If it's a blowout, he should play in the garbage time just to see at what level he is at. If he's looking good, slowly give him more minutes.
Now is your chance Steve. I personally don't think he still has it, but if he does, now is the time to show it. Besides, I cringe at the thought of Aaron Brooks or Luther Head having to guard Billups. Not that Francis is an all-star defender or anything, but at least he could make Billups work for his shots.
true i am hoping steve gets a few minutes so at the very least the debate of "does he still have it" gets put to rest. it will shut up everyone including myself if he doesnt have it and if he does have it that could only be good for this team. practices are a huge factor in getting game minutes but there are some guy who compete in practice but play on a different level come game time....it could be the extra adrenaline the crowd, the lights i dont know but i feel that francis is one of those guys that will always outperform himself during real game minutes than any practice game.
Teams do practice, but don't actually have many full-out practices. Its how 10-contract guys tend to not look too good, they only get a handful of games & practices combined to really show anything. Francis is the "great unknown" but how when he's only had 10 years and a few All Star appearances to make a name for himself. Really the only unknown is his health and conditioning. They have to get him in a game at some point. Why keep having him hang rehabbing all hard with the question hanging over everyone's head can he/can't he, like The Yoyo said. Francis isnt a mystery man like Von Wafer or Joey Dorsey. If he can demonstrate 15 minutes of relatively healthy play, rusty or not get him in a game to accelerate the rehab process.
