I have not seen Steve play this year. Does he have anything left in the tank? Steve is the anti-Rafer. Except for dribbling, and intellect as a point guard which Steve was adequate at, Rafer has nothing over the old Francis, who could jump higher was faster, was physically fearless, strong, didn't fade in the clutch, was at least as good a shooter, at least as good defensivley due to strength rather than being physically weak, a better scorer on and on and on. If Rafer had replaced Steve we would have been the worst team in the League for several years running. If necessary put Steve in at the end unless the game has been decided. Let Rafer play the big minutes, he is durable partly because he avoids all contact. Put Steve in when you need to rest Tracy or at the end when you need guts or merely another gear.
Watching the GS series, it's tempting considering he was on par with Baron Davis during his heyday. He just makes too much money and I'm not sure he'd be satisied with such a reduced role. I'd also trust Raefer to run our team much more. Remember when Francis took on Kobe one on one in the '04 playoffs? Kobe's just smiling at him, inviting him to do his best going one on three... ouch.
I like Francis. I have been following him whole career in the NBA. First at Houston, then Orlando and now the Knicks. Did his knees hurt this season? Yes. Was he in Isiah Thomas's doghouse? Yes His "Jumpers Knee" will be fine with the offseason to rest and he'll return strong. I would give him another chance if he were here. I think over the years Steve has matured. He still sometimes gets in that grove where he overdribbles ping ping ping ping ping boink off his foot and outta bounds but typically the guy uses his dribble to open spacing between himself and the defender and then basically just blows by them. His comment in New York this year after he put up a 20 plus game and Isiah was gushing was pretty funny. He said that he's been the donkey ever since he'd been there. It was a sideways jab at Isiah Thomas. After that, he got benched. The Marbury/Francis experiment was a disaster. Both guys play the same. Francis can still get to the rim and still has the speed when healthy. But yeah, I'd try him out. I think Alston/Francis would work much better than Marbury/Francis. Move Tracy back to his small forward position and get Yao a big strong power forward to help him out.
Francis was always going to be a scapegoat this season. http://www.nba.com/knicks/news/dolanthomas_060626.html
I like your analysis- seriously. I like Steve. If we had him to play here as a backup point- with a strong - 4 power forward to help Yao- that would give this team a lot. Academic to consider now-but I would like to see it.I really believe Stve would like to be bakcin Houston- he has many fans here. He has shown a willingness to cooperate with Van Gundy- he changed his game before to help the team.
If he is bought out as many have expceted. Rockets should sign him, period. Rockets tried Swift, Bonzi, they sure should give Stevie a chance.
I wouldn't mind giving him a 2nd chance here...don't believe it will happen though because we just never seem to have the cap room that other contenders have and we always end up with losers like Bonzi. Not sure if Stevie still have that passion to be a top 10 player anymore...
Do you also remember 4 other rockets standing doing nothing and three other lakers behind Kobe in case Steve got by him??? Do you remember that as well . . . While folx b*tch about folx not helping Tracy where was Steve's help on that one? I still say Steve played with Rocket teams that were less talented that the Rocket Teams of the last three years and he still did some great things Rocket River
I'd like to see him back. If he gets a buyout from the Knicks, we wouldn't hve to overpay him, just some amount that woulnd't be an embarassment. Barkley played for vets minimum to come here and try to win. I think Stevie would too, but that remains to be seen. If this buyout happens this summer, we should definitely talk to Steve. The playoffs have certainly revealed to everyone in the league that the Rockets are not set at the point.
Steve will be bought-out by the Kniicks this summer, and will be free to sign with whomever he chooses. There was a story that there was a buyout during the season, but Jamal Crawford got injured for the season so they had to keep Steve. I think Franchise will be back in Houston this summer because he will still be getting paid from the knicks and we can sign him the same way the Pistons signed Chris Webber. Why not? We need another ballhandler on this team. I like Skip, but he is forced to play to many minutes. We can take off some of that pressure with Steve. Hopefully he will want to come back because nobody is going to trade for him, and the Knicks are going to be forced to release him.
I have a HUGE mancrush on Franchise. I would love for him to be back with us, and now that Cat isnt around to encourage him to jack up stupid shots, I think he'll have a real nice niche here (whoever thought I'd say that about the Franchise)
If the Knicks buy Steve out and he's willing to sign for the MLE, you have to bring him back. Even at his worst, he's still better than Rafer Alston, Mike James, Chucky Atkins, etc. You're also talking about a guy who wants to play here, which counts for a lot in my book.
I think Steve would be a tremendous upgrade as our starting PG and would make this team much much better than we currently are. Rafer could go to being the backup PG where he belongs and could succeed.
Absolutly, if he gets bought out, adding him to the mix would benefit the Rockets....too bad we can't just trade Skip for him. DD
The third scorer. Not disastrous on defense. A tough slashing offensive player. Trade the damn first if we can get Steve for a price we can afford. Rafer-Steve would do it. Steve for times when you need a leader or more than just mild mannerly giving the ball to others.
I wish we could, just so everyone could see the value that Skip brings. (I DO think Skip needs to be upgraded...but I think Steve would suck running this offense full-time. I'd like Steve as a backup for the record..) edit: but I'd rather have someone else and Skip as a backup
Steve would be great as a backup 1 or 2. He would be another scoring threat for the 2nd team. How would Battier, TMac, Frances, Head and Alston sound as small ball?!!!!
