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The Daily News: Rockets’ star Francis comments on changes

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by ecinokc, Jul 31, 2003.

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  1. ecinokc

    ecinokc Member

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    http://www.galvnews.com/story.lasso?wcd=11971


    Rockets’ star Francis comments on changes

    By Joey Richards
    The Daily News


    GALVESTON — Since making the jump to the NBA in 1999, Steve Francis has played for only one coach — Rudy Tomjanovich.

    So, it’s no wonder Francis was sad to see Tomjanovich step down as the Rockets coach during the offseason.

    What’s more, Francis was saddened to see so many people — fans and media alike — turn against Tomjanovich after the Rockets failed to reach the playoffs for the fourth-consecutive year.

    “I learned that if you get sick and you can’t coach and your team loses games, people are going to turn against you,” Francis said. “Then again, we put the ball in the basket. The coach doesn’t. There were times when we just didn’t put it in.”

    Tomjanovich, the Rockets coach for 12 years, left the team in mid March after a cancerous tumor was found on his bladder and missed the final 16 games. The Rockets went 7-9 during that stretch and finished a game back of Phoenix for the eighth and final playoff berth.

    Francis, who was in town Tuesday as a guest speaker for Damon Jones’ youth basketball camp at the Ball High gymnasium, believes the Rockets would have qualified for the playoffs had a healthy Tomjanovich been at the helm those final 16 games.

    “I’m positive it would have been different,” he said. “I’m 100 percent positive.”

    Tomjanovich resigned as the Rockets coach on May 23 to focus on treating his cancer. The Rockets later signed former New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy as Tomjanovich’s replacement.

    Francis, a two-time all-star, said his visit to the island on Tuesday was his first, but he’ll be back once training camp begins in October.

    “We’re having our camp here this year,” he said.

    That could be a good move for the Rockets. They had training camp in Galveston before the 1994 and 1995 seasons and won NBA titles both years.

    Francis, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound point guard, hopes the change will be for the better as the Rockets usher in a new era with a new coach and a new home at the Toyota Center in downtown Houston.

    “We’re looking forward to having a better year than we’ve had since I’ve been with the Rockets,” he said. “With a new coach, hopefully, that will give us a new spark and a new beginning.”

    But Francis admitted it’s going to be painful to start next season without Rudy T.

    “Yeah, but I’ve talked to him about it a couple of times,” he said. “He gave me his blessing, for the team to try to get better every season.”
     
    #1 ecinokc, Jul 31, 2003
  2. SLA

    SLA Member

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    Well not much content....but it's nice to hear Francis talk. We want feedback! I like interacting with players...like Yao! Yao is one of the top 10 speakers to interview!

    Damon Jones still a King?
     
    #2 SLA, Jul 31, 2003
  3. francis 4 prez

    francis 4 prez Member

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    man, helping out with kids instead of working on his game? trade him.
     
    #3 francis 4 prez, Jul 31, 2003
  4. LAfadeaway33

    LAfadeaway33 Member

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    I believe he was picked up by the Bucks.
     
    #4 LAfadeaway33, Jul 31, 2003
  5. R0ckets03

    R0ckets03 Member

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    I was just waiting for someone to post that! You better watch it though, I bet at least a couple of idiots take you seroiusly. :D
     
    #5 R0ckets03, Jul 31, 2003
  6. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Member

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    I respect Francis for sticking by Rudy, but I really don't like excuses, and Steve seems to d that a lot. This ISN'T a bash Francis thing, but stop talking about what may or may not have been - the Rockets didn't make the playoffs, as such they DID fail, regardless of the circumstances leading to such failure. I'm sure it was a leading question by the reporter, though.
     
    #6 JayZ750, Jul 31, 2003
  7. Williamson

    Williamson JOSH CHRISTOPHER ONLY FAN

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    i also don't feel the fans turned against rudy after he got sick. or at least, not after they knew. people had been bashing rudy here since the prior season.... it just got worse and worse as the season went on and towards the end of the season it came out he had been diagnosed with cancer.... after that i actually saw less rudy bashing... not a lot less, but less...
     
    #7 Williamson, Jul 31, 2003
  8. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

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    It's time for Francis to take over the point position amongst all NBA guards this season.
     
    #8 Roc Paint, Jul 31, 2003
  9. ragingFire

    ragingFire Contributing Member

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    I was never one who bashed SF. I've also known he makes stupid comments ...
    But enough is enough. Is he gonna be stupid all his life?
    More stupid quote!
    If the coach doesn't put the ball in the basket then how is it gonna be diff ?
    What about Larry? I suppose mr. Mean appreciate this comment a lot!
     
    #9 ragingFire, Jul 31, 2003
  10. xiki

    xiki Member

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    In this case I read it that Steve is just defending Rudy, not himself. I'm fine with that.
     
    #10 xiki, Jul 31, 2003
  11. Rockets2K

    Rockets2K Clutch Crew

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    are you serious?
    how is that stupid?
    It is pretty basic, if you dont put the ball in the hoop, you lose games.
    geeze...some of you people will go to any lengths to slam the players. ]
    Why dont you go find a team's bandwagon to jump on that isn't stupid in your eyes?:rolleyes:
     
    #11 Rockets2K, Jul 31, 2003
  12. fba34

    fba34 Member

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    man you so called fans make me sick. all you guys do is bash steve and ..... :D

    maybe i've been numbed by so many stupid comments by athletes, but i've never thought anything steve francis ever said was particularly stupid. they're just the usual work hard, team comes first, help teammates variety. witty they're not, but not all dumb either.
    the only stupid comment by an athlete that made a mark on me was caron butler's when amare stoudamire won the roty award.

    does anyone have any news on amare stoudamire? i hope he's fat.
     
    #12 fba34, Jul 31, 2003
  13. farhan007

    farhan007 Member

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    you people try to bash steve in any way you can. If you said the same things yall would be like "Awww, look at poor Yao... he misses his old coach..."
     
    #13 farhan007, Jul 31, 2003
  14. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    Maybe you are the stupid one because you didn't understand this easy statement. He's taking the blame for what happened. "We're the ones that put the ball in the hoop" means they are the ones who are playing so they are to blame for what happens and in this case he's saying that the fans turned on Rudy because of him and the rest of the team.
     
    #14 Oski2005, Jul 31, 2003
  15. ragingFire

    ragingFire Contributing Member

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    I suggest u guys read those words again!
     
    #15 ragingFire, Jul 31, 2003
  16. swilkins

    swilkins Member

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    Too funny:D

    I think SF problem is that he can be too sentimental for a lot of peoples taste.

    At least the Steve and Cuttino hugging has died down. I'm saying, "Give me a break, we're not even in the play-offs!"

    I wonder sometimes if SF doesn't read these boards and get loaded with resentment.

    That seems a bit inmature, but then I guess I would fly off the handle too if I was bringing home his paycheck.:rolleyes:
     
    #16 swilkins, Jul 31, 2003
  17. sydmill

    sydmill Member

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    SLA- are you kidding? yao barely speaks english and when he does he sounds like Frankenstein. nothing against the man, but top 10 interviews in the L?
     
    #17 sydmill, Jul 31, 2003
  18. ima_drummer2k

    ima_drummer2k Member

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    I just see it as Stevie being respectful to his old coach. How is this a bad thing? :confused:
     
    #18 ima_drummer2k, Jul 31, 2003
  19. Fegwu

    Fegwu Member

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    An indictment of "Mr Mean's" ability. Basically Stevie is calling Larry Smith "A-piece-of-trash". Junk! :eek: Way to go Stevie :rolleyes:


    I don't have any problem with what Stevie said above but I believe he is dumb for implying that RudyT was "innocent" in all of this. RudyT failed us and he letr go accordingly and appropriately. Get a grasp of that fact Franco :rolleyes:
     
    #19 Fegwu, Jul 31, 2003
  20. London'sBurning

    London'sBurning Member

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    I would like to take the time to direct all the negative fans on this board to my sig. Read it well, and reflect. Francis was just trying to defend Rudy, but I would like to see him embrace the new coaching staff a bit more and be a bit more excited about it. All is good though.
     
    #20 London'sBurning, Jul 31, 2003
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