I think that you have to look at this from a team standpiont. Magic had Kareem, Bird had Parish and these went to teams with experiece and veteran talent and leadership. If you don't think those to things count as much as pure talent, check the 95' championship series Rockets vs Magic. The team and player are young and will develope with time. The great ones know that the game is more mental than physical. Francis has shown growth and improvement each year, and so has Mobley. The team has lacked stability, we have been having huge roster turnover numbers, not to mention a lot of injuries. I just think you have to give Francis and this Rocket team a chance to mature. I think there future is very bright. I do see Francis in a championship series, but I think it will take at least 4 years. I think that in that span you will see some of the other players grow into the players they show flashes of being. And by that time we would have had a solid core of guys who have played together and know each other. It is a lot easier to work in one guy than it is to work in 3 to a starting lineup.
jcage -- not sure how you can say that mobley has grown and improved each year...he clearly was a better player last year than he is this year. jeff - i agree with your initial post...this shows steve that he can still get national attention (and thus, endorsement dollars) playing for the rockets, even if the rockets suck
I really would like to see Stevie stay in Houston, but let's face it...it is not the end of the world if we have to wheel and deal him. I doubt we will lose him outright. If Stevie does not want to be here at anytime in the future, there will be a nice deal on the table for the Rockets. At least 20 teams would deal their top talent for him. Big name players have been traded before and there will be no shortage of big time trades in the future!
Forget the Jordan factor. Jordan will be gone after next year anyway. Cuttino stayed in Houston for less $$$, Cuttino brought his entire family here, Steve and Cuttino are very tight. Steve won't leave.
I tend to agree with you Rox, but Steve will leave if the the black cloud that has been following the organization since 1998-99 continues for a few more years....something needs to clear up...sure he was partly the reason Cat is here, sure Tmo is here due to Stevie and I would not be surprised if we ended up with Baxter or Dixon too. But, the clouds need to part...bad luck is bad luck and sometimes change is best for everyone...I hope not. But, this team has to get to the playoffs quickly and deep.
The Rockets management has done everything humanly possible to ensure that Francis stays a Rocket. - gave buddies Moochie and Cuttino long term contracts - declined to trade DC native Walt last year - drafted his fellow Md. alum T. Morris - brought in Glen Rice at his request. The Rockets have shown a great deal (almost too much loyalty to Steve). It's almost like they've made him the assistant GM. Better times are ahead for the Rockets once Griffin and Taylor are in the lineup together. Maybe even Rice will be a decent bench scorer next season. Don't forget that the new arena opens in fall 2003. All good reasons for Steve to stay.
If Franchise signs somewhere else I'll... I'll... Well trust me I'll do something I'll regret for the rest of my LIFE I WOULD GO ON A KILLING SPREE!
Sorry to be the pessimist, Freak has a point that the odds of us winning a title with him are not good. But unless we can get Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Iverson, Kobe (hate to admit it, but it is probably true) or maybe Carter, Notwitski, Pierce or McGrady for Stevie him our odds of winning a title further decrease by losing Steve Francis. Francis is the most promising young point guard in the whole league. He is one of the 5 or so best players at any position who is under 25. He is the best shot we got barring a minor miracle.
Francis, Griffin, Mobley, Cato (if he keeps up the good play), Thomas, Norris, Taylor, Torres, Willis. I think the Rockets have a pretty good chance at the title very soon. They're getting good experience this year playing together. Injuries have been bad luck for them this season, but on the other hand all the injuries have given a lot of other players, who might not have played as much, plenty of experience to help them next season. Hopefully by next season this team will be near full-strength. The Rockets starters are already awesome and the bench has gotten lots of playing time this season. I think they'll do well next year, not a bad shot at the title either. I doubt Francis will leave, or wants to leave anytime soon.
Wow, Nova, I love your optimism; however, without big personnel changes, I don't see this team getting out of Texas: beating S.A. or Dallas in a playoff series anytime in the near future.
The Mavs have just exceeded every expectation I had for them and really surprised me. I like the Mavs, but I like the Rockets more and yes, the Mavs will be a problem for the Rockets. It'll be interesting to see how the games between them turn out. They blew them out of the water once this year, but perhaps that was a fluke. But, I admit with a little bit of luck, I think the Rockets have a good match up against Spurs as soon as they can learn to play better as a team. One on one isn't gonna work against the Spurs cause they play great team ball, however with Cato working against Robinson, Griffin against Duncan, and having a better backcourt than SA and having Thomas or Taylor playing well, I think the Rockets have a fair chance at winning. I just hope this young team will finally work with each other much more.
