1) Francis is not Bagwell nor Biggio. Both will be in the Hall of Fame. I would love to see Francis one day in the Hall of Fame (as a Rocket) but that is entirely too premature. 2)Rudy has been a champion. Larry was not. 3)If Steve is healthy along with the rest of our guys, we should make the playoffs. I feel last years team would of been in the playoffs or very close if it was not for the injuries. Adding Ming is only going to improve our team. There are only two things that can keep this team out of the playoffs, injuries and selfishness. If Steve has a terrific year, we will be in the playoffs. I hope Steve gives Ming a chance. I believe we are almost there. I hope to see a Franchise-Cat-Griffin-Ming Dynasty. One more thing. Francis is currently my favorite player. I love his heart. However, if I have to choose between Francis and the Rockets. I will choose the Rockets. I am not sure you would.
I don't want to take this really any further for the sake of space, but I'll respond to this and then just let it go from here. No, you don't attack first, you sneer and sarcastically declare your level of knowledge. You are smart enough to know that you could expect sarcastic responses back. Worse than that, your counters come off like you are the victim of some haneous attack when, in reality, you were always the instigator. If you want to defend your position, that's great. But don't cry foul when someone responds with equal harshness. That's all well and good but you created the problem by coming in acting like you were God's gift to the BBS posting how you knew exactly what was going to happen. You do this you say to "get fan reaction" but then you act all shocked when people don't care for your contentious tone or the very things you are reporting. First, you get mad when people don't like your attitude. Then, you get more pissed because people don't like Steve's attitude. What, did you think everyone was going to hear that Steve is pissed and think he was RIGHT? Do you honestly believe that ANYONE would place the beliefs and knowledge of a young player who has a history of petulance over that of an entire team of scouts and experts? I don't care how good the guy is. If it is his way or the highway, you take the highway. He is just as valuable a tradable commodity as he is a player. He's not the only talent on the block. There is no argument that the talent level he faced is questionable. But, NONE of the draft picks have proved themselves. The Rockets have asked the opinion of every expert they could find and the response has been unanimous: this kid will be an NBA talent and is worthy of the #1 pick. You'll have to forgive the majority of us if we side with the experts instead of the naysayers. If he stinks, he stinks. If he is great, he is great. This is a gamble just like any other gamble. You can't play with the big boys if you aren't willing to roll the dice and risk it all. A conspiracy theory IN FAVOR of Houston? That has to be a first. But, Troy, it is so much more simplistic than all that. You won't be called a liar or asked to provide proof forever. If you want to impress people with your knowledge, you have to be willing to suffer a few slings and arrows with grace, not mud-slinging indignance. Rise above it, man. You have all the control. Act like a jerk and you'll be treated like one. It's not that difficult to figure out.
You are absolutely right! It's a known fact. And Rudy knows it too. But that being said in this organization, players that think they are better than the team are quickly severed. Pippen made some smart comments and he was gone. Maxwell was pissed because the Rockets picked up Drexler and he was gone. Drexler said he could not play with Barkley because he was lazy and they kindly asked him to retire. I know Steve is your friend and it is obvious your posts and opinions are powered by that. But basketball is a team sport and make no mistake about that, if Stevie does not grasp that, if he does not understand that Rudy is trying to do what's best for the Rockets, he will be gone too. And maybe in the process he will be powerful enough to get Rudy fired. That would be sad, because Rudy has put his heart into this organization. (Just for the record if that did happen I can assure you that there will be a line of GM's at his doorstep) But in the end Stevie will pay for it too because his temperament will become his rep and it will follow him for the rest of his life. Let me make it clear I am still a Francis fan. I think he is a great talent and he seem s to be a decent person off the court, but if he continues his public displays of animosity towards Ming I will no longer give him my support. And I think many others will too. I fhe is so unhappy with the drafting of ming tell him to request a trade. It would be better for everyone involved. P.S. Just curious. Why do you continue posting when you know everyone is looking down on you with disdain? It's almost masochistic. I give you credit for having thick skin.
Height: 7-1 Weight: 315 Birthdate:03/06/1972 Birthplace: Newark,NJ College:Louisiana State 2001 Positions: C Next 7 Days: 2001-02 Playoff Per Game Averages TEAM MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK LAL 40.8 28.5 12.6 2.8 0.5 2.5 2001-02 Statistics Rebounds Team G MIN FGA FG% FTA FT% PTS OFF DEF TOT AST STL BLK TO LAL 67 2422 1229 0.579 717 0.555 1822 235 480 715 200 41 137 171 2001-02 Per Game Averages TEAM MIN PTS REB AST STL BLK LAL 36.1 27.2 10.7 3.0 0.6 2.0 2001-02 Game log Rebounds G Opp Min FG FGA FT FTA TP TPA ORB DRB TRB A STL TO BS PTS 1 Trail Blazers 40 10 23 9 16 0 0 5 13 18 5 1 3 5 29 2 Jazz 38 11 22 9 14 0 0 3 3 6 2 1 3 3 31 3 Suns 34 10 21 16 18 0 0 4 9 13 2 0 2 6 36 4 Jazz 41 10 15 10 18 0 0 2 6 8 4 2 6 2 30 5 Grizzlies 28 8 15 4 6 0 0 3 5 8 1 0 1 2 20 6 Magic 42 16 30 6 14 0 0 7 11 18 2 1 4 4 38 7 Rockets 43 13 24 4 7 0 0 4 9 13 2 1 1 2 30 8 Suns 36 10 19 8 18 0 1 6 6 12 2 1 4 1 28 9 Kings 43 12 21 4 9 0 0 8 7 15 3 2 2 2 28 10 Clippers 35 10 17 2 6 0 0 5 6 11 4 0 4 3 22 11 Nuggets 34 4 11 2 9 0 0 6 7 13 6 2 1 0 10 12 Warriors 26 9 15 2 4 0 0 1 9 10 1 0 3 2 20 13 Nuggets 36 9 14 4 13 0 0 3 3 6 5 0 3 6 22 14 Bucks 33 7 14 5 11 0 0 4 5 9 5 0 3 3 19 15 SuperSonics 10 3 5 2 6 0 0 1 2 3 2 0 1 0 8 16 Timberwolves 32 9 14 5 7 0 0 1 8 9 5 1 1 2 23 17 Mavericks 40 18 23 10 22 0 0 6 9 15 2 1 3 1 46 18 Kings 43 14 23 3 11 0 0 3 13 16 5 2 3 2 31 19 SuperSonics 42 18 27 1 7 0 0 7 9 16 3 0 2 6 37 20 Clippers 35 12 22 4 7 0 0 5 10 15 4 2 3 1 28 21 Warriors 40 9 17 2 4 0 0 1 6 7 6 0 2 2 20 22 Rockets 39 6 16 4 8 0 0 2 12 14 4 1 4 4 16 23 Grizzlies 41 11 25 4 7 0 0 5 4 9 5 0 1 1 26 24 Suns 28 11 15 2 3 0 0 3 6 9 5 0 1 1 24 25 Raptors 38 10 21 4 7 0 0 0 6 6 4 2 1 2 24 26 Pistons 25 11 17 6 10 0 0 5 5 10 3 1 3 1 28 27 Pacers 24 8 12 4 9 0 0 0 4 4 1 0 2 5 20 28 Timberwolves 37 12 23 5 11 0 0 2 5 7 1 1 3 2 29 29 Bulls 33 5 14 9 18 0 0 3 7 10 1 0 4 3 19 30 Grizzlies 31 Heat 32 Spurs 33 Nuggets 39 17 22 6 9 0 0 5 6 11 5 1 1 2 40 34 Clippers 40 7 16 10 16 0 0 2 8 10 3 0 4 3 24 35 Spurs 42 11 21 3 6 0 0 5 10 15 4 1 6 0 25 36 76ers 40 11 22 4 9 0 0 4 7 11 2 0 0 1 26 37 Hawks 26 10 13 3 4 0 0 1 5 6 1 1 3 2 23 38 Magic 36 13 19 4 8 0 0 4 10 14 4 0 2 1 30 39 Grizzlies 36 12 18 2 2 0 0 3 7 10 2 0 3 3 26 40 Mavericks 39 12 20 7 9 0 0 5 8 13 3 0 2 1 31 41 Bulls 42 Celtics 39 9 10 7 9 0 0 4 13 17 1 1 3 1 25 43 Cavaliers 37 13 25 5 6 0 0 1 3 4 2 0 2 2 31 44 Hornets 39 12 18 7 13 0 0 3 4 7 2 1 1 0 31 45 Knicks 38 12 22 6 10 0 0 5 10 15 5 0 3 0 30 46 Bucks 40 9 18 10 17 0 0 5 8 13 4 0 0 1 28 47 Timberwolves 35 8 19 11 15 0 0 2 6 8 3 0 2 4 27 48 Pacers 41 14 21 5 9 0 0 0 12 12 2 1 3 6 33 49 Rockets 34 15 21 6 11 0 0 7 7 14 7 0 3 2 36 50 Nets 38 16 21 8 20 0 0 3 9 12 4 1 4 1 40 51 Jazz 42 13 21 2 9 0 0 4 8 12 1 1 3 3 28 52 Knicks 41 15 21 10 19 0 0 4 4 8 3 1 2 3 40 53 Hornets 26 3 9 3 4 0 0 5 5 10 2 0 1 1 9 54 Warriors 43 13 20 14 28 0 0 4 9 13 0 1 6 2 40 55 Clippers 37 5 13 6 11 0 0 3 10 13 1 0 2 2 16 56 Mavericks 42 13 18 2 6 0 0 4 5 9 4 0 2 1 28 57 Mavericks 38 13 23 6 9 0 0 5 5 10 2 0 5 0 32 58 Spurs 30 2 10 13 19 0 0 2 8 10 0 0 2 4 17 59 Pistons 38 11 18 6 12 0 0 1 6 7 4 2 5 0 28 60 Kings 36 8 9 5 6 0 0 1 6 7 6 0 4 0 21 61 Cavaliers 25 8 9 3 7 0 0 1 7 8 2 0 1 0 19 62 Suns 40 10 21 4 15 0 0 4 7 11 2 0 1 3 24 63 Trail Blazers 39 13 19 8 13 0 0 6 8 14 2 1 3 1 34 64 Spurs 42 8 19 8 9 0 0 3 6 9 1 1 3 5 24 65 Wizards 31 7 18 8 12 0 0 6 12 18 4 0 2 3 22 66 Nets 67 Celtics 68 Heat 41 14 22 12 19 0 0 3 8 11 2 0 2 2 40 69 Jazz 25 8 14 6 7 0 0 1 2 3 2 1 1 2 22 70 Timberwolves 39 13 19 6 10 0 0 2 7 9 3 1 4 1 32 71 Trail Blazers 49 13 26 10 13 0 0 5 6 11 3 0 3 0 36 72 SuperSonics 34 16 21 9 11 0 0 2 9 11 4 0 3 0 41 73 Kings 29 9 18 3 5 0 0 5 4 9 3 3 0 0 21 74 Trail Blazers Looking at the stats, Kandi really contained Shaq.
For that 1st part....where in the HELL did you come up w/ that idea??? If you say that, then how did the Spurs get Duncan?? You think Stern was in on that too?? They had the same damn luck like we did in getting Ming. It was all in the luck of the draw.....great scoop there, Troy.. And as for Francis, I can tell by this thread that the majority of these posts are not favoring his "astounding" popularity. His comments in public, his negative body language, his "My Way or the Highway" style of play....it's all BULLS%&$!! We don't need that crap in Houston. Even if his sorry ass was playing last year, (that is if he didn't have those "excuse" migraines) they would of won maybe an extra 10-12 games...and that would still put them far behind in the pack. The team, ran by him and Mobley, just SUCKED!! He wanted the ball, he wanted to score...and it was all HIM!! And now this attitude of not wanting a player who can definitely increase their chances of going to the playoffs in the next 2 years....that is just pathetic. We need to run Francis out of Houston and get a quality point guard (Andre Miller), who can run our offense and be well-respected for how he plays.
The Rockets want to make the playoffs nex year but they are also looking at the bigger picture in the long run by taking a chance on Ming. Give Les Alexander credit,he could have gone the safer route but he and the rest of the organization are trying to eventually bring a championship back to Houston. I'm not saying that Ming will eventually lead us to that goal,but I think it's worth to take that gamble along with the development of the rest of the team.
Obviously, I disagree with Troy and think Steve is acting like a complete jerk, but . . . Troy has 2 very good points that are being lost in all this: 1) If Ming does work out, Steve will admit he was wrong and everything will be fine. If this is true, this is significant. It means Steve may have an initially negative but at least open mind toward Ming. 2) Rudy's job is most definitely on the line. Les watches the same games we do, and Rudy's performance (hakeem, no adjustment to new rules, no transition game), despite injuries, has been HORRIBLE by any measurement. Rudy could very well be canned after this year; if things get really bad early, he might not last the season.
JR Speculating, Rudy's job should have been on the line when we failed to make the playoffs for the third time last season. Whether or not Ming is a bust, if we don't look like a team on the bubble next season, Rudy's outta here.
Even though Francis is selfish, immature, and has a lot of growing up to do, I still would not trade Francis for Miller. Once this guy matures into the player we know he can be, a superstar will be born.
I didn't like that quote either. All that says to me is Steve has a shooting guard mentality. When he should have a pt guard mentality that makes everbody better on the team.
Olowokandi is a center who has shot 43% from the field every season he's been in the league. That should be enough to tell you he's a TERRIBLE offensive player. He's pretty much the result of what happens when you take an untalented big man and try to force him into becoming a talented player. He's a terrible shot blocker for his size (Eddie Griffin got more blocks/game than Kandi did this season and he didn't even play near as much). He's a very mediocre rebounder for a 7' 270 poung big man. His overall numbers are slightly better than Catos's, which is primarily due to more playing time. Hell, Cato shoots 58% from the field. You know why? Because he knows his limits. Apparently, Olowokandi doesn't. Kandi is also going to cost a lot of money. He's gonna be just like Cato. So overpaid that noone would want to take him. We'd be stuck with him for many years and would never have the caproom to improve our team. At best, if we did that trade we'd be around the 6th, 7th, or 8th team in the playoffs every season, with such major salary cap issues that we wouldn't me able to improve our team for a long time. Maybe you're satisfied with just barely making it to the playoffs every season, but I'm not. And the fact that you would say Olowokandi even has a chance to contain Shaq is pretty funny.
I think it is not Ming's mistake to play with weak teams or to be a Chinese.He had no chance to prove. But he is ready to do that. If for this "simple reason" , you can be anti-Ming like Steve Francis did, you both are in some mental illness. Steve Francis sucks. This was proved from any direction. Once I suggest Lakers could take him by trade. I hate Lakers. It will be fun to see the farce..
Some of you guys need to calm down . Arguing into the night about what Steve Francis said is ridiculous. Lets just wait and see what happens after we draft ming. I am "pro ming" but I'm not going to bash Steve Francis for his opinion on a player , that would be very stupid . Hopefully when Steve sees Yao play he will change his mind. But if this is truly about the spotlight for Steve, then I would like Andre Miller and the 6th pick in return for him too.
You wanted fan reaction TB, you got it. Given a 6'3" shooting guard posing as a point guard (w/ 4tos a game) or a 7'5" Center who has all sorts of skills plus The little wannabe point guard copping an attitude, perhaps having run Dream off as well, I'll take.... Francis' injured little turnover prone, migraine ridden ass to Chicago for the win, Bob. When he can actually play, and acts as a positive force for this team, I'll give a flying **** about his opinion about the future of this team. For now, I just see him as the same whiney b**** that refused to go to Vancouver. trade him now Carroll.
Let's wait to crucify Steve until he actually does something, like not signing an extension, instead of ripping him for a few trivial comments. He may be angry, but he might get over that. He hasn't really done anything yet.
What do you mean he hasn't done anything. He screwed Vancouver royally, for not doing what he said and bypassing him. He wants us to do what he says, too. It sounds to me like betting that he chased off Dream...is pretty good odds....considering he said that he's never "being able to play with a player like that" [read: Center who demands the ball] Face it: he has the personality of Marbury's mother. And if he does not sign an extension, then you waited too long to trade him...and you could end up with Terrell Brandon for Marbury type trade. No one's overreacting here. Francis and the #1 pick are our greatest trading commodiites. You cannot f!ck up on either one of them. This is all too important. What we should do is ask Francis point black if he'll sign an extension immediately, and at the same time we should ask Jerry Krause not to sign Jay immediately. You pick a date for Francis to sign, and if he crosses that date, you make the trade. Do not go into the season with an unsigned Steve Francis who is copping an attitude. <b>Dr of Dunk</b> that is my #3 amendment to your list of 2 things. The impassive gesture of not signing could hurt his trade value.
Francis will forget about all this Ming stuff after he signs his $100 million extension. There is nothing like a pay raise to improve employee morale. Believe me, he is not going to leave all that money on the table just because we upgraded the center position from Cato. If Francis cared so much about this draft pick, he would have dogged it during the regular season, or would have taken off to go to the Mayo clinic instead of trying to help the team win. To me, he looked like he was asleep after the lottery was announced. That is, from what I saw while I was jumping up and down and running all over the house. Rudy T is a master diplomat, and a true players' coach. He will smooth things over. Francis still has a lot of friends on this team. The Rockets are a more class organization than to do something like trading Francis after the first sign of dissention. Look at how much they put up from Pippen before they traded him. This will all blow over.
We must find out ASAP how strongly Francis feels on this. This may be nothing, in which case you sit tight. Suppose he makes more negative comments about playing with Ming-they can have a huge effect. Instead of getting Rasheed Wallace, you end up with Kelvin Cato and Walt Williams. Talk to Cleveland. If they have no intention of resigning Andre Miller, Francis would be more marketable, and garner more in a sign and trade than Miller. Talk to New Orleans on Baron.
Steve is just lucky Rudy is his coach. If Steve threw a hissy fit and Riley was his coach, he'd probably be gone right now.
Yeah, you're probably right Troy, but I've already been down that road and deservedly so. However I'm fairly certain under the circumstances that the worst that would happen is I'd be asked to edit the post and I will if asked. BTW, I know you. Houston is overrun by pretentious, pompus schmucks like you. You try and exude class, but the only part of that word you can relate to is ass. You don't know what class is. Get your head out of the clouds, come down to earth and realize that class is not who you know, what you drive or what you do for a living. I've read you're other posts. You're a smart guy. You just don't know how to demand and maintain respect from your peers.
