Chron: Francis, coach say relationship fine as differing accounts linger

How many "men" have you seen try and break up a fight by bear hugging an ankle?

How many "women" have you seen in an NBA All Star game?

 

If SF wanted RT for a coach, it's probably because RT was a "player's coach" .

In other words, RT had a reputation for being a push over.

There is life outside of sports.

When more people start to realize that, then fewer people will tolerate the childish behavior that SF and other athletes engage in.

Raven

 

Either JVG or SF will go, but for Rockets' future, they better let SF go. SF is a guy who forced a trade on draft day and failed to live up to his expectation and salary for five years. This is a guy with combination of bad attitute and incapability, his game will never change.

Trade SF.

 

I hope CD can consult with Don Nelson before the trade, be smart, don't trade like a moron.

 

That's hilarious considering the over trading that Nellie did this past off season which have resulted in hurt feelings, poorer record, and more disgruntled fans in Dallas.


Don't post like one either.

A "players coach" does not = a "pushover"

I suppose the anti-christ Phil Jackson is a pushover?

Players' coaches seem to sport more rings these days.

Tight fisted disciplinarians finish like every one else without a ring that season.

You think Popazit has no relationship with his players? How about any other coach with a title in the last few decades?

JVG wants NO relationship outside of the business of it... Bad, bad, bad choice for a leader.

Life outside of sports is actually understood by a "players' coach" more thouroughly than by a tight reigned business man type coach of the JVG school of thought.

That's why JVG has all those rings.

 

What's ridiculous about that article, is that I don't see any quotes about where Francis admits what he did was stupid AND DID HURT THE TEAM.

Francis is a decent player, but sure as hell is not worth the headache. If a player cannot conform to TEAM rules, he should be gone. I can't blame a coach for wanting his team to be set and organized before road games. If a player has an issue with that, then he shouldn't have a job, be it as a basketball player or as a McDonald's drive-thru vendor.

 

Well, you have followed the Rockets since 99-00 right? Rudy T., the quintessential player's coach had the franchise stuck in neutral. We weren't exactly lighting teams up with him after Olajuwon left/got old.

And I would say that Phil is not a player's coach, neither is Pop. Both of those guys get on their players as much as any coach in the NBA, esp Pop. Pop has zero personality, so it's not like he's best friends with every player on his team.

In fact, he has as much of a "rift" with Jesus Parker as JVG does with Francis.

 

Actually since you were in diapers.

And I know I'm right. Coaches that win have an off-court relationship with their squad.

Period.

Who said anything about being "best friends?" That's not the same thing... niether is "get on their players" the same as game suspensions as opposed to allowing a later flight and not starting a guy.

The truth is what Francis did DID NOT HURT THE TEAM... how JVG handled the situation, not allowing Steve to play, HURT THE TEAM. And when you HURT THE TEAM in the capacity of undermining the CAPTAIN, who there is TEAM LOYALTY TO (at least in part), you make yourself part of the top 10 list of COACHES LEAST DESIRABLE TO PLAY FOR.

JVG is on that list now for sure... while the majority of GM's would still LOVE to have a SF on their roster.

JVG makes the Rockets a destination of least desire after this, more so, if not equally as much, as this supposedly hurts SF's stock.

JVG is actually guilty of slander. Slander is character defamation.. something done by JVG, not SF.

Who hurt this team?

JVG, yeah, that's who.

 

Ultimately, it boils down to respect.

Why did the "team captain" miss a flight? How come the 15th man on IR can make it, but not "team captain"?

If that was the case, please tell me if any known trade inquiries made by other teams interested in SF. Any trade the Rockets make with SF, will be by the Rockets doing.

And please tell me what kind of "off court" relationship Phil Jackson has with his players. He and Kobe were in the same city in Colorado, without knowing it. Tell me about Popovich as well. I am not going to believe you for the sake of believing you since you've been watching Rockets games since my "diaper days".

What you say sounds correct, but in theory it really holds no weight to recent, concrete history.

 

Coaches that truly want to win will listen to their best players... it's called the people skills.

That's called a relationship. When you listen long enough because you respect the other person as a human being, not just an employee, you may realize that another solution that could gain you respect in return could be chosen, as opposed to just "showing force" and suspending someone from playing all together.

Off the court relationships include, office chats, sitting down to the same table for a meal on the road, telling each other jokes, etc. By no means am I saying Pop or Phil go clubbin' with Shaq... but I do have a feeling they talk more than just during a game or practice, about more than just a game or practice...

Relationship on a human level. JVG is all business, no play... and that's what makes him a dull boy.

JVG has now by result of this trist placed SF in the EG category... the short list of people in Houston he's suspended.

SF is in no way = to EG because he missed a plane.

Fine him. Don't start him... that's acceptable.

Keeping him from playing all together? Ridiculous and ultimately irresponsible on the part of a playoff bound coach.

See how far JVG makes it next year without SF, if that's the case.

2005 = new head coach without SF. 20 point losses happen with regularity when you have no star. Just ask PHX.

Les' buddy will find out it's just a business, never personal, too... and that Les is impatient.

 

I never said SF is= to EG. Not many players in the league are, since most of them are forever suspended (Roy Tarpley).

I will say that JVG isn't exactly the best at building up relationships, but I feel better about the Rockets chances with him, than with Rudy.

How many coaches do you think would be able to win with the Rockets current roster? By win, I mean 55+ games and be a somewhat of a contender.

I don't think more than maybe 2-3 coaches could do that. This team has poor depth, and does not have a capable PF to help Yao inside, as well as neutralize the elite PFs that the best West teams have.

This team is playing to its talent level, imo. We are a guard-oriented team who plays in the West. Going .500 isn't that easy when you compare how we matchup with the rest of the West.

 

if he had covered for steve then gundy would have looked extremely bad over his dealings with eddie griffin. it would lead to bad morale among the rox. one set of rules for steve another for the rest...

 

The more details that come out about this incedent the more I am convinced that JVG handled this the wrong way.

Consider this; the initial knee jerk reaction here (and in Blinebury's first article) when it was reported that Francis skipped out on the Rox to go to the super bowl was outrage and a call for Francis's head.

"How dare he bail on the team just so he could go to the super bowl" was the battle cry, but wait a minute it turns out he didn't go to the super bowl.

"Yeah well he still decided to stay at home instead of fly out with the team." No he actually missed the flight (which departed long before the super bowl started) and wasn't actually calling JVG from the game as some earlier assumed.

"Well he still missed the flight, damn that irresponsible Francis" Yeah and this is the same guy who is a known gym rat. I recall one Chronicle article in which Rudy was quoted as constantly having to kick he and Cat out of the gym after practices. This is the same guy that always comes into camp in great shape and ready for the season. He misses one flight and is suspended.

One of the scenarios that was widely accepted here was that Francis called JVG from the game, or one the way to the game and decided that he should not attend. Seems from the latest details that is not the case. How about this scenario:

2:00 - Team catches flight to Phoenix, no Steve.

2:15 - Steve gets to the airport late (super bowl related traffic, partied to late, whatever the reason)

2:30 - Steve calls JVG... "Hey coach I missed the flight, I'm going to charter a plane and meet you the team at the hotel"

JVG... "Oh you're just going to charter a flight, huh, y'know what Steve don't even bother, you're suspended"

Steve... "For what, I can be there before team curfew"

JVG... "Cause you broke my rules, bye... click"

Later that afternoon - JVG calls Steve... "...Steve you can not break the rules we will discuss this further when I get back"

Steve says sarcasticly... "Hey no problem, since I'm suspended I might as well go to the super bowl" insert pout...

JVG... "What, your not hearing my Steve"

Steve still pouting... "You're right I'm not, going to the super bowl is a once in a lifetime opportunity and hey coach listen to this... click"

I'm not excusing Steve for missing that flight, but if this is anywher near what occured then JVG's actions are ridiculous. This is not the first nor the last time that an NBA player will miss an away game flight. That is why they make deals with charter companies, for just such an occurence. They both agree that Steve contacted him and attempted to come to Phoenix and JVG said no. Initially it was thought that this was because Francis wanted to go to the Superbowl first, now that doesn't seem to be the case.

Normally suspensions are saved for players that complete miss games or do not contact the team. Francis was in contact with JVG not once, but twice the day before the game, and could have still made the game. Just as irresponsible was JVG stating that Francis was at the game when he was not certain that was the case. I know believe that JVG made (and continues to make) the super bowl statement to lessen the amount of criticism he would have most definitley recieved for suspending your best player in the middle of a four game losing streak for missing a flight that he could have taken later.

Anyway there are inconsistencies on both sides and I for one am not ready to jump on the Francis hate wagon and automatically assume that JVG is telling the truth.

 

Dang.... so many errors in spelling and no edit function... ah well you get the point.

 

makes a little sense, but considering that that lie cost us a game (can't say that his absence and the distractions it caused didn't effect the other players) and considering the fact that we missed the playoffs by a game last year... you'd expect an 80 million dollar, team captain, franchise player to show up... especially if your team has been struggling as of late on a 4 game losing streak... their longest losing streak of the season.

excuses are like an arsehole. the dood is what... a five year vet and almost 27? he should know better.

 

If Francis' version is correct -- that he was dealing with a family issue but resolved it and got to the airport by 2:15 but was told to not bother coming to Phoenix because he was suspended -- then why didn't he go ahead and attend the Super Bowl? He had nothing else to do that evening.