Of course. And Robert Horry is just the same dominant player that Michael Jordan was. Probably more so.
YOU?...arguing that rings and playoff success are less relevant in a conversation? I do see you're point though. I agree. I think Steve was the better player. You can't just look at fg% and say 'Kenny's more efficient', Steve was multi-talented. His PER numbers dwarf Kenny's and people forget he was a beast on the boards for a little guy.
The truth is, Kenny was a competant point guard for a group of veterans. Steve played with several rebuilding teams during his prime. The tragedy about Francis is that we never saw what he could do with a legit team. Everyone here is speculating what he might've messed up on, but we don't know. Put Kenny on a team with Cat, Cato, Mo Taylor, Moochie, and the late Eddie Griffin and he wouldn't score over 20 ppg and dish as much dimes as Francis did. Put Francis on the Hakeem/Drexler championship team and there's a decent chance they still might win a championship. Case closed.
Penny Hardaway comes to mind as a superstar who suddenly found himself sitting in the Laz-Y-Boy watching highlight videos of his best years well before the age of 30.
The bottom line is this. Steve WAS the man at one point in time. Kenny WAS very lucky to have played alongside THE MAN. Kenny was a solid role player that old school Rockets fans are sticking up for purely out of nostalgia. People just remember the good times about Kenny since he has 2 rings. He was probably one of more sorrier point guards during his era though. Once again he can thank Hakeem for everything.
He played with 3 teams under ONE SEASON post ROCKETS, then he quit. 1996-97 31 TOT NBA 48 3 765 101 239 .423 59 135 .437 39 45 .867 4 40 44 116 19 0 71 30 300 1996-97 31 DET NBA 9 0 64 8 20 .400 5 10 .500 2 2 1.000 0 5 5 10 1 0 3 2 23 1996-97 31 ORL NBA 6 1 47 6 13 .462 3 5 .600 2 2 1.000 1 1 2 4 0 0 6 3 17 1996-97 31 DEN NBA 33 2 654 87 206 .422 51 120 .425 35 41 .854 3 34 37 102 18 0 62 25 260
His first season with the Rockets he averaged 17.7 pts and 7 assists his second season 14 and 7. so this was before the glory days. He can thank Dream for the Rings, but when Dream got hurt that year and Don Chaney won Coach of the Year, I believe it was the Kenny/Otis Thorpe Pick and Roll that was unstoppable. I believe Kenny shot 60% against the Jazz from the 3 point line too in the Playoffs. He may have been a 'sorrier' point guard, but he's way better as a pure PG than what we have now. Steve Francis's enduring playoff memory? Dribbling the 24 second shot clock out when he was suppose to shoot or make a play.
But Steve was NOT a good PG and he was an inconsistent shooter. We didn't need a slasher as a PG, we needed a guy who got the ball to dream, not turn the ball over, and shoot 3s. That's why Cassell came off the bench, cause he was an offensive slasher and Kenny was the pure PG. I like Steve too, don't get me wrong, but as a PG, he wasn't very good. And once you remove the ISO-Steve play, career over. Cased closed.
The tragedy is that WE DID SEE WHAT STEVE COULD DO WITHOUT CUTTINO. Look at what happened when Orlando traded Cat to the Clippers, then tell me what happened to Steve's career.
Actually Steve wouldn't have played well with this team, much like his game deteriorated quickly when Yao became a focal point. Steve was never a good spot shooter...his strength was shooting off the dribble, which is why he didn't play well in the inside/outside game.
exactly some players don't fit well with others. A prime Dream would have Francis off the bench as a Cassell type. Kenny was a great spot up shooter and so was Sam. that's perfect. People have this notion of putting a whole bunch of big name players together and think you can win a championship. the skills of each player has to COMPLIMENT each other. Steve's complimented Cuttino. Pippen, and Dream and Charles... you know what happened.
Steve and Cat Cat and Steve Once again We believe Cat and Steve Steve and Cat No one else Can do it like that
Cat and Steve went up the hill, To try to win a ring. Steve went "Whee!" and f(#ked up his knee, Now they ain't got no bling.
Did Kenny lead his team in Points, Rebounds and assists? Steve would just destroy Kenny if they ever met in their primes...... Just DESTROY.......
Seeing as though my post seems to have bought this thread alive I may as well post... first of all I hate Kenny Smith as a broadcaster which is the main reason for my post but I respect him as a valuable piece of the rockets championships. You ask me to do some research? yet you cannot even read a post? All I said was Steve Francis is a better player... I did not say better team player, better 3 point shooter, better whatever... I just said in general he is a better player. How about you do some research yourself on that? Steve's numbers early in a career in an ordinary team are very good... while he sucks now you cannot deny he was decent in a poor team. Smith per 48 minutes averaged as many turnovers as Stevie(ouch) and any 3 point shooter is going to look good when the D has to focus on the best center to ever play the game inside.
Kenny was the worst starter on a Championship Team(s). Francis was the best player on teams that rarely sniffed the playoffs. Advantage: Kenny Smith
