Chron: Rockets' Francis Invites Criticism With Celebrity

Loved the article as a whole. But this quoted part is my favorite. 100% spot on accurate.

 

How "insider" informed do you have to be to objectively observe and evaluate what is happening in a basketball sense? What he's got too much starch in his undies?

 

Ray Allen

 

Zero.

Pasox might want to revise the lofty standards that he wants to hold Francis to seeing as how no one in the NBA meets those standards and only two players (Garnett and McGrady) come close.

 

So you believe that the casual fan knows more about the inner workings of a team than the coach and the players do???

 

So you don't fee sorry for Alonzo Mourning? People need to separate money with actual people. No matter how much money you have these are normal people. Having more money then someone else doesn't make you immortal or immune to everyday problems.

 

Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's losing sleep over you wanting him to be traded.

 

So, because he isn't putting up particular numbers YOU want trade him? The Rockets are #6 in the West, and tied for the 5th best record overall in the West. I think that's better then manufactured numbers he needs to achieve.

 

Don't apply for Pine's translator job anytime soon.....

Casual fan wasn't implied. And, no one said anybody outside the "INNER CIRCLE" (all bow) knew more than THEM. The point is, it isn't real difficult for an interested and somewhat knowledgable observer to see what is happening and make an edumacated eval. Otherwise, we wouldn't have any announcers, reporters, commentators etc..

 

By the way Codell, I am convinced that until you start cutting SA down, there is some sort of curse on the Rockets ever getting better than them again....

 

I bet if the Rockets make the playoffs and Francis's numbers don't improve, you will here the exact opposite criticism you've heard the first four years. Instead of "Steve puts up stats but doesn't win" it will be "The Rockets win but their highest paid player sucks".

 

Stats don't matter, getting the team to gell and win does. Ask Mitch Richmond about that. Or Dominique Wilkins.

Steve has changed considerably if you only go back as far as Nov. He's putting in a real effort. I think a large part of this as come from JVG's realization that Yao simply isn't ready to be the number one option yet. That's helped Steve and the others look for their shot more instead of help Yao increase his TO stats.

Evan

 

Feigen's probably like, "Damn, Steve, you think talk radio and our columnists are bad, you should read ClutchFans.net. They REALLY hate your ass over there."

 

Charvo,

Given the current circumstances, this is the only option. We can't go back to the ISO game with Francis taking the ball over.

But, if you want to emphasize Francis's strengths, he still needs to learn the PG stuff adequately. He's doing this now, but it's a struggle. This is why it's sooooo important that guards learn fundamentals early (HS and NCAA) and not in the NBA when you have tons of responsibilities.

The other option, one that will overlook Francis's need to learn PG skills, is to bring in a fundamental PG and move Francis to the SG spot. This will achieve what you want. Francis will be able to do what he's good at while someone else takes care of the ball distribution (Ward?). But, I still think that Francis is getting a crash course in "PG skills 101" right now. And that's a good thing regardless of where he ends up.

The way he's playing NOW is the way that Francis should have been playing his rookie season. Physical ability without knowledge (learned skill) is worthless for a leader.

 

Is that impossible. You do know that the "system" or "team" is playing better as a whole? That alone is getting the team wins. Yes, it's much more on defense than offense. But still over-all too. We aren't depending on ONE player to "save us."

If we put a lot of stock in our "leader" he could be the weak link. Even though we do squeak out wins. It's all about potential as a team and who we deem the leader.

Francis has to set the standard. He has to be better than he teammates. He has to raise the bar. That's why the Rockets pay him so much.

 

Francis is playing better than his teamates, he just isn't shooting well.

 

Ok, then fan period. Die hard or otherwise. Call me naive, but I dont think anyone can more accurately gauge a team's problems than the coach and his players.

Its easy, as a fan, to say that what you see on the court is a problem (i.e. turnovers, poor shooting, etc.). Its the inner circle that knows what is being done to fix it, and in that, they know more than any of us know, including commentators, reports, etc.

In other words, when Steve is turning the ball over, or Yao is not getting position, or whatever, its easy, as a fan, and outsider to say that they should be traded or JVG doesnt know what he is doing when that fan is not on the "inside" and doesnt see the game the same way that the coaches and players do.

JVG's point was, that he and Steve's teamates feel Steve, while struggling at times, is progressing and improving every day and that Steve should let what others, outside the team affect his confidence.

 

It's nice to see Cato and MoT playing well. Spoon can only help push them and add a foul here or there when needed.

 

Codell,

I agree for the most part. But this ain't brain surgery. You either have the horses and they are pulling the wagon or not. We have some horses, maybe not enough, maybe not as talented overall.

I don't think this coach is going to get it done, you all know that!

That said, just observing, it is not that hard to see they are trying to overcome offensive weaknesses with a game plan that reduces the affair to low scoring and slower tempo just to compete. Most say this is what will win in the long run and at playoff time. Maybe, maybe no. Certainly it would in the East.

Most of the problem seems to still be lack of a real offensive scheme and flow. Having everything flow through SF everytime is very easy for the opposing team to decipher and try to counter, especially if his shot is off.

Hopefully MoT, Pike, JJ etc. can pick it up until SF's shot falls more consistently.

 

We have a mediocre record right now, pretty good if you add in that it is a brand new system with a brand new coach. Yes, I feel like we should have a much better record than this.

We can be a pretty dominant team, we've seen it in spurts this season, we've done this all while SF has been struggling w/ his shooting % and his decision making, imagine how much better we will be when his shot comes back and he gets more comfortable with the system and learns when to and not to pass.

He has a lot of TOs, but that comes when you handle the ball 80% of the time, and when its your job to set people up. Just look at the other top players in TOs, they are some of the best in the league.

Hell, AI had 7 TOs the other night and they lost bad, SF had 7 TOs and we blew out GSW by 20 points!! He's coming around.