After watching the Rockets replay to the loss against the Kings, I am convinced, that Francis is not a great player, but simply a good one. The good players make the lucky shot to make it a one point game with 6 seconds left, but a GREAT player would have realized that with 5 seconds left, we could have won with only one basket (2 points and not a 3!) The problem with Francis is that he is not willing to trust his teammates by passing the ball. On that particular play, he shot the ball with around 2 seconds left from about 10 feet outside the 3 point line, when a cutting Mo Taylor was running the open lane and possibly had an easier look at a field goal! I guess it was a simple case of tunnel vision and over eagerness. Bottom line: GREAT players lead their team into the playoffs and into championships. Francis will never get there, unless he learns to trust his teammates, pass the ball, and make a two point play instead of jacking up a three when your team is only down by one.
Dude....time is running out you shoot whenever you get a good open look. That was a great look for the win. If he would of went any further, the kings would of collapse on him and he wouldnt have any looks. Besides that situation does not make the difference between good and great.
OK so I posted this out of frustration... But you know what I mean... He doesn't pass! You may be right about my example, but you know there are plenty more legit ones out there.... I'm sure there will be more to come...
Sure...he made a bad choice to stop so far out when he took the shot. There was about 1.5 seconds left when the ball left his hands. But your statement about Francis not passing and not making the big plays is ridiculous. Who made that three that put us within 1 point and eventually gave us the chance to win? If anyone's to blame for this loss...why not blame Yao Ming for missing about 6-7 two footers, or James Posey's blown layup off that gorgeous feed from Yao, or Mobley and MoT for not even being competent enough to run a 2 on 1 break, or MoT and Yao for choking on the freethrows???
Duhvine was rt he took a bad shot at the end and it was too soon, he could have gotten a lil closer before he jacked it up. Francis is merely a good player now but once he gets into the playoffs and learns to trust his teamates which takes time he will be truly great
Oh 38 pts, 9 asts. What more do you want? I know numbers aren't everything but Steve did what he could do to try to win this game for us. And vs an elite team like Kings too.
I totally agree with you. I would blame yao ming first before blame francis. The guy miss easy put backs due to his lack of agressiveness. As for not passing the bal. I think he does pretty well and his field goal percentage is not bad so why not take more shots?
Exactly! No one can criticize francis for this game. He did everything to give the Roxs a chance to win against an elite team.
b/c he is the point guard, how can yao get it going when he can't get the ball especially when those put backs are all hacks that refs don't call. he was 4-12 and half of those were missed put backs. SO how many times did they pass yao the ball in the post
9 assist buddy. Hacks smacks! he i was watching the game. Hes just to tentative and miss them by himself. If yao keep missing easy stuff like putbacks, heck i wouldnt pass it to him either.
sorry new girl i didn't write that my friend is messing around so i guess blame it on yao for getting 19 boards so francis can put up 38 your right
You people that blame francis for the loss are complete idiots. steve francis is the LAST person to blame for this loss. If it weren't for francis, the rockets wouldn't have even come close to a win. Posey went 1-7, Griffin 5-13, Yao 4-12, and yall blame the guy that went 14-22 with 9 assists? Hell, I'm chinese and the only reason I watch the rockets is because of yao, but you people need to put down the haterade and get a reality check...
I don't know it could be just me but I didn't see a pass Francis could of taken. Free throw taken at 5.1, Yao get's the ball then passes to Francis with I guess 4 secs, francis passes the half court line at 2 sec. then shoots it at about 1 sec left. He had no time to get any closer esp with a guy right there, that shot was the only open shot he could get with that time, he could of gotten closer but it would not be as open as that shot. And if I remember correctly their was no one open for a shot that was infront of him, I think two rockets were ahead of him but they were both covered. I don't blame francis for taken that shot. In fact I would want him too, he was the only rocket that was hot in the game. But I could be wrong, can anyone prove that their was an open player near by or that francis could indeed have gotten to the rim, or that francis could of gotten an open shot within 2pt range within the time left? My opinion is no.
Seriously, the intelligence of this board has gone downhill a lot lately. How can criticize Steve after this game. That shot was the best shot that could've been take with the time left on the clock. Before any more fans insults Steve about his basketball IQ, they should check their own baskeball IQ first.
