We have to trust coach Adelman. Adelman coaches offense for his living. Rafer's flaw is also on offense, his game has zero offense. If they can co-exist and get the job done so far, I believe there is something we fans don't see. ----------------My boldest guess:------------------- **I think it is TMAC who loves Rafer and Juwan. ** -------------------------------------------------
Despite all the speculations, I honestly think Steve is in the doghouse. I mean, really, what else could it be? But my concern is this. Will Rox fans ever see him play another game for this organization? Is he done for good? Just waiting to be traded? I hope this isn't permanent. I would really like to give him a shot before letting him go. Hey, at least V-Span go to play a few games. Not giving Stevie a crack in the lineup is a big diss for player of his caliber and status. Forget about starting or playing significant minutes. Being a veteran and former All-Star EARNS you a right to at least step on the court for a few minutes. At least give the guy that much for all his services and dedication.
This has probably already been said, but the part that really bothers me about the whole situation is: This is the best team he's EVER been on and our weakness is at the PG position. We have a chance to be GREAT, going all the way GREAT, and he has a chance to be a big part of it and really be a winner for once in his career. The utter apathy he has for our situation makes it seem like he is, and always has been, about himself.
I only skimmed the thread b/c my time is short, so forgive me if I'm repeating what others have said here. To start with, I LOVE Francis. Always have, always will. But he has a long, long history of cutting bait when things aren't going well for him in a certain locale. In college, he left San Jac to play at a better school. Can't blame him there- juco to national title contender. Then he gets drafted #2 to play in Canada, pitches a fit, and gets traded to Houston. Fast forward a few years, and he gets traded to Orlando. The only thing that keeps him semi-stabilized there (he's still a discipline problem) is his good friend, Mobley. Mobley gets traded, and he pitches another fit, getting traded to NY a year later. In NY he can't acclimate and accept his lesser role behind Starbury, and is 'injured'. Gets traded to Portland and gets bought out. So we get him this year as an afterthought. I don't know what candyland dream world he lives in, but he comes in, as cited, out of shape and presumably with a chip on his shoulder. Loses the starting job, doesn't even play the first six games, then....rinse, repeat- looks like he's trying to cut bait again. It's sad, because the only person he's hurting is himself. I've dated girls like this- you want them to realize what they're screwing up, but you know they won't until it's too late. All I can say at this point is, it's not me, it's you. Good luck, Stevie.
I completely agree with what you're saying. I do feel that it's all on Steve to step up. However, I also feel that there's a bit of stubbornness going both ways at this point. Given the horrendous plays by our current point guards, I feel like Steve should be given at least a little playing time. If we give him PT, we may be falsely rewarding SF for his attitude, but perhaps after having a little stake in the team, he'll work harder and be able to contribute more. Isn't that what everyone wants after all?
I don't think there is something secret about Adelman and Alston only that Yao and T-Mac are playing incredible and making up for Alston's flaws. Alston is very flawed but Adelman probably figures he can live with Alston's flaws and not with Francis'. As much as I want to see Francis play I fear it might come only at the cost of seeing Alston and/or James actually costs us games.
Yep, solid take. The opportunity is there if he wants it but the key is IF HE WANTS TO WORK FOR IT! They don't hand out championships you have to EARN them.
I disagree with the concept of a "doghouse". The way I understand it this is a game that people are paid to play and if they don't perform for the money they are earning they don't play. A successful coach isn't going to play someone based on their "reputation" or "history with the team" or even the size of their contract. He's going to play the best combination of players on the court that he thinks will garner success. If that is someone that he didn't expect before the season started, so be it. Perform on the court and in practice and you will get your playing time. End of story.
thats all very touching, but this is a professional basketball team where the players get millions to play a game. sorry if i dont have any sympathy for steve-o and his ego. the people who coach him and see him everyday in practice, training and workouts probably do. he was starting on the knicks. its his own fault. he came in with a sense of entitlement as to his starting job and didnt get in proper shape. furthermore, he still hasnt shown a proclivity to play team ball w/in the offense and his attitude has been poor. ive said it before and ill say it again - steve-o is a horrible fit for this team. an adleman offense requires smart passing and decision making and the ability to move w/out the ball - none of these are strengths of steve-o. we are 6-1. it tells me that steve-o has some work to do if he wants to crack the rotation.
People should also keep in mind that the team hasn't had much practice time since the season started. I think we've played more games than any other team thus far. Not many off days. Some practice days are coming within the next week or two. That's Steve's opportunity to really showcase some improvement (both in play, and in attitude) to the coaches.
Perhaps I'm misunderstanding what people mean by "doghouse". My understanding is that means the coach isn't playing him because he isn't meeting the coach's expectations. Are people talking about "doghouse" in terms of punishing a player for a reason other than game performance?
Adelman has had no history of player confrontations. The guy is loved by Bonzi Wells and Ron Artest. If that doesnt say how much of a player's coach he is then I don't know what does. I don't think Francis and Adelman are butting heads. Adelman doesn't butt heads with anyone, but the fact that Francis is the first player that probably has a problem with Adelman in Adelman's entire history of coaching speaks volumes about Francis' character (or lack thereof)
I'm not sure how much involvement Yao is in all this, but I think he should really step it up and help steve. Give him some sort of talk. Invite him to workouts..etc. Steve has helped Yao when he first came to America, I think Yao should really help steve out as well. Again, I don't know Yao has or hasn't done, but I think he can motivate Steve.
Coming from the EmJohn, he probably did think he would be the starter, and Rafer would be out of town. But since Rafer is kinda sucking....horribly sucking 30 pct shooting, 24% from outside the arch, and 4 assists a game. It might be SF3 time coming up soon, because possibly could he be any worst than Rafer.
Every coach has a doghouse. If he doesn't, he's too nice, letting the inmates run the asylum, and will be fired soon. I think it is beyond obvious that SF is in Adelman's doghouse at this point.
The Rockets have 11 games in 19 days starting Tuesday (which starts a dreaded 4 games in 5 days) so there won't be much practice time for a while.
Well we honestly tried to trade Rafer before Preseason started. Problem is that nobody else wanted his big fat contract. Francis thought the job was his. He probably had trouble with the Adelman offense in preseason and had a bit of a gut. He didn't get the starting nod so he needs to just get over it and wait for his turn. Sooner or later we are going to have a guard go down with an injury or play himself out of the rotation. Sooner or later Adleman will see that Francis has improved during practices and give him a few minutes here and there to see how he does. Same as Brooks and Landry. The depth of the Francis fall from All-Star to benchwarmer is maddeningly frustrating to all of us who are Francis Fans. If it's frustrating to us, imagine how frustrating it is to Francis. That being said, if Bonzi can get in shape and play then so can Francis. It's not like Francis is 35 lbs overweight. He's a little bit out of shape. It would take him about one month to get into shape if he's serious. The rest requires that he learn the system and play well when he's given minutes. Lets hope that this family emergency is real and not the Bonzi situation of last year. We knew that Francis would not be happy and Adleman knew that someone would not be happy. Someone was just not going to play. The only way that Francis could play is if Adleman went to a 10 man rotation and take a few minutes away from Rafer/Head/Alston/James. Either that or bench one of them and give the minutes to Stevie. Anyway you cut it, someone will end up being very unhappy.
