Francis: "we know the odds are stacked against us as far as being a playoff team"

Nothing wrong with an "us against the world" attitude...and humiility.

Go Steve.

DD

 

thats what I was thinking...

whats wrong with them thinking that everyone expects them to choke and not make it this year?
I would think it would provide some fuel for them to try hard to prove everyone wrong.


I'm sorry, I dont see anything to be concerned about here...

 

How dare he say we have to go out and play every game the right way! I don't know maybe he reads Chad Ford a lot.

I have no doubt that if he had said "We are set, no way we don't make the playoffs," Steve bashers would be out in droves decrying the evils of his overconfidence.

lame.

 

I like this part the most. The past few years we've gone in acting like we deserve a playoff spot. It seems that now we know nothing is guranteed and our playoff goal is something that must be strived for.

Ditto.

 

Actually, several publications have the Rockets finishing 9th, including one that covers the Rockets daily.

I actuall like this comments. Sounds like Steve is taking NOTHING for granted this year, even the last playoff spot. The last thing we want is our player thinking that its automatic that they will make the playoffs.

Stay humble. Stay hungry.

 

Seems to me like every article keeps mentioning that any problems this team will have will only be because he and Cuttino will reject Van Gundy's way of doing things. The way these guys write it, it's like they are expecting it to happen. Hell, Stein completely left out the explanation of Van Gundy's "too many homeruns" quote in his power rankings to make it seem like the team is still having problems in that way. Because of that, I can see why Steve feels like the media is betting against them.

 

There have been articles in the past stating how the players are starting to speak like Van Gundy. That's very JVG-like to say something like Stevie said. JVG takes nothing for granted. Now Stevie is in the same mode. If anything, saying that the odds are stacked against the Rockets shows to me a commitment to rise above those odds this year. I intepret "odds" as the improvement of other Western Conference teams when the Rockets core remains more or less the same. In other words, "odds" refers to the obstacles the Rockets need to overcome to make it to the playoffs this year. Inherent in that statement is a sense of urgency. To me that's a sign of a good leader. Before you can solve a problem, you have to discover what the problem is. Stevie seems to have done that now. The next step is overcoming those odds. And whether the Rockets can overcome those odds is what we'll have to see when the season starts.

 

well.... it just seems to me lots of ppl on this board loves to read into what the players quote meant..... even if its not meant the way they think, some can just make up something themselves.....

nothing against u though Texas Stroke..... urs probably due to different conception of the way Steve put it in.......

 

It actually lends more to Steve's thoughts on the team's off-season. moves or the lack thereof. No big splash here.

Chris Wragee "The local sports guy" surely you jest.

 

Well it's the truth. At this point the odds are stacked against the rox for making the playoffs. There are a lot of good teams in the west. It's not like were in the east where we could sleepwalk through half the season and decide to turn it up at the end when its time to make a playoff push. We have to make our playoff push from game 1 on.

Time to finally go earn that playoff spot.

go rox.

 

Steve probably did mean championship, at least lets hope so becuase theres no way this team shouldnt make the playoffs ?? The Rox do have alot to lose & what is it that they will lose ?? Steve thats what. I'm pretty sure another year of the lottery isnt gona go good with Les and the bois, You'll see some HUGE changes. BUT I KNOW WE WILL MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, so im not worried about what steve said, JVG said, or any1 else said. & thatz alll i gota say about this comment by Steve

 

I know of another (former) Rocket who made the same statement to his teammates during the playoffs. Result - it got us a ring!

"Nobody expects us to win. We are not supposed to be here..."
Choke City, Phoenix Suns, down in the series......sound familiar?

Let the nay sayers in the draMedia continue to say what they will.
As long as the players stay true to their beliefs, that is all that matters.

GO ROCKETS!

 

Wow, people on this board reading too much into a Steve Francis quote? That's unheard of....

 

Steve is NO Leader !

He just plays one on TV.

 

Aside from the members of this board, the rest of the basketball world seems to give us a shot at the playoffs but far from a lock. I've seen us seeded as high as #6 and as low as #10 in the West. I've seen threads that expect us to win close to 50 win games and making it to the 2nd round. While I think it's possible, I don't think it's expected by anyone. I think we can have a great year, but the expectations outside of this board are much lower.

 

I think that a few things may change the chances and he knows they are still in the early stages of firming these variables up:

1) The coaching change (and style difference) and employing a new offense;

2) The probable break out of Yao Ming as a really "Duncan - like" dominant force;

3) The injury situation and meshing in new small forwards;

4) Mo Taylor finally getting healthier and being Mo Taylor;

5) cato's ability to play as a doninant rebounding and defensive power forward;

6) Whatever is going to happen to correct the EG situation, be it getting him straightened out or getting rid of him;

These and Steve's own ability to work with JVG and lead the team