I don't know if this has been posted yet so please lock if it has. http://www.latimes.com/sports/print...oll=la-headlines-pe-sports&ctrack=1&cset=true CLIPPERS REPORT Francis made a hometown choice template_bas template_bas Point guard says he signed with Houston instead of Clippers mainly for family reasons. He has a home there. By Jonathan Abrams, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer November 27, 2007 Both Steve Francis and the Clippers can only wonder what if. The veteran point almost joined the Clippers in the off-season. Instead, he signed a two-year deal with Houston, where he was a three-time All-Star before being traded to the Orlando Magic along with Cuttino Mobley in 2004. "I had conversations with the Clippers, the coach, we had some deep conversations up until the last couple of days when I made a decision to come to Houston," Francis said Monday before the Rockets' 88-71 victory over the Clippers at Staples Center. "I made an easier decision I thought was best for my family, my daughter, my wife. We have a home in Houston. We've been living there for seven, eight years." Mobley, Francis' longtime friend, was a recruiter in the Clippers' attempt to land him. Some in the Clippers organization doubted they ever had a true shot at signing Francis, believing he wanted to play for a team with legitimate title aspirations and a dominant one-two punch in Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming. But Francis, an eight-year veteran who was co-rookie of the year with Elton Brand in 1999-2000, said it came down to the Clippers and Rockets, with personal reasons swaying the decision. At the beginning of the season, he found himself questioning it. He did not play in 11 of the team's first 13 games and was buried deep on the depth chart. "Of course, by me not playing the first 11, 12 games, I not only possibly thought of if I should've [come] here, but Miami, or Dallas, or Cleveland," Francis said. In the two games he'd played before Monday, Francis averaged 9.0 points and 2.5 assists. He played eight minutes against the Clippers, scoring two points. Now, Francis is left to ponder what would have happened had he signed with the Clippers, who wound up signing Brevin Knight as their backup point guard. "We'll never know," he said. Reserve point guard Dan Dickau played with a sleeve on his right arm, the result of his having hyperextended his elbow against the Phoenix Suns on Friday. He said the injury is healing quickly. The Clippers used their ninth starting lineup in 13 games, with veteran forward Aaron Williams making his first start of the season. jonathan.abrams@latimes.com
Regardless of what people say about Francis maturing and taking it like a professional, if I was him I would be PISSED to have Wafer starting in front of me when I know I am better. But then to have Mike James and Luther Head getting time over him in the first 10 games; me personally, I would have asked to be OUT OF HERE! He must really love the Rockets and Houston to accept it and stay cool like that.
You always wonder what could have been had you made this decision or that decision when you're not getting the things you want. The season is still young and I believe Adleman when he said SF3 wasn't in shape. He just came off a knee injury last season. It's good to see he's getting some PT now, but its not like he's lighting it up either. Our entire PG situation is disappointing right now.
Wow, this is the mentality that is wrong w/so many professional athletes these days. I wouldn't want you on my team. Me, me, me, me, me, me...
Everyone should be pissed off in that situation. Its not about team or being mature. Its humanliation.
And I wouldn't want you as my coach if you evaluated talent like Rick Adelman. Steve came here to help his home town team. Rick's assessment of him has already proven to be wrong in just the amount of time already given. I think Rick doesn't want to give Steve more significant time because it will further prove that he was wrong. So he decided to play Rafer the entire second half to prove his point since Wafer was having his best game. Not even Tmac or Yao play entire halves without resting. It's not about me, me, me; it's about coaches with Ego, Ego and more Ego! I guess maybe you also prefer Wafer starting over Steve, when most here don't even want Wafer on the team at all!
If your theory was correct, then each team would have their best player that night play the entire second half with no rest in every game! (DUH!)
I think RIck knows that Steve is the bettewr option unless (like last night) Rafer was hot. I have no problem with Rafer getting minutes over SF3 if he is hitting his shots. I DO think that SF3 has a better entry pass to Yao though. But last night Rafer was awesome.
It doesn't matter. It had nothing to do with his 7-14 shooting (3-7 from behind the arc) or his 9 assists. RA was only playing him because of his EGO, according to blastaway.
Yeah, I think Adelman has realized that steve needs to get some time. And as much as I hate rafer, he was playing good last night, so rick made the right decision by keeping him in. But from now one, if rafer struggles, I dont think he'll will hesitate to put steve in the game.
Rafer started 5 for 6 for 12 points and 5 assists in the first quarter. Do you know what that means he went the rest of the way? 2 for 8 for 5 points and 4 assists. How does that justify playing the entire second half without one substituion? Sounds like the coach wasn't paying attention to the stats or court, and was just trying to save his ass hoping Wafer would make some more good plays; which if you pay attention to the fourth quarter, HE DIDN'T! We won the game because of Tmac, Wafer was another liability in the fourth as usual. Of course I can't fully blame him this time, surely he must have been tired. (See Rick Adelman horrible substitution patterns)
he should regret not getting in shape. the older you get the more fit you have to be to play at your level. he is should be working harder not letting himself go. i love the energy he brought in the denver game,thats what this team needs more of.
This seems like a case of people trying to make a story out of nothing all that significant. Nothing seems all that out of place to me. Francis was outplayed in camp and preseason, was out of shape due to previous injury new system, new players etc. He did a good job being a team player while expressing his interest in playing more. He got his chance and has been playing nicely. It looks like he may have played his way into the rotation. I don't see the problem from either side with this. Of course the Clippers have more of a need at PG than the Rockets, and of course he's going to wonder about what might have been in other situations. It really doesn't seem like a big deal from the beginning of the season up until this point.
This seems a bit naive to me. Players make much less than the owners of the teams, yet the league cannot exist without them. Rational players should only be as loyal as their teams. We traded Francis, and his career was pretty much ruined afterwards, yet we expect him to be loyal to us when he comes here for less money, and act like a saint while he doesn't get minutes? Speaking as a person who's worked in organizations where a small group of talent does all the heavy lifting while those above them reap the rewards, I think Francis has been incredibly professional. If you think he hasn't, maybe you're living in a dream world.
I think a lot of his not being in shape had to do with coming off a major operation, and injury. That tends to make hard workouts difficult.
Luther played wretchedly, he's benched. James has been a mini-Antoine Walker minus everything but the poor volume shooting, he's been benched. As much as this BBS refuses to admit it, Rafer's been okay. Not good, but okay. If Luther or James ever learned how to contribute outside of shooting, they may stay on the court despite bad bricks. Unfortunately, both of them are lame on defense, don't get boards, and can't (or won't in the case of Mike) deliver the ball to a single teammate. It was true last year, it's true this year: when Rafer calms down his attempts, he's very capable on the court and has the smarts and awareness to facilitate the offense. This is completely lost on those that only measure players by scoring. And those that got so wound up last year in the torch-lit riots about James being the lost savior that could have cleansed us of Alston. With Steve, he's getting his chance, but he's really got to shine to make up for the piss ant way he showed up in October. It really bugs me how he's yet to put the burden on himself. No matter what, I'm not against a winter trade to address the 1 position. Unless Rafer plays like last night over the entire West Coast trip, I'm all for a dice roll. We need to realize it's time to go all out if we want to contend. We're close and it's time for a bold move. Jason Kidd. Send Shane, Mike, and Rafer for him and take the lux tax punch in the stomach for the two years left on his deal (expires after next season). Sam Cassell. Very short term, but I doubt he'd be tough to pry from the Clippers. Steve straight up may be more than good enough, and it's possible Sam gets a buyout before spring anyway. Mike Bibby. He's hurt, but will be back by the ASG and his trade value is pretty low. He's not a miracle worker, but could be a help. Overpaid, but only through next season like Kidd. Snyder, Steve, and Mike could be enough. Luther's another possible guy. Luke Ridnour - he's out of favor because of poor defense, but he's nice on the offensive end. Should be gettable for a low price. Not an answer on his own, but may help with his shooting. Evan
