While he keeps that attitude the Rockets are not going anywhere. He has to realize that he had 3 years before Yao to show that he can carry a team and we all saw that he was not able to do that. We have not made the playoffs with him as the star player. He has to realize that he has to pass that role to Yao.
Steve carried this team to 45 wins in 01, and he carried this team last year before Yao was established. They need two superstars to carry them over the hump but its not like this team was a 20 game winner before Yao got here. Other than that, he shouldn't say things like this. He should have said we have a prize winning center.
co - ROY, best first year peformance (Why Camelo will win over Lebron this year, Amare over Yao last year, and Mike Miller over Kmart a couple of years ago). voted into the all star, fans recognize his game. And as I've said in my other post, the only pg to have clearly better than his line this year (so far his worst) is Stephon, and we should just look at their record to see how well he plays. Either way, those are awards, doesn't matter how you won them, he won them.
I think this backs up his point perfectly. Recently, he's been shooting poorly and, therefore, his scoring has been down. But, he has been playing pretty well in other facets of his game. Would he get this criticism though if he was hitting 50% from the field too? Also, there seems to be some confusion here on what prize-winning means. The ROY and the All-Star selections are prizes. Deserved or not, he's a prize-winner. I don't know, has Carr won anything like that?
The people that were bothered by this comment are the same ones that bash Steve everyday and my guess is that he is referring to you guys when he states: "If you're considered the best player on your team and you don't score 20 points a night, people think you're not playing good (even though) your record is way better than it was last year,". If you were bothered by this then you are one of the many Francis Haters; good for Francis for talking back to these idiots who think they are basketball experts just b/c they can turn the TV on and change the channel to 51 to watch the game. Quit hating and siding with one Rocket over another, this is a TEAM not Francis vs. Yao or Yao vs. Cat.
He can shoot 100% from the field and I would still not be happy when he screws up fast break opportunities. I am not concerned with his scoring. I am concerned with his point guard play. I'm happy with 40% from the field and 15 points per game as long as the guy is being a "floor general." The same goes for Yao and his rebounding prowess.
You serious about that? That's actually a fun hypothetical I made up once. What if you had the #1 draft pick, and there was a player coming out who was... awe-inspiring. Makes LeBron James look like Matt Maloney. But he's 7'8. Perfectly developed muscles already. Averaged 79 points a game for Duke his 1 year in college, the team went undefeated, and won the title game by 63. Shot 95% from the field, 100% from the free throw line, and 89% from 3 point land. He averaged 13 bpg, 18 assists, and only turned the ball over 4 times all year. Oh, and be bagged 11 steals per game. Shut his man down to the toon of them averaging only 1.5 points per game, no matter who he guarded. But he's a complete *******. Doesn't respect anybody. Treats everyone like dirt. Doesn't play "the right way." He embarrasses opposing players, trash talks, etc. But he's squeaky clean off-court, so you know he's not going to pull an Eddie Griffin, or anything. Christian Laetner, except 10x worse on the court. You know, if you draft him, he won't listen to your coach, will treat the teammates like crap, etc. But he'll also be 10x the player Jordan ever was. Would you want him?
Seriously... No. Guys like that aren't why I enjoy basketball. Guys like that make me sick of the NBA.
Francis doesn't get why people think he is playing poorly. It isn't because his scoring is down. It is because he is being outplayed by the likes of Raul Lopez, Mo Williams, and Damon Stoudamire. Yes, when you have a max contract, we expect you to be better than unheralded rookies and over the hill mini-guards.
Damn, Francis is full of ****. Doesn't mention that they have a prize-winning team. Instead, his sorry ass is the prize of Houston. A-hole.
If I had to choose the order of the rotation, I would go with Roy first. Better arm, younger, ... Wait until Roy gets his chance in the playoffs, he'll be just like Prior. By the way, Carlos Hernandez is back to his old self. Oz, Pet, Wade, Carlos, and Red will be awesome. Right left right...
Who is the prize winning point guard he is referring to, and what prizes have they won? Francis is a phenomenal athlete, an incredible leaper, a great one on one basketball player, even a "very good guard as JVG said, but a "prize winning POINT guard he is not!!! He is a horrible playmaker, sub-standard passer, poor decision maker, mediocre mid-range shooter, and occasional defender, certainly not my idea of a "prize-winning point guard."
Yes but when he puts up numbers and they lose you still complain, so I guess he's talking to you. 1st place btw.
They're projecting Petitte will be the 2nd starter in the rotation, sandwiched between #1 Oswalt and #3 Wade Miller. So put that in your pipe & smoke it. Oh, and Go Rockets!
Hey, I think Ray Allen is or, at least before the injury, was very underrated. I'd take him on virtually any team in a heart beat. Oh, and I think Steve should have given some props to his Center while he was flapping his jaws.
