i just read that westside article from the espn site pretty good read, but in the end john lucas says francis could be MVP what do you guys think is francis that good i hope so.
I think he should have been a Top 10 canidate for MVP last year anyways. MVP is supposed to be about how valuable a player is to his team, with Steve the Rockets are very competitive against anybody, without him, let's be honest they just plain suck(look at the record). So when the Rox become major contenders, no "dought"(Heh.) about it, his name will be near the top every year.
He was definitly MVP of our team last year but of the league is a little bit off. The guy played in like a total of 50 games for us and we came no where close to making the playoffs.
If we can make a good run during the season and a good showing in the playoffs, it's possible. Especially if he makes Yao Ming and his teammates look good right out of the chute and they of course reciprocate. That's going to be tough though, there's a lot of "new" faces that will be important in the rotation and will have to blended into a top Western playoff team quickly. If he can have great individual performance, up his assists (to our other current main offensive weapons CAT, Ming, Taylor, Rice), and still get guys like Nachbar, KT, and Eddie involved in the flow and offense, he has a shot. I agree though, that will also have to include a strong playoff run.
Everyone knows Stevie's got the moves and can score at will--but until he becomes one of those players that all agree "makes everyone else around him better" people like Jason Kidd are still going to have a better shot at MVP. But fortunately for us, Steve should find it easier to at least get his assist totals up!
I think alot depends on the team grasping Rudy's scheme this year. But the more I dwell on Francis' numbers last year with his headaches, the more I think this year will be a 'breakout' year for him. This article seems to point to his determination, which, of course, he had to have in overabundance to perform as he did all last season. But now he's more experienced, more confident I imagine in his understanding of the game, has his pain under control, and is returning to a team with substantially more talent than last year (injuries and newcomers accounted for). They make the playoffs, for sure. If Rudy coaches them properly, and the team remains reasonably free from injury, they could surprise in the playoffs.
Why does everyone keep making a big deal of Stevie's assists. If you ever watch the games, he only plays point guard in the first and third quarters. Mooch is manning the point in the second and fourth quarters. To me, 6.5 assists in only two quarters of action at the point is alot. If anything, I think if he ups his scoring average alot with his field goal percentage, then I think he will be a candidate for MVP.
I don't think a player who, when healthy "led" a team to below .500 deserves any consideration for MVP. Francis will have a great chance to win it, if we win 50 games somehow.
In the article, Lucas seemed to be telling Francis that he could be, or has the potential to be the MVP. Obviously no one is going to argue that Steve deserved to be considered for the MVP last year.
Francis has the ability to be the MVP, but the MVP has to lead his team to victory. John Lucas knows that Francis has the * talent *, but he also knows that Francis has to put in the work to be the best. This kinda worries me though. I mean, if you have to motivate someone to be a winner, that seems like a bad sign... I mean, did someone have to motivate Hakeem, Jordan, Magic or Bird? No, they motivated themselves. I hope Francis proves me wrong.
I think Steve's numbers all improve this year except ppg. If we had been reasonably healthy last year his stats would have been better too. But, Yao Ming's sheer size would be enough to raise his assist total, but Yao Ming's shooting, quickness (picks), blocked shots (fast break opps.) and ability to pass will make his job a lot easier. That's why I threw up when he made his "a big man's never made my game better" remark before the draft. The Westside article made me feel real good about Steve again. I always knew he worked hard but I've had to question his desire to improve the mental aspects of his game. I'm so glad Luke's around. I hope he's talked to Steve about the benefits of playing with a talented big man. In the Rox run to the finals in '86 the guy was playing with a still healthy Sampson and a guy named Akeem who had just started to perfect something called a "Dreamshake". That team was so young and talented it still hurts my stomach - and Lucas knows more about opportunity lost then we ever will. MVP? Why not? Steve's always going to score and rebound (to me his most impressive stat). If he ups his assists (will happen, Ming, improved E. Griff and Boki) lowers his turnovers (should happen even with an almost completely different team than 2 yrs. ago) and ups his shooting percentage (will happen, won't be forced to take bad shots) and the team gets to 50+ wins - he's close to Magic territory statistically. If Steve can stay on the the same page with Rudy and CD for the next couple of seasons, the sky is the limit, but the Rox will probably have to get to 60 wins for him to win the MVP. Point guards are judged on a different scale than other players.
Hank Hill says "Hwut the Hell"??! Steve was hardly ever healthy last year, except for the first 10-15 games, and when he was hurting he was still the best player on the court. Can you honestly sit here and tell me, even with a unhealthy Steve on the court, that you felt our team didn't have a chance to win, but without him we had the same odds of winning? Hell No. When a player makes that much of a difference physically and mentally on the game, that shows, (IMO) that he is worth a mention for MVP. PS- If we win 50 games, he'll for sure get mentions.
Because he should be playing the point the whole game. Why would move an all-star point guard out of position for Moochie Norris.
um, i don't know about that. dude missed a ton of games last year, shot worst than he did the year before, still didn't play a lick of defense, and turned over more balls than porno star. mvp of our team? definitely. mvp of the league (last year)? hell naw. as for this coming year, yao ming may make steve francis the mvp of the nba. only a man as good as ming is can draw the defenses attention away from francis, mobley, griff, etc. steve has the ability to make the defenses pay to the tune of 18/10/10 per game while winning 55-58 games.
