he was just as good as a defender as Steve Francis. I was there at the Summit when Gary Payton used Steve. I thought we should have called HPD cause Gary Payton killed Steve Francis.
I mean Steve was a great player but not for the PG position, he was more like SG. and kenny was a true pg. Steve was the best player in the first years of his career, but he didnt have a lot any competition in the team for being the 1st choice, until Yao got drafted. steve most of time was this: shot (he scored good points) or dribble all 24 seconds,and then losing the ball Im saying that Steve Franchise was a great player, but not as good other pg. Yeah right, Kenny scoring 7 three-pointers in Game 1, including one to sent the game to overtime.
this is true of ALL CLUTCH CITY heroes. they were ALWAYS doubted. even by their "fans". Let's not even talk about the 95 champs, what about the 94 champs? who shot the lights out against the Utah Jazz? Kenny. some people will label me as a Kenny fan, but in truth is that I didn't forget the team that I grew up watching. the 'newer' fans got their Rockets history via youtube and highlight reels. they don't know the true story. to them kenny played in only one playoff game. They only know Kenny Smith in hist last years and compare him to a young Steve Francis. Compare a young Kenny to a young Steve and compare an old Kenny to an old Steve. Keep in mind these are stats for Steve where the offense was made specifically for him. at age 25, Kenny averaged 17.7 points 52% FG 36% 3point 7.1 assists/game 84% free throw 3 turnovers at age 25, Steve averaged 21 points 43% FG 35% 3point 6.4 assists/game 80% FT 4.7 turnovers Paper: HOUSTON CHRONICLE Date: SUN 03/22/1992 Section: Sports Page: 6 Edition: 2 STAR Pair of big wins in the spotlight "It's getting to where Kenny has got to be mentioned with some of the top point guards in the league," Tomjanovich said. "He's been playing extremely well for us and he's finishing plays now." <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwiDrew67GA&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vwiDrew67GA&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I'm not going to discount anyone just because of the role they played at the position. Francis was great -- but anyone suggesting he's the best point guard to EVER play for the franchise probably doesn't remember when Warren Moon (much less Earl Campbell) played for the Oilers or when Nolan Ryan played for the Astros, so I forgive you. Lucas has the haunt of cocaine over his legacy. He might have been the best PG talentwise the Rockets ever had, but...his time was too short. Kenny and Sam were important pieces to the glory years, and Kenny was certainly around a while, but I don't think they were as important as Calvin in terms of the franchise. This goes to Calvin, not just for his stats, but for his hustle, his toughness, his picture perfect shot, his longevity with the team, and his flair. I think the wardrobe, if nothing else, tips the nomination in his favor. I really miss him calling games. I used to give him cookies when he came to the Staples Center. Does anyone here think there's anyone better than Rudy T at Small Forward?
really? fantastic with ORLANDO? like NEVER making the playoffs FANTASTIC? http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/ORL/ 2004-05 36W 46L 2005-06 36W 46L like getting traded to the Knicks FANTASTIC? That's FANTASTIC. knote, and just so you can leave that "Tinman is a Steve Francis Hater" look search for my threads that season. KellyDwyer busted me on a bet that Orlando WON'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS with FRANCIS. I was WRONG about Steve.
Tracy McGrady J/k, The real question is does anyone think there's anyone better than Dream at center? BTW vote goes to Calvin; I consider him a PG. A scoring Hall of Fame Point Guard is better then an above average pure point, Sam and Kenny
Kenny and Sam were more hybrid 1/2 guys who could get it done out top. Kenny was a spot up shooter and Sam was closer to a true point guard. Case in point, when the officials FINALLY decided to call the handcheck fouls on Harper in game 7, we won....The NBA wanted 7 games...duh. For years we saw Gary Payton et al. cut us up. John Lucas was a pure PG.....and ran the team.
I agreed with everything except for that statement... Kenny was more of a pg than Sam... Don't forget.. Hakeem went off on Sam a couple of times about not passing the ball. Ball Hog
The last Utah series, Rafer began the series in game 3 because he was hurt and help lead the Rockets to their only victories in that series. The last game, the team managed to make a great comeback until Rafer twisted his ankle and then everyone but T-Mac and Scola just gave up. And let's be real, with McGrady and Yao being as injured as much as they were, who exactly was Rafer playing with before Morey brought over Scola and Landry? I'm sorry but from my memories of Kenny, he wasn't anything more then a solid PG, he helped win the championship true, but I can't say he is that much better then Rafer.
I guess I see Sam evolving in that area as his career went on. ......more of a scorer with us. So I hear you.
Look at the shooting percentages and free throw percentages and assist/turnover ratio. the numbers don't lie, especially when it comes to shooting. Kenny could out shoot Rafer with his eyes closed.
Yes you're right. Kenny WAS more of a pure point then....but in the long run post Dream Sam showed what he could do up top.His overall game was better IMO and it showed early with us. The Dream effect (the old in - out) relegated some at times to spot up shooters....Kenny would spot up as would Sam,but ....Sam drove to the hoop more, even then portending IMO his sweet upside. (I'm sorry jumping back to this gets me going) Great memories to say the least..THAT was a great team. In the end I give Kenny major props....That said he was a tad soft and was streakier (Thank God for that than he should have been from outside.The man coud stroke it, but got the Yips sometimes) Sam had a damn good career .......at the time getting Charles seemed like the right move...at least for me. It's tough, that team was beat up... INJURED) and the brass made the call the upside just wasn't there....Roll the dice on Big Sexy. Charles ALMOST stayed healthy long enough....LIKE YAO.
Kenny Smith was a shooter. Sam was a scorer with the Rockets. Neither was a "true point" in the Stockton mode. The offense ran through Hakeem in the Rudy T offense and Max handled the ball as much as Kenny did (and then Clyde ran the offense after that). But Sam's body of work with the Rockets shows him averaging more assists per minute out of the two, while they were here. And his post-Rockets career shows that he developed into a very good passer (30th all-time in assists).
Sam Cassell (Bucks, TWolves, Clippers) with Yao Ming would have taken this team very very far. Sam took the CLIPPERS to the 2nd round. Baron Davis can't even get the Clippers to have a winning record.
