I don't remember any body saying that Yao would never "get it." In fact, Yao's understanding of the game has always been his strong point. Also note that Yao has made incredible strides in just 1 1/2 years in the league. Francis is going on his 5th year. What's funny is....when Yao first came to the Rockets he was lacking aggressiveness and athletic strength, but was full of fundamentals. Francis....when he first game to the Rockets he was (and still is) lacking fundamentals and understanding, but was full of athletic ability. Opposites if there ever was one...it would be nice if they could both meet in the middle.
Well, there are many Steve defenders now too... But about two weeks ago, 1/3 of the threads were talking about why Yao's been crappy. Or seemed that way to me. But Yao has had quite a lot of problems too. Not able to get in position, problems rebounding, turnovers, etc. Let's face it, he had a pretty terrible stretch of games before coming on strong lately. That's what the Yao bashers have been pointing out to conclude that Yao will never become a superstar. While Steve's been in the league 5 years, this is his first year with Van Gundy. So I'm still hopeful that he can eventually make the adjustment necessary.
Yes. Explained by the "where the wind blows" fans comment. You can't selectively quote me, while still being fair to the entire post. Yes, and Yao is also in his 2nd year. Do you really want to say that a 5th year player is equally likely to imprve as a 2nd year player? Especially when the general consensus is that Yao is probably already the superior player? And he had this tremendous success under Rudy Sorry, too many excuses.
I wonder why the team almost never runs a backdoor play for Steve? He would be devastating as a cutter. I know Steve is supposed to be a PG, but surely there must be ways around this problem.
I wouldn't agree with all your answers, but let's look at YOUR answers. You use words like "decent," "good," "streaky," "poor," and "can." That is like saying ARod is batting under .200 and making 3 errors a game, but he is O.K., average, adequate. My Word, my good man, Francis is a MAXIMUM contarct, ALL STAR, most popular player in Houston, budding SuperStar. He is making 70 million. Expectation should be sky high. Granted he has had "Jordan-like" performances through the years, like at the beginning of last season, but day to day, game to game even last season when supposedly he wasn't in the current "slump" he has not performed up to expectations. For what he brings to the team, do we need a MAX contract player? How many much lower paid PG's who can pass better and shoot better from the perimeter are available. Think about it.
Here is what drives me crazy about Steve: Why is it that he has to wait until there is 2 seconds left in a quarter, to start making a move, and then jack up a prayer? Why did he not feed Yao at the end of the 3rd quarter the other night when Yao had scored 21- IN THE 3RD QUARTER!? Steve is very overrated, and to put him in the same category as Iverson or Bryant is absolutely crazy. He can't hold those guys jocks. If you look at the Rockets teams that won championships, our point guards were Kenny Smith and Sam Cassell. Both knew that in order to win, they would have to feed the post (Dream). If they were hot, they'd keep shooting, if they were having an off night- they'd defer to someone else. That is what Steve doesn't and will never do.
here's the deal. this thread is in steve's defense. i'm chiming in as a rabid rocket fan from way back, not a francis fan. he has made tremendous strides as a team player. he defers to his teammates far more often this year and is a large part of why our team defense is much improved this year. he has been torn down and is in the process of being rebuilt as a basketball player. he is accepting this back-to-school, crash-course in fundamentals with admirable aplomb. his natural talent level is so high that with continued effort and team-oriented attitude, his play can only improve. this is exciting and, yes, i am being optimistic. how else should i respond if i choose to defend steve on certain points? if you have ever read other posts of mine, you would have seen that i have called for steve's head on many occasions. i would, for example, trade him if i were the GM. not because he is incompatible with yao, or isn't a team player, but precisely because he is paid a max contract and i would rather be more flexible under the cap.
You and I are thinking more along the same lines than I thought. I don't hate Steve, I don't even dislike him, I just have strong views about what it is going to take to become competitive in the West. I am a big fan of any "part" that makes the "whole" better. Unless Francis virtually and successfully "recreates" his whole game, I don't see him in the Rocket's future. At present, too many bucks for too little bang.
MacBeth's point is valid and captured in a favorite book of mine, Taran Wanderer by Lloyd Alexander: "The trying counts more than the doing, and the seeking counts more than the finding." Dallben, sage/wizard. Right now, the fact that Francis is trying counts for a lot, and should count for more than the fact that he has not been able to find the right adjustment for his game. But the NBA is not a fairly tale and he is on the clock. He better start doing and finding, or else he will find himself trying and seeking elsewhere.
This is what I hope from SF... (great quote gocarkmoazrt) So Archibald emerged not as the flashy scorer of old but as a controlled, efficient playmaker, running the offense like a general." The result: 184 wins over the next 3 seasons and an NBA championship in 1981. And it wasn't that Tiny didn't set up isos or take over the game at times. It was that he balanced his scoring with his getting the rest of the team involved and with getting the ball to the player with the "hot hand." If the other team allowed it, he would put the team on his shoulders at critical junctures and go on a scoring binge. If they blocked the lane off, he moved the ball in a different direction. J
Hoop Dreams! May it be true of Francis, nothing would please me more. I would be excited for him; I would be thrilled for us. Until then let's look at all the options and plan for various outcomes. (In our imaginations, of course) You know we can get into the illusion that we are controlling the Rockets from this site. Wierd science, aye?
Yet another worthless discussion. Bottom line: who's going to take his place? Several people mention it shoudn't be hard to do, but I didn't see one REALISTIC name...not one. Who? Kidd: not going to happen; Marbury: too late; Payton: nope; Parker, JWill, etc. etc. Thankfully VanGundy IS the coach and as he has said you need to coach to a players strengths: I'm sure SF & VG are making adustments as they go along; once again, thankfully they're in charge of the team and not us! Rockets or BUST!
Who says anyone has to replace Steve. If he leaves, we may finally be able to find a REAL pf, move Cato back to backing up Yao, increase Mobley's touches to pick up some of SF's scoring, and find a reliable, consistent PG of far lesser talent. Steve is one of the premier bargaining chips in the league, and this summer (with the exception), we will be in position to disreguard financial concerns and find the best available deal out there. If no deal can be found, don't make one. But to not even consider using this advantage in the offseason would be irresponsible of Rocket's management.
