[ch 2 video] Francis interview: "I definately didn't come here not to play at all."

Stevie shouldn't be too discouraged, esoecially if he came in out of shape. He thinks he feels good, but he's sucking wind wen he's out there. With an already not so high bbIQ, unfortunately lack of oxygen makes you dumber, lol.

Get in game shape, move the ball and move without the ball is all he needs to do right now, and he's in, because of the other things he can bring.

Alston is also not so sure of a lock for the whole season. WHEN he starts shooting badly, which he will, teams will sag and allow him to jack it up, which will find him on the bench.

Put all three together and you have a guard that can move the ball, cut, shoot, breakdown the defense (good qualities only) and you'd have a hell of a player!

 

This is exactly why I don't like francis. A lot of members just have blind faith in Francis due to his spectacular stats he produced under with Rudy 5 years ago, yet those spectacular stats didn't produce a single playoff appearance in a league where more then half the teams go to the playoffs each year. What has he shown in the last 2 or 3 years, that makes everyone think he was going to be a major contributor? Professionalism? Yea right, We are talking about the guy who complains to the refs at every opportunity, a guy who didn't know he could play defense and offense at the same time before JVG(looks like he forgot once he changed coaches), or how bout the guy who made it look like he had major knee problems so he could bought out of New York(remember he stayed in houston instead of NY with his team). Has he even added anything to his game since he came into the league? You think with all the coaches trying to move him to the 2 guard spot, he would try to improve his jump shooting and off the ball movement. He couldn't even beat out Rafer or Head to get into the rotation and people are clamoring to trade them so Francis can get PT. In what universe do you trade 2 superior employees so an inferior one could get more responsibility?

 

He was asking if you would rather have guys in that would only capable of shooting badly from the perimeter (as has been the case with our guards the last few times we've been to the postseason), to which you responded that Head was less likely to shoot bad from outside than James is.

I was simply pointing out how James shot far worse from three than Head over the couse of equal, 7 game playoff series, and still was better and more effective overall.

 

the X-factor is between his ears.

The whole situation is odd but I realized something...It is really amazing what he was able to do when he first came to the league because honestly, when it comes to really "playing" basketball in a team concept and in all aspects of the game, he isnt good. It's a testiment to his amazing athleticism that he had.

He isnt a great ball handler, not a great shooter, not a great passer, not a great decision maker, not a good defender, doesnt move well without the ball, etc. I wish it would "click" for him, and i hope it can but he has continually done the same things that have annoyed us and not helped the team win, i.e. dribble shot clocks down, not make good/wise passes, etc... At some point you have to realize that it just may not happen. I'm not there yet, but in a few months we will all have the answer one way or another.

Regardless, i hope he stays patient, works hard and supports the team whether he plays a significant role or not. The dude has had a major reality check the last 2-3 years and it would be easy for someone to fall into the background.

 

what the heck are you talking about. mcgrady was asked a direct question about steve's ability? what was he supposed to say, "uh, i don't know -- it's only that i've been practicing with him all this time.. talk to the coach, cause i'll support whatever adelman say"?

the man is supporting his team mate. he didn't say steve should start -- he said steve was a good basketball player and can contribute. quit being a drama queen.

 

talent was never the problem though.

 

He probably doesn't, given his record with head coaches whose names are not Rudy T. He might only be worth a future second round draft pick IMO in a trade.

Over the summer, I had felt the same way about Rafer's trade value only because of his low career fg percentage. I guess that at this point in their respective careers, Rafer (a second round draft pick in 1998) is more serviceable than Steve (a first round draft pick, but 2nd overall pick in 1999).

Steve needs to ask himself why did the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks trade him away, and why did the Portland Trailblazers buy out the remaining two years on his contract for $30 million?

Right now, I find it quite interesting as to what his career would have been like here in Houston during his first stint if someone else was coaching the Rockets other than Rudy T. For the most part, would he have really lasted into the 2003-04 season here under another head coach?

 

Steve can drive and finish and he got the killer instinct... unfortunately he still looks lost out there, slow and makes dumb decisions. All his abilities are really ok, he would be a great 7th or 8th man for this team, but he just didn`t get his act together yet. One he really gets into the system and makes fast and smart decisions, he will be very important to this team, especially when we need someone to make plays late in the game and T-Mac has an off night or is guarded too well!

 

Didnt go through any of the posts, but Stevie has always had the physical ability, the heart, and the love for the game. The one consistent in his career has been his lack of bball IQ. He's just not a very smart player and his difficult transition to Adelman's system is further proving the point that the guy just doesnt have it up there. I wish him the best though...hope he can get some minutes and make the most of them.

 

Nobody wanted to believe it but we do not need his talents. He is not a better player for THIS team then luther rafer or mike james

 

This was what I was replying to originally...

To which I was telling him that Head's outside shot is way better then James.

 

maybe Stevie can hire JVG to be his personal coach. He's the only one who actually got him to play somewhat more well rounded, slightly but it was still some.

 

Looks like the vast majority (including me) were right.
Who will complain about minutes first?

 

only 70 % ?! Too close to call. recount it.

i dont think 70% of the board would agree that water at room temperature is wet

 

interesting where we're at on clutchfans when there was that one poll of who should start as starting pg for the Rockets and 66% chose Stevie.

In an ideal dreamworld Steve would be the legitimate 3rd scorer who could also run the offense as well as Rafer, T-Mac and Yao would continue to dominate and Steve would abuse the defense for doubling off them. The vision of that for most fans was so enticing that we lost grips with reality ...

I admit, I had that vision right when we signed Stevie. I'll never forget the way he drove to the hole and finished, dunked on people, etc. When the average Rockets fan hears Steve Francis, they either love or hate him. Love for his heart for the game, which we haven't seen matched since his departure, his desire to get Yao going early on, the Sportscenter highlights, etc. We forgot about the dribbling off the foot, the mediocre defense, and the rather questionable (to say the least) decision making.

And here Francis is in this situation as the lowest on the guard depth chart, having an ability that none of the other guards do, with a weakness that no other guard has either. It's really difficult to say how we can somehow use him for the good and not let the bad screw us too much. Though all that overused talk about him not being able to dribble less, dribble dribble, dribble, etc., is getting old. Out of the games I've seen him play he dribbles a lot less than he used to ... I'd even say Mike James dribbles as much if not more. But it's such a difficult situation because a lot of Rockets fans don't know what they want in a pg. If you want a pg that just runs the offense, or gives the ball to TMac do control and be able to hit a 3, then we have 2-3 guys that can do that (though Skip does it best b/c he's done it for the past 2 seasons). If you want a pg who can create his own shot we got 2-3 that can do that. Steve can create his own shot and I believe he can learn to do what Rafer does in a half court offense b/c it's really not too too difficult (he just needs to run it faster), but he probably can't hit that open 3 b/c he's not a set shooter. And it's even more confusing that Stevie is a player that is only efficient with the ball in his hands. He really needs to learn to move without the ball ...

Anyway ... unfortunately I see him playing little to none for the first quarter of the season. But what he does during that whole stretch will determine his role later down the road. Honestly, I see him doing a lot better when it's playoff time than any other pg. You all saw him step up his game during his only playoff series. And you guys also saw how more than half of the Rockets last year didn't do the same. All we can hope for is for Stevie to not give up and keep working. He'll get his chance.

 

understand Francis's frustration, but Tmac's comment was interesting. This team needs to find a way to help Francis be effective in order to be successful IMHO.

 

Time for me to gloat a little bit, I picked the choice which had the lowest percentage, but also happens to be the correct answer.... RAFER ALSTON.

 

Exactly what I was talking about earlier. What killer instinct do you speak of? You mean the killer instinct that made all the teams hes been on lose a ****load of games? Thats more like team killer. And what happens when he finds out that hes not going to be in the rotation when he came in out of shape and not knowing the offense very well? He starts complaining to the media instead of keeping his mouth shut and working hard during practice. It seems like he thought he was entitled to playing time just because he was a former all star. All he needed to do was beat out RAFER ****ING ALSTON during training camp to earn playing time and he couldnt even do that. Francis is a loser and has always been one wherever he went. He has done NOTHING at all to change that perception at all. Being a winner starts with your attitude and Francis has had a ****ty one since he came into the league.

 

Sure they need to find a way but they shouldn't bend over backwards for him. Granted he could be a crucial piece to our team but Steve should know that he needs to try and fit the system..not the other way around.

 

maybe the Yankees will change their mind and bring back Joe Torre...he only won them 4 WS and brought them to the playoffs each year he was there...