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perhaps we're forgetting that francis is still a pretty good player

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by thacabbage, Jul 3, 2002.

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  1. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

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    Since the season ended, there has been a lot of negativity on this board regarding Steve Francis. The playoff performances of Steve Nash and Mike Bibby have left many ranking Francis at the bottom of the pecking order of elite point guards. Many of you even seem to think that this team would be better if Andre Miller was at the helm.

    What is the big fascination with Nash and Bibby? We are talking about two guys who were the 3rd options on their respective teams. It's pretty safe to assume that if Francis had Nowitzki/Finley or Webber/Divac/Stojakovich on his team, he could do atleast as much in the playoffs as the two aforementioned point guards. The man has had to shoulder the load of the weakest front court in the NBA for 3 seasons now - no wonder he recently had surgery. I don't think many of you realize how hard it is to play your game with incompetent teammates. Bibby and Nash's teammates make the game much easier for them.

    With the addition of young talent to the Rockets over the last year (Griffin, Nachbar, Ming), many of us are forgetting that Steve Francis is still just a baby in his own right at age 25. It seems that many of us expect perfection from him while in reality, he is still very early in his development as a player. People thought Kobe Bryant was selfish before he won a championship. Michael Jordan never passed the ball before Scottie Pippen came into his own. Rocket fans surely must remember how they were ready to ship Hakeem Olajuwon to the Heat for Rony Seikaly and Glen Rice (or any other package that came along) - the big man didn't trust his teammates and couldn't control his temper. In only his second year in the league, he led a team with a frontcourt including Kelvin Cato and Walt freaking Williams to the playoffs (and yes, a 45 win season is the playoffs). That in itself should tell us that he is special. Why not give Francis a chance to mature as a player before we judge him? It is pretty much common knowledge on this BBS that we cannot judge Eddie Griffin or Yao Ming before they add bulk. While Francis has developed physically, why are we judging him so early in his career?

    Many of you think that this team would be better with Andre Miller at the helm. This is ludicrous. Why would you trade a more talented player due to impatience just so you can get the more polished product? I have watched a lot of basketball and Kevin Johnson included, there hasn't been a more talented point guard than Francis in the NBA since Magic called it quits. This guy has incredible talent. He has the "special" ability that only the great ones posess. Why do some of you want Andre Miller, a lesser player, simply because he is right now more disciplined? I am sure the Lakers are happy they chose to trade the more disciplined Eddie Jones rather than the erratic but very promising Kobe Bryant.

    Lastly, why is he "selfish" because he had an opinion on Yao Ming? So he felt a proven NBA player would help his team more than a rookie. What's wrong with that? He watched Ming play and has now changed his mind, it is no big deal. Michael Jordan raised hell when Charles Oakley was traded for Bill Caurtwright. Do Bulls fans still hold him to that? Francis is this team's leader and he wants management to assemble the best team possible around him. How is that selfish?

    The guy led a talent-void squad to a 45 win season in his second year in the loaded Western Conference. Sure he needs to work on his defense and fastbreak. Is he at age 25 not going to improve anymore? You can think that the Ming Dynasty will reign in Houston or that Eddie Griffin will develop into the best shotblocker in the league, but don't forget about Francis because this team will go <i>nowhere</i> without him. He cannot be replaced.
     
    #1 thacabbage, Jul 3, 2002
  2. ron413

    ron413 Member

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    I think we all know that Steve is a terrific player & is basically our franchise. He just needs to be a leader on & off the court.
     
    #2 ron413, Jul 3, 2002
  3. tozai

    tozai Member

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    Agree with everything. I think people won't complain when we start winning again. Last season was a combination of everything going wrong at the wrong time, but we forget the year before we had the best record ever to not make the playoffs. Now our team is even better, so give it some time for Nachbar & Ming to fit in.

    Some people also think Steve isn't a PG, but other than Kidd & Miller he's just as much of a PG as Davis, Bibby or Nash. They were just surrounded by better players. Now it looks like we've made some new additions and if everyone is healthy we should be a playoff team and have a bright future...
     
    #3 tozai, Jul 3, 2002
  4. CBrownFanClub

    CBrownFanClub Member

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    to me, whatever basketball-related point cabbage is making is totally second-tier news to the bigger story, which is the fact that Cabbage Is Actually Posting On ThE BBS.

    I wonder what he said.

    CBFC

    okay, I just read it and you are right, no surprise.
     
    #4 CBrownFanClub, Jul 3, 2002
  5. Rocket River

    Rocket River Member

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    I'll admit I was a bit harsh about some of his comments. Esp the ones made publicly. [which were not OVERWHELMINGLY bad . . but just imo weaken our leverage on other teams]

    That being said.
    I'm not ready to trade him. .. or Cuttino . .or Kelvin ca. . oops. . sorry got on a roll :D

    Rocket River
     
    #5 Rocket River, Jul 3, 2002
  6. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    The first post in this thread has been M*A*S*H certified as Francis Hating free
     
    #6 A-Train, Jul 3, 2002
  7. Uprising

    Uprising Member

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    Francis is the Franchise, enough said.
     
    #7 Uprising, Jul 3, 2002
  8. verse

    verse Member

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    t-cab!!!! great to see you again, brah...


    anyhoo, i'm ready to turn over a new leaf. no more francis bashing from me (unless he says or does something stupid again, in which case i will be forced to point it out).

    seriously, he is ridiculously talented. i have NEVER denied that. i just think that many of us get frustrated with the fact that his mind has not caught up with his body yet. hey, let's all be patient. rudy's right...he really could be one of the alltime great ones.
     
    #8 verse, Jul 3, 2002
  9. red

    red Member

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    roger that...
     
    #9 red, Jul 3, 2002
  10. dave feitl

    dave feitl Member

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    I think most of us like Steve but he is immature and if we decide to call him out it does not mean we hate him.

    You can keep worshiping him if you want, but I'll wait til' he proves without doubt he is the heir apparent to Dream.

    If he can get us to the playoffs and prevent 2nd tier point guards from scoring on him he will make it easier on the team, himself, rudy and all of us who consider themseves to be his fans.

    But until he proves he doesn't just care about himself, I and everyone else who just tries to be realistic will BASH,BASH,BASH.

    If I say you're to slow in the NBA, doesn't mean I hate you or I'm trying to be negative, I'm just stating the obvious.

    I tell you this though if he takes this big contract and doesn't back it up you will hear what BASHING really is.You thought the Cat threads were bad, they won't even compare!
     
    #10 dave feitl, Jul 3, 2002
  11. rezdawg

    rezdawg Member

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    Francis is the man. He is like Bagwell to me. No matter how poorly he plays, I will always be a fan.
     
    #11 rezdawg, Jul 3, 2002
  12. Roc Paint

    Roc Paint Member

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    The best point guard in the NBA just so happens to play for my favorite team.
    Go Rockets!!
    :)
     
    #12 Roc Paint, Jul 3, 2002
  13. rockHEAD

    rockHEAD Member

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    This is Francis' team... he's the FRANCHISE. I ain't hatin' on Wink... I've never forgotten that Steve is a "pretty good player"!
     
    #13 rockHEAD, Jul 3, 2002
  14. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    Funny, it seems to me that the only guys that scored big on Francis, were top tier PG. Guys like Nash, Payton, Marbury, and Iverson. Man, Iverson went off on Stevie this year. What was it, like 58 points?
     
    #14 Oski2005, Jul 3, 2002
  15. Dennis2112

    Dennis2112 Member

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    Francis is a GREAT player and will show it for years to come in a Rockets uni.
     
    #15 Dennis2112, Jul 3, 2002
  16. TheFreak

    TheFreak Member

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    I agree with a lot of your post cabby. But actually the Rockets were around 20-23 that year before Hakeem started to go nuts. I also think Francis is definitely replaceable. What makes him not replaceable? Shaq is probably the only player in the league who isn't replaceable (along with Duncan). It's possible that the Rockets can win without Francis. Probably not a whole lot next year (unless they replaced him with someone damn good), but it's definitely possible down the line. I think the chances of the Rockets winning a championship with or without Francis are about the same.
     
    #16 TheFreak, Jul 3, 2002
  17. Sherlock

    Sherlock Member

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    here, here!

    I think much of the negativity is a result of the backlash to Troy Baros' posts ...
     
    #17 Sherlock, Jul 3, 2002
  18. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    You could have said the same thing about Kobe his first few years in the NBA. In fact you could have said the Lakers chances at winning a championship were better WITHOUT Kobe then with Kobe mostly because Kobe was getting bashed for the same reasons that Francis is getting bashed.
     
    #18 RocksMillenium, Jul 3, 2002
  19. Timing

    Timing Member

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    Kobe right now is younger than Francis. Stop it already.
     
    #19 Timing, Jul 3, 2002
  20. RocksMillenium

    RocksMillenium Member

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    What's your point?
     
    #20 RocksMillenium, Jul 3, 2002
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