Francis "not sure" how he'd react to an extension with Rockets

Who?


Wanna hear something funny? I'm actually trying to talk ball and it's THE ROCKETS FANS who are disrupting this thread with off-topic posts.

I hate to ignore anyone, but for the sake of the board you fellas will have to cool it or be cut off.

 

I don't know about that. Their part of the game and I won't complain or take anything away from the 'Stos, but I sure wonder if we'd have held on if Mueller and White hadn't been injured.

I'm going to wait for our next series with you guys, then I'll probably turn my attention to the wildcard race.

The Sox fans here in Chicago are loving it. %^$&#! I hate them!

 

People can mask it anyway they want to, and I know its a moot point, but with everything into consideration, if we had Francis,Cat,Rice,Griffin,and Dream starting opening day, that line-up would be closer to the playoffs than the one with Taylor and Cato starting. Personally, I Francis might have seen his post season possibilities leave when Hakeem left. As evidence, all you have to do is look at the games Rudy played Hakeem in the 4th qts and seen how successful the Rockets were. I personally blame some of the earlier losses on Rudy when he was pacing Hakeem, getting his minutes out the way, and playing Thomas or Bullard in the 4th quaters. If you want to see how to get maximum performance out of your aging star, look no further than Utah.

Even with the aging Stockton playing about 28min per night, more times than not he was on the court when it mattered most, the 4th qt. Stockton spent most of his 29 minutes on the court in the 4th as Sloan used the television to's to his advantage to get rest for one of his clutch performers. The same way Sloan used the sponsored to's to get rest for Stockton, Rudy could have done the same. Hopefully the Rockets can still make a run at the 7 or 8 seed, if they don't, look no further than the favorites in the east with number 34 playing center.

 

MJ would love nothing more than to go into Krauses house and beat him with Francis whom Jerry could have had. Francis and Kwame would be a nice thought for Michael....but its giving me the willies..........uh,..Steve.....remember Beyonce' live in Houston....better perks here in H-town

 

Very funny.

Want to hear something funny? You get on to us Rocket fans for disrupting a thread (happens all the time), and then your very next post is a discussion of baseball, which has nothing to do with the original thread topic.

Now, I have no problem with a little side discussion (apparently you do, and somehow think that the moderators do ), but it seems to me that you should practice what you preach.

 

I agree that one should not read that much into these statements. They are absolutely standard. What they intend to do is put pressure on the organization and on the other players to do everything to improve the team - as far as the organization is concerned this refers to trading/signing players, as far as the other players are concerned, it refers to giving their best on the court. Of course, if you have a 20-win season (like the Bulls will for the next 5 years), you will reconsider staying, even if you are good friends with all the other guys.

The Cat, I am a bit surprised that you are overreacting so much. It is clear where you are coming from, but your reaction is too panicky, IMHO. You are normally so quick to defend everyone (Collier, Mo) for their play...

I think negative overreactions by fans can potentially contribute to a player making a decision NOT to stay.

Therefore, let's stay calm and let's cross that bridge when we come to it.

 

Hey, Clutch....

THANK YOU!

Also remember: homeboy's from DC. DC will likely have $$$ when Steve becomes a free agent. You know that Jordan's been whispering in his ear. But would the Wizards be any better than the Rox in a year or two?

And yet none of this means squat, necessarily. It's the free agent game. You can't act or sound as if your max contract extension is already signed, knowwhatImean?

Rox have to produce, and have to put the $$$ on the table when it's due. But I would be stunned if Steve actually left Cat. Cat had a chance to head East and stayed in the swamp for Steve. Cat brought his whole family down from Philly. I'm sure Steve knows that as well as anyone.

He's just a little frustrated right now, that's all. The team's successful future is uncertain. Let's not overreact.

 

That's not necessarily true Clutch. While I was lurking las summer I remember Cat tearing into Cat and saying he's a trader if he signs with Toronto or leaves the Rockets and saying the Rockets gave him his chance. I'm not bashing Cat, I just think he overreacted, but trust me he was all over Cuttino Mobley last summer to.

 

AMEN, Clutch!! Reading this back and forth banter from the guys here with the Bulls troll was making my head dizzy. Your post should be the favorite for post of the year for next year's ClutchCity awards. No, I'm not trying to be a suck-up!!

 

I can't believe some of you guys are getting bent out of shape by a Chicago Bulls fan. A BULLS fan saying Francis may leave because he wants to win. Please. This is free agent talk. Should the Rockets get the playoffs next season this'll be a moot point. As for people saying that Francis doesn't think the rebuilding is going right, actually in the article he says he thinks it's going well. I'm starting to wonder if he's trying to force the hand of Rockets management to win now. If the Rockets can load up on quality big men before the season starts I think that will go a long way towards making him happy because it'll most likely mean the playoffs. Plus I think he's still a bit upset and shaken over the injury to Mo.

 

Cat: man, just calm down!! Having some time to digest what Francis said made me realize that he was in a difficult spot. The guy wants to win and have a chance to win championships but because of some dumb luck and poor decisions, he is faced with a possibility of not making the playoffs for a 3rd straight season. For a competitior like him, that has to kill him inside!! Like Clutch said, let's wait and see what happens when he's offered the max contract. If he leaves, then I think you'll see a lot of angry and upset people. It's just not worth it now, especially considering it may never happen. Let's cross that bridge when we get there.

BTW - I'm sorry, but all this Steve screwed Mobley crap is somewhat funny to me. You mean to tell me that Mobley can't make a decision without the Franchise's approval?? Can he not go to the bathroom unless Steve tells him to? Francis didn't screw Mobley in him getting underpaid--Mobley screwed himself by not selling himself better. Don't get me wrong--I'm not complaining about this, but I'm getting tired of hearing that Francis screwed Mobley. Cuttino is an adult who can make his own decisions. He made a decision and now he has to live with it.

 

What do you mean Cat screwed himself, Cat is actually in a good position. He is making good money, and if he wants to be traded his contract is tailor made for being traded. On one side it is getting annoying hearing people say that Cat is screwing up Francis' ability to be a go-to guy because that isn't true, on the flip side saying that Francis is the reason for Cat being underpaid isn't necessarily true at all either. Either way if the Rockets lose Francis, which I seriously doubt, they can get something good in a sign-and-trade. In my eyes I think this will put MORE of an emphasis on the Rockets to get some help for Francis and win now. I just think that Francis heard that this could potentially be a "development year" or a "fun year", meaning the Rockets may not get any help for a playoff drive and he just freaked out. I don't blame him at all. I say get Jackson and White or Mason in here and lets get to the playoffs THIS YEAR!

 

I was also kind of disturbed at what Francis said. He is our future and then for him to say that he has to wait to see the way things play out is not right. He is a superstar, this teams superstar. Maybe he is frustrated that the team hasn't gone to the playoffs yet. I don't know.

 

Rocks: Although I'm not complaining about Mobley's salary, let me clarify what I said earlier. All this talk or inference that Steve convinced Mobley to stay with the Rockets and sign for less than he's worth is what I'm talking about. I know that Mobley is tight with Steve, but he's gotta take care of himself financially. If Cuttino is perfectly happy with what he's making (which BTW is more than any of us ever hope to make in a lifetime), then there's not a problem. However, if he starts to whine and complain about being underpaid, then I think it's silly and ridiculous to blame Francis for his salary. Mobley should have taken the initiative and tried to bargain for a higher salary. It's called negotiation and selling yourself. From what I gathered Mobley didn't do a good job of that which leads me to this question: how is that Francis's fault??

So, when I said that Mobley may have screwed himself it was in the context that if he's unhappy about his salary it was because he didn't negotiate well and sell himself. I fully believe that the Rockets would have paid Mobley a higher salary to keep him and not risk losing him. I am thankful he made a sacrifice so the Rockets could try to get better FAs to come. I just don't want to hear this s*** that Francis screwed him on his salary if he starts complaining, that's all.

 

Everyone here is overreacting big-time. He's posturing just like all stars do. Steve will re-sign. He got Cat to come back despite Vince Carter phoning him day and night asking him to come.

If anything, this thread should die and we should all worry about how the Rocks will cope without a real PF. Eddie's too weak and Kenny could possibly be the worst starting 4 in the league if he actually does start.

Tolpatcsh Verkinder, grow up. Just because people disagree with you doesn't mean they are trolls. I don't care if you have 1 post or 5000 posts, act like a man and not like a punk.

btw- Steve isn't going to Washington. No one is going to Washington.

Jordan's future checklist:

Vince Carter: Nope
Paul Pierce: Nope
Antawn Jamison: Nope
Dirk Nowitzki: Nope
Elton Brand: Nope
Lamar Odom: Nope
Steve Francis: Nope
Andre Miller: Nope
...
...
...
Negele Knight: Signed

 

Francis to Philly in 2003? Somebody call the cops!!!!!!

 

Manny,

When Mobes signed with the ROX they were over the cap. The most that they could offer him was the early bird contract. He could have signed for more on a team with cap space, but Steve convinced him to stay in Houston by saying things like, "I would sign a lifetime contract if I could." So I have to agree with the Cat. If Steve convinced Mobes to sign below market value by assuring Cuttino that he would stick around, if he leaves it is absolutely a betrayal.