Chronic: Does character count to the Rockets? What about to you?

It is not completely risk free. After PF, PG was our biggest hole before. If we hadn't signed Francis, we would/could have gone out and trade for someone else better than Rafer. But now that we have Francis, we don't do that anymore.

The key thing to minimize risk now is we don't release the other players too soon. The other players mean Rafer, Head, and maybe others. If Stevie doesn't work out, we still have the others to fall back on.

Still, if Stevie doesn't work out, we would have not upgraded any on the PG position. In short, this move is still risky.

That said, is it worth the risk? Hell yeah!

 

exactly wat i wanted to say!!!

 

And that's the key question here because my impression is that the guy will want to end up starting here as does Mike James as does Rafer Alston. I also think that a key question to ask is why he didn't sign with Miami? Was it really because his desire to play here was actually that strong or was it because over there, that's Shaq's & D-Wade's team and SF3 would have been the proverbial 3rd wheel? He comes back here, he's the prodigal son who returneth from the wilderness. All eyes are now on him - why he's even pushed the Scola signing to the back burner. That has got to be a sweet feeling for a guy who was literally tarred, feathered and run out of town only to return to see all of the former Stevie Franchise haters lined up to kiss his ass.

Now I happen to believe that like Rudy T before him, SF3 was made the scapegoat for the sins of the organization under Dawson & Alexander and posted as much at the time. For all of his flaws on the court (and they are many), he played with heart and fire. He was just stuck on bad teams filled with average to below average players put there by the organization. Getting rid of Steve and getting McGrady was SUPPOSED to catapult the Rockets into the ranks of the elite. Well that never happened & Tmac has been shown to have feet (some would saw a backbone) of clay. So now Francis is back to help save the day (and vanquish the evil but nice San Antonio Spurs) and the fandom is happy. My personal advice to Francis is to remember that like before, those cheers can quickly turn to jeers if the mob doesn't get what it wants.

I am more curious than delighted because I still see an imbalanced team now filled with guys who can score but not much else. But for now, this team is once again interesting: Can they defend the PnR? Can they even play as a team? Will everyone subjugate themselves and their game for the greater good? Can "The (Former) Franchise" & I'm Mike James Biatch! peacefully coexist? Will Aaron Brooks even get to play? Turn in next November for the 2007 premiere of "All My Rockets" coming to an NBA arena near you.

 

If Francis is coming off the bench replacing JL III or VSpan (in addition to a 10-15 minute play time reduction for Rafer) then I agree it is low risk, absolutely high reward. If and when Rafer is traded the move becomes significantly more high risk because now you ARE counting on Francis to fill either the back up or starting role. That is where I have concerns.

That being said I don't have as many concerns about him off the court. His super bowl fiasco was a problem, but no more so than the 1 or so game suspension it earned him. The more glaring problem is that if he is playing starters minutes he has to dominate the ball to play most effectively, and so does TMac.

Francis is worse than Rafer as a spot up shooter. He is horrible at running a fast break. He is great at penetrating and passing and creating his own shot. He is great at rebounding.

It was absolutely imperative we get players like Francis to come off the bench when TMac and/or Yao is out of the game. I'm just not nearly as convinced that Francis playing starter's minutes with TMac is a great fit. As an addition to Rafer, Francis was a no brainer. As a replacement to Rafer the risk and questions are alot bigger.

 

We really only have to worry about the top 10 players. The other five will be played sparingly or play in the NDBL.

The first 10 IMO are SF3 and James (PG); Wells and Snyder (SG); McGrady and Battier (SF); Scola and Butler (PF); and Yao and Mutombo (C). These are the players that can be mixed and matched in positions other than the ones I just specified. That's the beauty of the current Top 10.

Whether Brooks, Hayes, Reed, Novak or Landry serve as Players #11 and #12 doesn't make much difference. If they are not going to be on the court except in extreme garbage minutes, I'd rather see Brooks, Landry and Novak get more playing time in the NDBL. The others (Rafer, Luther, JL3 and Sura) need to be traded or cut. Newley is a decision for another year.

 

im pretty sure the maxwell situation will prove this statement wrong

 

Lopez should have left the Chron since his favorite JVG is no longer with the team. This guy likes to start crap and I hope he just stop his nonsense.

 

I'm much more concerned with Bonzi, than Francis. Bonzi quit on us last year, and expects to be part of the team this year. With Adalmen as head coach, we know bonzi will be given a chance, but I don't like how he handled his situation last year. Steve didn't have those type of issues with us, and I doubt many of us are questioning his character. Now, whether he can take the back seat...we don't know, but we do know that during his tenure on the rockets, he has done nothing to deserve this kind of criticism.

 

I wouldnt suggest listening to "Monsters of the Mid-Day" on 790am...you'll actually be screaming at the radio...

 

I think these picks ups are low risk... because Les isnt going to open up the pocket book...

we arnt going to get those first tier guys willing to take a huge pay cut to come over and play...

like a Ray Lewis....

 

ooops Rashard...

 

So you're a "realist" and those who disagree with you are "defensive and delusional". Good to see you're open to a debate!

 

Why would it humble Mike James he wasn't considered a franchise player who suddenly dipped down to a bench player.

 

I am more curious than delighted because I still see an imbalanced team now filled with guys who can score but not much else.

Ummm, that's not true at all. Francis is a decent passer, but he is a big time scorer and one of the best rebounding PGs in the league. Bonzi is a scorer and a great rebounder. Mike James is a good passer and a clutch shooter who can handle the ball and run an offense. Yao is a scorer, credible rebounder and a very good shot-blocker. Scola is a scorer and solid rebounder. McGrady is all everything. Aside from Scola, all have played on very good NBA defensive teams.

 

Yeah, because the New York Knicks were full of saints when JVG coached them.

 

Have you talked to Francis or those around him? Because I find it ironic, and quite amusing, that you jump on fans for thinking he might have changed. Then you declare that he hasn't changed, and the guy hasn't even been signed for a week or picked up a basketball for the Rockets. If Sprewell could become a team player I'm pretty sure Francis could because, unlike Sprewell, Francis is a good guy.

 

SSSHHHHHH!!!!! There's revisionist history being written, let them finish.

 

Lopez has nailed it.

 

Steve Francise, Mike James, and Bonzi Wells have the potential to be problems, being on the same team.
It could work out great, or terrible. Steve and Mike likely won't see the floor together much. Speculating is fun.

 

Enough of the nice guy crap.

Trade Battier!

I want to win!

Bring in Artest...let's f**k some people up.