I guess Francis has never heard of the term - bullitin board material - After the last loss to the Mavs Francis made a comment that the Mavs are a gimmick team and run a gimmick defense (in reference to the Mavs zone defense). The Mavs didn't forget what he said and look what happened. Last time I checked a win is still a win regardless of how you get it. Now he's running his mouth again. The next game could get even uglier for the Rockets if Francis continues to run his mouth. Talk about no class ... These quotes were taken from the Dallas Morning News ... "They've got a lot of work to do, just like we do, too," said Steve Francis, the Rockets' point guard who considers it his mission in life to shortchange the Mavs. "They know they have a lot of stuff to work on." When these words filtered over to the Mavericks, they accepted them like somebody teasing and taunting his kid brother. "It's hard being the second- or third-best team in Texas," Michael Finley said of the Rockets. www.dallasnews.com/sports...82507.html
That sorry bum talking smack. Man, getting his ass kicked by 20 and still talking?? Man, the guy will never learn...
I normally try to defend Steve's idiotness.... but please!..talking that kind of trash after getting your ass handed to you?? Tell ya what Steve....try playing a decent game and not truning over the ball every minute and a half....and then maybe you can talk smack. Geez, kids...
He's just getting out of hand now. It's pride on the line for him. Everyone else on the team kept their mouth shut or laid low of the game. Instead, TURNOVER PRONE FRANCIS talking away...
Sorry, maybe I missed it. If "They've got a lot of work to do, just like we do, too. They know they have a lot of stuff to work on" is talking smack at all, it is about the weakest smack I ever heard. It isn't complimentary, but it isn't exactly saying the Mavs suck either; just that there is room for improvement. That doesn't sound like smack to me. If it was Francis' intention to slight the Mavs, he needs to work on his trash-talking game. I wouldn't have even noticed if someone didn't point it out to me.
Maybe Francis was under the impression that the Rockets have the Mavericks number because of last season. Didn't they demolish the Mavs one game like 30+ points? That's the only reason I can explain him showing any arrogance toward the Mavs. Nonetheless, I think it's time for him to shutup.
Juan, maybe "smack" is not the right way to put it.. but it doesnt change the fact that after the way the Rockets played against the Mavs, the only thing I want to hear from him is "We screwed up bigtime, and we wont allow it to happen again". It irritates me that after that embarrassing game, he feels the need to talk about his opponent rather than tryin to discuss what he will do to fix the problems WE have..
Couldn't have said it better myself. He seems to want to switch the focus from him. I don't even care if he didn't give props to the Mavs it's the fact that he is not accepting responsibility for the loss. As the leader of the team he should accept the loss and make sure it doesn't happen again instead of running his mouth.
I remember him accepting practically all of the blame after the San Antonio loss...He even said, "I wouldn't have put me back in". Let's face it, he just doesn't like the Mavs. Didn't he criticize their use of the zone after Ming's breakout game? Also, I seem to remember he and Don Nelson getting into a little spat a while back...I don't see it as a reason go vilify (sp?) him...I know I say a lot of dumb things when I'm pissed off... or...maybe he said those things to divert the criticism away from his teammates...hmmmm
have we indeed switched roles? I, the eternal optimist and A Train the eternal pessimist...Naw, I think you are bipolar.. Pessimist in your other thread, and optimist in this one? Which one is the *real* A Train? But regardless....I do agree with that...Steve has in the past taken the responsibility for his bad play, thats why i want to see him do it this time... This game, he has a lot more to be apologizing for than just about any other game this year..(even SA) and I dont blame him, I hate the friggin Mavs too...
He is the problem! If we can get him into the Shooting Guard position and find a Point Guard that plays like a point Guard, we have a chance of fixing the problem.
Maybe he's not avoiding responsibility. Maybe he just doesn't like the Mavs. Maybe he's jealous about their success. Maybe he's trying to create a cross-state rivalry. But it's still putting you in a bad light to say that kind of thing after getting beat badly. I mean, if a team that beats you by 20 has something to improve on, how much do you need to improve?
You got it. Everything I've seen from him tells me Francis does NOT like Don Nelson, and he does NOT like the Mavs. I'm sure losing big to the Mavs really eats at Francis inside. Hey, if nothing else Francis' words just add fuel to a growing rivalry between 2 playoff-level TX teams, and I don't mind it when Francis gets charged up after playing the Mavs. He just needs to remember how bad it stung when we got beat this time around, and make sure that doesn't happen next time.
Maybe his comments were taken out of context. Perhaps someone actually asked Francis how good he felt the Mavs were at this point in the season. To which he and anyone (including players, coaches, anaylysts and posters here) could claim "They got a lot of work to do, just like we do too." You can never be too skeptical of the media these days. But if they weren't...then perhaps he should have rearranged his choice of words to..."WE got a lot of work to do, just like they do to."
The truth hurts. The mavs DO have a lot to work on, they are one soft team! You barely touch Dirk's hair and you get called for the foul. You barely touch Nash, and he flys all across the court. No way in hell they beat Sacramento or the Lakers in the playoffs, no way unless they get red hot outside. I've never seen a team slap more and get away with it. Forgive me, but I think I even hate them more than UTAH now. They are all playing exactly like Nejera in the first matchup, splapping away at our guys throughout the match. I totally agree JYD, I think the media took his words out of context. I think the reporter wants to stir up trouble if you ask me. The reporter probably hated stevie after that small bump on Dirk on that pick in the second half. Maybe he was asked, "Do you thin the Mavs have any weaknesses?"
It's OK. Things happen. Francis was just pissed off and I would be too. After a good performance in Houston against the Lakers, theres just so many questions and mistakes that can be worked on from this game.
I gotta say i'm getting real tired of Nash and his stockton-like "i'm small, white, and frail, please protect me, Ref" flopping. Our big man sets a good hard pick, nash falls down, mavericks ball. I also liked the play where Mo tried to post up in the paint to immediately get whistled for a non-existant offensive foul. Oh yeah, how bout when Cato "touched" (i'm not even sure if he actually touched him) Bradley, and immediately got called for the offensive foul. Every 5 possessions, they had to call us for some BS. and we were down 20 at the time. When we play like crap and are down a ridiculous amount, do you still have to bombard us with ridiculous "home court advantage" calls? I have a feeling the mavs wont get these calls in the playoffs against much tougher teams like the Kings and Lakers. So yeah, i agree with steve. the mavericks better toughen up if they really want to compete.
I recent that comment about whites. I hate his flopping too...but its smart basketball...and it pisses me off everytime. Atleast some one is talking trash trying to get the rockets back together....unlike our quiet center...who needs to get tough...and take off some heads!!! YAO!! ~~~~~GO ROCKS~~~
