It'll be wierd getting used to a completely different team out there, but hopefully the winning results will offset any nostalgia. We ARE trading away our "Franchise" In the end, what do you think Francis' legacy will be as a Rocket? Talented player who was held back by his timing arriving on the Houston rebuilding scene, or talented bonehead who never got the team concept? And will T-Mac experience the same blame for losses that Steve did? Or will we start laying some on Yao if we dont improve?
I was just getting used to this team, even though it took longer than I had hoped. I loved the squads from the 90's. They played with heart and as a team. This team was coming 'round. If Francis and Mobley leave, I will miss them. Even miss the resurrected Cato. But I also have faith in Dawson. If he has the all of the other 'pieces' available (PG, defensive stopper, 3-point shooter, muscle) to round out the team, so be it.
Absolutely. I love Stevie, sure he does some stupid ****... but... I dunno, he's like that little brother, or maybe that annoying girlfriend... they drive you crazy, but it just wouldn't be the same without 'em...
Francis is a gifted athlete who "at times" could dominate the game. Issues? Outside shooting % has dropped, not a PG, not a SG, and did not play 100% every night. From a lack of a better term, he just didn't get it.... Put him in a playground game....enough said. Losing Mobley is a harder pill to swallow. He can play good defense and a times could go in hot shooting streaks. Like everybody else, I thought he held the ball a little too long while trying to create his shot. I actually thought he played a better all-around game last season. He is better suited as an off the bench player. Cato has "good" ability, but has terrible work ethic. No offensive skills, but his defense and average rebounding skills made him a good backup to Yao....and starter against the bigger frontcourt teams. If he would have only played the way he did in Iowa St and/or that ONE preseason game when he blocked 15 shots.....it would have been a better tenure. I won't miss him. McGrady's size and all-around game is too hard to pass up. If we can sign a decent PG...watch out!!! I pray this deal goes down!!!
Total # of dribbles does not equal total effort. The games where he tried the hardest were the games where he played the team game more, passing at most oppurtunities and looking to get his teammates involved. Anything resembling a fast break would be effort to me. The guy for whatever reason, disliked pushing the ball and prefered standing at the top of the key, looking for some magical open teammate or some nonexistant hole in the 4 guys between him and the hoop. The shortest distance between 2 points is a pass, not 10 dribbles. Then again I'm just rehashing everything we hated about his game. You could also argue he didn't try hardest when the game wasn't on national tv. I don't really think we'll be too mad to T-Mac for doing that kind of ISO because he's not going to be the smallest player in the game and as a result, his shots will be much higher percentage. No one accuses big men of taking too many shots. Strange how that works out.
This whole thing makes me wonder, why even be a fan? If you just cheer for whoever is put out there without regard does it really matter? What happened to loyalty? What happened to winning and losing as a family? Why make an emotional bond with a group of guys when they'll just be ditched at the first chance possible? After watching these guys for years I don't want to see them go, doesn't it just reduce the whole "organization" to a corporation (I realize that's what it is, but I guess it's tough to think of it that way)? Why not just root for Microsoft, wouldn't you accomplish the same thing, give your money to a corporation that replaces it's employees on a whim to increase profits? At least with them you'd know you were rooting for "champion". And what happens when the corporation sees a better chance somewhere else, we'll be left out in the cold like when the Oilers left. "Save our Rockets" may not work next time. This whole thing bothers me, I was sad when Kenny was traded after seeing him play so hard for us but thought maybe Posey would really help the team. And Posey did come out a play hard, then ditched us. Now we're trading half our team for a guy that I don't think has the heart of one of the three and could ditch us in a year. If you don't care about the players and just want to see "your team" win championships why not root for the Lakers and Yankees every year? Why be loyal to a team that's just a revolving door for whoever the big superstar of the moment is.
I'm sad to see Steve go, but happy to see T-mac arrive. Why am I attached to Francis? Well, as a kid, I didn't watch basketball much. Sure, I saw the Rocket's win their championships, but I wasn't a big basketball fan in general. I never really payed attention in the following years. Well, the year that we got Francis was the year I started getting into the NBA and becoming more of a fan of my hometown team. Francis was the first new star in houston in a long time. I adopted him and hoped he and Cat would be my NBA version of Biggio and Bagwell. Now it's the T-mac and Yao show. I hope they can be the Biggio and Bagwell of the Rockets now.
Regardless of what your Steve-hating blinders are telling you, Francis played as hard or harder than ANYONE in this league. That includes both Yao and TMac. Hell, it more than includes them, they DEFINITELY didn't play as hard as Steve did, night in, night out. He got on the court every day wearing his heart on his sleeve.
wut??? biggio and bagwell???? this is tmac's third team, and he is only 25. i m sure he will go select his 4th team soon
That's all true. And if he uses his head on the court before his wheels slow down, he'll could be a top 50 all-time.
some ppl just never appreciate think about astros, wut happened to them after they trade Bell to Mets? and now wagner or the year after rox trade away Hakeem
I'm worried that T-Mac will give us the same headaches that Steve and Cat did, and then he will bolt. I guess if he does we can pick up somebody in free agency ... but that's just more holes to fill. Still nobody solid at the point. I'd think after Pippen people would be more cautious about "superstars" more used to having their way than doing whatever it takes. That said, I'm not gonna trash T-Mac. He is without a doubt an elite player, and I hope he wants to stay in Houston. I've never forgotten how he went out of his way to bring a little joy to that poor kid shot by the sniper in DC. To me, that was class act.
the only way we can keep him is if we have a shot to the championship he said dat he doesnt want to be another Kobe(ring coz of shaq) or KG(everythng, but no ring) he wants to be Michael Jordan
Moving Steve for McGrady is a steal to me. First because Steve Francis don't fit into the Van Gundy system which require disciplinary and fundamental. Steve has no fundamental and try to be like one...but he ain't. He's not a spot up shooter ...more like dribbling shooter which don't fit the Rox. He can't pass...he's not a true PG. Only things i like about him is his energy and his heart and his athleticsm. He makes bone-headed play due to low IQ and lack of fundamental. So in a way he's not helping as much as he's killing the team. For all these reasons, getting rid of him and getting McGrady is a steal to me. There are lots of PGs out there that fit in better than Steve. No problem of replacement. His buddy Cutino Mobley is a good shooter, but also has no fundamental whatsoever. He will take quick shot after shot and force shot as well. He's a good shooter (spot up shooter), precisely what the Rox need, BUT against fundamental is very important and he lacks that as well. I wish the Rox can keep him coming off the bench ...but too bad. Cato....a guy that can't shoot and just don't complement Yao's game and not help the team offensively. He complement Yao's game defensively, but that's too 1-dimensional and Rox don't need that. They need a PF that can shoot and rebound and play defense. Cato only meet 2 of the 3 requirements. Same thing with Taylor, a player that complement Yao's game offensively but not defensively. Not good rebounder and defender. But Taylor is even more problematic, he lacks fundamental like the other players. He is too single-minded that when he makes up his mind to drive and shoot...he will do it and force shot even when double...he has no strategy plan out to pass the ball when double. He appears to have low IQ like Francis. I rather give up Taylor than Cato.
For me it's going to be hard to see steve go because he began his career here in houston. I got so attached to this team and hoped they would all succeed together but now it's all over and I'm forced to see this trade happen. It's going to be weird watching him in another uniform and hopefully this doesn't happen with Yao down the road. I just wish that both the Rockets and whoever we lose in this trade succeed in their careers. Now I'm hoping that we at least get to be a fourth place team in the Western conference this next year or else this trade sucked.
I'd like to thank steve for all the heart he has shown on the court and his play. i like watching him play. But his two biggest contributions to the team will not be forgetting 1) his absence in the 2001-2002 season which led to us getting Yao with the #1 pick 2) his involvment in the trade to land us T-mac thanks steve, as much as I did like watching you play, I also at times wanted to punch my tv seeing stupid play after play. I kept telling myself next game, next year he wont make that same mistake, yet you did. Regardless I will still root for you next year, like a fool I am whatever team you are on Unless of course if you happen to be playing the rockets
Yes! I feel very wierd because The Rocket was the first team that I really adopted as "my team"because of Yao. I got familiar with the players on the team. However, in two years time, the whole team had changed the coach and the players. I feel like I do not know the team. It will be a completely new team. I will have to start being famliar with them again.
