Even though the CAT is my favorite player, I love Steve's game and attitude towards this game they call Basketball. I don't understand why HP is being so hard on him but hey that is his opinion. I think Steve doesn't need a go to move since he can create a shot anytime he wants to get one. His sheer quickess keeps a defensive player on edge. The only improvements I think he needs are his fast break ability and to shoot the open shot. Too many times he had a wide open shot and opted to take it to the rim where there were trees waiting on him. I also don't that it is fair to compare him to these other guards who are different types of players in different types of systems. I think Steve is defining his own niche and will soon be the one everyone is going to be compared. I just hate that we still have to wait about 6 months before we get to see some Rocket basketball. ------------------ Rockets Season Ticket Holder
Francis is our franchise, and now he is talking of getting in teammates faces. So I'm going to be critical. Sure, he is just making talk with a reporter. I just want him to improve this summer. He is not perfect enough at what he does to get in people's faces. I agree, with the addition of instinctual passing once his shot brings out the defenders. (off topic, but what was the 3 foot lob pass he started "creating" last year. Looked like junk to me.) Francis (and most any PG) does not need a goto move. Like you say, I want to see Francis make better use of his awesome midrange game. Calvin has me convinced, Francis can be an better interior player than Isiah and Nash if he first shoots open shots and forces the defenders to him. Then he needs a quick decision where to pass....that's instinct...I think Nash/Isiah had a big headstart on the instinct part, since as TexasSalsa says, "Francis has only been a PG for 2 years." Hell, we can actually argue that interior play IS the PGs fundamental go to move...the ability to keeps defenders at bay or open a passing lane...take your poison. I cannot argue with that. Nor can I argue with TexasSalsa. Hell, I don't even want to argue with myself about this. But what are we dreaming about! Can anyone describe it? Francis as Isiah with hops. This is the dream. This is what we all want. But is he closer to being a 6'3" McGrady, than an Isiah with hops. That's the vision getting in the way of my dreams. You know, I think if Francis simply adds Isiah/Nash's penetrating/passing...he is a superstar. Let's not try to be something so complicated and new that we build statues for him in D.C, like something Sampson expected. Keep it simple Steve. Learn the basic traditional roles first, before you decide to be something new. Otherwise, I can't help but look at him as a 6'3" Kobe, McGrady, Carter...a short shooting guard who has the luxury of being guarded by short point guards. That's all he is with all its shortcomings (pun intended) until his "feeling guys out, learning how to fit in" translates to him knowing where his teammates are, more than them knowing where he is. The whole team needs to keep "feeling guys out, learning how to fit in." Francis cannot say "no more of that"....he is not all-that, yet. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited May 12, 2001).]
heypartner-Who is the leader of this team? I don't see how it can be argued anyone but Francis, as he's the best player on the team, with the status of Dream and free agents etc. up in the air. Would you rather him not say anything to Cato when Cato lets a 6'0'' guard waltz by him for an uncontested layup? One of the players has to do it, sometimes it's more meaningful coming from a fellow player. Is Francis not the best player on this team? Do you not think Francis can improve between his 2nd and 3rd season? Did he not improve between his rookie and sophomore year? Has he not improved as the year progressed? Francis is a star right now. He is not however a superstar, yet. He can reach that level, though, and I expect, and hope, to see his passing skills improve next year. He has to have the weapons to pass the rock to, and the confidence that his teammates will hit the shots. I think this is more Francis wanting to sound good in the media than Francis being arrogant. ------------------ "That's been a lifelong dream of mine." -Vince Carter, after laying it in on a breakaway, much to the Vancouver crowd's displeasure.
Mike Murphy continues to prove Heypartner wrong! http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/teams/rockets/ ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
Seems like the same article by a different person to me. What did he prove wrong? That they're playing in the off-season? Dammit Tweak. You're confusing. ------------------ NBA Draft Lottery is May 20th. Start praying now.
I am also of the opinion that Francis has quite a bit to work on. I didn't see the improvement in his game from last season to this one that I would have liked. It's nice that Francis is pumping weights, but I'd rather see him working on his defense, getting more aggresive with his shot offensively, learning to draw doubles to set up his teamates more effectively and pushing and creating fast breaks more often. Seriously, what is the point of a young freakishly athletic point guard if he doesn't run the break often enough? I'm confident Francis can improve, but I wish someone would get in HIS face. ------------------ snap crackle pop
The point is that he is working on his game. ------------------ The Protrolls.com message boards! Protrolls.com! Don't visit my site.
ZRB has turned into a positive contributer to this board and I think that opinion is a very good one. FRANCIS IS WORKING ON HIS GAME. He will only get better and he's doing the intangibles for himself mentally to plateau himself into a position where he can make or break games. And he will. I'm going to have to hose down dem francis haters! ------------------ -jbond77
I really don't care how some of you read into this article, but I see Steve as a rare player who puts all his heart into the game and does whatever it takes to get better. I think this is all part of his growth. He's getting there pretty soon he'll be the talk of the NBA and I know he'll show everyone he can do it. ------------------
heyp, You do bring up some decent points, but you do seem to have an obvious bias. Where to start? "Feeling his teammates out" to me was not about court position as it was about personality conflicts. In the context of the article, it had to do with getting in teammates faces and not worrying about ruffling feathers. Also, how can you label someone's confidence as false? Who are you to know if it is a facade? It seems no matter what Francis does or what is quoted you will find a way to put a negative spin on it and then try to verbally bully your point into being popular opinion. Are their flaws in his game? Sure, but all he did in that article was talk about learning how to be a leader (sounds like addressing a weakness to me). He talked about taking the team to the playoffs and accepting the fan's guile if he did not (sounds mature to me, not to mention gutsy). Well, any other year and the Rocket's would already have been in the playoffs. How can a guy who has unlimited potential, a great work ethic, and a willingness to be coached be so worthy of your disdain. Deny it if you will. I can see your response already. It will start with something like "If you would read my post from earlier". Well, I did, and except for a little backtracking in more recent posts, you were pretty harsh. Franchise is exactly that, so get used to it as I will with your berating of his game. ------------------
I don't see anything wrong with 'getting in guys' faces' and taking more of a leadership role...particularly when you're supposed to be the franchise player. And there's no rule saying you can't work on more than one thing at once...leadership can go with improving your interior passing and fastbreaking. Looking from year one to year two, the improvement is there. We have no idea what's coming in the next season. HeyP: I don't know about 95% of the board treating Francis 'like God'. But I do think a lot of folks around here are happy with the fact that we have what appears to be one of the top-tier guards in the league as our cornerstone. Sure, some may get a little too enthusiastic at this point - I can name quite a few players who at the moment are better than Steve - but that's fairly normal. For all intents and purposes, he's going to make or break us for quite a while, might as well hope for the best. If he raises your ire this much already (why is it people on this board love to bash Rocks that have been playing for less time than your standard rookie contract?) you're in for a loooooonnng road as a Rocket fan. And please, no more Nash... I'm glad the guy is finally being a big part of the league, but I still believe even grouping him with Isiah is a stretch... ------------------ Proud Member of whatever Clutch City club is currently the most popular and/or controversial.
Yeah, since when does the ability to run a good fast break determine if a franchise player is allowed to get in other players' faces? -------------------------------- Working late... [This message has been edited by ZRB (edited May 14, 2001).]
