Juugie - it's obvious you're a Stevie fan, and dislike Yao. This isn't news, but your continued ignorance of facts are starting to make you a borderline troll at this point. You have no argument. Did you know that during the 3-game skid Francis isn't even leading the team in assists? He has turned the ball over (4.7) almost the same number of times he is creating a shot for someone (5.3 assists) in each game during that span. Jim Jackson meanwhile has 6 assists in each of those games and has had to lead the team in 2 of the 3 games. To top that off, as stated before, Francis is shooting the ball a staggering 17+ times a game during this skid -- more than 4 shots a night than Yao -- and is shooting a dismal 30% from the floor which wouldn't even be near that good if not for some garbage time hoops against the Warriors. Game Over. These are fatal to your argument. We can sit here and argue why Yao has had 2 bad games in a row now (you don't even want to go near the Phoenix game my friend as Yao vs. Francis in that game will get your argument's nuts cut off and shredded), but Steve has been doing this all season. 2 Games. All Season. It's that simple. 39% shooting and 28-29% from long range for the year. And this is who is taking more shots than anyone on the team -- 2.5 more than Yao on average. In our 29 losses this season, Francis takes almost 16 shots a night, Mobley 13 and Yao on average LESS THAN ELEVEN. But get this - Yao is still hitting 50% of his shots, but Francis is clicking on all cylinders at 35.8% (24.8% from three) and Mobley at 36.9%. So 29 shots going to our guards at a rough 36%, or 10.8 to the guy who should apparently shoulder all the blame. Yet when Yao takes 15 shots or more, the Rockets are 15-6, Yao is averaging 24 points on 54% shooting, 11 boards and a pair of blocks and Steve Francis is shooting 38.5% in those games. Let us know when your brain registers the winning trend.
Here we go again reading another piece of drivel from the anti-Yao troll, Juugie!!! Juugie, If you REALLY are a Rockets fan (which I sincerely doubt), you need to do one of two things: 1) Suck it up and realize that Yao is this team, not only now but for the future 2) Or continue to be miserable It's your call, dude. But if you choose option #2, it would really be nice and considerate of you not to use the old expression, "Misery loves company" because it is not wanted here. Oh and Yao gets a free pass from many here, not because we are raving YOF, but that he plays basketball with a brain - something that hasn't been seen around here for some time.
Is it because of the Francis bashing that you are posting crap like this Juugie? Does it really hurt u when people sing Yao's praises and berate Francis at the same time? Perhaps u should wait another 2 years when Yao is in his 4th year in the league and hope he doesn't show any more progress than he is doing now because ONLY then will he get the treatment that Francis is getting now.
rofl - Clutch - Juugie will probably come back and say something stupid like "stats can lie." Just go ahead and put this assclown out of his misery (if you haven't done so already).
But that's Yao's fault. He needs to recognize that if he passes the ball, he's not getting it back, so he should start forcing whatever shots he can get instead of trying to work for a good one. C'mon, we don't have time to set up good shots-- we need leaning and/or fallaway three-pointers and kamikaze tunnel-vision drives to the hoop.
Isn't Yao only in his second year and his first as the so-called focal point. Maybe people are so critical of Steve because this is his FIFTH year and he is regressing. Wait a couple of years and see if Yao regresses. Then go ahead and be as critical. Oh wait, Yao's already got this team in the playoffs.
Clutch, I think you misunderstand my point. I'm not arguing Yao vs Steve. In fact, I believe the relationship between Steve and the fans has deteriorated so much that he HAS to be traded. And it's not that I don't like Yao. I guess I expect a lot more from a "Franchise Level Player" than most people. I never considered Steve a franchise player. Just a part of the mix. My only point is that a franchise player finds a way to be involved and finds a way to lead his team to a win. If he's having a hard time scoring I believe a franchise player says, "I'm going to totally dominate the boards and paint." then goes out and hauls down 20 boards and get 7 blocks to make up for not scoring. I believe a franchise player won't be denied - not by refs or teammates or opponents. I believe a franchise level center should get 5 shots a game off putbacks alone. Shaq's coaches told him that they needed him to really hit the boards last night and he comes up with 26. That's the level of play I expect from a franchise level player that is supposed to lead us to a ring. I guess I should lower my expectations, but I just have a problem with building a team around someone that has yet to average 20 ppg or 10 rpg for an entire year. That's all. I believe you have to earn everything you get in this league and this life. I don't believe anything should just be handed to you. If that makes me a bad person/poster then I guess I have to live with that. And if that makes me a troll, I'll have to live with that too. It's just my opinion and my belief. I realize it is a different opinion/belief than most people here have, but I thought this was a place where we could throw ALL opinions out there, kick them around and debate them.
Yao isn't ready yet... and I doubt this team would be much better without Francis this year (as many people are suggesting). I'm not saying they'd be far worse either... its just that Steve has had a cancelling out effect on this team... the good he has created has matched the bad he has caused, thus he's had no impact. Yao has been the difference-maker, as when he has good games, the Rockets normally win. I think Juugie was trying to point out that we need Yao to break out of this slump, and start playing consistently... he's not hating on him, nor is he trying to be a SOF (although he does ask for less bashing on Steve). Bottom line... if Yao can't play to the level that he had throughout the last two months, this team isn't going anywhere... regardless of what everybody else on this team does.
Awesome quote to go along with a great post. Juugie, can you start to see why people would be so critical of your highest-paid player when his overall net worth is 'no impact."
Steve definitely does deserve to be criticised for his faults. I just don't think he should be criticised for Yao's faults as often happens.
consider the so called fat happy well paid guy was the reason we were the last lottery team [#13] instead of #1 The issue for me is . . .. Yao gets too much credit and Steve gets too much blame When steve leads us to victory all people cry is. . IT'S A TEAM GAME but after a loss. . .it is ALL STEVE ALL THE TIME Rocket RIver
I don't see anything wrong with that. This is Yao's team, and when the team plays crap, he SHOULD[\B] be the one to blame. It's not like Yao's playing well in these two crappy games. He plainly sucked!
After Clutch and Brian's posts, do I still have to make a reply? I suppose both of them are YOFs too. You know what Juugie, I've been called both Yao haters and YOFs in the past. Funny isn't? Y'all go ahead and get it straight while I sit here and wait. That YOF bs, as far as anybody here can tell, is your only argument (or lack thereof). There reaches a point when that bs just plain don't work no more. PS. You can't even get your facts straight. Yao sure sucked in that Phoenix game. Just goes to show how many games you watch.
