Alston and Sura contract to Indiana for Diogu JLIII to NO for a half eaten Twinkie Yao/Deke Scola/Diogu/Butler Battier/Wells McGrady/Head Francis/James/Brooks Let's go to war!!!!!
Anothe highlight vid from the old days (Man, I'm just the Francis vid guy in this thread): <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y2GGXXhGNkQ"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Y2GGXXhGNkQ" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object> I'll try to find some more from his Knicks days...
I realize there are numerous concerns with Franchise's playing style, team chemistry, but here's why I *think* it will be okay. 1. Franchise is an older, more mature player. 2. We needed an option that can create his own shot, slash, and score...without TMac spoon feeding them. 3. We're playing under Adelman's system, his slash and attack style will be MUCH more effective , not defense to the death JVG death ball (no offense to JVG). The biggest knocks on Franchise were that he made poor decisions and shots a lot of ill advised shots, well he: 4) Won't have as much pressure to run the offense (with Alston, Tmac, James)...so he won't have an opportunity to make as many poor decisions 5) As a legitimate 3rd scoring option he'll actually be able to keep defenses more honest than the players we have now. 6) His defense isn't nearly as bad as everyone thinks. His rebounding stats will allow us to play smaller while still being competitive in defensive rebounding 7) He's insurance for TMac's back. 8) You know that TMac just wants to win, and Yao loves him. So chemistry (with our superstars) won't be an issue there. 9) 6 mil over 2 years? He's cheap! Francis isn't the savior of our franchise this year, but he'll help so much. Pluse he loves Houston (and we love him back) so he hopefully won't have a bad attitude like Bonzi Wells. Welcome back Franchise! See you at the game!
I was wondering that too, but I was really wondering what the Orlando fans are thinking.. LOL especially if we snag Cat too.. ROFL
Thing is, Francis CHOSE the rockets, the rockets didn't trade for francis (meaning he had no choice in the matter). Surely if he wanted to be the big dog and than start pouting when he couldn't dominate the ball like he wanted he would have chosen the clippers or heat instead. He knows what he's getting himself into.
starting 5: francis, tmac, battier, scola, yao???????????????? Dear NBA, FEAR US!!!!!! we are stacked!!!!
Not sure if this has been posted, too lazy to go back through all 30 pages and see. Besides, I'm sure someone else hasn't seen this article either. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/index?lpos=globalnav&lid=gn_NBA_NBA
Give it a rest. Regardless of what you think about Francis, even with his flaws, he is one of the top 3-5 players on this team. Welcome back Steve.
What on earth?!?! Francis sucked when he was young and healthy. I can't believe Deep Blue computed this would be a good idea. Career 1:1.7 assist to turnover ratio? Welcome back to 48 minutes of pure dribbling action. He can't run the offense, can't make the entry pass, can't make the easy pass, doesn't cut, can't defend, and likely some deserving player will get pushed off the roster. Oh yeah, thinks shooting 40% is enough to get the fans to kiss his a##. But we'll make some trades? How do you know? Who wants JL3? Who wants our other guys? The only consolation is that Adelman is too smart to ever let him play once he gets a load of the Franchise act. The one black mark on an otherwise incredible summer. But oh what a black mark! My peepee is KILLING me.
is it a sign that i post here too much if i just came back from doing something at work and refreshed the NBA Dish and noticed there were only 10 threads on the first page and my first thought was, oh i guess the board is super busy, we must've signed francis? and hey, my username is relevant again! and now i only have to put up with months of francis bashing. gotta admit, even when it seemed likely he would be bought out, i never really thought he'd end up back here. i'm not sure how i feel about it. i haven't watched him in so long, and am not sure how his non-existent standstill shooting abilities will fit in (along with turnovers and general inability to seemlessly combine shooting and passing) but he still gets to the basket, which basically no one else on the team does, and can still put up 20 in a game with no problem when given the minutes and touches (as shown in spurts on the knicks). i haven't read the thread so i don't know the terms of the deal, but for presumably very cheap, we're getting a guy who can throw in 20 on any given night, can create his own shot, and who just plain adds some talent to the team. if he, mike james, scola, and bonzi play like we hope, we could be very dangerous. if scola underwhelms, bonzi doesn't lose 5, 10, or 100 pounds, mike james seemingly ages another 5 years in one offseason, and francis doesn't fit in, we're back at square one. as a pessimist, i'll assume the latter. but if even just one or two work out well, i think we're better off than last year. here's hoping it goes well.
This is awesome.. If Francis is anything like he was when he was here last, which i believe he will be better due to maturity, he is a great addition.. he will now be able to run the floor as he couldn't under JVG and gives us a legitimate 3rd scorer that doesn't need Yao or T-Mac to draw in the defense so he can spot up.. and he can do the same for them.. and for 2M .. this is a winner.. Now trade Rafer or James and Sura and Lucas and get another power forward or maybe even Rudy Gay
Key word is was. We're getting a washed up penny hardaway type player now. Let's just pray he doesn't ruin chemistry. Houston is building something good here and it would be a shame if his selfish ways disrupt it.
