ESPN: Facelift for the Francise

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=smith_sam&id=1690136

By Sam Smith
Special to ESPN.com

He's short and he looks slow. And the closest he's ever come to a dunk was with a donut. But call Jeff Van Gundy "the Doctor."


Van Gundy is involved in a highly sensitive operation. He's in the midst of changing Stevie Franchise into the Rockets Franchise, and it can be painful.


"It's tough," admits Steve Francis, the patient in this case.


The procedure is going slowly, and Francis has been on life support at times. But he's fighting hard and putting his faith in this new medicine.


"Even though my assists are not up, I think I'm definitely turning myself into a more complete point guard as far as being pass-first instead of shoot-first," Francis said. "I don't think it's hurting the team because the guys we have, you have to get certain guys the ball, and that means they'll work harder on defense. That's one reason you see an improvement in our defense. If guys are rewarded for playing good defense by giving them the ball, it helps your team. And I feel I definitely have stepped up my game defensively this year."


Francis has improved his defense, becoming one of the key contributors to the Rockets' ranking among the league leaders in defensive field-goal percentage and points allowed.


But at what price?


We know great teams are better than great individuals. The goal of every great individual is to be part of a great team. It's what Van Gundy, Francis and Yao Ming are trying to create in Houston.


You can cut up a diamond and it becomes worth more. But what of the beauty?


Francis has been one of the jewels in the NBA's star-studded crown since he came into the NBA in 1999. He was Rookie of the Year with Elton Brand and, with his daring, exciting style of play, he's one of the NBA's most popular players, twice voted a starting All-Star guard in the powerful Western Conference. He is the only player in his franchise history with a game of more than 40 points and 10 assists and, despite his relatively small size, the 6-foot-3 Francis is one of the game's exciting dunkers.


It's not the same Steve Francis this season. He's averaging a career low in points, barely above 17 despite a career average of more than 20 per game. He's also at career lows in assists, shooting and 3-point percentage.


He's hardly playing badly. He's just playing differently as he unselfishly, and without complaint, adjusts to a new style of play.


"Our percentages are better by me not being the first option," says Francis, who is an underrated team player despite his individual brilliance. "Yao has done a good job scoring. My scoring is down, but others are up. I think it's working."



Steve Francis, left, has taken one for the team by sacrificing his personal stats for wins.
That remains to be determined, but the Rockets are playing at about the same pace as last season and hanging arond the bottom of the West's playoff race. Are they better? They allow fewer points but score fewer in a more deliberate game. It's designed to get them to the postseason and then make them the kind of team that can win in the playoffs. It's the goal every team should be seeking. Van Gundy is a smart coach and appreciates good basketball.


He squirms a little when asked about Francis and his role, but answers this way: "I was thinking about that in general. Everybody has the same role on our team. Everyone is supposed to come to work on time, work hard, be a great teammate, defend, rebound and do the dirty work and then pass the ball to the open man. Where roles are different is when there is a first option (for scoring). I'd say Steve, Yao and Cuttino (Mobley), when we're running set plays, they run 90 percent of those.


"It's all about winning," Van Gundy added. "There's never been a great player who's won who hasn't done it without other great players. You always have to give up some part of your offensive game for the betterment of the team. It's never been about the number of shots. The only thing I said to him (Francis) was I wanted him to get the same shots he's getting on less dribbles. He's doing pretty well with that."


Francis is trying, but I have to admit, I miss the old Steve Francis.


I miss the fabulous first step, the daring dash to the basket, the power dunks over men nearly a foot taller, the challenges met with jumpers raining down, the little skip in the dribble.


Steve Francis was never a hot dog who lacked respect for the game. He wasn't one of those kids the old-timers shake their heads about. Francis never belittled the game, his team or his teammates. But he always looked like he was having a ball, not just having the ball.


It seems harder now for Francis. But when some big baskets were needed down the stretch in the Rockets' Dec. 17 win over the Cavaliers and LeBron James, it was Francis, not Yao, who stood up to take them. And make them.


All this is built around Yao, and no one is a bigger booster than Francis, who constantly predicts superstar status for the 7-5 center. But Yao still doesn't have the power post game or attitude to dominate at his position, and he's yet to counter the troublesome zone defenses and different defensive looks he's gotten as a sophomore. Van Gundy wants the ball heading down there, and there was much criticism -- which probably cost Rudy Tomjanovich his job -- that the Rockets (namely Francis and Mobley) didn't use Yao enough. But Yao is averaging about the same number of field-goal attempts as he did last season after his first few rocky weeks.


Yes, when you have a 7-5 center who is coordinated and motivated, like Yao is, you have to develop him. The more options a team has, the better, in theory, it will be.


But a team and coach also have to be careful about taking away from what it has.


Francis is one of the great and unique talents in the NBA. Even not playing at his best this season, he's still averaging about five assists and almost six rebounds per game. He can get his shot anytime he wants.


No, he's not Allen Iverson. He's not just a scorer. But he can score and score impressively.


"We don't have a team like Philly, Orlando, their go-to guy they basically look for all game," Francis said. "I would love to be that, but that's not the way our offense is structured. We have more than one option."


It's the foundation of a good basketball team. Yet, at the same time, it's a delicate balancing act. Francis is never going to be John Stockton. Francis has game. He's special. You don't get one like him to come along often. Do the Rockets risk turning him into just a very good player in the name of team? Will they be better off? Would the Bulls have won championships sooner if Michael Jordan were averaging 25 points earlier in his career? Would they have won as many? Would they have been as fun to watch?


It's a delicate surgery that Van Gundy is performing.