Interesting Francis quote

Honestly, I think they listen to everything JVG says/tells them to do.

 

"Sometimes we almost force-feed the ball to Yao," Francis said. "We did that in the fourth quarter tonight and he made good decisions on whether to pass it back out or go in and score. He came up big in the fourth quarter."

 

When did he say htat?

 

just to be fair, He aslo did say this:

On the Rockets as a team:
"We have a pretty good record but I feel like we have a lot of growth to do as a team. I believe in my teammates and I believe in my coach 100 percent. Whatever direction he is directing us, that’s where we are going to go, whether it’s inside out or outside in, we are going to go in that direction. I think everybody respects that a lot."

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/quotes031119.html

 

This shows a lot of growth. But he've talked a good game before, and he doesn't always back it up. But this year it really looks like he's trying to be a team player.

 

I liked Steve's game against Golden State. Anytime he can deliver 23 pts and not make any mistakes that I remember clearly the next day, it's a great game from him.

My favorite play was the fast break where he went up to draw the defenders and then passed it behind him to Boki for the jam. The ROCKETS actually DIDN'T blow a fast break! YESSS!!!

I think Steve's trying his best to be the guy JVG needs him to be. It's early and there will probably be more ups and downs for him before it becomes second nature a couple years down the line.

 

Steve did a great job.

That Boki fast break pass and the Yao Ming in the middle pass were highlight reel material.

 

Hmmm...

JVG thinks that Yao is getting ignored in the post on designed plays while open, while Francis thinks it's getting "force fed" to Yao.

It's hard not to smell conflict. That said, I do think Francis is making a genuine effort (unlike a SG I'm thinking of...).

 

i know steve is trying, i really believe this. however, i just don't see he and yao ever winning a title together. trading francis to get a less talented but pass-first, team oriented point guard and fortifying other positions in the process is what it will eventually take to go all the way. forgive me, and i hope i am proven wrong, but i don't think steve can change, and perhaps he shouldn't. his talents will fit in nicely in other places, i just can't stand to watch him butcher the offense any longer.

 

Hey F.D., Put a sock in it.

 

Haha...funny Steve now says "respects the opponents." Last year he looks down on a lot of teams like Clippers and Golden State and think they can just blew past them and ended up losing. This year, I guess someone tell him to respect the opponents and sort of change his attitude toward things.

 

I agree 100%. Throw out the Toronto game, and it looks like he's really trying. Rome wasn't built in a day.

 

Steve's been trying really really hard starting from offseason last year to learn how to be a great leader, which is very commendable. Even though it's fustrating to watch him sometimes, he's out there doing his very best for the team every night(what he think is best anyways). I remember last year he was asking Jordan and other knowlegeable basketball people on how to become a better leader. Also in the all star game last year he even asked Kobe and Shaq for advise on how to be a better leader.

I don't think he has an ego problem or anything...it's just extremely hard breaking bad habits.

 

look, steve wants to be a leader but he just doesn't know how. everyone can see he is a bit of a dumb-dumb. he should be unleashed as a scoring machine, not asked to run an offense.

 

Yea, he needs more tatoos, corn rows, a posse, and he'll jive just like 'Ive

 

I think that they can coexist. Just be patient and give them another year to play together (this year).
It is too soon to give up one of them.

 

If I was making 70+ million I'd believe too...