I was wrong about TMac

i was a fan of franchise too but i always thought McGrady was a way better player. if we ever have a chance to improve our team then i'm all for it. i've been following francis ever since the trade and he seemed to be doin ok at first but now he's back to his old ways, which i'm sad to say is not a good thing.

 

who among you!....

 

Props to you hotballa for stepping up and making your statement.

IIRC, you made it very clear at the time that you were very much against the trade. TMac has indeed proven most of us right in that he is head and shoulders a better player than Francis and better at integrating his game into the team's needs. The bonus has been that he answered the one question that had been hung on him. Can he lead, inspire, and make his teammates better? YES! Less than a season later, he's exceeded anything even us trade lovers could've imagined.

It was never a "hate Francis" thing for most of us trade lovers. I think most of us were also hoping that the trade would finally jolt Francis into playing a smarter, more team oriented game. Sadly, that hasn't happened and probably never will. I'm sure Orlando will get something decent in return for him from a GM who still thinks, "maybe, just maybe..." But after another typical Francis season, those GM's are dwindling fast and he'll never bring anything close to a TMac again. Really sad.

Can you believe how lucky we are that TMac insisted on coming here? And thank goodness Weisbrod is such a classless, stubborn, and pompous GM. Without his pride and demeanor, the deal doesn't get done! It's truly amazing that this era of Rocket history might well turn out to be defined by an individual outside the organization...John Weisbrod.

 

I was, is, and will always be a fan of "Da Franchise". He got his heart and soul to the Rockets. I have to say though, he is not the smartest players in the league. He is one of the hardest working players in the league. He always leaves it all on the court. I will never boo him, unless it is a major call against the rockets.

 

That is so true! Maybe we should hang his picture from the rafters of TC next to the dozen or so championship banners we'll get as a result of the trade!!

 

Good points! Props for making this post after a bad loss too! We have plenty of space on the bandwagon, get on it.

BTW, you dont have to actually "eat" the crow, you can just chew it a bit and then when the bandwagon goes by Orlando you can spit it at Weis-ass.

 

In order for true satisfaction to be achieved, he must swallow.

 

Just because you fessed up now doesn't mean we are gonna let you on the bandwagon.

Let us think about it for awhile.

 

interview on ESPN now...w/Stephen Jackson
oh shiez theres a thread about this.

damn wasted post!

 

I live in Orlando and watch both the Magic and Rockets. I am a Rocket fan.
However, I have to disagree with the statement that Francis is one of the hardest working players in the league. The team has repeatedly said that Francis is the worst defender of the team. He spends so much energy on offense and offensive boards, that he doesn't dedicate himseld to defense. I have watched T-Mac and he has played defense pretty well for a guy that has a large role on offense. Francis is tougher and meaner that T-Mac, so I'll give him his props in that aspect of the game. However, like JVG said "Do not mistake bravado (tough demeanor) for intensity and energy". Francis thinks that by being a thug on the floor he will somehow shoe leadership. that is far from the truth. His toughness is appreciated, but he doesn't play intensely on the defensive end. That same bravado has cost his team games (by getting technicals, getting in with the refs, photographers).

Bottomline: "FRANCIS IS TOUGH BUT NOT DISCIPLINED. HIS ATTITUDE CAN WIN GAMES BUT IT CAN ALSO BE CANCEROUS FOR THE TEAM AND CAUSE THEM TO LOSE GAMES. THERE IS NO CONSISTENCY TO HIS ERRATIC GAME (AVERAGES 4+ TURNOVERS). YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET FROM T-MAC. PLUS HE IS A SUPERIOR TALENT. TOP 5 PLAYER AS OPPOSED TO BARELY MAKING TOP 20."

 

naw....Im a lot more forgiving than Faos is....

I knew you would come around balla...just no more of the Memac.....ever...or I'll personally kick you off the wagon...

 

I was a bit leery about the trade too and have been proved wrong and never have I felt so good about being proven wrong.

I knew that T-Mac was a better overall player than Francis but I was more concerned about the dismantling of a team that IMO was showing progress and developing a closeness and chemistry. I didn't think the team had done the best it could last season but that with another year of Yao, Francis, Mobley, Cato and JVG working together they would get better.

The other concern I had was how a phenomenal offensive player like T-Mac coming into play under JVG's stilted O schemes would do. I was visualizing problems with chemistry and clashes between T-Mac and JVG throughout the season. This is where I give JVG credit in that unlike his reputation he's loosened the reigns to let his players play to their natural abilities than to what he's always done.

While I think its way too early to be talking about Championship this team has succeeded far better than I expected and props to T-Mac, JVG, Dawson, Les and all of the Rox.

 

Hotballa,

I have a whole new found respect for you, and quiet frankly,it disgusts me!

You know very well I loved Franchise as well, and in fact was going to root for his team in the East, but a few jabs at the Rockets and the fans that cheered him when he came back here and I completely lost respect for him, the latest saga only adds to that.

I have always said and will say it again: Francis' ONLY problem is that he is an immature child, that's it. It is not talent or effort or heart, it is personality that gets in his way towards success. But with all that, I still love him, just don't respect him anymore.

Anyways, even with some of McGrady's shortcomings in the past, he REALLY wants to win, and REALLY loves Yao and wants to play with him for the rest of his career. He also REALLY loves the Rockets, and is playing through injuries and other things to try and do his best to help this team. He is the guy that pretty much runs this team and its offense, and without his presence out there to take off some pressure off Yao, I am not sure we would be as successful this year. For sure, I don't remember Franchise getting double-teamed very often, it was usually only Yao last year. This year, having T-Mac and Yao, it is pick your poison, and in case they double-team both, this leaves our perimeter guys wide open for practice-like shots, which they have knocked down with amazing consistency over the season since January.

There is no doubt our team has much more potential with T-Mac and Yao at the helm, they will lead us one day, not now, to the promised land. But fans have to be patient, Yao is nowhere near his prime, and is only a kid at 25 yrs of age; T-Mac, although it seems like he's been around forever, is also just a kid at 25 years of age. My question to you is: how old was Olajuwon when he won his first championship? It won't be that long, but you get my point. You can't accelerate the maturation process, it just takes time. Have realistic expectations, and take the good with the bad, because that is just life, and in this case the good way outweighs the negative.

Hotballa, u da man. There, I said it!

 

Why the three-star rating? YOF lurking around or what? I guess some don't want anyone to say anything good about any Rocket besides Yao.

YOF, here it is: Yao is King, Yao is the man, the best center in NBA history, we don't deserve him, we are lucky to have him!

THERE! Now please rate the thread a bit higher

 

I agree with tigermission1. I live in Orlando and I was a T-Mac fan before I was a Rocket fan. I am biased, but come on guys, give T-Mac his props. I understand your love for Yao because the Rockets drafted him and he's a grat player. I like Yao very much as well. However, my perception is that Yao is our guy, while T-Mac is just the guy who is going to help Yao and the rockets to the next level. Appreciating T-Mac more doesn't mean that you will somehow undermine Yao. They are the pillars of the team in no particular order. As a matter of fact Tracy is signed for 5 more years, while Yao has one more year on his contract. Go Rockets

 

Steve Francis and Tracy Mcgrady shouldnt' even be mentioned in the same sentence.

 

How about when i say:

"Tracy McGrady is a hell of a lot better than Steve Francis"

 

Jordan is another level, not Kobe and TMAC. Right now there is no way TMAC can compare to Jordan