obligatory, immature post about the journalist's name. I'm done now. brush it under the rug for now and focus on securing the playoffs. If it becomes a recurring issue and moving needs to be made, then bring it back out.
Although I don't think a SF trade by the Feb deadline is a lock, I do think that the chances of it happening just went up. At the end of the day, I'm somewhat glad this whole SF-Superbowl incident occurred. It just highlights what kind of person/player that SF really is. As I've stated before, SF is one of my favorite players to watch, but I just don't see him leading the Rox to success. It seems like neither JVG or SF is going to change, which means that SF is headed out of town...
I am a Yao's fan, but I would be glad if we should trade Cat instead of Steve and move Steve to 2. But, who will play as the SG? I don't care who will go, I just want to see the playoff games of Rockets. Is that a simple request? "God knows how long".
Clutch, I look at those comments by Francis as him "not budging", or to try to save face throughout this situation. I don't think he goes out there and disregards JVG's plays, I think he is just saying that in the MEDIA because he doesn't want to LOOK like someone that is just sucombing to JVG. Basically, he is not going to give an inch, at least not PUBLICLY. His EGO is being checked here and he is stiffening up his back. All of those comments are just media spins (by Francis) as far as I am concerned. The ENTIRE problem here is Francis' Ego. This ENTIRE thing would have been dropped if he just said "I was wrong, my bad, I wont do it again." PERIOD. END OF STORY. But by Francis continuing to fight back on quite frankly a LOSING battle it just makes things worse. I mean, Francis hasnt even been to the playoffs yet. Wouldnt this have more teeth if Francis had won a couple of championships and JVG hadn't been to the playoffs?
Deuce, what you say is true. Francis' ego trip is unfortunately telling about his inability to learn/improve. His ego is totally in the way of - recognizing his own mistakes and shortcomings - doing the right thing (apologizing and moving on) - being a real team leader. It's like his ego switched off his brain. Even someone who is completely brain-dead would have to recognize that his changing stories are not believable. That just makes all the other spin he gave the media about changing his game etc. from the past less credible, too. Like when he talked about giving the ball to Yao, deferring to the big guy, etc. The guy says one thing in the media and does something else. This episode is proof of that. JVG sticking to the truth and not sugar-coating it has exposed Francis' lying ways, and that is why Francis is mad. He is like a kid that has been caught in a lie. He makes up more lies to cover the previous ones and does not realize that he just looks more and more stupid the longer he goes on. Unless JVG or someone else manages to deflate Francis' ego, Francis will never be as good and as successful with a team as he could be.
these are one of those things that there isnt anything else going on, so this is what is left to talk about. Its really getting old. LEts talk about b-ball, not this old "soap opra". Its over. Francis is getting out of his slump, and the rockets have a streach where they can win 3 in a row. Lets think positive.
so your assuming hes saying that to trade his player where did you ge tthat logic. Why cant you admit he still is our best player. He is the leading scorer , leading assist maker, and handles the ball the most.
I just thought of an example of the 'what if' scenario. Remember when in the middle of the season the Rockets released Thomas Hamilton aka 'Two Sandwiches'? They didn't give a specific reason, but they did more than just suspend him, they cut him from the season after it had already started, and they didn't say why. I don't believe that many people if anyone thought the organization was so horrible for doing that. I think a lot of people wondered what had happened, and realized it must have been pretty bad for the Rockets to cut him like that.
Excellent post, Rocketman. So now a player can't even comment on another player on his own team? I don't get how coaches supposedly get free reign in the media and the player has to be silenced. The coach is supposed to 'speak his mind' and tell it like it is, while the player just has to sit there and say 'yessir'. And if you don't want to have spats with your players, a good way to start might be not telling the world how you think they're heartless.
The guy just talks without thinking which is the way he plays basketball. All of this could be over and done with if Steve Francis would of done the honarable thing and told the truth but with his marketing agent teams strong advice they were more concerned about him sustaining his marketing image and reputation more than anything else. And theres where the problem lies. Steve and his marketing team will keep on lying like dogs even at the cost of creating more friction with the coach and making him look dishonorable to save Francis's image and rep. Because in the end, to them, its not who you really are, but how you are percieved, about rep and image, because you know they gotta keep selling them shoes man.
I've seen you mention this several times and you're totally changing his words. It’s totally different when a coach says his team is “heartless” to what Van Gundy actually said which was that his team played without heart during the second half of a game, which was true. I hear coaches all the time saying their team didn't give the effort they needed to during a game. Saying his team is heartless implies that he thinks they have played without heart all season, which Van Gundy did not say. In fact, Gundy has said countless times this season that his team played hard. That’s how they got the best defense in the NBA.
Those were my feelings exactly when I read that quote. What impact does JVG have on the team if the leader and best player is going to play however he wants to play? Doesn't help that Mobley is clearly Steve's partner in crime. With our backcourt doing what they want to do, this leave Yao to suffer as the third option, and Jim Jackson as the odd man out. Why did Les go sign a top notch coach if our players were just going to ignore him? One has to believe that this situation is unacceptable to Les and JVG. I really don't see Steve ever backing down, as he is the spoiled child who has always gotten what he demanded (out of canada, huge contract, etc..), and it seems what he wants now is a trade. Let's give it to him. (if we can find something fair, I'd hate to have to wait till next August to get fair value for him, might as well start now.)
I wonder if it has worked in the past??? Pat Reily: Listen up guys! I have a game plan... Magic Johnson: No! I want to do it my way! K.C Jones: Listen up guys! I have a game plan... Larry Bird: No! I want to do it my way! Chuck Daly: Listen up guys! I have a game plan... Isiah Thomas: No! I want to do it my way! Phil Jackson: Listen up guys! I have a game plan... Michael Jordan: No! I want to do it my way! Rudy: Listen up guys! I have a game plan... Hakeem: No! I want to do it my way! (Like back in 1991). Greg Popovitch: Listen up guys! I have a game plan... Tim Duncan: No! I want to do it my way!
