My Cup is Half Full...There's a lot to think about

Maybe this doesn't deserve a thread, but it's irritating sometimes to hear ROCKETS fans complain about getting a real talent like Steve back, but I understand somewhat.

Now many of them have gripes and I understand that, but before you throw more stones, try to remember EVERTHING that took place with the Stevie Francis saga.

When we drafted/stole Steve, it started a new era in Houston and Rudy T made changes to accommodate his new prized piece.. People that had issues with the whole dribble..dribble dribble...chunk up a bad shot had a legit gripe. I hated that offense too, but that's the key word........OFFENSE. This was Rudy Ball and people tend to forget that. That was Rudy's offense.....spread the floor, break down your man and make something happen. Now he threw some high pick and rolls in there, but mainly...spread the floor and break who ever was in front of you down. It was a horrible offense and we all knew that. But every night, Steve, Cat and Moochie were allowed to do it....over and over again. Have we all forgot that? Is that ALL Steve's fault? That was Rudy's bread and butter...one of the reasons things had to change.

When Van Gundy was hired, the offense changed. A lil more motion and they played well under Jeff his first year. Many have selective memories. Steve wasn't averaging the 21ppg 6 and 6 anymore, but he did pull a modest 16ppg 6 and 6 and the team was better for it. That was an exciting year....again people have selective memories. We went to the playoffs and gave the Lakers all they could handle. Steve was great in that series...Great. Think back. The way he fought and put that team on his shoulders was magical. I remember and will always love him for the heart he showed.

We traded Steve...not because he was bad, but because we had the chance to land a TOP FIVE PLAYER. I hated to see Steve go, but the trade had to be made. Orlando had a BAD GM at the time that held grudges and sent Tracy to Houston. I would have made that trade 10 times out of 10 for obvious reasons.

Steve went to Orlando and put up great numbers. Orlando had a motion offense.....there wasn't any isolation basketball being played there. He thrived and averaged 22ppg 7 and 6. He was doing just fine in a normal offense until they traded his boy lol. Think about it for a second...he wasn't traded away from Orlando because he was a bad player, he got traded because he publicly criticized a bad GM John Weisbrod (i think that's his name) for trading Cat (20point scorer) for Doug Christie, who played like 20 games and retired. It was a horrible trade and the hockey/basketball GM decided it was time for disgruntle Steve to go. Now, production fell off and Steve sulked and I understand that he needed to mature at the time...but we all knew that was a BAD trade and Steve had a point. Ooh...John Weisbrod was fired the following year I believe.

The New York Knicks things doesn't need explanation...they are the Knicks.

I think/thought that Steve got/gets a bad wrap most of the time. Now, he deserves some heat from some of the things he's done and said, but overall...this is a good guy that I believe will help this team over the hump. If people are going to remember him for being a dribble master that played a bunch of one on one basketball, that's fine but also remember who was calling that isolation play from the sidelines. Something has to give. I'm sure that he has a chip and wants to prove a lot people wrong and also prove to himself that he's a winner. Why else would he come back to a team that has a 1st and 2nd option and take less money? He's ready to win.....let's give him a change and be Rocket fans.

 

Right....and the only time Steve has ever played like that was when he was allowed to. Rudy was the only coach to allow Steve to play one on one, break down your defender type basketball. He won't dribble the clock down here because the offense doesn't call for that. He knows how to play with a team and he will prove many wrong with selective memories.

 

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That's cool....make sure you stay off the wagon ok?

You have a right to your opinon though

 

It was the NEW YORK KNICKS.....it doesn't deserve explanation.

The whole situation was/still and will remain horrible

 

I agree

Steve has grown as a player...there is no way he could not have. What gets me is that people have this fixed notice of what kind of player is without looking at ALL the reason as to why he played the way he played while here.
Rudy WANTED them to play isolation basketball...that was the game plan, but yet Steve gets labeled a dribble butt head. I understand that, but understand that is was the offense at the time. He didn't play that way under Van Gundy nor in Orlando and had two great years under normal systems.

If you are someone that never liked Steve, then nothing I or anyone else can say that will change your opinion...even if it seems obvious to me.

 

Was it Steve or Rudy that hurt Yao's development? I say more Rudy...it was his offense.

I totally agree with everything else. What I love the most about having Steve back is that teams now HAVE to account for our point guard. No longer can Tony Parker, Deron Williams, Steve Nash etc...play the Rockets without game planning for our point guards (including James) I'm not saying that Steve and Mike can guard those guys, I'm just saying that now...the opposing point guards have to play defense the whole game. That alone will help the cause.