Steve Francis was my favourite Rocket through his first three years. When we had a chance to get Yao Ming, I realised that the way (method) the Team had played would not work with a dominent Center. I started to post my thaughts on what Francis needed to do to accommodate the play of a great Center. I was even called a 'Francis Hater', which of course I wasn't, I only thaught of our Team getting back into contention, once again.Slowly but surely I have become more and more down on Steve Francis and his selfish play. I have taken the time to look very closely at Steve during my replay analysis of the last two games. I have come to a surprising conclusion:- The transition is taking place but Steve Francis is a poor passer,maybe due too lack of experience or non-practice of the habbit. So now that I realise this fact, I urge all to get off Steves back and let him develop at his natural pace. Given time and patience I feel sure that the Franchise will truly live up to the name!
Yep, I had this conclusion at the start of the season. He just needs more time to adjust. He has never been a passer and is a very good scorer, so he just needs more time. He has improved significantly on fast break passing, and I almost fell out of my chair when he did the over the shoulder flip to a trailing Yao Ming.....even though Ming had stopped, it sent chills down my spine of what it will be when these guys are on the same page. DaDakota
I am going to be at the game tonight and if I see SF or Moochie do the "Dribble Dribble" I swear I will run onto the court and let them know how I feel. Really I wouldn't be stupid enough to run out onto the court with ten guys ready to box my lights out. Steve is improving and so are the rest of the Rockets. Rudy. T deserves some credit also.
Steve and Cuttino used to be big ballhogs but they actually pass more. Steve waits for Yao now and that is good. Steve barely every goes one on one now. Cuttino barely touches the ball either. He gets most of his points when he is open or is on a fast break as well as free throws. Steve is improving as he matures and does not go crazy. Steve is already incredible getting 6 rebounds a game. He is already one of the most efficient guards in the NBA. And he is the most popular point guard...REMEMBER FRANCHISE!!!
Stevie is great, Stevie has potential, Stevie is our point guard, Stevie is learning. All true...but never say Stevie is efficient!!! The guy has the worse assist/turnover ratio of all starting PGs in the NBA. Stevie is one of the elite players in the NBA but he is not one of the elite PGs in the NBA...chew on that one
I notice this too in the last game. Steve had a couple of TOs from passing. It showed he tried to pick up the passing game more. I like these TOs a lot more than his ISO dribble dribble TOs.
yummy. Yeah, I think people started to turn on him this year because he isn't developing as fast as people thought he would. But as long as the Rockets keep winning then nobody is going to get mad. Of course, if Yao doesn't improve much in a couple of years then he will get the same treatment. As players get older, they dont necessarily have to put up better stats, but they should mature and learn how to win.
Well...he is the most athletic point guard then. He has improved. Gary Payton doesn't do all the crazy stuff that Steve does but he makes more assists. But I think Steve is more entertaining thatn Gary Payton or Jason Kidd. Jason Kidd is an MVP player but he never dunks or goes wild. He's a good team player. Who would you rather have? A Jason Kidd-Gary Payton type player from California or Steve Francis?
This is too easy but I will refrain from voting because I am from California and may seem biased I thought the Indy game was a nice microcosm of SF. In the 3rd quarter, he had turnover after turnover doing who knows what. In the 4th, he made better decisions and led the team to victory. It's just frustrating when you know the guy can do better not because of your expectations, but because you've seen flashes of it here and there. And SLA, entertainment doesn't make a point guard. In that case, Francis is behind Jason Williams.
SLA Easy question to answer, I would prefer Francis play like Payton and I do not care where they are from, only that they play to win now as a Houton Rocket. Did you get that sign in name from Patty Hearst? Just wondered. derrock I thought, but may be wrong, that when the ball started going into Ming in the third quarter it was Norris at point. Then when Francis came back to play point he continued to pass into the post. I know Mobley was on the bench and thought Francis was but he may have been at the 2.
Steve will be a much better (and arguably healthier) player when he learn to utilize the teams total arsenal. I was impressed with his half interview in the last matched. He basically acknowledged that the Rockets as a team has been working on establishing the inside game first and that the big Chinese is basically going to become (eventually) the teams number #1 option with his ever improving play. Steve is tremendously blessed with athletic ability and I would love for him to use it more wisely and save his body for later by minimizing tte constant constant beating he gets frequently trying some of those ill adviced drives to the basket. I want to see Steve simplify his game and improve on his Turnover/Assist ratio. I don't want to see us resulting in broken plays 70% percent of the time down court. I love Steve but my love will NEVER turn me into an apologist for any player in any sport. You don't endear yourself to the fans by conjuring (forcing) highlight reals every night rather clean & unselfish hard work for the primary purpose of the glory of the team. If he plays dumb I will speak my mind but still hope for the best - period.
One thing about SF I will say, and this is irrifutable, he tries. Game after game I see him playing defense when it counts, he's always on the right side of the fast break, and dammit the man can run... Sure, he may not be an elite point guard or be able to average 8 or 9 assists a game, but just the fact that he puts out so much effort is enough for me. Theres a distinct line between goodness and excellence, and people who play hard game in and game out can cross it. I'm happy with Steve's performance...
