How many coaches are lucky enough to have half of the heat team suspended for the final two games of that series? The whole Heat squad was up 2 to 1 and one more win would have won the series. Zo and LJ deserve more credit than JVG for that run. Without that fight it would have been another 1st round loss for the bricks.
This isn't on JVG.. this is how sports work... heck in the nfl.. the texans included.. you stay in a hotel the night before home games... a home game and you have to stay in a hotel.. the last thing you want is your players out partying and getting drunk the night before the game.. you think the rockets could have been trusted to go to the game then go to sleep and fly the next day.. ????? no half of them would have been at superbowl parties til 5am probably.. if you have a game the next day you dont want your team in the biggest party in the world..
LOL Using that logic, let's see we can say the following: The Rockets were lucky to win the '94 NBA title (and '95 too) because Jordan was not playing basketball (in "95, he was "out of shape" and hadn't played a full season). The Lakers were lucky to win one of their titles when they beat Portland in Game 7 of the Western Finals due to atrocious officiating (and the same thing happened the next season with Sacramento - too bad that The Cat can't post in this forum or he would give you a point by point analysis of those 2 games ) Or how about every team that won the NBA championship after Russell's Celtics were lucky simply because Bill Russell had retired? See, where this is going? The point is injuries, suspensions, questionable officiating, poor individual player play, etc happens in the playoffs, Juugie. You can always cry "Lucky!" and rationalize it in your mind, but someone still had to go out there and win games and that is what that Knicks team did (until they got to the Finals).
It's time to stop the Allen Iverson comparisons. Not only can he not play like AI, he can't get away with breaking team rules like AI. Let's see what happens the next couple of weeks. This is the first time I remember Stevie ever letting down his team and I'd like to see how he responds. I don't expect him to suddenly pick up his offense, but will his defense be more firm, will he give an little extra hustle, will he be more of a team player. For the sake of this franchise (and for Steve Franchise), I hope so.
I was shocked when I heard Steve Francis miss flight just because of Super Bowl.When your teammates are struggling from three straight losses, you so-called leader 'Franchise' should have taken the team over your back,you should have done whatever you could to redeem your team... What about your feeling when you watch the team was badly beaten by Phoenix? How dare you did that! It's your job! It's your obligation! It's your responsibility,man! Where are you then???!!! *Sigh* Are you still the person I used to known? If what I heard is true,you will lose a big fan,FOREVER!
Careful when you reflect what kind of person you are. FYI, even SF's agent feels it is necessary to spin that SF was not at the super bowl in order to dispute the suspension. Right or wrong? Go figue. But I really doubt you will ever get it, along with that rice dude.
Kids: Let's drop the AI and "Thug" comparisons because Stevie none of these and does not come close. Any comparisons are dramatic, unintelligent and quite frankly disgusting. Yes, Stevie has let everyone down... Yes, Stevie should have used better judgement... Yes, Stevie must be consistently reminded of his status on the team, city and league... Yes, Stevie has a lot to learn... Yes, Stevie needs to get back into graces with everyone... But, come on...Stevie not thug or Griffin or AI. And, we are in no position to really guess what is going on in his head. Quite frankly, this may have been a colossal, immature act that has nothing to do with his true commitment. We have all been there at some point in our lives. If you are under 30, chances are you have been there many many times and will probably do so again. If you are over 30, you probably occassionally mistep in some of area of your life, whether relationships, business or other. Heck, I consider my self a completely successful, mature and responsible person who has a 100% commitment to my job, team and family. However, last week, I thought an appointment was at 10:00 am and turned out it was 9:00am. So, I was an hour late and so embarrassed. The client did see me and gave me a major break! So, in my world, this could have been judged the same way, because the impact for my team, career and company was just as huge ,as it was for the franchise and fans--though I am not being critisized on the Company BBS (as far as I know ). Yes, we have every right to make criticism, but lets remember the humanity of this. We are all capable of mistakes... Do we really know the full story and can we be judge and jury. I am just as poed at the next person at Stevie, especially the timing of all this. But, we can all thank each other for forgiveness and growth from things like this and maybe there is a true positive step that can be made....
I am not going to waste time arguing a matter of opinion, but if the players that side with Steve act in such a manner they also need to be moved. In the early going of the Phoenix game much of the team looked heartless. Yao looked lathargic, Cato was out of place, and Taylor looked completely heartless. The only players that I thought were giving effort in the early part (and throughout the entire course of action) of the game were Jim and Mark Jackson. Coach Van Gundy realized Yao's effort was lacking and substituted Yao for Taylor. After realizing Taylor was heartless, coach pulled Taylor and Kelvin for Yao and Weatherspoon. Yao came back with energy and effort as did Weatherspoon. That line-up showed the heart and effort and cut the Suns lead down to three. The bottom line was the Suns played with more energy, they were bigger, younger, more athletic and they shot well. Top to bottom the Rockets lack talent. I will not be surprised at all this offseason if Steve, Taylor, Cato, and Mobley are all traded. I would tell you the same but I am relatively sure you will disagree.
Also, he WAS embarrassed...plus, he did not publicly have someone make up a lie for him afterwards that he was attending some family matters or something.
There is no excuse for what Francis did, no matter how much mean old Jeff Van Gundy hurt his feelings. Van Gundy changed the flight so the team could watch the game together. Francis disagreed and did his own thing, just like he has been doing on the court the last 4+ years. Franci is one of my favorite players, but I am not gonna make excuses for him. At some point, someone has to hold him accountable. You can't keep firing coaches behind the antics of the players. At some point, you just blame the players and make real changes. I'm just mad that Rudy T lost his job behind these numbskulls. I am surprised ROCKET RICH NYC hasn't posted in here yet...
If they do, then JVG was right, they have no heart. This is the kind of crap that got Rudy fired. These guys took advantage of him, with Steve Francis leading the way. But we say they loved Rudy. No they loved to take advantage of a good man. They could break his rules, not show up to practice, be late for practice, have entourages at practice and on flights, be late for team flights, miss team flights. If Rudy's still coach, we never hear nothing about this. Steve gets off scott-free. We really can't be sure whether this sort of thing happened before or many times before with Steve in the past because we all know how Rudy would never ever let anything like this get out to the public. This latest move by Francis makes me wonder just how much this guy took advantage of one of the best coaches and nicest people in the game. So go ahead and defend this irresponsible act by Francis, but know that you may be defending the very type of behaviour that was the main reason for Rudys departure and the hiring of JVG.
Sir Jack and Michecon: all very good points. i was not intentionally late nor did I make a lie to cover. however, you do not know the full story. the idea that representatives have said things about Stevie's whereabouts and what is being accepted as fact are conflicting and that does not automatically mean he is lying. believing the media and filtered information is not the way to go on this. we will really never know the whole story.
Everyone's trying to make excuses.. If your boss tells you to be somewhere at a certain your there or your job is in jeopardy. These guys are basketball players but first and foremost they are employees of the Rockets Organization. If I send my employee on a business trip to make a presentation and he goes against my wishes and decides to show up later or catch a later flight. Hes done... This is not negotiable.. Juugie with that type of attitude I dont know how you keep your job. Because if I was your boss I would have let you go. What kind of message does this send to the other employees? I let you do whatever you want? no I would have to make a statement and thats what I think JVG will be forced to do. To openly defy somebody thats a different story than to be late or make a mistake. J
I would not be working for an inflexable jerk. I would find a different job. Sometimes you have to stand up for yourself and not be a yes man.
What if your boss told you he wants you to take the bus to work every morning, but you want to take your car. Does he have the right to tell you what means of transportation you have to take to get to work? Or does he merely tell you when to be there and you'd better be there on time. BTW, I work for a major animation company that has put out one of the highest grossing animated features of all time and we are owned by one of the largest media comglomerates in the world. The way we recruit and keep good people is to treat them fairly, treat them like adults, and create an atmosphere where people actually like coming to work. One of the owners of the company told me in my interview that he absolutely refuses to work with people he doesn't enjoy working with. I don't believe in micro-managing people or being a drill sargeant. And it's workd DAMNED good for him. He has guys that will do anything for him.
http://www.digitalmediafx.com/specialreports/animatedfilms.html My guess is Ice Age, produced by Fox.
Man, the willing blindness in here reminds me of an Iraq debate... 1) An NBA player's job, both practically and legally, as defined by their contract, does NOT, repeat and underline, NOT just extend to playing and practice time. It includes travel time, and even curfew time should the coach deem it necesary. 2) As such, when Francis told JVG he was skipping the flight, contrary to his boss's orders, to go to a game, that would be the equivalent of calling up your boss one Monday morning and saying you weren't coming in because you were going to a game. If he says , 'uh, no.' and you ignored him, 99% of employees would be fired. 3) Irrespective of whether or not you agree with JVG's decision to fly the team out and focus on the next day's game rather than allow them to go to the Superbowl ( can't believe I'm even typing this), the fact is, that was his directive. NBA players are more than compensated for infirngments on what we would see as their personal lives, and they agree to it when they sign their contracts. No one forced Steve Francis to sign his NBA contract, but when he did, he committed to practices such as making team flights, etc. This is why when NBA players miss flights for less disruptive, ego-centric reasons like oversleeping, they are often fined and/or suspended. Add to that the open conforntation with JVG, and clear disregaard for his orders and contractual obligations, and there is no defense for Francis short of blind prejudice.
If he pays you $10 million/year, maybe your boss does have the right to tell you to take the bus. If the bus is the means by which your co-workers all agree to use and you have also previously agreed, why should you suddenly get an exception. If you decide not to follow the rules, you are punished. That's what happened.
