Chron:With regular season looming, Francis' status unclear

Tonight's game will make things clear on what Francis will bring to the team. Rafer isn't playing so I'm guessing brooks will start. Brooks back up probably would be Barry but i don't see him running the point that long. Its either Barry or more minutes for DJ. I know Francis hasn't practiced with the team at all but he did play last year and should run a little bit of offense that he knows. We will see after tonight's game if Francis is really in the Rockets plans

 

where did you see that he was playing for sure?

 

I think it's from a misreading of a Blinebury quote in the other thread. Francis isn't playing tonight from what I can tell.

 

Patience my friend. It will come...but not in Nov. Think Jan. By then everyone will be so happy. Mark my words Clutchfans denziens - mark them!

Steve Francis will crack into this rotation before the all-star break and people will be saying how wise it was for the Rockets to wait on him.

 

boy i hope your right but waiting all the way til Feb. is kinda long for someone who is medically cleared to go all out now. I would say late Nov. early Dec. If not, sad to say but, i think he will just be a piece added in a trade considering he is expiring. You would think that being able 2 come back to the Rockets the guy would be motivated and pushed his self hard.

 

why dont people get off francis's back. He had QAUD surgery, not knee surgery so its not like he had ligament damage. His career is not over, its just on hold. He will come back if HE wants to and he will contribute if HE wants to. Its all in his hands. Could you imagine if francis comes back healthy and we have all these weapons? Holy crap, watch out boston and LA. And I HATE THE JAZZ!!!!!!! Your time is up salt lake city. Rockets in 4!!

 

Q F T, nice post



Career over? Who knows? It is up to Steve..........

 

If it is up to Steve, then it is, in effect, over.

 

Absolutely. It's feast or famine with a lot of people here. Just the fact that he came back in better shape (sizewise) tells you that he isn't ready to throw in the towel yet.

He wants a ring just as much as the other guys on the team (and Deke).

 

And, Why, Is, That?

Steve is a hard worker, a gym rat, and has massive balls. There is no reason he can't be effective again..........

 

I believe in steve. He wont go down this easily

 

Steve will always be the best in all the Chinese rocket fans!

 

Stupid post.

 

So you're saying you hope a Rockets player fails? How exactly does that help the team?

 

I have faith in Steve, I know he'll make the roster.

 

Have SF been participating in practice?

 

From the Jonathan Feigen blog:

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2008/10/daryl_morey_and_the_rockets_ha.html#comments

So it looks like not only did he miss all last weekend of practice due to a life threatening cold virus, but he phoned in sick this Saturday as well.

 

I don't understand all of this, really. To me, Francis' status is perfectly clear.

He is done.

All the evidence says so. The trainers say so. He isn't practicing. He isn't playing in preseason. He isn't drilling with the team. He is putting in less than the bare minimum of work. There's a reason Portland cut him, and a reason the Knicks (the worst team in basketball) couldn't wait to be rid of him. There's a reason the coaching staff forget he's on the team, and Morey doesn't talk about him contributing. There's a reason why his name never comes up unless someone is specifically asked about him.

I'm sure I will be accused of being a hater again after saying that, but seriously, what evidence is there to support the idea that he even wants to be a part of this team? I don't mean things that Francis said two months ago in some interview. I mean hard evidence of him working his butt off, or scrimmaging, or practicing, or rehabbing his legs . . .

He's not the Franchise anymore. He's the guaranteed-money expiring contract. That's why he's still here, and pretty much the only reason. The rockets have nothing to gain by cutting him, or i'm almost certain they would.

 

Strawberry has more game, but cutting steves 3 million guranteed contract makes no sense. DJ>Fading francis,

 

The only reason he's on the team is his contract. I'd rather have Mike Harris, Strawberry, even Luenen over Francis. We'll definitely use it to acquire someone who can contribute.