Someone clowned at me for saying that earlier in the season but if Francis ends up with career averages of 20,6,6 he will have comparable numbers to other all around players in the Hall. But he has to start winning some meaningful games before he gets consideration.
Is there a reason why you can't pick both? I mean Jordan is from Drexler's era and was better, that's not keeping Drexler out.
i would go with Drexler because you can't teach court awareness and basketball IQ all the time. Drexler had much more than just game.
Drexler never had the low IQ argument like Francis. The only thing people criticized about Drexler was that 1) he was always 2nd best to Jordan amongst 2 guards, 2) he had an average perimeter game, and 3) he was an average defender. Drexler always had great court awareness and instincts. I think he even had a season where he averaged over 8 apg.
With the disclaimer that I like stats, the fundamental problem I with basing a 1st Rd ballot HOF for Francis on a 20-6-6 number like Glyde or his 15-5-5 in 5 years like Magic, Oscar Robertson & Grant Hill neglects that the other mentioned players accomplished something with their stats. Playoff wins and/or championships. Francis's stats have always been empty to me because he gives up a lot of points on defense and he IMHO (unlike Magic, Oscar, or Hill) doesn't make his teammates better. While Francis is having this great December, his team is 7-7. These are what I consider valid points and I don't consider this bashing.
in portland drexler had a lot of help and in houston he had Hakeem, francis teams were just not good enough to elevate , Jordan did not do anything untill boston started to fall and the piston window closed (shut by the bulls I know), so this will mean that mcgrady who career numbers look like francis will not make the hall either( I think if both keep being productive will make it to the finals and the HOF)
I hate when people use the argument that Francis does not make his teammates better. Everyone saw what happened in 2001-2002. You take away Francis and the Rockets become one of the worst teams in the league. You put Francis back in and you get 44 plus win teams in 2000-2001, 2002-2003, and 2003-2004. I've always said one of the worst things that ever happen to Stevie is when he got surrounded with a bunch of players with questionable basketball IQ. You surround him with smart basketball players and his questionable b-ball IQ isn't so apparent. And really, the Magic are struggling right now because, I hate to say it, Kelvin Cato is injured. He really does help shore up their interior, and makes Dwight Howard a better player. Without Cato, a bad defensive team becomes a pathetic defensive team.
