Here's what he had to say about the New Jersey game: "I don't think 11 out of 11 guys who suited up were prepared to play tonight," Francis said. "The players know who they are who aren't putting everything into it. If we don't get that solved, we're going to be singing the same sad song come three weeks from now." http://sports.iwon.com/news/04012003/v2070.html
Francis had more to say after the Nets game - per ***********.com: "Steve Francis was pissed off after the game. He told ***********.com and another reporter this: "If they playing at home every game, they can win. They're really good at home. They got open court players, and they like to get open, and if they get open, open court, it's going to be tough for teams to stick with them. But they're a pretty decent team... but all that little stupid **** they did at the end of the game, I'll remember that. So, next time we play them, I'm going to make sure we run the score up on their ass." ***********.com asked Francis if he felt the Nets ran up the score on purpose (following what Francis had already said), and Steve said: "I don't know why. We drilled them by 30, we took our starters out. We drilled them by 30 at home, we took our starters out like 8 minutes left... there's supposed to be respect for the game. Like I said, I won't forget that." ***********.com
Look, I think even the most die hard of Steve fans will agree that he doesn't say the smartest things to reporters. He gets emotional during and after games and says some dumb things. I don't think that's any reason to jump all over him (which is sure to come in this thread). Of course, if he didn't talk to reporters, he would be probably be criticized even more. Personally, I have no problem with running up the score. If the other team can't stop you, then why should you show them any pity? They should have stopped you in the first place.
Stevie used to race down the court and put the dagger in with a highflying dunk. But now he has matured more, I have seen him hold the ball when he could have ran for a slam to add to a win, hell the opponents fans (on the road) even booed him for not dunking. But, I am not against jacking up the score even higher when the games are aalready out of reach, I mean, if the rockets ran up a score even more I wouldn't complain.
I think it was just last year, Steve got into a shouting match with Larry Brown because he did just that! Running up the score is apparently a taboo for lots of people, players and coaches alike in many different sports. Personally, I remember intramural/ club games where our team was over-matched and I fell terrible when the other team ran up the score!
I just think that Steve was just embarassed by our team not coming to play, when everything is on the line! It must be very toublesome to play a team playing team offence and defence when your team does not!
Francis has matured much this season, especially in the second half. Steve bashing is getting out of style. Instead, there are plenty others to pick: LS, Mobley, EG, Moochie, etc...
Steve is just venting at his teammates. Hey I am sure he has said this type of stuff before to them behind closed doors. So now he is probably using a different method through the media to get a fire lit under their asses.
Didn't Eddie Griffin make a comment along the lines that the ball wasn't being moved around on offense, so players didn't try as hard on defense?
If he said that, we need to get rid of him. I don't care what happens, he has one job and one job only: do the best he can under the circumstances. I'd like to see them move the ball more as well, but there's no excuse for "retributive slacking."
Steve needs to get on everyone's azz... Even his...They played like crap and it showed... Let's hope all the b****in' and whining doesn't spill over into tonights game...
Well he did say that. It was in the chronicle. But, he didn't say he slacked off, only that some folks did. Of course, it isn't that hard to read between the lines.
Eddie got 9 shots, Yao got 11, Posey got 9, moochie, mo-T, and Rice got 6 apiece. The ball was moved around. True, Steven shot 19 shots, but everyone else besides Yao and Mo-T was shooting horrible, not just bad horrible. You need to have an outside to help open up the inside, with the Cat out and Steve playign SG (like so many of u wanted), I felt those 19 shots were permissable. I think this game goes to show 2 things, how bad Moochie is and how much we actually need Mobley. I still say move Cat to the bench but really, we need another true scoring threat outside of Steve and Yao.
