If someone tried to tell me, "what Francis does on the court is worth MAX money", I would laugh in their face. Much of the time, what Francis provides to the team, is nothing that the likes of Raul Lopez can't do. For MAX money I expect that player to be able to take over games at times. Steve lacks this ability. A perfect example would be in the Christmas day game, against the Lakers. In the third quarter, with 4:09 left, Yao was sent to the bench. At this time, for the Lakers, Kobe was trying to will his team back in it with Shaq on the bench. This was the clear and perfect time for Steve to put the Rockets on his back and carry the team. Did he? The answer is most assuredly NO. He was in complete dissarray out there. And if not for the combination of poor shooting by the Lakers and solid rebounding and energy from the Rockets role players, the Lakers would have taken over the game at that point. I'm not trying to take away everything from Steve in that game because, overall, he played well and with energy. But this is something that happens in just about every game when Yao goes to the bench. It happened in Denver as well. He just does not have the ability to take the game over. You can just imagine if we had a player like McGrady at that point against the Lakers he would have put the Rockets on his back. I hate to make comparisons to L.A., but that is the role of Kobe when O'Neal goes to the bench. Again, it is clear to me that Francis lacks the ability to take the game over, so why again are we paying Steve MAX money to set up our role players? Is AK47 untouchable? ...and for those who have not seen much of the aforementioned Raul Lopez, he is one of the best point guards in the league. He is not a great scorer, but he can get to the rim and he can also set up his teammates as good as anyone in the league. Also he is very solid running the half court offense. I would love to see Lopez, AK47 or Chandler on the Rockets with Yao. It is time to move Steve.
Are you implying that Francis is even consistant enough to even attempt taking over a game. Don't be foolish.
I'm implying that JVG ain't having it and even if he tried .. .your guys would bash him for being selfish Steve is listening to too much of this board He IMO is trying but if he listened to this board he would not know what to do . . .pass more .shoot more. . no matter .. you guys bash him Rocket River
If he were to continue at the pace he was going the past 3 years before the ear disease he would have been a hell of a player. Not necessarily an awesome point, but an all star worth the max contract which was given to him based on what he could have done. Now, if the coach isn't utilizing him to his potential , who can complain.
Do you think McGrady would get bashed for taking over a game while Yao was on the bench? My guess would be no. Why? Because McGrady for one, has the ability to take the game over and two, he doesn't neglect everyone else and force things to happen when he is taking over. He has the ability to be unstoppable, a quality Francis will never have.
SF get paid top dollars to play this game. He need to perform like a top notch player and not make stupid decision one after another. Stupid foul by MOBLEY in Denver and SF bad pass to YAO tonight in Houston. SF should not even be in the league of all stars. Give me some reasons that he should be in this league of all stars. All stars take their team to the playoffs. I'm telling you guys this is a tend in most of the game that we have lost. Just pay attention to the decision making of the two guard lately.
true...Francis has improved in leaps and bounds as a PG, and now yall are questioning his ability to take over games... ...his career numbers of 20 ppg, 6 apg, 7 apg are more than exceptional, and there are MANY more players who are undeserving of a max contract...Since it's obvious Yao is years away from ever being a real leader and taking control, this IS Francis' team, so yes, the max contract is justified...
Your wrong, All stars are those who make the flashy plays, and the highlight reels. Proof you ask. See Michael Jordan in DC.
Francis will make the playoffs this year...name me one max player that didnt have a stable, consistent system to play in, both offensively and defensively...which was something Francis has not had in his previous 4 seasons, until this year...
Francis will make the playoffs this year...name me one max player that didnt have a stable, consistent system to play in, both offensively and defensively...which was something Francis has not had in his previous 4 seasons, until this year... Akeem Olajuwon's first championship
Stat lines are for fantasy leagues. Yao is the only player on this team that makes everyone around him better. It is clearly a different game when Yao is on the bench. He proves on a nightly basis that this team revolves around him.
True, but he does not have the mentality nor the aggression of a team leader, so therefore, he is just a team star, not the team leader. Francis is the leader, as he is the PG and has also provided a great example by altering his style of play to accomodate JVG's system. And his stats are only used to show what he is capable of...he is one of the few players ever in NBA history to average 20/6/6, so it is evident that he has the potential and has made strides to becoming the leader on and off the floor.
No, the offense was directed around Hakeem during his years. And it also took him 10 years before he won a ring, and various personnel and coaching changes. He had to go through growing pains as a player because if you remember, he was known as a hothead and became so frsutrated with the team, he was thisclose to being moved to the Clippers. So, no, he only had stability once Rudy T came on board and decided for him to be the focus of the team, and even THAT took 2 years.
he is one of the few players ever in NBA history to average 20/6/6he is one of the few players ever in NBA history to average 20/6/6 Doesn't mean anything if you can make it to the playoffs.
Yao has passion for the game. He leads by just being the impact player he is. He doesn't need to go around chest bumping people to be known as the leader of this team. He leads by making everyone around him better. And as far as Francis' previous stat line of 20/6/6, it was meaningless. He got us nowhere with those numbers because they came at the expense of the team.
