I'm not in any way saying it will come to this....This is merely speculation in order to answer a question. But...IF it proved that Yao Ming and Stevie's games were incompatible, which one would you want to build around? Which one would you keep? Which one, in other words, do you think is The Man for this franchise, Steve Francis or Yao Ming?
being that the steve/cat experiment has officially fallen flat on it's face. ( think where we would be right now as rox fans if we didn't at least have the prospect of a developing Yao). By default, I would have to say that Yao is the man.
There are reasons against each; There is no assurance that Yao will ever get over the fatigue factor, what with his schedule...he might up and leave in 4 years...Men that big are 1 significant injury away from a chronic problem...Steve might be the ultimate tweener, too small to guard 2s, too much of a shooter to be an effective point...he might freak out if Mobley is no longer a part of this team...he just might not get any better than he is right now...etc.
Neither one is leading us to the playoffs. You cannot be "The Man" if you can't even lead your team winning in the playoffs. Can we have Amare Stoudemire or Stephon Marbury instead?
Did you actually think Yao would lose a poll? ESPECIALLY this one? I don't think there's any doubt. Yao is the man, and well know that's what the organization thinks. Because Yao brings the bling bling to the organization.
Goddam it, another frreakin' poll to split this team. UNDERSTAND NOW THAT BOTH YAO AND FRANCIS ARE KEY TO THIS TEAM Can you win with only one? Probably, but it's gonna be much much harder (look at Shaq and Kobe, neither can win **** without the other). There should be no more threads says who's the man/who's the first option/SF sucks/Yao sucks. There should be A LOT MORE threads calling why the hell did EG jack up another 15 shots while Steve and Yao got 8 each.
Has it occured to you that, among other things, a clear knowledge of who is The Man is necessary for a successfull team? And that it's better to determine early than late? What was the 1st thing Phil Jackson did when he got to a divided and disfunctional Lakers team? Established that Shaq was The Man...and what has happened since? Knowing who is who does many things, including letting the offense run through who the coach wants it to run through, rahter than whoever's ego needs the ball at that point, allows everyone to know and learn their roles, and allows for steps going forward together, rather than tripping over each other going in different directions. It could easily be said that it is bringing together what is currently divided, rather than splitting the team. A war was fought on the cry of " A House divided against itself cannot stand!" You don't think it's worth a poll or two when it comes to basketball?
Yao Ming is the Houston Rockets 'DA MAN' and it should be communicated that clearly throughout this fine organization. Regretfully, I do not believe Steve Francis has the personality type to accept that fact. That will be to the detriment of our ballclub.
