Has it finally happened? Have we found a replacement for Mobley?

I don't know about you, but all this bashing seems pretty much like business as usual around here.

 

yeah, nothing has changed. People have been bagging on Franchise for the last couple seasons.... Mobley too.... in fact the only guy people have not regularly bashed is Yao.. give it time...

 

gr8-1's sig

Dr. Drew: "You're still smoking pot while you're pregnant?"
Woman: "Yeah, but I live in Oklahoma."
Dr. Drew: "I understand there's some desperation to that, but you're committing child abuse"

- - - - - - - -

I how I wish this were a joke... I hate these people so very, very much..

 

yeah but I live in Oklahoma now.... I'm not calling them names, i've seen this exact thing up close (lots of doctors in my family). You're not calling them names when its true...

 

People were bragging on Francis the last few seasons because Francis was the first, second, third, and only option for the Rockets. The addition of Yao Ming this season should have changed that, but it didn't. That is why you hear people bashing Francis right now when they were praising him two years ago. He's playing extremely selfish and unfortunately, you don't what selfish play from a 6'0" tall shooting guard. It's simply about field goal percentage. In Yao, you've got a guy that has proven to me that he is the real deal and will shoot a much higher percentage than what we get from Francis/Mobley isolation plays (and Yao proving to me that he was the real deal took a lot as I was in the crowd that was extremely skeptical about the pick this time last year). I also think Francis and Mobley would get better shots if the offense went through Francis. Was it Rudy? Part of it maybe, but I simply can't see Rudy ignoring a major piece of the puzzle like Yao. It seems more reasonable to me that Francis, worried about his endorsements and status as "The Franchise", did whatever he could on and off the court to make sure the Rockets offense didn't change. Only time will tell.

 

I am a big Steve Francis fan, but personally I just don't see a huge difference between what he gives us and what Cat gives us. Steve is more athletic but Cat is no slouch.

I would much prefer to trade Steve if it can get us a big time Power Forward to put besides Yao Ming. But if we can not get a Brand, O'Neal, KG type of player then I would much rather trade Cat.

There is another possible benefit to trading Francis that Cat does not bring. Salary Cap space. Imagine if we traded Francis, Rice and Cato sometimes this summer. Those are 3 of our 4 highest salaries going into next year. Depending on what we took back, we could find ourselves players in the free agent market next summer.

 

I have a question for Clutch, Doc or any other member with a feel for what goes on behind the scenes. If the Rockets did trade Steve Francis and keep Cuttino, would it hurt the attractiveness of Houston as a destination for a potential coach? Everything you read in the paper or listen to on 610 seems to indicate that one of the big attractions of Houston is Yao and Francis. If the Rockets dealt Francis away, would it turn away potential coaches such as Larry Brown or Van Gundy?

 

No way does anybody get traded before the new coach comes in. So the point is moot. The real question would be is how would other free agents feel about coming in if a move is made after the new coach is hired.

 

Actually it did change that. You'll see Francis shot attempts go down, especially after the all star break.

 

If Rockets trade Francis for Kidd, more potential coaches will come.

 

I don't think he's most hated at all. Its just that there are a lot of posters who are having a knee jerk reaction, and going off on him. Those who like him are silent, because the discussions aren't really worthwhile discussions, they are just reactions.

I'm sure as Clutch mentioned, that Francis has developed a serious ego, and certainly pride goes before fall, and when someone props themselves up, we have a tendency to want to tear them down. And, the second anyone talks about anything that even remotely sounds disloyal, we act like spurned lovers.

We need to realize that reporters bait the players, before they've had a chance to learn the facts. The first player everyone went after, when the feeding media frenzy got the Rudy leak, was Francis. Francis didn't know the facts. I'm sure the reporters asked questions in a way that would create a quote from Francis, no matter his response.

And, we have had Troy Baros and a couple others, who seem to give us this inside peak into what Francis is "really like," and even if we aren't too confident in the posters info, we've sortof believed them, and the gossip has had its effect.

I do have to admit, though, the accuracy of many who talked about Francis "not getting it." He kept moving around from school to school, and never has really been trained as a point guard. He needs a training coach, and not necessarily the head coach. I don't want to see him moved from the PG position, I want to see him trained by the best. You know, even though I've hated the Jazz, the perfect guy might just be John Stockton. Hire him as an assistant coach, or as Francis' personal coach. He's just retiring, so he could work with Francis out on the court. But, Francis definitely needs some training, and there are plenty out there who could be effective, from Oscar or Magic to Lucas. We don't need to move him to SG, we need to train him how to be the best PG. He learns fast, is amazingly talented, has a good spirit. Train the man.

I think Francis is a superstar, he just needs some training as a PG. It is true, that his value is higher now, after his all-star appearance, than ever. So, that alone makes trades intriguing. But, they are chancy, and you usually lose. I know many of us wish that we had traded Sampson for Jordan and Drexler. At the time, I wanted that trade, ironically, more because of Drexler, than Jordan. I was shocked we passed over him in the draft, and angry. Not because we took Sampson, but because we took McCray. If I hear of a trade of similar value, I would consider it if I were the Rockets, but superstars are hard to come by. Now if the Bulls offer Tyson Chandler and Jay Williams with cap filler, I'd have to go for that one. But since I haven't heard of that kind of deal being offered for Francis, I'd stay loyal to our superstar ... just train him better.

 

I NEVER HATED FRANCIS. I will defend Francis. He hasn't done anything wrong. He's just the way he is. And when we get a new coach....like Larry Brown or Pat Riley....Francis will change considerably like Hubie Brown has done to Jason Williams. Just wait and see. Les Alexander just has to get the right coach.

And Mobley is my 2nd most hated Rocket.

1st...well actually.....I don't hate any Rockets!

BUT THE ONE THAT PISSES ME OFF THE MOST IS MOOCHIE NORRIS.

Mobley should go before Francis....unless Francis demands to be traded...which I hope he doesn't.

Mobley.....well see, he's actually good. He hasn't said a word.

 

Mobley lovers use Francis as their whipping boy to deflect criticism from Mobes. They also know it's either/or at this point and they're desperately trying to save their boy.

If you listen to national press you'll readily hear what the rest of the league thinks - "Stevie Franchise" is a star and Cuttino isn't. Cuttino is a wannabe star that gets in the way.

Francis isn't going anywhere. Cuttino is.

codicil:

The only way I can see to move our BYC "Franchise" is in a three way with Washington for a combination of Brand, Odom, Miller or Maggette. Washington and the Clips have the cap room. Washington has draft picks. The clips talent are on rookie contracts (or 1 yr tenders) that can be added to = Mr. Francis' 5 mil. Clips talent is leaving, clips must cash in. We could add Cat as cheap talent to make it sweeter. I don't see another way to trade Francis BYC next year, unless it's for Brand +. That would be a very complicated and bold move, but obviously would set the 'chise for years to come.

 

Here's the deal.

Francis PG skills are questionable. But add Mobley (a true SG), and Francis's lacking PG skills shows up like a sore thumb.

It's when you put TWO shooting guard type players on the court at the same time it exacerbates the whole situation. It makes Francis's lack of PG skills more apparent (when they are on the court at the same time).

So, I really don't have a problem with Mobley directly. It's just that his game mirrors Francis's game.

I guess the best way to explain it is:

Franics is PG that wants to be a SG (and is more influenced to do so, when Mobley is on the court).
Mobley is a SG that wants to be famous like Francis. They are both indirectly competing for leadership.

So, they both end up being two SGs on the court at the same time because they influence each other (friends and styles).

That's why I like Mobley to move to the bench. It would allow Francis to take more shots (which is good), but also he'll be able to concentrate on the team, rather than mimicking his buddy, Mobley.

 

All bets are off, IMO. Until JVG (or who?) is named head mutha of this squad with personnel decision input near GM level, then what Stevie will be or Cat or who will be sought or cut is just giant questions.

 

nothing will happen to Steve. Time to come back to reality. Some people just are confused i guess