In the Houston Chronicle article here Steve said this about last nights game. "We moved the ball excellent," said Rockets guard Steve Francis, who played through a stiff back, coming up with five points and six rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter. "I don't know if you can play like that all the time, but whenever somebody is open, you've got to get him the ball." Someone explain to me what he means by the "I don't know if you can play like that" line? Does this mean that he still doesn't understand that to win you HAVE to play like that? I am hoping he did not mean it that way, but it sure sounds like Rudy has still not gotten through to Captain playground. UGH !!!!! DD
For that matter, it wasn;t like they actually did move the ball exellent for a normal tema. For them, maybe, but movign the ball exellent would mean racking up 25+ assists laast night. What did they have...18 or something?
Maybe he means everyone hitting their open shots and playing against a Defence like the sun's that really was bad last night. I dont know?
No edit...grumble grumble... One more thing, the funny thing is that the offense sputtered until Moochie came in and started spreading the ball around. Maybe Steve needs to watch a while...kind of like Hakeem when he went out with a minor knee injury and the team won 15 straight, he came back and trusted his teamates. Sounds like Steve doesn't trust them....too bad.....that is what it will take to win. DD
Look let's face it - our guards aren't exactly the most articulate with words. Example: Cuttino calling Kobe more "lackadaisical" when Shaq plays. Right. Take their words with a grain of salt, they don't know what they're saying most of the time.
Pgabrial, When Steve playes great, I love it. When he plays like crap, I hate it, and I vent about it here. I think everyone here knows that until Steve learns to play NBA ball and not JUCO ball that the Rocks will struggle. If you don't like the criticism, then don't bother reading or posting in the thread. Get it? Got it? GOOD !! DD
Critisim is one thing, but you complain on every negative Steve thread. You are obsessed, just like Yetti is with Yao, how many negative Steve posts have you written today? "Blah Blah Blah, Steve has low Bball IQ, Blah, Blah, Blah, pass it to Yao, Blah Blah Blah, Steve skips coming up court, Blah, Blah, Blah, Steve doesn't want Yao to be the star, Blah, Blah, Blah" DDakota
Geez, DD. He said "when a man is open you have to get him the ball." What more do you want from him? The reference to "not playing like that all the time," was obviously talking about how good the Rockets shot the ball, like Rice making frickin' 7 of 8 three-pointers. It's tough to translate what Francis, Mobley, and even Rudy are trying to say some times, but this one wasn't too hard to decipher.
I agree with RocketKid, Cuttino and Steve are not the best interviews. Their statements can sometimes be taken out of context. We have seen that on many occasions on here. I think what Steve ment was that the opportunities were more readily available last night to move the ball and find open shots. Perhaps with someone like Glen Rice opening things up with his shooting. If shots aren't falling then the defense will sag in making it tougher. I was not able to watch the game so I can't really comment to much about this other than what I have read. Steve knows the value of moving the ball. I believe this. The "will" is probably there, the "ability" sometimes is not. It is all about "TEAMWORK" and last night everyone looked like they got involved and played with a high intensity and a lot of hustle. That made the difference! Chris
DCkid, That is what I am asking for here, other interpetations, because mine sucked, and I was hoping to have misread it. I hope yours is the correct one, it sort of makes sense. But it sounded like he is not convinced that you can pass it and beat teams all the time..... Who knows? DD
DD, Sometimes when I read your posts I wonder if you even watch the whole game, or just watch for isolated incidents that can help you criticize Francis. Be honest, how many Francis criticisms have you posted today? The offense sputtered in the 1st quarter not because of Steve, but b/c the whole team was playing unenthusiastically and wasn't hitting shots. When Moochie came in, I thought it was Moochie hitting his open shots that gave us a lift, not necessarily him doing a better job of spreading the ball around. Also, the fact that Glen Rice and Mo Taylor came in and started hitting shots may have helped, too. In relation to the Francis quote, I think he was referring to the outside shots that were falling for the Rockets. I don't see how you can take that one quote and infer that Francis doesn't trust his teammates.
I said this 2 months ago and was blasted by dozens of posters on this board. The Lakers went through the same thing. Kobe was a cancer on the team until he got hurt and watched a few games from the bench. Then he played more within control and learned was to utilize his team mates.
I do criticize Steve or any Rocket player when they are playing badly. If you read my posts instead of blah blah ing them, you would realize that I defended Steve on the Skipping up the court thread. I don't hate the guy, heck I cheer for him, he just annoys me when he plays like a moron. Smarts stay with you a lot longer then athletic ability, if Steve does not wise up, he will be done by his early 30s. Smarts are what allows Stockton to keep playing effectivly...and yes, I know SF is no Stockton, I just want SF to start playing within himself and to trust his teamates, is that too much to ask? DD
When Steve was at the helm several times he was refusing to pass the ball to an open and ready Yao Ming. Did not look too good in my book!
Hey... settle down. I think what Steve meant by "I don't know if you can play like that all the time.." is that he doesn't think Glen Rice will shoot 7-8 from the 3pt line every game, or that Houston will win every game against quality opponents on the road by 20 points even if they play within that kind of system. Let's face it, Steve's teammates haven't been hitting all of their open shots this season. However, an even more important quote from him is the part where he says you must give open people the ball. Steve has been doing that this season, and his teammates haven't been executing as well as they could. As long as he continues to pass the ball to open players, then he's doing a good job. If Glen Rice can get his shooting touch back, this team will go on a nice run the rest of the way.
Brockton, I do criticize Steve because the whole offense revolves around him, and if he does not make the right decisions the team sputters. Glen Rice hit 3 three pointers in a row BECAUSE Moochie was running at his man and causing a double team, and Moochie was looking to pass, not to shoot. Steve looks to shoot first, which is fine, but not if you are a PG. DD
One more thing...it is hard to say that Steve gives his teamates a chance to be succesful when he is dribbling out the shot clock and gives up the ball only if he has no shot. I think Steve is trying, and I do see progress, but I just want it faster then he is able to give it, I guess. How long does the team allow a guy with a 1.5 Assist to Turnover ratio run the team? Or is that his teamates fault too? DD
