I just don't understand this SF loyality. His games has always been more about street ball and highlights than being part of team. Now he has aged, lost some speed, been passed around the league. We brought him in for a song on a low risk with potential return he may still have something left in the tank. You have to trust that the coach knows what he is talking about. All the post in the world is nothing more than trying to wish him PT. I will give him credit that he has not made a complete scene. The question is now will he man up and do what it takes or blow a fuse. At this point, we can afford to wait. Fact of the matter is the PG is still our biggest hole. Thank goodness we got a insurance policy in MJ to pick up the slack if Rafer doesn't return to pre-season form. But make no mistake we have no long term solution for this position unless AB can develop or we aquire someone else. Unfortunely, PG is as tough a position to fill as center. There just aren't enough good ones to go around. That said I am still optimistic about the year that we can balance things out and play to our strengths. The new system was needed even though it may take a bit of time to master. We have won two to start off so you got to be happy about that. I just don't care about the SF drama and I trust that Aldeman will not let it become a distraction.
We all love Francis when he was back in Houston. But I hope that he would accept the fact that he is not the same player he was before. Therfore, he should act as a team player and start cheering for the team on the bench and working harder in the practice to be ready when he get the call. Right now the coach try to keep the team chemistry the same by starting Rafer but give MJ more minutes because he knows James has great potential to explode from the bench.
How has he not proven himself? Well, obviously he's not played well enough to be in the game. We can't see him practice but don't you think if he outplays the other guards Adalmen would play him? You prove yourself in practice. How does coming in out of shape show that he has proven himself? You said yourself if he plays badly you still wouldn't cut him. BLIND LOVE?
I can answer this question. It is because most of us were frusturated with Stevie when he was part of this team years ago. He has so much physical potential, but it is clear he doesn't work on anything, Stevie played with raw talent and that is it. When he was with us, he was fun to watch, he made all star teams because of his flash, but he also dribbled the ball too much and only cared about himself. Like Kobe, in a way. When I lived in Houston during this time, he was always out at the night clubs and after hours clubs partying it up, during the season. We were all frusturated with him and didn't see this team going anywhere with him in control. Then we pulled off one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. Steve Francis for Tracy Mcgrady. Are you kidding me? Wow. 80% of us were ecstatic, but there was 20% or so on clutchfans screaming and crying about how they wanted steve and it was disgusting to see that there were people who actually thought we got the bad end of the deal. Steve went out and proved us 80%ers rigth. He goofed off in Orlando, didn't play team ball, same thing happened in New York all while Tracy was tearing it up in houston, developing a relationship with Yao and working his ass off to try and bring a championship to Houston. Meanwhile, steve was a cancer to every team he went to. We are so close, we lost two heartbreaking game 7's in the first round where we were clearly the better team, we all know who close we are to having something special here on the Houston Rockets. We got Mike James back, a new coach, Tracy's back seems better, Yao is ready, and then what in the world happens? They bring that cancer (Steve) back to this team??? Are you kidding me? And all he is doing is proving us right all over again, he comes in out of shape, is already pouting about playing time, is still out at the clubs partying and doing whatever else. Steve doesn't care about the team, Steve cares about Steve. He has nothing to offer this team, we don't want him here. Magic didn't want him, Knicks didn't want him and Portland PAID him to leave. Why in the world is he here? We don't need him, and he is proving why every day with his actions. And yet there is still that 20% of you who just don't see it, still want him to play and that is why there is "all the Steve hate" on this forum. As soon as that other 20% comes around and sees the light, then we can stop the hate.
It's amazing, isn't it? I wonder if Steve was sitting on the bench for any other team in the league if their fans would even care, much less have 17 threads about it on their most popular bbs. People here just can't let go of the past. A past that includes exactly 1 playoff victory.
Well said, although Steve will still be able to help us if MJ (god forbid), or Rafer (don't want to happen but-meh) get injuried during the year. He has some good qualities as far as a 6th man goes, but people are delusional if they think he should start for us.
I like Steve alot and I was so exciting when he signed with Rockets. But I dont like the fact he was laying down on the floor while teamate was fighting on the court during the laker game. I know he is pissed about on in the rotation, but he should be professional, and do the best for the team.
Great post, DesertRocket. What the OP needs to realize is that a lot of us on this board are not only Rockets fans, but BASKETBALL fans. That means we want to see our Rockets win by playing high level basketball. We'll always have good memories of Steve for the highlight reels. But there's a lot of doubt (with good reason) whether Steve can help the Rockets win. And there's even more doubt about whether he is capable of playing high level basketball. If I were still in middle school, yelling out "Dream!" every time I practiced a turnaround jumper, I think I'd relate better to the fanboy mentality that some people still seem to have for Steve. But I (and a lot of other people on this board) are past that point. Steve's not my idol. I want the Rockets to win.
Francis is still an incredibly talented player. He will be a big part of this team's success as we get deeper into the season. I see James moving to the starting postion soon and Francis/Head/Alston goming in off the bench.
"Stivie" needs to get his mind right. If he could just sacrifice his ego and do what we need him to do, all would be right. I still think he can be a valuable addition to this team. But he needs to change his additude in a big way if that is going to happen. Right now he is acting like a spoiled child who isnt getting things exactly his way.
Stivie, get well, Rox need you sooner or later. The aim is to get the NBA champ, different matches are needed for the different teams.
the only way francis will get minutes is from injury, and you all know rafer is the iron man of this team. mike james, bonzi, and head also dont have much history of injury. the only way he'll get minutes is if t-mac gets injured (which may very well happen)
That's too funny - Rafer is the iron man of this team? Until Steve gets his a$$ in shape, he is now Stevie "FrenchFries!"
More evidence for it than against it. Last 4 games with knicks he avg 24 PPG. And of course: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCm-NY3gFGo
Cue Sam Fisher and the Stevie Francis comparison to the Washed up Trapeze Artist now doubling as a clown in the travelling circus where they play in tents with midgits. Vspan2 here we come!
I was never really enthusiastic about signing Steve since I think he is one of the most overrated PGs this past decade along with Stephon Marbury. I didn't actually want him on the team at all, but some other posters pointed out he benefits of him being our 6th, which I saw. Best case scenario I saw for Stevie would have been 6th man of the year, but it seems mike james is going to be our guy. I disliked Stevie for most of his career and was never impressed with his highlight reel dunks that came with losing game after game, so when we acquired him, I wanted to see if being traded 3 times and being cut from the last team changed him at all. Not surprisingly it didn't and hes still the same overrated PG from the last few years. All the blind love Stevie gets, even though he failed to even crack the rotation and showed up out of shape, just adds to my dislike which turned into a borderline hate.
Typical Stevie Hate. He's a good ball player and he can still put up 20/7/7 if given the minutes. I think he is a smarter player now and will pass the rock. He is still one of the best in the league crossing up defenders and penetrating.
