that and I don't think JVG will either.
I am not too worried. If anyone can get Francis change his attitude, it will be JVG. He is the Ogre in town. You eitherr get on or be left behind. He won't take **** from anybody, not Francis, especially now, when everbody knows who is the real "Franchise" player for Rockets.
As long as he doesn't hav to dribble for 10 seconds before getting open, I don't have any problem with him taking open shots. I think he will have to free himself quicker in JVG's offense, or pass it off. No running it down until there are 5 secs left!
He's not a ball hog.....that's Cat's job. I for one want him to take any open shot that comes his way (As long as it's within the offense or that perfect moment). SOME FORGET THAT HE IS OUR BEST PLAYER. Don't get me wrong, the offense should be ran through Yao, but Steve is the man on this team. Van Gundy knows this and anyone with a basketball IQ should no it too.
I love how when Steve says something good, the Steve haters want to step up and say "who cares what he says, let's let his actions speak for him..." But when Steve says something they don't like, they try to get all worried and say that it proves him to be a bad leader and all that. The season is starting in a few weeks, so just forget all the quotes and interviews. The time to talk is over, it's time to play now. Just wait til the season starts and then we'll see what happens. Too many interviews are being taken out of context just so people can make it seem like Steve shouldn't be our leader, and I'm sick of it. Like you've all said, let's let his actions speak for him and forget about his interviews. Then you can bash him if you need to.
The dude is still speaking in third person. Thats not a good sign. It will be hard to impossible for Van Gundy to change that kind of ego.
Francis could average 35 if he wanted too. He's already made a commitment to sharing the ball. So I don't know why everyone has their panties in a bunch over his passing. After 10 years of not winning the championship you can complain. But right now, he's still learning. He improves every year.
calm down. whats so scary about that statement. Whats wrong with taking an open shot. What we're all fed up with is Francis overdribbling and taking crazy shots, NOT open shots.
If YM and SF both have open shots, the ball should be passed to YM, because he has the better percentage. There are times when SF should shoot instead (team needs a three, etc), but all things being equal, I'll take a shot by YM over a shot by SF every single time. Trust me, it's going to get ugly this season. SF will never accept YM being top dog - never. Raven
I'm not so much concerned about his attitude but his efficacy in getting the ball to the low post. Yao's increased strength should make Steve's job easier and a year of playing together should help. Steve does get overly criticized because he doesn't do what great point guards do, but he can do a hell of a lot more than most point guards. I think he'll improve (playing with Yao in the next few years has got to help his assists) but Steve's overall game is better than many ackowledge and I'm sure it gets to him - and we'll continue to see these kind of somewhat frustrated comments. No big deal.
ummm....why is the statement scary? yao still needs to show that he can be the focal point of the offense which he did not show last year. he showed it at times, but not on a consistent basis by any means. if yao doesn't let himself get pushed around like a little girl like last year then maybe i will agree that he should be the focal point. if yao can show that he can hit that fade away jumper more consistently then there would be a stronger case for him being the focal point but until then yao should be 2nd to steve and i don't see anything wrong with that. yes yao can pass very well but later in the season when teams started adjusting more to his passing he was flat out screwed if he had to post someone up. the defender would just body up on him and show yao who really controlled the post. if yao is going to be the focal point from the post then he has to be aggressive and physical. the asian games was a positive sign that yao can change his game to be more physical, but still it was against lesser and weaker competition. yao should never get pushed around in the post with that kind of body, but he did. so once yao shows he can hold his own down there then there will be a better case for him being the focal point, but until then steve is still the man on offense.
The only scary thing was Francis referring to himself in the 3rd person still. The rest sounds about right.
you just read my mind. we dont need to overlook at this. stevie just feels that yao is the main offensive man but he's not well prepared yet. and its only yao's second year, so, let's not give yao that much pressure. steve has a good point here. so, i imho, there's nothing to be scared about.
The statement in bold is what I was trying to get people to focus on. Who here remembers when Kobe came back one summer after working on his game and wanted to dominate the ball? Everyone kept saying that the ball should start on the inside and work its way back out. Kobe busts out with, I've shot X-jumpshots a day over the off-season and I came back ready to play. Why should I take a step back in the offense when I put in the time during the off season to make myself better? We all saw how that kind of attitude can rip apart a team. There was talk all season of Kobe v. Shaq. I agree that Yao has not yet proven that he can carry the Rockets on his not yet-lithe shoulders. I guess the basic philosophical differences is what should be pointed out. All great big men say that the game should start in the post. Hakeem said it, Shaq believes it. However, all talented guards think that they can be just as effective. Dream had a problem with Sam Cassell dominating the ball when he got into games. Shaq used to not like Kobe doing the same in LA. It's a big difference in perception. Now, we have a coach who is planning on implementing an offensive scheme that is center-oriented. He even suggests that the New York Knick model when Ewing was there is a good parallel. How all this plays out will determine how far the Rockets go this year. You'll have Yao, Mo, and Griff all wanting the ball in the post and Cat and Wink wanting the ball up top in their control. Coach Van Gundy is trying to preach about sacrifice and how much you're willing to give up of your stats for the team's overall cause. Don't you think there is a certain segment of the Rockets' current roster he is trying to reach with these comments? Steve has yet to be labeled as selfish by his coaches. If anything, they always ask him to be more aggressive. Passing up open shots is a no-no in any offensive scheme. That's not the part of his interview I have a problem with. I have a problem with the inferred (granted it was my own inference from the quotes I've seen so far) notion that Steve thinks he can do what he wants, and "nobody can put a seat-belt" on him. This goes against everything Coach has been putting forth to the media about his philosophy. One voice, one team, one goal. This does not sound like one goal at all.
Talk about taking a vague statement and running away with it. He's not a ball hog.....that's Cat's job. I for one want him to take any open shot that comes his way (As long as it's within the offense or that perfect moment). Cat's the SG, he's supposed to take shots. Francis was no different then Cat, people just have this urge to rip Cat but pull back on Francis (though that is changing). Let them play a few preseason games before we take vague comments and use it to trash players with it.
I can see this being interpreted as trouble, but it takes some interpretation. That's not a shot; it's one way to interpret what he said...another is that he's saying he'll defer except when there is an open shot, a failry reasonable position. It might be nothing, it might be something, but who know? Unless he says something unequivocal, I'll wait and see how he plays.
There's nothing wrong with taking an OPEN JUMP SHOT. But this is not the case last season. Steve would drive into the basket forcing against a double or triple team while Yao or a PF open and ended up with a turn-over. I have confidence in Steve's shooting skills, but last year he's number 1 in TO and only 12 in assists.
