Thanks Vengeance & rocketabc for the recaps. I really liked what he said. He did not sound so egotistical. He seems to generally be mindful of what needs to be fixed and really sound like he wants to fix it. Great news.
I feel the same way. I use to be a HUGE Francis supporter. Hell, anyone that's been on this board for awhile knows I've supported/defended Steve many times when he was 2nd year player, while he was trying to figure everything out. 3 years later he hasn't shown any kind of improvement but is getting paid like a superstar and thats hurting our team.
Epic interview with Steve Francis. This show is the Bombay. About the Lakers. The Lakers is Epic. Infact, my interview with Steve Francis is just about as Epic as the Lakers winning three in a row. Now that, clones is Epic. Epic in every way.
Personally, I see SF as a lot like MJ before HE learned how to play in a system. He was always trying to hit the home run and was a free wheeling guard that had to have the ball in his hands to score. He developed into the consummate team player and stopped the freestyle basketball until it was needed: when there were 5-6 seconds on the shot clock. The Rox need to run the system for 17-19 seconds and THEN get the ball to SF or Cat to create a shot. As it is, those guys hold onto the ball and/or dribble down the clock when they should be running the system. The last 5-6 seconds are the time when SF and Cat should do their thing. Once they get that down, we are going to be very difficult to contend with. SF's two biggest problems are that he doesn't know how to play within an offensive system and he doesn't know how to win. Jordan figured it out and so will Steve, he just needs time and a teacher like JVG.
Thanks It was really a good interview . . . I think Steve is a player who really WANTS greatness for himself and his team, but he doesn't know how to achieve it. If he can only put it all together, he would be a GREAT player. Lets hope it comes sooner than later.
Sydmill: you cant even recognise sincerity. I never BASH the Franchise {Steve Francis} I Have been highly crirical of him but only in the cause of whats best for our Team.'IMO' Never have I used street language when being critical of him. I dont consider myself as a basher of anyone.
BTW .. I think he was joking, but I might be wrong ... not really sure Anyways ... I'm sick of people talking about how selfish SF is ... I'm sorry but I think after seeing games this year NO ONE on the Rockets is hitting shots period. SF has been getting the ball into Yao almost every chance he gets. At times I have seen him be selfish but that was at the point of games when nothing was going right for the Rockets and he was trying to carry the team like an all-star team leader should do. Unfortunately his confidence has been shot by many Rockets fans who criticize him to no end for not getting the ball to Yao. Francis may not be playing well, but he is obviously trying. He tries to get the ball into Yao WAY more than last year. And if you don't believe that then you are a blind YOF. Alot of his problems this year have been because he looks very unsure of himself probably because he is concentrating so hard on trying to fit into the new system. Francis is trying to change and I say give him at least a season to try to adapt to the new JVG system ... He deserves it. Yes Francis has sucked this year so far, but so has Yao, JJ, Cato, and just about every Rocket other than Mobley this year. Quit putting all the blame on him
Heh. Im glad someone else took note of what I said. I think overall, Steve, in his heart, might not feel that Yao is ready to be "the man". Now, that doesn't automatically mean Steve deserves to be, and I think we all know that as good as he is, having Steve be "the man" is not going to lead us to a title. However, its nice to have Steve, and especially Cat, on the team during this transition period. And thats what this team is in. A transition period. They are trying to make this team with Yao being "the man". In the end, I have no problem with Steve still trying to be the leader until Yao proves other wise. Someone has to be.
really sounds like Steve is trying to buy in to what JVG is wanting.... time and patience is needed, sounds very much like he is wanting to change things...cool very cool
Thanks for the good notes on the interview! Sounds to me like Steve is thinking about things the right way. Hopefully, it will just take time. I also like that they had a meeting to tell Yao to stop over-passing the ball when he's hot. It should be good for Yao to hear that from his "selfish" (note to danjojo- the preceeding word enclosed in quotes was sarcastic, it was a joke) teammates.
