Fans here just dont get it. In the olympics, its amateur rules. Less dribbling, more on passing, more on fundamentals, more on smart team basketball. And francis just dont have any of those attributes. So forget it. Plus stu jackson is there so double forget it.
I'd like to see Steve get a chance to play for his country, but I don't think it's unfair that he's behind guys like Marbury and Cassell. Steve's a great player, but he's just not good at the things that the Olympic team should have: good passing, court vision, perimeter shooting, defense, fast breaks, team play, etc. Stu Jackson sucks, but the decision to go with other guys over Steve right now is legitimate, IMO.
Is there no weight to the fact that many greats look to get out of participating while Stevie, a talent, desperately wants in and can't get thru the door?
This is a real killer for Francis. If he ever wants to do international competition then he needs to improve his image. Cut down on the technical fouls, cut down on the whining to officials. Ever since "Dream Team 2" and their antics at the World Championships the Olympic Committee has been very judicious about putting questionable characters on the team. To be on the team you have to be a "good guy" and a "team player."
francis to the olympics? norway! he would get tired from working out and playing. what he needs to do is just rest during the offseason and focus on next year and devote his time to the team. the communist american goverment shouldn't force him to play because it hurts our team, francis should have the time to rest so he can play at full strength next season.
You would think that was true but here's the top 10 tech guys in the NBA and the number of national teams they've played on: 1 Steve Francis, HOU 2 R. Wallace, ATLDETPOR (was he on dream 2? I can't remember) 3 J. O'Neal, IND (2002, 2004) Kevin Garnett, MIN (2000, 2004) Baron Davis, NOR (2002) 6 Raja Bell, UTH (US Virgin Islands) 7 Ben Wallace, DET (2002) 8 J. Magloire, NOR (canadian!) S. O'Neal, LAL (1996, 2000) S. Jackson, ATL (not good enough) Gary Payton, LAL (1996, 2000)