The World Championships start this weekend -- TNT is broadcasting all the US games, including US vs. China on Saturday night.
Yes, the windows version was stopping after the promo for me too. I figured out a way to get to the interview... click on the "skip to next track" button while the promo is playing. That worked for me.
I will watch it on TNT... I need to make sure that steve really goes and see yao plays in indiana... i will be disappointed if steve aint there
Thanks again for the link...that was actually almost the first time I really heard Francis talk for more than a few words...and I have to say, he sounds like a genuinely nice guy. Also, he doesn't sound "un-educated"...and he said all the right things. You know, sometimes you can get a first idea of a person's personality by his voice and how he talks...and he doesn't sound arrogant at all. The only thing I noticed was that he seemed to say "wassup" all the time .
I will reserve any comment about Steve Francis,till I see how his playmaking has improved and that his assist numbers become repectable! I feel sure Yao Ming will know Rebound and Pass, to and from.
I'm disappointed that any seemingly critical remark about Franchise or any other Rocket is deemed as "Hating".... I still have my doubts about our point guards veracity, and some of that comes from listening closely to the Dan Patrick interview... I know that we're "homers" and all but I was listening with what I believe was an objective ear. It was telling to me that asked about what he would tell Yao if given the chance his response was "Rebound and Pass". The first I understand, the second should be SHOOT NOT PASS !!! Steve should be the one passing, although he chose to differ with Dan Patrick when he said "how about a little less shooting and little more passing this year" (something that has been a VERY frequent topic on this Board), and Steve's response was to defend his stats (6.4) assists last year.... Steve should be pumping Yao up to prepare him for playing against Shaq, just like he was "thrown to the wolves" his first season in the league. Yao should be allowed to go up against the best in the world to find out exactly how much he needs to improve in order to become the best!!! BTW STEVE - An all star point guard could average easily 8+ assists pers game without giving up too many of his highly coveted shots.... Steve keeps showing me in small ways that his ego will come before the good of the team. LET ME SAY THIS AS LOUD AS POSSILBE - I HOPE THAT I'M WRONG, AND IF SO, WILL GLADLY COME BACK TO SAY SO!!!
It's kind of d******d to rip on Francis' 6.4 APG last year as if it is a low number. You have to keep in mind that the Rockets as a team had one of the worst FG % in the league. It's not like Francis had any good C/PF/SF to kick the ball out to for open 16 foot shots, he got most of his assists from dribble-penetration and dish, with very few 'easy' assists. Also, the Rockets run a lot of isolation plays which makes it difficult to get assists. The Rockets also did not get a lot of fast breaks ala NJ with Jason Kidd, because all of the guards have to rebound. With everyone healthy this season and Ming/Cato able to get easy close looks at the basket, I can foresee Francis getting 7.5 APG this season.
Red Choc: I was NOT dissing Stevie's actual assist number (although it could stand improvement), I was moreso, trying to highlight his continued resistance to external enlightenment. There are some people who happen to know the game pretty good (on this Board and off) who seem willing to point out to him some areas that he could improve in, and rather than humbly thanking them for their opinion (which he could ALWAYS discard anyway...) he chooses to defend himself and his style of play... THAT's the point, and THAT's indicative of someone who has not yet been convinced that he needs to improve. Too bad Dan Patrick didn't ask him about how many opposing two guards he was planning to SHUT DOWN in the coming season instead of giving upthe usual 30/6/4 to.... jg
Of course, maybe Steve needs to learn the Mandarin word for "pass" so if he hears Ming say it, that's what he'll do...?
I think it's funny that his agent was buying him lunch at the time of the interview. How much is 5% of $90 million anyway? Like $4.5 million. Wow. I could make a friggin career out of being an agent for ONE contract like that. I hope that people don't make a whole lot out of the rebound/pass comment as that comment was definately cut off by DP and the pass comment was put in his mouth. But I'm happy about one thing... Franchise is excited to be playing ball for the Rockets, no doubt. Nachbar was so excited to play here he almost wet himself. Ming is probably the happiest and most humble guy of the bunch. It's a good time to be a Rocket fan!
Dusty - I TOTALLY AGREE!!!! It's a GREAT time to be a Rocket's fan!!! I am SO stoked about the pending season.... I just want the CC.NET gang to try and be objective about their opinons when they see/hear some of the stuff that Francis says/does. Stating an opinion that is less than flattering is not the same as hating. I have a sneaking suspicion that the immaturity factor could wind up sabotaging the almost guaranteed success OUR team is bound to enjoy this year!!!! Yao is SO clearly the REAL DEAL, and I believe he will be the next "FRANCHISE" center once Shaq starts to decline (and, due to injuries, Shaq's time will be over sooner than later...!!) So, I hope S.F. is more honest than most of his contemporaries who say all they want is to win. That's total B.S.!! First, they want to get PAID, second, they want to get "RESPECTED" (ie; acknowledged, treated like Gods, etc.), and then, IF the first two happen soon enough in their careers they will WANT a ring!!! (Check Barkley, Malone, Ewing, and many others who don't have a ring yet...) I think that some ALL STARS actually have some humility, and some at least pretend to...so far, I see S.F. doing more of the latter. If being the number one stud on this team is more important to S.F. than getting a ring, we will know very soon. I am keeping my fingers crossed!!
