ALL this trade talk about Steve Francis is ludacris. I don't think most people here in this forum understand the value of francis. Francis is one of the preeeminet point guards in the NBA comparable to the likes of gary payton and marbury. His value and contribution to the team over the past four years have been immense considering his ability to score, rebound, and pass. Francis is more of an Iverson type player specializing in scoring--slashing inthe paint and drawing attention towards him. He is virtually unstoppable when healthy. The rockets need Francis in order to thrive. However, a move to the 2 guard position is best for Francis since he has the capability to score 30 points per game. Mobley would be a better tade option.
While we cannot deny his value, his contribution is close to zero, that is, nothing. IMO, contributions are evaluated by winning percentage, how deep you go into the playoff, not by points.
Our with him/without him win/loss record from last year shows it all. He is our franchise. We need him for one, for two, we need him healthy. He needs to get on his game early, penetrate early in the game, get his points, ect.
Franchise just wont work if we are headed towards a Big Mans Game, except at the TWO GUARD. I think that the team chemistry could be improved greatly by trading both starting Guards.
I agree - we need Francis. I think if we got a coach that could put in a real offense - we could flourish. Many high schools run a more complex offense than the Rockets run.
I don't get your logic. If Francis were to leave, a similar collapse would happen. And I am not sure about Payton being better. A better Passer maybe.
only in the american culture can a rap artist have more influence on a child's spelling than a teacher does... "ludacris"? what's next...fabolous?
does it really? does it also mean we have a permanent reign over the eastern conference? does it also not matter that cat mobley was playing with 2 bum ankles? or that mo taylor was out for the season? or that yao ming was playing in china? do you really think that we can compare that team with this years team? c'mon man, things change...
What kind of logic is that? If and only if the rockets trade for another two guard-slashing type player would there be any chance for success. IN seattle's case, they traded for that guy--ray allen, who is a superior offensive palyer than gary payton.
Well I don't think we'd let him go for scrubs - by the way, Seattle included Desmond too. But sometimes trading your "franchise" player can make you a better team.
Great post! I agree with everything you said, except (although I'm probably one of the only ones here who thinks this) I think Steve should stay at point guard. In time he'll learn to play PG better. On the other hand, I also agree that he can become more of an Iverson type if he moves to the 2 guard. Who knows, maybe he'll lead the league in scoring if he does?
actually, francis is not a preeminent point guard. id say hes an average point guard at best (and that is w/ rocket fan bias). he is not a leader on the court, is not looking to set up his players with shots, does not make smart basketball decisions, too many stupid playground moves, the alley-oop is his best pass (and that only works half the time), way too many turnovers, goes for rebound too much rather than trying to get any kind of fast break going...need i go on? he is a great scorer, but as far as point guards go id rather have about a dozen other guys (payton, kidd, parker, nash, arenas, miller, stockton, tinsley-point guards that know that their first job is to take care of the ball and get their teammates involved). as far as steve moving to the two, do you really think that would work? im sure he could hold his own on the offensive end, but he would get burned every night by the taller SGs in the league. lets face it, francis is not a good defender of point guards. against kobe, mcgrady, carter, finley-it would be BRUTAL! francis will never be a 30 point per game scorer...iverson he is not. basically what we have is a shooter who cant play his position (PG), but is too small to play the 2. in the nba, francis has no natural position to play. based on all this id say that the only option is to trade not mobley, but francis.
Just B: At the two Francis will never lead the NBA in Scoring, because the Point Guard will only give him limited touches. The majority of touches going to the Center Yao Ming. Remember once this change is made we are in the era of the Big Mans Game.
This is a good post. Agree 100%. People forget that in Philadelphia, Eric Snow or Aaron Mckie defends the opp's big guard, not Iverson. Francis is a cross between a 1 and a 2. Use him strictly as 1 or the other will cut down on his effectiveness. Like asking him not to bring all of his talents to the court. He can play PG, he just needs to recognize when to pass the ball, i.e. when his teammates are hot or have mismatch. And when to shoot, .i.e. when noone else can score.
Side note - Francis got his nickname (Franchise) because it simpply RHYMED with his last name. It have little to nothing to do with his game - because then he had not established himself and still have not. Maybe one day he will earn it but I doubt that because the emmergence of Yao Ming will eclipse Francis and his legacy as a Rocket.
I have advocated trading Francis but my understanding is it is next to impossible because of the form of his contract. If someone can tell me when (03-04, 04-05?) it would not be so contractually difficult to trade him I'll be happy to talk more about it, but why bother this talk now. Our future is not Francis is it Yao. Francis has shown this year he should not be the leader. He is a great individual talent and great invidual ball player, but with him as the central leader at best you will go a little over .500 because when his offensive game is off he hasn't shown you other ways to help his team (unlike Kidd & Payton). I am hoping Francis learns to be a great, dynamic, second fiddle if you wish--a Clyde Drexler to a Hakeem (Yao). That is my best hope for the Rockets to get to trully elite status as long as Francis is untradable. Also, the only way a move to the 2 for Francis will work at all is if you put a 6'4"ish tough as nails PG next to him who can guard the better of the opponents back-court player. Basically a poor mans Kidd or Payton at a minimum. Alvin Williams and Eric Snow come to mind--Williams (better choice) is locked up until 06. Maybe the Rockets could find a rough diamond in this form however, guards like this sometimes grow under the radar compared with front line people (acquired via late draft, CBA, oversees). I really like Marcus Moore at WSU who should be coming out.
