Will the Rockets Ever Do Anything With Francis as Their Leader?

in a word: yes.

I understand the frustration, especially with all the misinformation and chaos right now.

but steve francis is not the problem.

assuming for a second that steve has said and done all the things he's being accused of [which is no sure assumption to begin with]. . .

is it any worse than Hakeem circa '91?

the fact is that NBA players need time to grow up and make mistakes.

steve hasn't committed any unpardonable sins. at worst, he's just growing up, going through growing pains in the same way that hakeem did.

I think stevie does need to do some growing up. I think he needs to take his defense more seriously and be an example to his teammates in that regard. I think he needs to make his health a priority.

but I don't think the Rockets are doomed to failure because they have a 4th-year [?] point guard who may still be a bit of a hothead.

give him time. he's still got 6 years [?] to blossom into the kind of leader The Dream was.

 

I vbelieve they already have when they went 45-37 on a team that really wasn't THAT talented, or atleast enough to have a record that good. I really believe the rockets would have atleast been in contention had it not been for Steve's injury problem.

 

I wouldn't cry if Steve was traded. Certainly not if we could get a superstar player in return for him. It's a dead horse, but I'd definitely prefer having a KG on my team with a fundamentally sound point guard than Francis at the point with an only marginally improved supporting cast. Particularly if that fundamentally sound point guard turned out to be a real team leader with the kind of character that can hold a unit together on the road in the playoffs.
I worry sometimes that we've backed the wrong horse.

 

Either drafting Yao is in the Rockets' best interest, in which case Francis is a fool or a selfish jerk for saying he'll leave the team if Yao is drafted; or

drafting Yao is not in the Rockets' best interest, in which case they should trade the pick for the best offer they can get, in which case Francis is a fool or a selfish jerk for reducing the Rockets' leverage and/or Yao's perceived trade value by saying he'll leave the team if Yao is drafted; or

TroyBaros's "source" is lying about what Francis said; or

TroyBaros is lying about what his "source" said.

 

a lot of people are jumping to a lot of conclusions and putting a lot of emphasis on what some fool might have said to some other fool who then typed it up and posted it on the internet.

and all this anti-Steve stuff is truly funny.

he's the same Steve Francis who orchestrated the team he'd play for in the NBA, right? and we all welcomed him with open arms then, right?

and now, people want to freak out about him MAYBE having expressed a preference on who the Rockets should draft?

and another thing. . .

the way TroyemBarosing has framed it, it sounds like his "source" heard Steve say something off the record, off screen while taping a Rome segment.

if this is accurate, Steve should hardly be crucified for making a comment that would weaken the Rockets' bargaining position.

 

That's a good point. The only person weakening the Rockets' position right now is Troy.

 

I applaud Francis is he's said he'll leave if Yao Ming is drafted by the Rockets. It seems there are only a handful of us Yao haters around that are seeing this guy for what he really is. Thank god one of them is our franchise player who can actually prevent his arrival. This is all heresay, but you'll thank Stevie in the end if we trade the pick. BTW, I don't think Francis objecting to Ming will hurt our trade leverage as long as there is competition among teams wanting the #1.

 

What makes your opinion of him any more valid than mine? Why do you see him as he is, and I see some sort of deception that portrays him as something he is not?

 

Manny, I definitely agree that it is scary to think Francis has enough pull to stop management from taking a player they truly feel will help the team. I respect Cato. He's a good player. But staying with him when you have an opportunity to improve is akin to admitting you'll never win a title. I agree again that championships are won with big men. I like Cato, but he just ain't it. It reminds me of when Karl Malone insisted to Utah management that they keep Ostertag, just because he personally thought he would eventually be good...

I think there is a bright side to what Troy is saying, however: if you think about it, it is virtually impossible that the Rockets would come out of a three way with LA and Chicago without Curry or Kandi. The only way that could happen is if we landed Odom and high draft pick(s) (either #2 or both #8 & #12), which isn't so bad in itself.

The only real fear I have is that we'll get stuck with Cato as the starting center, and the only way that would happen is if we took Williams. Francis loves Mobes and Mooch so much though, I'm skeptical about that happening. I'm just hoping Franchise stays sane.

 

I don't believe what Troy is saying. There's not enough details and it plays on the inner fears of most Rockets fans. Did his "source" get it from another source? Is Troy 4th hand information? But in any case...

I'd get rid of Rudy T over Francis. Francis is as much an insensitive nutcase as Shaq or any other "superstar prima donnas." Rudy's a good person but he doesn't know how to handle young players. Why did he skip Rashard Lewis three times? Why didn't he want McDyess in the postseason?

Rudy is like Riles who likes to know what his players can do and expect it. They also have their own pet systems that they hesitate to change over.

This team is built around Francis. Trading him will delay the Rox rebuilding plans for a couple more years.

 

How many times do I have to say that Steve wouldn't leave because we draft Ming. Where is he going to go? Where is he going to get a better situation than the one he has? Right now he has his best buds on the team and has a lot of say in what goes on. He needs to realize that he doesn't have ultimate say in everything. I doubt Steve has even seen Ming player nor has he cared to look. Its CD and Rudy's job to draft players and sign FA or do trades, not Steve's. Steve is respected by the organization and they will listen to his opinion (as with signing Mooch). He's not going to jet because he can't get his way every time. He isn't going to find a better situation and he knows it. Does he think if we trade him we'll trade his good buddies Mobley and Mooch with him? Good luck on getting that done Steve.