Chronicle: Stevie's options: Lead, follow or get out of town

Great article!!! I am also tired of Francis leading the Rockets into brick walls. It's time for a change.

 

Hmm... is it my imagination or are we 27-21? We're 7th in the West, and we're going to make the playoffs.

 

I wouldn't count any playoff games until their hatched...

 

I'm really getting tired of the whole "five years" thing, as if Fran really believes Francis should have willed them into the playoffs his first couple years. Fran is just conveniently not telling the whole story to help prove his point. I have no problem with the negativity towards Steve, but at least be fair in your criticism.

 

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!

 

I haven't always been a fan of Stevie but Blindburpy is an a$$, just trying to capitilize on an opportunity to trash the Rockets. Yeah Steve should have made the game but why does Van Gundy feel the need to cry out to the media everytime the Rockets make a mistake. Just discipline him and move on. It doesn't make the team feel anymore like a team when their boss is constantly trashing them to the media.

Yeah the Rockets need some discipline but crying out every dissatisfied moment to the media is not discipline it's sqealing, tattle telling, whining like a crybaby. He reminds me of Homer Simpson the way he can't shutup and points out everyone else's faults but can't see his on, actually let me retract that I like Homer and Van Gundy is just an annoying weasle. He needs to shutup to the media and coach. I am sick of hearing him comment everytime the Rockets make a mistake. We went from a coach with character and heart to a whiny little spineless balding weasel trying to pretend he has hair.

 

No, its been five years without ANY playoffs. He's taking the entire time and looking at it as a whole. Looking at how long we haven't been in the playoffs is being fair.

Look, Francis is not a leader, he is a classic under achiever, and will be until something knocks him out of it, if that ever happens. Just because you have atheleticism doesn't mean you're a great player.

I wish these kids would watch some "classic" NBA (10-20 years ago) and see how the game is supposed to be played.

 

Not only that, I'm tired of the whole, Van Gundy has been to the playoffs story so he has a right to b**** and complain to the media. First of all, he took over a team that was a couple of years removed from a Finals appearance so him taking the team to the playoffs wasn't that big of an accomplishment. Second, he quit on his team, and then has the nerve to call them out for heart.

I also appreciate the dicipline he has brought to the team, but the whining has got to cease.

 

It is only fair as long as you dont take that 5 years fact and try to use it to blame Francis.

If you look at those 5 years...and look at the players that were on the team....can you HONESTLY say that anyone short of Jordan or Duncan could have gotten them to the playoffs?

It wasnt till last year that we finally started getting enough talent on this team to realistically make it.

I dont think anyone is stupid enough to actually believe that Francis is good enough to single handedly carry this team to the playoffs. Which is basically what he was tryin to do..

Cat was and is a good player...but his game wasn't consistent enough until he started playing the team game this year.

 

Old Man Rock - you are the only one that sounds like a little baby here. We need a coach to call out the players. The players today are such spolied little brats. They think that they can do anything that they want. Hell I know that if I was the coach I would have called the players out way before now. Our current team has no heart. The only one who might qualify would be Jim Jackson. All the rest are just along for the ride. Go to practice ... play games ... COLLECT MY BIG FAT PAYCHECK. Winning doesn't motiviate Francis, Mobley. They are more concerned about how they are percieved in the media, among current players. I guess you just want to hold their jock and say that everything is ok. Well let me be the first to break it to you - everything is not ok. The Rockets are going to have to completely revamp their roster. Bring in players who are hungry and have something to prove.

I applaud the way JVG coaches. He calls it like he sees it. I for one have been questioning thier commitment and heart all season.

 

Okay I know your Jeff's momma. I am sorry I made fun of your boy. But would you please tell him to cut his hair. He's not fooling anyone we know his bald.

 

So do I. A-Train is not over-pessimistic this time.

 

R2K -
How does a Houston Rocket get labeled "Franchise" and there not be an expectation of playoffs? Granted, there were extenuating circumstances...ear infections, Taylor's injury, Rice's worthlessness...but do you honestly think Rudy T or any one in the Rockets' management went into any of the prior seasons with less than playoff expectations?

We're not talking NBA Finals here. We're talking playoffs...

* more than 44 wins in 2002-03.
* being better than 26-26 on Feb 16, 2001 and finishing 2 games behind the TWolves who you split the season series with.
* as good as the 45 wins of 99-00 Sonics who were Payton (8.9 apg), Vin Baker (16.6 ppg), Brent Barry, Ruben Patterson, Vernon Maxwell, Rashard Lewis (2nd season 8.2 ppg), Horace Grant, Shammond Williams and Jelani Mccoy.

Jordan and Duncan are Finals players, we're talking playoffs here. After Chris Webber's 24 ppg, the 8th seed 44 win 99-00 Kings did not have a single player averaging over 12.3 ppg. They had a 31 yo Divac, an erratic Jason Williams, a 2nd year Peja (11.9 ppg), Nick Anderson, Corliss Williamson and Jon Barry.

Not that I am a fan of Fran Blinebury, but in essence he's right...time to put up or shut up.

 

Agreed. You know, one of those years we had Dream who only played 44 games and Barkley who only played 20. One year we had Dream (who only played 58 games) who said he was surrounded by the most talent he's ever played with and we still missed the playoffs. The next year Francis missed quite a few games (mostly due to migraine headaches), subsequently leading to us drafting Yao. That leads us to last year. Basically, I don't see why Fran's putting our lotto years all on Francis' shoulders.

 

Yes, we had expectations of making the playoffs the last 4 seasons, but the truth is we didn't have a chance until Yao came along.

Even though it speaks mostly the truth, this Blinebury article is useless. The last 2 articles obviously state that he doesn't support Steve. I just want to say that all the formal bashing (Chronicle, radio) isn't helping the team.

I didn't mind Blinebury, but the guys articles are so repetative.

 

Yeah the Rockets need some discipline but crying out every dissatisfied moment to the media is not discipline it's sqealing, tattle telling, whining like a crybaby. He reminds me of Homer Simpson the way he can't shutup and points out everyone else's faults but can't see his on, actually let me retract that I like Homer and Van Gundy is just an annoying weasle. He needs to shutup to the media and coach. I am sick of hearing him comment everytime the Rockets make a mistake. We went from a coach with character and heart to a whiny little spineless balding weasel trying to pretend he has hair. [/B][/QUOTE]

I see it as discipline, hit them where it hurts the most, their ego's and besides I feel people and fans have a right to know what is going on, we are the reason they are all overpaid.

 

It's in your imagination. We are 8th seed in the WC (tied 7th but loses the tie breaker to Memphis, sad) and far from assured for a playoff birth.

 

OK, so you wouldn't b*tch at JVG if he just suspended Steve, we lost the game bad and you have no F*CKIN' clue what just happened? As if.

 

People here will say JVG is a stupid moron for suspending Steve with no reason in the middle of a losing streak.