Francis have just displayed a totsl different personality on the floor tonight. He played almost perfect tonight despite of 3 TO but made a lot of wise decision on the floor. Francis will just simply work well with JVG's arsenal system. Never seen him smile all night and showed that he is a true competetor. Francis deserved to get a chance to absorb JVG's system. I want to see him everygame like he displayed tonight against the Lakers. Unpredictable, but i would take the chance. Would you?
that just proves that francis is an essential part of the team. if he can just play this in a consistent basis. play controlled basketball, then he will really earn his nickname, franchise. i was speechless on his game today. i really wish he will play this type of basketball. even on mobley. mobley played great today and does deserve a pumped fist. everyone played great today! good night for rockets fans.
He has to play close to this good for the 2nd half of the year, to make up for a rather lucklaster 1st half. I'm not ready to absolve him completely because of 1 regular season game, when he has many more bad or poor games this year.
Yes, Francis played a great game tonight. Even more telling, perhaps, is that Mobley an even better game, and perhaps, it was his improvement that opened the door for Francis. Personally, one good game from Steve isn't enough. We need a backcourt that can average 15 assists per game on a regular basis. As is, the one we have barely averages 9. I still think to see a Rockets team that can perform offensively like it did tonight every night, you have to move either Francis or Mobley and improve your assist and assist-turnover ratio in your backcourt. But major props to the whole team for showing at least what they are capable of tonight.
I dont know...He seemed to just throw up a lot of shots that went in tonight. They aren't all going to go in like tonight. I saw him dribble the clock down many times and throw up a shot that happened to go in. All those turn around jumpers..etc..
Hopefully Cat will be able to continue playing smart after todays game. I think he was in a shooting slump because he fell in love with the 3 pointer just like Baron Davis and Antoine Walker did last year. Hopefully he will go to the hoop more often instead of jacking up all those threes. Walker stoped shooting all those threes this year and his shooting precentage is up.
Is JVG and SF trying to emulate the amazing turnaround that was seen in regards to Philly's AI and Coach Brown? Tonight, SF reminded me of a true PG who's sole purpose was to be the coaches eye on the court. To be shooting with such high % is a bonus.
I really hope SF start to realize that in order for him to go to the next level, he has to fit the system and no the other way around. I just hope he is starting to understand but I am still worry that this game was just an exception to the rule. The comments that he makes, regarding that he will play his way and not JVG way, really worries me.
Honestly speaking! I don't think JVG is ready to unload Francis But instead he is hoping for Francis to turn things around and show to the team how to be a team leader. Francis showed something tonight that he is capable.
If our guards play anywhere near as well as they did last night ON A CONSISTENT basis, the Rockets will steamroll through the rest of the schedule. Is this an aberration or a breakthrough? We will find out shortly.
With all that's said of the SF/JVG 'relationship', when coach calls his player over for a quickie conference SF is there, listening (hearing?), respectfully. SF is always in the huddle and does nothing to publicly disrespect his coach during a game. (He did it once to Rudy, was disciplined BY Rudy, and apologized, taking responsibility).) This is as it should be, but isn't with so many all over the league. (Big Dog dissed Ayres leading to proof Ayres was overmatched. The replacement? One of the coaches GRob has fought with in the past, Ford.) Being hardheaded about coach' system is one thing, but SF is not like so many of his peers with this problem would be.
MY GOODNESS....82% shooting last night...21 points...patient points mind you..he barely took a shot in the 1st half...
Do you realize how many assists 15 a game is for a starting backcourt. Assuming you had a point who average 10, which is rare nowadays, you would need a shooting guard, a position whose primary goal is to score, to average 5.
This is my first post, but just wanted to make a quick observation. If you take a look at Francis' stats the last 6 games, his overall shooting percentages are all up and his stats have been comparable to years past. If he continues this trend and Yao continues to be aggressive I think we could be in decent shape come playoff time (of course the turnovers are still a problem). Francis last 6 games: Pts: 20.3 FG%: 51 3P%: 41 Reb: 5.1 Ast: 6 steals: 1.57 TO: 3.42 I think we should let this season play out and then evaluate where Francis stands in relation to the overall team at the end of the year. If the above stats are the beginning of a trend, his shooting slump may be over. His shooting percentage seems to be a major bone of contention with many of the posters here (along with turnovers).
No sh*t...I've always said he needs time and everyone was too early to give up on him after 50 games in JVG's system... Go Franchise and Rox!!! And continue to give Yao the Damn Ball!!!
