I would LOVE it if Stevie comes back to pre-injured form. Bull was saying on one of the broadcasts that this injury and surgery require a lot of aggressive conditioning and training in recovery to get back to where you were, and he wondered outloud if Stevie had it in him to do the work. He's sitting with a lot of money, and sometimes that makes it hard to do what it takes to get yourself in shape. It certainly would be to his advantage to do so, since there's plenty more advertizing contracts to cash in on, and if his career took back off, a lot more basketball to play. If he was an integral part of us winning a championship, it would cement his place in Rocket's lore, as well. So, hopefully he wants to do what it takes bad enough to play basketball at a championship level, and not just play with his money and video games. If Stevie was back to his old form, he'd be a great solution for our PG woes, and give us someone who could attack the basket besides TMac. With Alston and Brooks to back him up, we'd be solid at that position finally. ... Steve used to be a gym rat ... I hope he's still got it in him.
Whether he actually comes back or not -- well, anything can happen. No one thinks he will return or have an impact though.
What a great story that would be if he does though, I know everyone is rooting for him. I think it is all down to Steve, will he work hard and come back strong, or is he satisfied with his career and rides off into the sunset? DD
Does "no one" include people in the Rockets organization? The closest person to the Rockets I have heard chime in on this is Bullard - and he did not sound overly optimistic.
That's a rather rude way to look at it. Its more up to his body than him. If his body can't take the high octane NBA game anymore than it doesn't matter how hard he works.
Really so nobody has any news at all? No comments from the man himself? Francis? What about a word from the Rockets or from the medical/training staff on progress? How about a prognosis for a full recovery? I just hate not knowing.
Couldn't have said it better myself...it is an optimistic way of looking at it, but it certainly is possible for a guy like Franchise who has high aspirations.
If he played this season things would have been different but I'm really happy cause he sat out because of the injury. I'd really love to see a comeback but... There's always but...
IF he does make it back... there is also the problem of how/whether he adapts his game under the RA offense. Yeah, he'd made some progress before the quad injury, but he still had a ways to go.
I would assume that is the mood of the Rockets general staffers. But if it were me, I would take all this negativity and use it as fuel to prove everyone wrong. But that's me. Can't speak for Francis.
I think Steve's biggest impact for the Rockets next year will be that he's another expiring contract they can trade. He's not going to put in the work needed to come back from the injury - the guy couldn't even make it to the playoff games to sit and cheer his team on from the bench (yet somehow he ended up in New Orleans for a game )
He is 31 years old, and his injury should be surgically fixed. If he has the DESIRE to play again, nothing is stopping him. DD
A truly great athlete knows how to channel criticism into their performance. Is that Steve Francis? It remains to be seen.
I thought you were saying that he can control his own recovery, IMO that is all based on whether is body holds up. Sometimes guys do all they can to come back and they continue to have setbacks. If you were saying it depends on whether he WANTS to still play basketball then in that case you are right.
Seriously this is like an abused woman who is in denial. He's done. He can't play anymore and he hasn't been a good NBA player for a full season for quite some time now. I promise he'll change. He's a good man. He doesn't mean to hit me. I make him.
No Kidding! Where was the guy? Considering he was out of shape pre surgery, i'm wondering what his weight and explosiveness will be post surgery? He's not exactly the kind of guy that can settle as a jump shooter and succeed.
