The lack of loyalty in this forum is quite abhorrent. After three and a half years of hard work and dedication to the Rockets team, Steve Francis is rewarded by Rocket fans with nothing but castigation and scorn. I don't understand the resentment for Francis. He is the best player on the Rockets team so far. Yao has a while to go before reaching a true all star level, and perhaps may exceed Francis in the future as the most valuable player on the team. This resentment from fans is foolish since Francis has done much to help the team. In his first two years, Francis actually deferred to other players in trying to become a point guard--a position he has little experience in. However, the lack of rocket offense prompted rudy t and the coaching staff to urge francis to shoot more. The past two years have been evident of Francis' move to more of an offensive player. However, Francis still tries to get others involved including players such as Yao and Griffin. Perhaps some of you people have high expectations on Francis to become a great player. Well, it takes time for greatness. It took Kobe six years to reach that level, and five years to become a well established player. Stephon Marbury has learned to play the point more effectively, and become one of the better pg's in the game. Francis is growing and continuing to learn this difficult position. Rember he was a two guard at Maryland. The ISSUE here is fan loyalty. How can you be enraged at a guy dedicated to win for your team. Sure his defense needs work, but the more you listen to his interviews, the more you watch him direct the plays on the court, you see the desire in his eyes. This should not be questioned. I would like to know how many people in this forum has ever played a sport? It is indeed a diffcult craft to master. So for all you naysayers--JUST GET OFF FRANCHISE'S BACK!!!
I don't think fellow posters are questioning his desires, but more so about his decision making. Kobe came in the league straight from high school, plus he is still younger than Francis. Gibert Arenas was a shooting guard in college, he seems to be playing the point quite well at GS. I can see signs of Francis improving in the PG aspect of his game as the season progresses, but he is still rather inconsistant. I believe most posters on this board can not stand another year ending in the lottery, thus their expectation of a more adaptive Francis is high. -G'day-
I'm first and foremost a Rockets fan. And I would first remove Rudy and his assistants from their positions before making major player moves. But if that does not bring about improvements, I would think the either Cat or Steve have to be traded to get what we need in return - and I think you may not get much with a Cat and Griffin offer. Contrary to some dream casters, we can't move Collier and Moochie for Garnett. I don't resent Steve, I just think we may have to trade him in order to be a better team.
I'm confused. What part of being a "loyal" Rockets fan says I need to be oblivious as to what I feel are weaknesses in Steve Francis's game?
I don't think it's a lack of loyalty, but more angst by the way the season has gone... I loved the Rox through thick and thin (and still do), and Steve is my favorite... Yao is coming up though, and you gotta like the pub Yao has given this team/city...
What's with all this loyalty thing? Steve had 80+ million reasons be 'dedicated' to the Rockets, and I'm not talking about fans here. It's his JOB to be dedicated, and he's getting paid handsomely. But right now, he's not doing his job the best way. That's why he's being criticized. Just like you or I would criticized if we're were doing our job the wrong way.
Well said meh. I don't know Steve personally, and for the most part the majority of us have not critized Steve the person, but Steve the ball player.
I am loyal to the team, and ONLY the team. If I feel Steve is hurting the team with his horrid decision making, I am gonna say something. DD
You could change that to 30 years of blood, sweat, and tears, 2 championships, and only 2 losing seasons in 13 years, and say the same thing about Rudy. There's no perspective around here. What have you done for me in the last 5 minutes? Time to start a petition...
I don't think some of you people are true rockets fans. True fans stick to their teams. True fans exhort players on their team to perform well True fans have faith in their players, and hope for the best. You people who have crucified Francis and Rudy T have shown nothing but a lack of faith in the players of the team you root for. Steve Francis has done nothing to merit this public disdain, but continually tried to help the team. In this transition year playing with Yao, the team had to adjust to a new style of play. Bear in mind the it took the Mavericks a couple of years to master their style of play. The Rockets now have to perform in a different system from previous years, and it takes time. Just as fly fishing, golf, or any other skill, practice and time needs to be along in this process. Besides to crucify one man or in many cases francis and mobley is ridiculous. As I said before, the rockets problems are far greater than one guy. The rockets do not have a bench and they don't have accurate shooters. Along with this is their salary cap problem. So you can go ahead and blame it on Franchise, but he aint the problem.
you sure can have a different point of view with other fans. But it doesn't authorize you to judge the 'fan loyalty'
true rockets fans does not necessarily mean being loyal to a certain player esp. if that player is hurting the team overall. if we are not true rockets fans then we would not waste our time criticizing the team. these opinions are all made because we care for the team not for a single player.
Surely if you keep up with the Rockets daily and post your opinions you are loyal? No one can question Steve's heart and desire, but criticizing his decision-making doesn't make you a traitor. Olajuwon used to get into it with the refs and other players--something worthy of criticism--but that doesn't mean a fan's expectations were anti-Rockets or anti-Olajuwon. Everyone wants victories, including Steve. But continually making mistakes is going to get you criticism. I like Francis, but I don't like some of the choices he makes. I'm still a fan of his, though, and I believe he'll improve with time. (Yeah, Kobe's younger, but he's also been in the league twice as long.) Being a fan doesn't mean you blindly accept whatever crap your team puts on the floor. It means having expectations, being frustrated at and critical of failure, and joyous of victory. Also, I think most people on this board are more critical, and yes, perhaps less loyal, to Cuttino Mobley. Steve wants to play as a team, we can all agree. Mobley's mind may lay elsewhere.
So what? You either be loyal to the Team or to the player. People are criticized for being a player's ( "Yao", etc) fan only and now people are criticized for not loyal to the player enough to tolerate the team lost. People have their own opinion to choose to be loyal to either or neither. Beside, "loyalty" in your view may be diferent than other people view.
i think the problems of the team are: 1. coaching. putting players out of position, bad decision making and substitution. 2. as i said all along, francis is not a PG. he is TRYING to be a PG but it is not effective in making everyone involve. check out his assist to turnover ratio. he is too erratic and forcing a lot of shot. he is too out of control to be the PG. 3. no true PF. griffin is spending a lot of time outside shooting those 3s. although lately taylor have been effective, he cannot compete with the likes of duncan, webber, brand, etc. these are objective criticism. these does not mean that i am not being loyal to the team. does it???
