Blame players, Francis admits By MEGAN MANFULL Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle UPDATE • Tonight: Seattle SuperSonics at Rockets • When/where: 7:30 p.m.; Compaq Center. • Playoff watch: 40-38, 2 1/2 games behind Phoenix. • TV/radio: Ch. 39; KILT (610 AM) and in Spanish on KYST (920 AM). • Records: Rockets 40-39; SuperSonics 39-40. Steve Francis has no problem shouldering the burden of another season gone awry. He will not tolerate blaming the coaching staff, however. Even though the Rockets guard is less than a week away from what could be a fourth straight season without the playoffs, he is adamant that changes in the franchise should not include the coaching staff. If Rudy Tomjanovich and his assistants are sent packing this summer, Francis said, he will leave, too. "I hope nothing happens to the staff, because I don't want to be in a situation where I'm adjusting to a new coach," said Francis, whose six-year, $85 million contract extension, which he signed last August, begins next season. "I don't think I could play for another coach. So, like Shaq said he's sticking with his coach, that's what I'm doing. I'm sticking with my coach." Francis refused to elaborate on what he plans to do if the coaching staff is fired during the offseason and made it clear he hopes it doesn't come to that. "I ain't even thinking about that, because that ain't going to happen," he said. With three games left this season, the entire team is aware that more than just the playoffs is on the line. The team is also fighting to stay together. And while the roster might be dismantled, Francis' main concern lies with his coaches. Acting Rockets coach Larry Smith took over the team four weeks ago when Tomjanovich stepped down after being diagnosed with bladder cancer. At that time, the team was tied for the eighth playoff spot. Slowly, however, the Rockets (40-39) have fallen apart. Throughout, Francis has remained loyal to the coaching staff. Without even being prompted by questions, he has said a couple of times during the past few weeks that the late-season collapse is not the result of poor coaching. He reiterated his thoughts Friday. "It's not their fault," he said. "It's ours. It's my fault and (the fault of) the guys on this team. It has nothing to do with the coaching staff. So if somebody believes that, they are just trying to make up something." With three games remaining, starting tonight against visiting Seattle, the Rockets are aware that changes are more or less imminent. The team is coming off two of the worst offensive performances in franchise history -- 31.5 percent shooting in a 94-73 road loss to the Jazz Wednesday and 29.5 percent shooting in an 81-66 home loss to the Trail Blazers Tuesday. The shooting percentage and point total against Portland tied franchise lows. If inconsistency weren't bad enough this season, the Rockets are now looking consistently bad. Nevertheless, they remain in the playoff hunt. Barely. With the Suns' win over Golden State on Friday, Phoenix stands three games ahead of the Rockets and has a magic number of one for clinching the last playoff berth in the West. In other words, for the Rockets to make the playoffs, they must win their three remaining games, and the Suns must lose all three they have left. "At this point now, we've put ourselves in a situation where we can only hope that things go totally wrong for another team," Glen Rice said. "And you hate to say that, but the situation is what it is. This is what happens when you don't take care of business. "I think as a player, my first and foremost concern is trying to get to the playoffs," Rice added. "What they do with the team -- there's nothing I can do about it." Francis is still thinking about the playoffs but is also being realistic. He knows there are problems with the team that need to be fixed but argued against a roster shake-up. "Regardless of whatever happens, hopefully we'll all be back here next year," he said. "That's the outlook I have on the whole situation. "Hopefully, our owner will be considerate about whatever happens. I think we still have the talent to be good. We just have to be consistent in putting it all together for a full season." ------------------------ courtesy of... theSAGE
Who cares what he says. If he wants to leave with the coaches, so be it. Players like Francis comes along often. Yes he's a good athelete, but the position he plays requires a players to be very smart and heady. Not sure if they would do it, but If that was the case, there are many scenerios that can be worked out with his byc status.
A team that play ugly basketball and is still afraid of change, it has no hope. Even Rudy is healthy, I still expect coach change because: Rudy's ISO oriented offense system is no longer efficient in current NBA and he was inept to change. In Rox case, it is offense hurts defense. Can someone check how many points Rox score every game? I bet it would not in the top 20 . Steve Francis send a clear message that he dont want change, he dont want adjustment. He still think there is no problem in the current system and player just play bad. I cant believe he said "like Shaq said he's sticking with his coach, that's what I'm doing." It is a very very bad example. Shaq stick to Jackson because they won THREE STRAIGHT WORLD CHAMPION AND LOOKING FOR THEIR FOURTH STRAIGHT. . And SF3 just won his four straight lottery tickets and watch playoff on TV at home!!! My bottom line is: if he insist, well then give him another year, if they still dont make significent improvement and fail making into playoff and he still refuse to change. Next season send him packing!!!!
LOL. Sticking up for your coach is admirable but who does he think he is to have a say about any coaching/personnel moves in this organization? Even Shaq didn't say things like that until he won Lakers a ring and this guy hasn't even won us a playoffs game.
You know what, watching today's game between Suns and Warrios, Suns' veteran really step up. Murbery, Marion and Hardaway played great down the strench. When Rox need its leader step up and hold on the playoff race, where is SF3? He was playing his worst bball in this crucial memont. Well, now he jump out BEFORE THE SEASON END and said something like this. Who gave you that rights? SF, you really cannot say that because you DIDN'T ACHIEVE ANYTHING FOR THE ROX!!!!
So francis THINK that rockets are playing in the right way. He is sticking with his coach because he doesnt want to ADJUST to a new coach. So can I assume that we will play ISO for the years to come? Is there any world record of dribbling the ball in 24 seconds. Maybe we can break the world record instead of making the playoff.
No way! Francis has 4 years under his belt and a 85 million contract to boot. Sure, hes a great athlete with loads of talent but he lacks the leadership, mentality, bball IQ and the attitude to take this team anywhere. Yao does have the IQ but he lacks the aggressiveness and the leadership qualities to carry this team anywhere. I am willing to bet either Francis, Cuttino, EG or Yao or maybe even all will be moved by the new management.
I just posted a thread that suggests trading Yao and Moochie for Brand and Miller. I think that's the shake up that this team needs. Not to mention that without an offseason to lift weights, rest and really practice NBA ball, I'm concerned as to just how much Yao can improve.
To be honest, I'm leaning towards wanting to keep Rudy and letting FRANCIS go. It sickens me how he folded late in the season when we needed him most. Even though the chances are slim, it also sickens me that he is looking at next year rather than concentrating on the last 3 games. I'm a fan, I have the luxury of saying we're out of it...But he's a player, and I expect him to fight for every game. If he wanted to be in the playoffs so badly, and he thinks he's half the player Marbury is, then where was he when we needed him? Yao has an excuse. The other players, we don't rely on to carry the team. But Francis, we needed you, and you bailed.
What's Yao's excuse? I must have missed that. And please don't say he's a rookie. He has a full year on NBA action under his belt - there are no more rookies at this time of year. And PS - Armare's a rookie too and look at his numbers.
You've been a member since April 2002. If you don't know what his excuse is, and how it differs from Amare's situation, then I just won't bother myself.
what i think the rockets need to do is just play for their pride's sake cause they're losing a lot of people's respect. the knicks even though they have no chance of making the playoffs and would get better by getting a lottery pick constantly play for pride. that's the mentality the rockets need to have. forget the plyaoffs, just play for pride cause nobody respects them now. if they had the knicks mentality, they'd be in the playoffs.
What leverage does francis have even he really did want to leave, he's locked into his contract. It just seems to me that he's being loyal to his coaches, i can't fault him for that.
So what does it imply? It means amare is not a rookie any more because of his 21 points and 10 rebounds tonight? I think you have some serious logic problem.
What he's saying is that since Amare is still standing after his 79th game of the season, so should Yao. He assumes that Yao is as well equipped as Amare to do so, and it is simply a matter of Yao not WANTING to play hard this late.
There he goes again, dictating terms to his team, and throwing down threats. Just like when he was drafted by Vancouver. What's the matter Steve, afraid the Rockets might bring in a tough coach, who might actually force you to give up the ball more often. Everyone knows you've got RT wrapped around your finger, so I can understand you wanting him to stick around. Let's look at the brutal truth. SF is a shooting guard. A scorer. The only reason he wants to be the point guard, is so he can control the ball. The problem here (same with Iverson) is that he's too short. He's too easily shut down, by taller double teams, so he has to take extra shots to make up for it. He wants to be Jordan, he wants to be Bryant, but those guys are 4 or 5 inches taller, so he can never have their game. SF is never going to adjust period. He's a grown man, and he wants to dominate the games and be the leading scorer. The Rockets have a go to guy in YM, but SF is never going to accept YM becoming top dog. Raven
