Steve, I have been watching you play for the last 4 years in the NBA, you are the most amazing athlete ever to play the point guard position. The ability you have to get to the whole and finish strong is an amazing gift from god. However, that gift is not enough. It is time that you learned how to play winning basketball, it is time you learned how to play defense, it is time you learned how to trust your teamates in clutch situations. Steve, winning basketball is all about being a leader in everything you do. It is about showing up early, staying late, and taking responsibility onto your shoulders. Steve, you have been gaining ground as a leader but you are not playing winning basketball. In order to win consistently, you need to play hard all the time, on offense and defense. If your shot is not falling, you need to learn to contribute in other ways like passing, and defense. Far too often Steve, when the games are close, you choose to go one on one, and more often then not you fail. Steve, take a look back at all the championships that Jordan, or Hakeem won. It was rarely them that hit the winning shot, more often then not they would draw a double or triple team, and at the most crucial moment would pass it out to a wide open Horry, or Cassel, or Kerr, or Paxson. Why defer at these times Steve? Because a wide open shot is better then a tossed up shot in traffic. Because teamates that get the ball learn how to play together and to share in the responsibilities on the court. Steve, defense has been a major weakness of yours for your entire NBA career. Too often you let your man get by you again and again. Witness Jason Williams and Andre Miller getting by you like you were a wagon gate that just needed a little breeze to open. Steve, defense is not Rocket science, what you need to do...are you paying attention Steve? ...Back off your man, dare him to shoot the outside shot. When he picks up his dribble...move in and attack with venom. Make your man commit before you do. It is really simple and will allow you to keep your man in front of you and keep our big guys like Yao and EG out of foul trouble. Also Steve, please bring defensive intensity to each and every game. Do not EVER feel like you are getting it done, be hungry, be humble and respect the game, each and every time you take the court. It is insulting to look at teams that you perceive to be less then the Rockets, and watch them beat you like a big drum. As for Clutch Situations, I think we have covered that already, you need to share the ball. Use your incredible gifts of dribble penetration to set up a teamate for a wide open look. Steve, as good as Yao and Cuttino are, this team needs you to be the one that makes the best and smartest decisions. So far Steve, we your fans, have seen glimpses of what you could be, but remember you need to do it for 48 minutes, and you need to do it with trust of ALL your teamates. Steve, you are the leader, it is up to you to lead, if you don't do it, then move aside and let Yao lead. He already knows more about the game of basketball then you do. Steve, you make the game harder then it has to be, basketball is simple, but not if you try to play 1 on 5. If you have 2 men on you, then someone is open. Steve, your grace period is over, it is time for you to show us what you will become. Because right now, you are not all that, and you could be..... DaDakota
PS. Steve it is not a mismatch if the guy you are guarding puts up numbers that are equal or better then you. Come on Steve show us you have grown.
OK, so who won the pool on when DaDakota would start a thread with no ALL-CAP YELLING or any exclamations points. I had March 3rd, 2005.
Looks like Brandon's arrival has created a Bizarro DaDakota Blasphemy Dak, definitely Blasphemy, but very nice, I have no defense for your post
well, I claim a new deal then, because when the pool started none of us had conceived that Brandon was conceived.
Da Dakota:- Thank you! I feel sure that your feelings on the matter is that of a lot of the sincere Rockets Fans! We dont hate Steve Francis we only want what is best for the Team!
Agree 100% with your interpretation of how Steve need improve his game. One thing I need to point out, as more of these 'Steve need to improve this and that' threads continues, is that Steve's lack of defensive intensity and team play really lies on the shoulders of Rudy T. The way a coach utilizes a player or how he runs a practice really shows on the court. It's not easy for a player that's used to play Francis' gae to suddenly change into a Jason Kidd, e.g. Stephon Marbury. So it's the Coach's job to mold that player to best fit the team...and most of the molding is done in practice. For some reason, I don't see Rudy doing too much molding. Another thing is that expectation of Steve Francis has been too high in this city. Though talented, the guy is no where near the caliber of Jason Kidd or Gary Payton. Many people point to Bball IQ or knowledge but it's more like IQ period. So now we have a soft and weak, aka a "Player's coach" and a not too bright but atheletic point guard. Pray for Steve to get smarter but don't bet on it.
Steve has to know when a team has to play like a real team, But despite of it, Steve is well gifted athlete.
That's an awesome letter, DaDakota. I took the liberty of adding my edits to improve upon it Enjoy Steve, I have been watching you play for the last 4 years in the NBA... blah blah blah... you are the most amazing athlete ever to play the point guard position. The ability you have to get to the whole and finish strong is an amazing gift from god. However, that gift is not enough. It is time that you learned how to play winning basketball... it is time for you to grow your hair, it is time you learned how to trust in Moochie's haircare products for all your daily needs Steve, winning basketball is all about having the right hairdo. It is about blow drying early, curling second, and taking responsibility for those bad hair days. Steve, you have been gaining ground on Mooch but you are not yet a GQ guy. In order to be a GQ guy, you need to work hard all the time, on the cornrolls and the fro. Steve, take a look back at all the championships that Pete Myers, or Tyronne Lue won. It was rarely them that hit the winning shot, more often then not they just sucked wind on the bench, and at the most crucial moment would pass it out to a wide open Paxson or Kobe and insure that they got a ring as a bench warmer. Why defer at these times Steve? Because their teammates had better hair. Steve, as good as Yao and Cuttino's hair styles may be, this team needs you to be the one with the best 'do so Lisa Ling will visit Compaq Center more often. So far Steve, we your fans, have seen glimpses of what you could be, but remember you need to do it for 48 minutes, and you need to do it with trust of ALL your teamates. Steve, you are the leader, it is up to you to lead, if you don't do it, then move aside and let Yao lead. He already has more hair than you do. Steve, you make this harder then it has to be, hair is simple, but not if you try to work it 24x7. If you have 2 male hairstylests work on you, then everyone will be happy. Steve, your grace period is over, it is time for a change in 'do. Because right now, with the soldier cut you're sporting, you are still not all that you can be... Sincerely, DaDakota and theSAGE
Boy, we laughed so hard reading SageHare6 article, we almost fall out of the chair Great works SageHare6, we agree Steve needed to pay attention to his hairdo more often
Thx Jim... Madlibs was a big thing when I was growin' up... helped me pass 6th grade English Also, if haven't checked it out yet, I encourage everybody is find Chance McClane's Moochie Norris Song, under the Multimedia section on this site. Happy Holidays theSAGE
Well, it got Moochie a nice little deal because Lord knows Damon Jones could never be a decent backup point guard for $500,000 a year with his hair.
