Basically it comes to this. Rudy was a good coach for Steve in the sense that Rudy is no coach at all (sorry, Rudy fans). He let Steve be Steve, for the most part. Steve is having a hell of a time adjusting to the more rigid confines of the JVG system. JVG told Steve to sacrifice, and he has mostly tried. But Steve (sorry, Steve fans) is not an intelligent basketball player, nor is he a point guard. He would flourish in the Eastern Conference as an Iverson-type player, allowed to roam at will. When Steve gets embarassed on D---which is often; he stinks---his offense falls apart, especially since he no longer has that same green light to just take over a game. He might do so from time to time, and we might win as a result, but it just exposes this two-speed team that we have. Of course I might make too much of this; but JVG told the 76ers thanks but no thanks when they inquired after him on the coaching front. I wouldn't want to coach Iverson either. But Steve is not far removed from Iverson as a player. Spectacular, but, um, a coaching challenge. Don't get me wrong. Yao has a long way to go too. When he brings the ball down to get it stripped....ARGH! When he taps that ball instead of JUST GRABBING THE G.D. REBOUND! But he has improved greatly in one season, and this despite the fact that his team's main players, Steve and Cat, don't know how to get him the ball, can't run a fast break, and let's not forget, won't even refer to him in an interview until prompted (i.e., I think they resent deferring to him, as it is not their style of play). The Rockets would ultimately be better with a point guard who protects the ball and can get it into the post, when necessary, and have more of a star type at the small forward spot (get me Artest or Caron Butler). Steve would be better (and happier) where he can freelance a bit. As it is now, he seldom resembles a maximum-contract player anymore. I blame it not on JVG or Steve or Yao or whatever. They are who they are. Yes, it's up to them to mesh. It's just that these players are all inexperienced or dumb (never in the playoffs and/or young) which makes them fold under pressure; and as puzzle pieces, while they all may look pretty, came from different puzzles that somehow got mixed up in the same box.
I would very much like to think so; to us, Steve is "Steve the Franchise", to other teams, his nickname is "Steve the Selfish"
Still can't believe that no one has commented on the fact that the Chron commented how Steve shamelessly tried to get credit for the 2 points when Ak-47 tipped Cato's missed ft into his own basket. The points obviously and rightfully went to Cato. I guess the Steve lovers see only want they want to see.
Hmm the chron seemed to have removed it now. It was in the same recap story, but the one before the players' quotes were added. Guess they did some revision on the story. It was in the same Feighan article, not some AP report. Here's the line they have since removed. The Rockets' offense had in the first half degenerated into such a mess, that when Kirilenko tipped a missed Kelvin Cato free throw into the basket, Francis lobbied hard and shamelessly to be credited for the basket, as if he was uncertain if there were be another.
Since his arrival, IMO, Francis has been working a pro sports publicity formula; go for the highlight reel and the box score. I believe that this approach has worked. He has obtained a max. contract and All Star votes. This explains dippsie-doodle shots, forced shots, and measuring success by degree of difficulty. We have been told repeadedly on this board that no one wants to win more than Francis. My question is does that include the team? As to the structure of the team, Francis is a small forward in a guards body. He reminds me of a smaller version of Adrian Dantley. Francis is an incredible athelete, but he does not have a play-making bone in his body. He is not a good passer, seems to have limited court vision (maybe this is intentional), does not have a Reggie Miller outside shot, cannot run a fast break to save his life, lacks the timing to create plays, and seems to be a precarious ball-handler, the kiss of death for a point guard. Near the basket he is much more effective as a rebounder and shooter. He is so mis-cast for the role he is in, well, it is becoming embarassing. He is being savaged by journeyman guards. If Francis is really not a selfish player and is more concerned for the team than himself, he will ask to move to shooting guard and allow a playmaker to take his position. Surely JVG is going to make some kind of move soon. This is really brutal to watch.
Were you there? What were the words that came out of Francis Mouth. This is the biggest case of bias I've seen on the boards. I've never used my ignore function but I'm very tempted. Francis lobbied for his TEAM the ROCKETS to get the bucket. He wasn't crying for his own personal points. I wasn't there and my statement may be false as well. But where you are wrong is in saying that Francis lobbied hard. Francis merely made a motion and made sure the ref knew that the ball had gone in the basket, and Houston got the bucket. That's why he's a leader.
FB - IMHO, it was pretty clearly a sad display of stat padding on SF's part. I mean, we had already been credited the basket, the PA and officials had indicated it was "2"...then SF ran towards the scorekeepers as he got back on D and raised his hands while jumping to let them know he "tipped it." this shouldn't come as a shock, however, given the Portland game when he went in for that meaningless layup.
I think he raised his hands to show that Kirilenko tipped it and we should get a two point basket and not a one point FT. If Steve wanted great stats, and points, he could be the truly selfish player that people claim he is. He could score like Iverson or even more. That's not what Steve wants, and that's not what this team wants.
Dude don't shoot the messenger. Those aren't my words but the words of Johnathan Feigen in his post gamewrite up. However, he's removed it the same night when he wrote the revision with the players' quotes added. Not sure why he did it, but it was gone just a couple hours after he wrote the original article.
Just to prove I didn't make it up, since it can't be proved now, I found someone else who say the article and posted it in the game thread. Feigen must have removed it for fear of controversy or something. http://bbs.clutchcity.net/php3/showthread.php?s=&threadid=68966&perpage=30&pagenumber=9 Posted by ROXTXIA: The Chronicle article for the game mentioned how desperately Steve lobbied to get the points for Kirilenko's tip-in (they gave the points to Cato). I wasn't aware of this.
According to a Jazz fan, the words from Steve’s mouth were “give it to me, give it to me”. http://pub76.ezboard.com/fnotmesutahjazzfrm1.showMessageRange?topicID=11798.topic&start=21&stop=33 I saw Steve go to the scorers table, but the camera panned away too soon before I could see what was said. Maybe the cameramen for the Jazz caught it though.
Nice link, another source for confirmation. I thought I added the chron link in my post to show those weren't my own words, guess I forgot.
or maybe removed it for the fear of it being WRONG! Ever thought of that senerio, probably the most obvious senenrio???
