http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3007852 By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Jeff Van Gundy would never tell you the Tracy McGrady-Steve Francis trade was about anything but acquiring talent. It wasn't about getting rid of Francis — about Van Gundy having had more than his fill of the Franchise's style. It wasn't about all those things Francis did that made Van Gundy's skin crawl and the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. It wasn't about rifts or the ever-fateful "philosophical differences." And rest assured, Van Gundy knew as much as anyone that Francis could be a joy to watch when he was at his highlight-reel best. He could win a lot of games, almost all by himself, which usually was his preferred way. It wasn't all rosy But even if Van Gundy would never say it, don't ever doubt that even if Francis wasn't a cancer to this Rockets team, he did have some symptoms. Like a swelled head. And a puffed-out chest. We saw both Monday night in an impressive 89-78 Rockets win that came despite McGrady's late scratch from the lineup because of a medical emergency in the family. We saw why it might be OK to miss some of the things Francis brought to this team. It might be OK to miss his often-engaging personality and soft-spoken kindness. It might be OK to miss such a rebounding presence at the guard position and defensive athleticism that simply cannot be taught. But don't ever think the Rockets would be better off either in the short-term or long-term had Francis still been wearing their colors. In the post-game visitors locker room, Francis strode to his stall draped in Rockets-logo towels. When he arrived to his seat, he signed five of his old Rockets jerseys. It was like a scene from any of the many nights Francis had in Toyota Center last year. On the court, it was the same old Francis, too. A familiar scene The Magic's fate goes as Francis' demeanor and game go, just like the Rockets of a year ago. On this night, we saw the same thrilling cross-over dribbles, spinning moves and fadeaway jumpers. We also saw the untimely turnovers, forced shots and hard-headed determination to carry the team solely on his shoulders. The most spectacular No. 3 on the floor Monday night was Francis. No doubt about it. But the most effective one was the Rockets' Bob Sura. Take the forced pass Francis made with 5:24 remaining in the second quarter to a double-teamed Dwight Howard on the post. Or the classic Francis cross-and-step-back jumper a minute later, punctuated by his hollering, "bang" at his defender as the ball left his hand. He missed, badly. Or his missing a twisting layup in traffic to start the third quarter with shooter Hedo Turkoglu open in the corner and hollering for the ball. Or Francis clearing out his teammates on one side of the floor with 7:41 remaining and missing another off-balance fadeaway. He of course came on late to make huge shots and impressive plays, finishing with numbers familiar to those who followed his Rockets career — 23 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists. Impressive, yes. Until you notice that he took 28 shots and had as many turnovers as he did assists. "Not a typical Steve Francis performance tonight," Magic coach Johnny Davis said. Yet it was entirely typical. As much as it is difficult not to pull for Francis to be successful, it's easy to see why he is not — at least in terms of reaching a playoff level. He does great things. And he does silly things. One day he might prove the Rockets wrong for trading him, but that day still hasn't come. Sure, the Rockets haven't exactly torn through the league with McGrady, but they are playing much better despite holes in the lineup. This was their third straight win, and in McGrady they have a player who in game-winning situations — unlike Francis — does not always demand that he takes the big shot. Just last Friday with the game on the line in New York, it was McGrady who faced a double-team as he drove the lane and shot an outlet pass to the unlikely Scott Padgett, who nailed the game-winner. Would Francis have done that? He would tell you yes. He would tell you, like he did in a subtle shot at McGrady after Monday's game, that he's about rebounds and assists. Team first. "I'm not just a person who can score with the ball," he said. But then, in four of his past six outings, Francis has averaged a McGrady-like 25 shots per game. And down the stretch Monday, no one was going to put up the shots, or ultimately make the crucial turnovers, but Francis. Francis also would tell you that he holds no grudges against Van Gundy and the Rockets for trading him. But even as he tried to compliment Van Gundy and his system, there were those same subtle frustrations voiced so often in the past. "We played their game," Francis said. "Not degrading their system, but that's how they are and they do it well. They play methodical, slow. If people don't want to play the way that they play, they'll just get traded like me." Francis says he's better off now in Orlando. Feel free to be happy for him. But know that the Rockets' future is far better off without him.
seems pretty objective to me why does Steve continue to make little jabs at Tmac and JVG? lack of maturity? Like Doc Rocket said -- if you act like a LB, well . . . He just wasn't that good last night and that was typical of his play as a Rocket. He's a very good player and I like him, but he's not a player that's going to lead a team to a championship. He's not that good.
Lemme ask this: who took the game-losing shot in game one of last years playoffs against the Lakers? This is incredible: a whole article dedicated to bashing Francis... he doesn't deserve half the crap these damn reporters are talking about him.
Tracy McGrady: 25.3 ppg on the season, 28.1 ppg since December 1, 25 years old. It's not always about you, Steve. It's about him. And Yao. PS- We beat you by dropping 108 on you in your crib as well. Any other way you'd like to lose?
OH GOD, now the Houston Press is getting in on the DRAMA... WE ARE SPORTS FANS not soap opera fans... I dont wanna read this crap, let thier games do the talking... I feel dumber just for reading this...
Uhhh, if you heard the locker room iview he even took a jab at the fans, saying he "expected more" of a reception... Given that, I'd say the article was very fair.
What kind of game were we supposed to play without our most athletic, dynamic player? We started Ryan Bowen for gods-sake, and we did what we had to do to win. Orlando just does not have enough outside shooters. They play a fast tempo style, but they end up taking long jumpshots instead of 3-pointers. It's like they're trying to be like the suns or sonics without the firepower. Turkoglue, Hill, and Christie all just kept jacking up the 20 footers with hands in their faces. They bailed us out with their shot selection many times. Did it ever occur to them to post Hedo against Wesley?
the article was written yb Lopez. It's amazing that on a night that Yao leads the team to a victory, he chooses instead to bash Francis instead of simply talk about how good the Rox played. The guy is a bitter man, if the Magic won, he woulda buried Yao, that's how he sees the world. Some people wee just born to b****
What's somewhat funny about his comment regarding the Rockets' style of play is that in the first half, we were running them into the ground and playing solid d. The Francis comment reminds me of the time where Dallas had trounced and dismantled us 3 or 4 games in a row and Francis was still saying we were better - it's just that they played zone which is somehow an inferior brand of play.
Thats what my buddy told me. He said they should post Hedo against Wesley. I told him to be quiet, they might hear.
I thought it was a good article. You know, Franchise is a great player, theres no doubt about that. And you cant help but like the guy, but its just frustrating that a player with so much ability has those little problems in his game that means he can hurt you as much as he can help you. I dont think there is any doubt that we are a better team after the trade. In T-Mac we have one of the best players in the game and a player who, when he is on fire, is simply unstoppable. Franchise is good, but he is not that good.
while i agree with a lot of the article, two things made me laugh. sura was the most effective #3. yeah, his big 3 for 13 (or was it more) performance really showed steve up. steve was a sharpshooter by comparison. even the 7 turnovers don't tilt it to sura. and two, the comment about francis missing a tough layup with hedo hollering for the ball. yeah, b/c hitting hedo would've hit it. dude was closer to hitting the backboard than making the shot on most of his jumpers and i don't remember him hitting a 3. hedo, hill, christie, and garrity all left their jumpers home tonight. francis dominated the ball and took a ton of shots, but if you've watched orlando this year, that typically isn't the case. however, when everyone on the team is sucking horribly (i remember howard posting up 3 times and he turned it over all 3 times) and your 10-28 and 23/10/7 line are easily the best perfomance on the night on the team, it's hard to blame him for dominating the ball so much. he almost shot them back in the game in the 4th. the rest of the team was worthless and i still think they were crazy to trade mobley for a non-shooter in christie (i can understand trading a guy you don't think you can sign but for such a poor shooter, i don't get it). an already limited 3 pt shooting team and they trade a guy shooting 50% for a guy shooting 25%. they have no way of getting themselves back into a game quickly unless hedo goes off from deep and also took away one more guy who can drive inside (which they needed tonight) for a defensive guy. what they of course didn't realize is the defense is never going to improve as long as johnny davis is the coach.
T-mac is way out of Steve's leauge anyway. tracy is a TOP 3 talent while Francis might be an top 20!!. after the last 2 games, it's obvious that the Rox raped the magic in that Trade!!
