Chronicle: Francis, Van Gundy broker uneasy truce

I should add that I do believe JVG sits up at night thinking about the psychology of his player relationships and how to push their buttons to get the intensity he desires. Maybe I'm projecting on him, but the way he has treated Steve publicly and Cato publicly are evidence of some degree of calculation on his part.

I think the best way of pissing Steve off is publicly, where he cherishes his fan popularity and enjoys an overinflated image (did he really deserve the All Star bid this year or was that strictly fan loyalty). If JVG want to get to him and force more intensity, what better way to motivate a guy that makes a lot more money than you than to attack him where it hurts him the worst?

 

Some never wanted him, and it grew from there. Some hate having to watch the style of play his teams employ. But most of it, I would suggest, comes froma devotion to a particular player which so blinds some people to anything approaching a criticism of same, and when that player is in conflict, perceived, real, or theorized, with another party, then whoever that is will get the blame/bashing/hatred. In this regard, you might reflect back to how "YOF"s were depicted by many in here for a while...

 

For the record I'm not arguing about the way Van Gundy handled it. The more I here the more I'll reserve judgement about that.

I'm just saying that I can see where others would argue with the way it was handled.

I will say that Francis was definitely wrong in what he did. What managerial style works with best with Francis remains to be seen. I'll judge how Van Gundy handled it by the results it produces.

 

Is this a serious response? He's doing this so he can earn his money and do nothing?

 

Beyond the fact that this requires JVG to suddenly be incompetent, let me ask you this?

Do you really think that it would be better for our oranization if our team or coach were seen throughout the basketball world as the types to suspend someone for taking care of a family crisis?

 

I still would rather have Mobley than Francis (and I'm starting to feel it's not just ALL about their contracts). Here's another area where Mobley excels....he's much more deft in handling the media.

You can act like that doesn't mean anything, but you'd be almost as short-sighted as all the people who ingnore the huge salary discrepancy between the two players.

 

I think we need to seperate those that have a deep hatred for Jeff out of the equation.

I do think it's possible to lay all the blame that's due Francis at Francis' feet. It's possible to believe that Francis was wrong and deserved to be suspended.

It's possible to do all that and still think that JVG could have handled the situation differently.

I haven't formed a final opinion on how the situation was handled. I do believe Steve was completely wrong and should have been on the flight. I do believe Steve deserved his suspension and if that behavior continues then more drastic measures should be made.

I don't hate JVG, I'm not trying to divert blame from Steve, but I can understand why people might criticize how JVG handled it. I can understand even if I don't agree with it. It doesn't have to be either Jeff was right and Steve was wrong or the other way around. Fault can probably be found in both camps.

 

I think he is much more secure in his job than he would be if he was on the verge of renewal. I think he knows what Rudy T allowed, and he was specifically brought in to be the anti-Rudy. Why would Les hire Van Gundy if he wanted him to be like Rudy T? He would have kept Rudy T and saved the money. Van Gundy knows he's got the trump card.

 

But it still profits him nothing to create/expand a feud with his star player, or any significant player, for that matter. It's contrary to his interests. It makes no sense.

 

1.It doesn't require JVG to be imcompetent. It would mean he has a different managerial style. Let me make a comparison with Phil Jackson. He's not incompetent but that doesn't mean he'd do well with a young team that doesn't have stars on it. He just has a different coaching style, and a different style of relating to people. Phil's style works well with establishd and dominant players and getting them on the same page. Put Phil on team of people that need a lot of teaching still and trying to build something from the ground up and it may not work. That doesn't automatically require Phil to be incompetent. Maybe handling things in a more private manner would is the better style of dealing with these particular players. Maybe it's not, but if someone believes that it is I don't think it means that that person is letting the Player off the hook for what they do.

Now on to your question... I may be confused about the timeline, but I believe that Steve didn't come up with the family crisis thing until after it was out that he skipped for the super bowl. Had that information not come out it's quite possible that the family crisis wouldn't have been spread either.

But if my timeline is wrong and the family crisis came out before the superbowl reason came out, then I think JVG could have simply said that he talked with Steve about his reasons for missing the game and that he feels that the suspension would stand. That's all that would have had to be said about it.

 

1. Do you remember JVG's tenure in NY? Do you remember who, at the time, was seen as the biggest attitude problem, the least mature/controlled player in the game? Who was the guy being given a second chance when many felt he should never play another game, specifically due to his actions towards his coach?



I think JVG knows how to handle problem players, immature stars, etc.

I'm unsure of the timeline myself, but feel it's largely irrelevant. If SF is willing to make up something when the the truth has already been told ( and remember his motivation for same) what do you think he'd do if he had an open lane?

And I don't get your 'what if'...Still leaves the org. looking like bastards.

 

I agree, but that assumes that the problems of one player are the same as the problems of another player. Because one player. One difference is that Spreewell had hit bottom so to speak. He needed a shot at redemption and may have been more willing to work. Also Spree was going from PJ Carlissimo(who was generally hated by many players)and a change of coaches would be welcome. Francis is coming from a Rudy who was much loved. So the situations are going to be very different. Francis hasn't hit rock bottom and doesn't have the same needs to make something work as Spreewell did. Spreewell was violent, and Francis hasn't problems with that. I don't think the situations are that similiar except that at this point they were both negative.

I don't think there is any way Francis walks squeaky clean on this he messed up big time. Then he tried to avoid humiliation by making something up and going to elaborate depths to cover it up.

But I think the 'what if' scenario doesn't make the organization look bad. It makes seem like after talking with Francis they knew better about his excuse for missing the superbowl. The spotlight might have been less and Francis might have felt less pressure to cover up, and just taken it like a man.

I don't know, and like I said I'm arguing not out of my own conviction just a possible scenario.

I think the main point I was trying to make is that people can argue against JVG's handling of the situation and not be trying to shift blame from Francis or arguing because of a predisposition to hate JVG.

I certainly think that there are some people who argue against JVG for both of those reasons, but I also think that a reasonable argument could still be made without either of those conditions being present.

 

I'm not insinuating that you do. You've actually been one of the more level headed posters here. However, it wasn't just this whole suspension business that started the feverent hatred towards JVG. One recall some called him a clown right from the start. One poster even compared him to gollum, which although I admit, was pretty funny. However, it's almost as if it's personal, that some here simply refuses to be on the same boat as JVG.

 

It's really not worth arguing about any longer.

SF is going to be traded. I think both sides know this, so they're being polite and saying all the right things.

I think the Rockets should trade CM before the deadline, and move SF to shooting guard. Yeah, hell get pissed, but so what.

Then see if a change in position means a change in attitude.

If not, trade him during the offseason.

The only regret I have is that we'll never know how SF would have handled being the shooting guard.

Raven

 

I agree with you that some have a predisposition against JVG, and will use anything they can against him. I don't really understand it, and I guess I don't even try to, because it doesn't make sense and doesn't seem beneficial.

The only thing I can say is that if you stick to replying to the posters who might have a reasonable question about the issues at hand not bother with the people who obviously have other agendas then maybe the thread could be streered towards rational discussion.

 

I don't want to see SF traded (I just recieved his jersey in the mail today). But I do get the sense that JVG and SF won't workout, I just hope the Rockets wait until the offseason to weigh ALL their options.

 

I think there are some obvious points that people are missing in this situation. It never fails to amuse me how much petty blunders can stir up such controversy. (remember the Monica Lewinski scandal)

This is a similar situation. Here are the facts: A professional basketball player, an entertainer, went to attend the superbowl and subsequently missed the team's scheduled flight to Phoenix. The player was suspended for 1 game.

Now seriously... i dont see the justification for the insane media/fan backlash that this caused. I mean just reading some of the posts the past few days has really surprised me... I dont often post i just tend to read most of the time but this was the first time since the "trade Moochie" days that such an incredible amount of negativity has been directed towards one particular player. If I am not mistaken the NBA is an organization, its players are employees, and coaches are essentially part of management. In this aforementioned sense, Steve Francis is basically being chastised for missing the company car pool to work.

I do not believe Steve Francis when he says that he did not go to the Superbowl. However, I most definitely believe Steve Francis when he said that he tried to fly to Phoenix in time for the game. Steve has not in the past had problems with showing up to work on time and I cannot possibly fathom the idea that someone making millions of dollars would not be able to make it to Phoenix.

About the "best player" vs. coach argument. Players argue with coaches. I feel that most people who were involved in sports at any level where sports are fairly competitive (college, high school), and most exclusively basketball, would all agree that coaches are not particularly the brightest and agreeable persons in the world..... and imagine having that person as your boss. Every single coach that I have every played under has been extremely ignorant, arrogant, and demeaning. In the same respect, Steve Francis is an extremely rich young man that does have a very large ego and there are going to be some clashes with authority when you have that combination of characteristics. I know I am generalizing but Van Gundy does have a reputation as being a very strict coach, and for any player making the adjustment from a very lax Rudy T to a strict VanGundy some growing pains will be experienced.

I just wish someone would cut the man some slack. The Houston Rockets need Steve Francis and Steve wants to win. The two made the best decision by deciding to move on for the best interests of each other.

Also I believe the team policies need to be reevaluated. I dont see the justification behind the suspension if Steve could have still made it in Phoenix in time for the game. I dont see a need for team "unity" in flying together on an airplane. I mean these people are not classmates, they are grown men being paid incredible amounts of money to play basketball.

This whole controversy is about as laughable as the Halftime show of the Superbowl, which ironically is in relation to the subject of this dispute.

Why cant we just focus on trying to keep this team intact and making a run for the playoffs.

--Rocketman

 

Does anyone else see this as a Rudy T legacy problem? I loved the coach for so long in this organization, but with 20/20 hindsight (which I only say for discussion purposes), Rudy should have be fired two years ago. An early exist of Rudy quite possible would have instilled greater discipline in the amiguously gay duo (Steve and Cuttino), and as a result, we would actually see some progress. For the past 4 years these two haven't grown. Any thoughts?

 

It doesn't matter if he was suspended for wearing the wrong color socks. Steve is the player and Jeff is the coach. That means that Steve is supposed to do what Jeff tells him to do, in this case, get his ass on the team's flight. The coach is the boss. Steve obviously doesn't understand that: