ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Blazers 3/22/2004

Thank God someone (Yao) stepped up and erased those mistakes.

You could tell that the Blazers (Zach and Stoudimire) were gaining confidence after Yao missed 3 dunks. Once they "neutralized" Yao (3rd quarter) they started to come back. So, unless Yao "takes over" we can't win. We have to have a "goto guy." But if our goto guy isn't getting into position or getting the ball, we are sunk.

The way he took over in the last 2 minutes, and OT. It was incredible. I haven't seen that type of "take charge" focus in a long time.

 

If he does it will be on the coattails of Yao. Yes, that means "switch that leadership role" now.

 

I guess I just am willing to give Steve more time than most to figure this thing out... and work thru it. (nobody said it would be overnight, or even just one season).

I also guess I don't belive he's "finished", because I still have several distinct memories of him last year hitting clutch 3 after clutch 3 to tie games up (on Rudy's pet play where Yao sets the screen and Francis shoots going to his left). I also remember the 44 point game... the MVP like start to the season... the triple doubles... the suffering thru the migraines... his (and our) relief when they finally got it under control.... our jubilation when we found out he wouldn't be leaving this team.

After years of having to watch Matt Maloney, Brent Price, and Kenny Smith... I was elated to find a guy who can play 40 plus minutes every night, and just will himself to do well sometimes.

Its kind of hard to repress all those memories, even though this has been the worst season of Steve's career... I'm willing to be even more patient than most.

Yao will start taking over every night soon enough... and Steve knows it. When Yao gets that confidence (which he's not at yet... its still a "I might have a good game" approach for him), Steve will gladly let him take over.... because it makes his job easier.

In the end, success will be the biggest eye-opener to induce Steve to change... and when he finally realizes that, he'll fulfill that max contract.

As I said before... I'll give him more than this year (unless we get a trade we can't pass up... like Brand, or a combo for a pick to get Okafor)... but till then, I'm gonna stand behind him. No use in bashing him anyways... you guys do enough of that for me.

 

You noticed that too?! That was so cool!

 

I like the last statement. "Makes his (SF's) job easier."

 

Damn we are a GREAT team when both SF and Yao hit their shots!

Stevie almost had a triple double, he was 1 rebound short.

Man, this team is going to be a scary team to face in the playoffs if they all come to play.

 

I'm with you, man! I've been saying this all along, not because of the past heroric moments, but my believe of a fair chance for any player. You just don't make your conclusion based on less than ONE season.

Yes, Steve could be traded if any better players are available. But to just trade him without giving him a chance to adjust is not fair to him, nor to the team & the new system.

Of course, if JVG decides that Steve is refusing to playing within the system, then you have no choice but trade him. We just don't know if that's the case here.

 

I agree with you too Nick. One season under a new coach, and having to readjust his game is not enough.

Man, today's game was just fantastic. I can't believe SF had 20pts+, 10asts, and 9rbs. WHAT A GAME!!!

Yao was amazing tonight too. He looked a lot faster on some plays. He seemed to keep his energy really well, he was the MVP in OT! Way to go YAO!

 

The incessant nitpicking of STeve's game is the most irritating thing on this board by far. The turnover near the end of OT before the game-sealing dunk was undeniably bad, but other than that, you guys are reaching hard for something to criticize. Reaching. Hard. The guy nearly had a triple double, for chrissakes. Yao was obviously the key, but I don't hear anybody criticizing him for blowing three consecutive dunks. Jee-bus. It's so predictable now, and extremely annoying.

 

Steve makes mistakes... and he's made loads of them this year. I think its fair for everybody to point them out, as long as they're willing to say he played a good game as well.

Clutch did that... he said he had a good game, but there were still some things that Steve did that could have cost us the game.

Fair enough.

Criticism is a unique thing... it can bring fans together, and drive them apart. We're all fans here... we all want what's best for the team.

Belive me... everybody here WANTS to see Steve have these type of games all the time... they're just impatient that these types of games have been the aberration more this year than the norm.

I say give it time... but others will disagree.... and everybody's entitled to their opinion.

"If you want to hate... at least apprecieate."

 

Summary of ESPN highlights:

Make fun of Yao's tourney picks

Show Yao missing a dunk

Four straight Portland highlights

Yao ties game with finger-roll

Steve's slam caps it.

I get the feeling if the Rockets didn't win this game, ESPN wouldn't show any Rox highlights. Unfreakingbelievable the lack of respect this team gets.

But we still won

 

WEll, we all know ESPN sucks..... Everyone is a Houston Hata.

 

damn this place is just like



or a manic depressive

 

exactly. that's why i said every steve statement, even when he plays very good, basically gives a cursory acknowledgement of the good play then goes into all the things he did wrong. like it would be a horrible injustice to just say steve played well.

at this point, people dislike steve so much at this point that they just focus on his mistakes so much that they just can't help themselves from making sure we know all about them. and if he does great, well then we expect that, but lets talk about those mistakes some more.

did the anderson steal and the baseline turnover suck, hell yes they did. but factoring in his steal right after the first and dunk after the second i'd say he made up decently for them and on the whole a 22/10/9 game on 50% shooting should deserve nothing but praise. like you mentioned, does anybody b**** about yao's missed dunks? no, of course not, because that's just looking for something to b**** about for a guy who got 28/13/5 on great shooting and led the comeback and subsequent OT dominance.

 

RockPaint:

I would love for Steve Francis to sparpen his game by taking 1,000 jumpers a day during the offseason, watching countless hours of film taken during Rockets' games, and by working on his PG skillset intensively. If he does all of that, I'd love for him to retire a Rocket, too.

But for now, he is an overpaid, overhyped, unqualified assclown.

P1st, S2nd

 

LOL Clutch! You crack me up. Still eyeing that trade proposal eh?

 

I wasnt able to see the game but after reading the recap wanted to see the highlights. Talk about a BIG disappointment! Who the HELL cut that highlight package? Just TERRIBLE! Where were the ROCKETS highlights? Didn't Yao have a big game and score the last 3 buckets? Where the hell were those? Just TERRIBLE!

 

Cut ESPN some slack, will ya!? Who has time to work on non-Lakers or non-Lebron related highlights? Especially when Dream Job is taking up so much of their time? Sheesh, some people expect way too much. You want reality TV, drama shows, AND sports from ESPN?

 

Thank you, well said. But no need to point out Yao's flaws to emphasize Stevie's awesome game last night, it's just not the kind of stuff we need happening around here. The team won as a team, big ups to everyone. Especially MoT, who was involved on the first 3 or 4 Rox buckets in OT. I love this guy, too bad his D isnt starting 5 material