Chron: Rockets' Francis Invites Criticism With Celebrity

Rockets summary
Foul concerns

Yao Ming admitted he would be much more frustrated these days if the Rockets weren't winning. But that doesn't mean his foul problems are not bothering him.

After a long talk with coach Jeff Van Gundy following Monday's victory over the Warriors, Yao said he knows he needs to improve on his defense to help cut back on his fouls.

He fouled out of last Wednesday's game. On Saturday, he didn't play the fourth quarter against the Jazz because of five fouls. And Monday, he played only 23 minutes because he was in foul trouble from the start.

Van Gundy said after Monday's game he would examine the past 10 games, look at every one of Yao's fouls and discuss them with him.

Yao already knows some of the things he needs to work on.

"I think I have to work more on not waiting until the last minute to defend and not waiting until the last minute to try and block a shot," Yao said. "If I can start early pushing out or just contain them early in the possession, I probably won't have that problem."
Tough to land

The Suns' release of Charlie Ward made one of Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy's favorite players a free agent on Tuesday.

Ward's agent Craig McKenzie said before the season that Ward would love to play for Van Gundy again, and Van Gundy had nothing but praise for Ward on Monday.

"Jeff and Charlie had really good relationship," McKenzie said then. "Charlie said Jeff is a premier coach."

But if the Rockets choose to pursue Ward when he clears waivers, landing him will not be easy.

The Rockets will likely have to compete with teams either under the salary cap or with mid-level exception money left, giving them a chance to offer Ward a much larger contract than the Rockets can.

Other teams are likely to be considered closer to a championship with the Spurs and Mavericks expected to show interest. McKenzie said before the season, that Ward loved playing in New York and the Nets are expected to look for a backup for Jason Kidd.

Van Gundy, however, offered a strong endorsement.

"Charlie Ward is tough, reliable, dependable, durable, nasty, but also nice, unafraid of competition," Van Gundy said.
Ford released

With last week's addition of Clarence Weatherspoon, the Rockets released rarely used forward Alton Ford on Tuesday. Ford, the former University of Houston and Milby High School product, had played in nine games, averaging 1.7 points and 1.2 rebounds.

The move left the Rockets with a 12-man roster and just 11 active players. Adrian Griffin remains on the injured list while rehabilitating his right knee. Griffin has not been cleared for full practices.
Saying thanks

As often as the grind of an NBA schedule can be cursed, the Rockets' three games in four nights might have been a blessing with the last of those games Jeff Van Gundy's first in Madison Square Garden since he stepped down as Knicks coach in December, 2001.

"Once it gets to that point, to the game, I don't know how it will be, but I'm sure it will be different," Van Gundy said before the run of games began. "In the NBA, three days away is an eternity. I have more than enough to concern myself with Golden State, Detroit.

"Let's not undersell how much I owe New York, the area, the fans the organization. I understand how much those people meant to me in my career. One thing I say all the time, as I was trying to drive them to what they wanted to be, which was champions, I never said thank you enough for all those groups did for me. I've seen some guys since I went into broadcasting and since I've been back (in coach) that were on those teams."

 

I still don't think he 'Gets It'

 

No, I think he does. Steve wants nothing more then to win and go to the playoffs. I saw a quote recently where he said he used to be concerned with the stats earlier in his career....the guy is trying to make it work. He's too smart to be stubborn about it...least he better damn well be haha....Steve is the Franchise, he's our leader, and he's gonna lead us far.

 

I still contend that Steve being put in role that emphasizes his weaknesses rather than his strengths is a very bad idea. It's also very inefficient allocation of cap money. Any humdrum point guard can do what Steve is being asked to do. What the Rockets signed him to a max contract for is much more than his current role asks of him.

 

I can't wait till he's traded

 

the thing is though, if we put him back in his original role were bound to head for the lottery again. The logical solution would be to trade him. We could get the things he is doing now at a much cheaper price.

 

It's hard to feel sorry for a guy with a Rolls Royce.....

Raven

 

why do some of you guys always talk like our players can't improve or learn...

yes, Van Gundy wants Steve to be more efficient, less dribbles, and although that may be his weakness, doesn't mean he can't learn or improve on it...

same with Yao, its like almost fashionable to beat up on Yao, although dude is only in his second year and sometimes we comment like he will never be this or never be that...when all indication from Yao is that he wants to improve...

 

You can make all sorts of favorable arguments about Francis... but being a leader isn't one. It's not something that's even close.

He's not a floor general. He doesn't lead by example (his pathetic defense alone is evidence of that). While sometimes vocal, he's just sort of a chearleader. There's no direction.

No, Francis isn't a leader. The Rockets don't have one.

 

With all respect, I couldn't disagree more. Francis is becoming exactly what we always wanted him to be - I don't see why so many people can't see this.

Everyone blamed Francis and Mobley for not passing; for not giving the ball to Yao; for not playing defense.


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Francis has/is in the process of becoming the point guard we always wanted him to be. Look at his production lately:

12 assist vs. GS, 2 points on 1-11 shooting
7 assist vs. Utah, 17 points on 7-12 shooting
5 assist vs. Phili, 15 points on 6-16 shooting
6 assist vs. Seattle, 12 points on 4-12 shooting
10 assist vs. Denver, 14 points on 5-12 shooting
7 assist vs. Lakers, 22 points on 7-18 shooting

That's Stevie's numbers over the last two weeks, yet you guys still want to complain? Pathetic defense? While all his career and earlier in the season I'd agree, but did you stop watching the Rockets in December? Francis, as well as the whole team, are playing amazing defense, and are among, if not THE, best defensive team in the league.

Francis is our leader, both vocal and by example (his mic'd up on the Lakers game is evidence of that). Gone are the days Francis uses 24 seconds to ISO his man and shoot, he comes out the game early looking for his teammates. Most importantly, Van Gundy has gotten him to TRUST his teammates, as I've seen multiple times every game he'll pass up a shot to set-up JJ or Mobley. Getting everyone involved, having them trust in you to get them the ball - he IS the floor general, like it or not.

What about his shooting? If I were a fan of any team, I'd be terrified of our team. As good as we are defensively and how we're starting to gel offensively, Francis is struggling with his shot. We know what Francis can do, we've seen it before - his shot WILL come around. And when that day comes, we'll no longer be fighting off the likes of Seattle and Denver; Minny, L.A., San Antonio, and Dallas we'll be trying to hold us off.

 

Longtime fan, I think you are right about Steve.

My respect for Steve is going up daily. He is not the smartest player in the league, but he is working very hard to overcome his weakness as a point guard. This is a big time attempt to walk the walk.

Haven't any of you ever tried to: 1) improve your backhand in tennis, with a temporary set back in your forehand or 2) improved your driving in bball with a temporary set back in your shooting ,3) concentrated on your diet with a temporary set back on your work outs. 4) improve your study habits with a tempory setback in your social life?

Focusing on new habits can often cause a temporary setback on previous strenght, which can often be regained rather easily.

 

Once you figure in the turnover numbers, he goes back to being the same ol' Steve with the same ol' FG%.

Nothing's changed. If this is his "good stretch", then I want my money back.

You make it seem like the GS game was a good one for him, when he also had SEVEN TO'S. That's a 1.7:1 asst:to ratio, which is below average, borderline BAD.

I'm fine with Steve averaging a measly 6 assists per game, as long as that's served with no more than 2.5 TO's.

 

I actually do feel kind of sorry for him for that...white Rolls-Royce?? That's so Siegfried and Roy!

 

Those numbers could easily have been from last year. He averaged 6 assists per game. Don't you think he occasionally had games of 10 or 12 assists? The majority were around 5-7, just like in your limited sample. Last year he averaged about 15 FGA per game. In this sample he averaged 13.5, a whopping 1.5 per game less, and it includes a game where he missed his first ten shots, so hopefully he decided it was not his night and reigned in his shooting. These are supposed to be the numbers showing some vast improvement? He has the worst FG% of any of our starters, so why would he be leading the team in FGAs? Yet that is exactly what he is doing. He isn't playing any different than last year except that he is puttting out more effort on defense (with unspectacular results I might add, he is definitely the weakest link in our defensive chain) and is shooting horribly. Everything else is the same. What I want out of him is to be better at the point guard skills than those who are making 1/2 the salary that he does. Otherwise, we might as well trade him for an upgrade at one of the forward positions and bring in an average pg that can give us the same production. Charlie Ward, Carlos Arroyo, and Raul Lopez all average within 1.5 apg of what Steve gives us in about 1/2 the playing time. None of them are worse defensively and all shoot a higher percentage. We can probably get Ward for the minimum. Shouldn't we expect more from someone taking the max, than from someone making the min? The Steve Francis as a system player experiment has failed. He is a freelancer, a one-on-one specialist, a chucker. Trading him will be better for him (he can go to a team that fits his style) and better for the Rockets (we can get a player who can play within a set offense and offer us something on defense).

 

I am unsure what is right or wrong, but could an alternative be to have him play within the "structured offense" most of the time and sometimes let him roam freely - basically mix it up a little. That way, one could surprise the opponent and, in an ideal world, get the best of both worlds...? Or would van Gundy/Francis be unable to get that done?

 

Steve needs 23 pts, 7 ast, 4reb, and less than 3 to to earn his money. He needs to hold his opponent to 18 pts, 5 ast, and create 3 to.

He's not earning it. Trade him. and the Rolls. Ugh.

 

I think very soon Francis is going to suprise a lot of people here. And in case people have forgot we are still doing pretty well in the win column with Francis playing subpar.

Just wait until he gets out of this slump. This team will be VERY hard to beat.

 

Be careful not to read too much into their recent performance. The biggest change from last year is that they are doing quite well against the bottom feeders in the league particularly in the Eastern Conference. Their won/loss record is idential to last year's at this time so there is no real progress being made there. Outside of the LA game on Xmas day, their new "Knicks" offense has not done very well against teams in their division at all. It's also agonizing to watch them turn in 15-20 periods night in and night out. Before the season is done, they may very well set the record for offensive futility in the league.

What is troubling to me and possibly others is that SF's game has sort of fallen apart because he's been asked to do the things you would normally expect of a PG. I mean, because he now has to start thinking on the floor and REALLY run an offense, he can no longer shoot? What's that all about?

 

and which Max Players are getting this done?

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