http://slamonline.com/online/2007/02/why-dont-we-care-about-steve-francis/ Why don’t we care about Steve Francis? I know I don’t. By Sam Rubenstein It appears that the Knicks are about to buy out Stevie Franchise. It sounds like he’s injured or something. Does anybody know? Have you ever seen a guy go from being a superstar to falling off this hard into irrelevance in such a short period of time? Did Bruce Bowen end his career? Vin Baker seemed to lose his skills when he couldn’t overcome his alcoholism. Shawn Kemp is sort of in that grey area, but he still had great numbers in Cleveland. Good buddies of mine like Roberto Alomar and Carlos Baerga just weren’t built for the pressure. But Steve Francis? What happened? He was traded with Cuttino Mobley for McGrady. At the time it seemed like Orlando Magic were losing their identity for about the 8th time and getting robbed in a trade or by a departing free agent once again. In hindsight the obvious was true. Francis had a great first half teaming with Grant Hill, and he finished that year with numbers 21, 7, and 6 with a rookie named Dwight Howard developing. The ‘05-’06 season was just weird, with Steve toning his game down to let Dwight Howard do more and then eventually he snapped, and after a suspension for insubordiantion, they shipped him out cause they didn’t want him around anymore. But this was a player that until last season, basically put up 20-6-6 at the bare minimum every year. With Yao and Jeff Van Gundy in Houston, he took fewer shots and dropped to 16 ppg as the Rockets went to the playoffs. In their one win over the Lakers (the Karl Malone team) he put up a 27-9-7. He was traded that off-season, and now look at him. He never even had a chance with the Knicks. It was a ridiculous trade that everyone knew was stupid at the time, and may or may not have been the result of an Isiah-Larry Brown power struggle. He hasn’t done anything for the Knicks, other than give the Magic cap room. I don’t think anyone even cares that he’s in the NBA. Is he? What happened?
"He's going to coach the way he wants to coach, and I'm going to play the way I want to play. There's always going to be conflict… It's not like we're going to be best friends. There are going to be days when he thinks I should have done this better, and there are going to be days when I think he should have done things better. We both understand that.". Steve Francis Not the way to a happy healthy relationship. Van Gundy agreed with Francis’ comments saying "I would agree with that -- not that he'll play the way he wants to play -- but I agree with everything else".
There's no secret that Francis and Mobley never liked JVG. I think we can say that Francis never got a shot in New York and he was playing well in Orlando until they decided to go to Jameer Nelson. There's nothing wrong with the dudes knees and a simple physical by the Rockets would clear that up. Does he still have the All-Star game in him? yeah I think so. Even off the bench when Francis came back before Bruce Bowen's dirty play caused an ankle sprain, he was back to his All-Star Numbers. Francis Interview in the Orlando Locker Room "The coach here treats you like you're a player; he treats you like a man," Francis said, comparing Davis with Van Gundy. "He doesn't try to walk around like he's hot stuff. In Houston, that was a problem. He thought he was bigger than the players." http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/02/sports/nba.php
Cuttino also gives Van Gundy a thumbs down so I'd say lets give Francis another chance at the Rockets where he can do what he does best with a coach who understands offense. Francis would do well. Cuttino Mobley: I mean, I'm not really going to say... I always have fun playing basketball, but this year is a lot of fun. When Rudy [Tomjanovich] was there [in Houston], it was a lot of fun. Running up and down, that's what people want to see. We're just getting to show our talent a little more. And everybody love each other. We all go out with each other, restaurants. We pull together, just like our boys in Houston, Yao and Mo, Jimmy, we're close, too. We miss those dudes, but we're over here, we've having fun. That's what basketball is about. Not no dictatorship, know what I mean? http://www.insidehoops.com/mobley-interview-120404.shtml No I"m not sorry to see JVG go. T-Mac Scored Last Season 25.3 ppg 5.9 rpg T-Mac Best Season Orlando 32.1 ppg 6.5 rpg Kobe Last Season Lakers 31.6 ppg 5.7 rpg Kobe Best Season Lakers 35.4 ppg 5.3 rpg Steve Francis before Van Gundy 21 ppg 6.5 rpg Steve Francis with Van Gundy 16.6 ppg 6.2 rpg
Bex, That is what preplaxes me, people say all of JVG's players love him, and that is just not true. Certain types of players like or love him but a good number think he is part of the problem too..... Well, I guess it doesn't matter anymore he is Van Gone-dy. DD
The job of an NBA coach is to work with players who made it to the NBA. It's not college anymore where the coach can yell and berate his players. "I know I can get it done," Theus, a former NBA All Star, said of coaching in the NBA. "I can have the same relationships with NBA players. I understand it. I've walked in their shoes. I understand the good and the bad of the NBA. I understand the attitude and what players expect." "The difference in college and the NBA is that in college you don't have to want them to like you, but in the NBA, it's a players' game. I understand the difference between the two. I know what it's like," Theus said. "I have no doubt in my mind that I can communicate and I can play the style of play that wins. I can do this."
Like J Barry said, those who don't like playing with JVG generally don't love playing basketball for a living. There are plenty of talented guys who frankly are in it for the money only.
Hmmmmm, Huh? Not true at all, These guys have worked harder than 99.9% of the population to get to this point. Dont tell me you dont think these guys love the game, because have devoted their lives to it. Jon Barry would say that....
"He thought he was bigger than the players." did he say that? Sounds that he put way too much personal colors or just fooled anyone with a grain of sense.
they worked hard for the cash. They did it for the cash. How often do you see guys stop working hard once they got paid? Tim Thomas. Bonzi Olowokandi. Wells. Jerome james. Cato. MoTaylor. Plenty of guys worked hard just to get paid.
Personally, i believe him even if he didn't say it. I have always thought JVG was like that. I think the same of Larry Brown. They always have to have someone in the dog house to make an example to scare other players even if it's a voluntary Olympic team several big shots wouldn't play on. One fear I've always had was players not wanting to come here because of JVG. That's one reason I'm glad he's gone. I was really surprised when Bonzi came here with JVG as a coach. Seems like media and fans always take the coaches side even before hearing the players side. The Bonzi speaks thread is a perfect example. If you cross reference it to other Bonzi threads, i wonder how many people changed their opinion on him. Guilty until proven innocent has always been the way of society. Chat room, media, or court it doesn't matter.
Francis later said that he and JVG made their peace. No link though. I would like to see Stevie back, and he could be the leader of the team (off the bench, of course).
Francis was feeling jolted at that time... of course he was taking shots at JVG, who he thought was responsible for the trade (in all honesty, Rockets got TMac, of course they made that trade whoever is the coach). And yes, JVG did demand certain things of him... like "not dribbing out the shot clock for 20 seconds before launching ill-advised shot." Terrible that he walked around like he's bigger than Steve Francis and demand that he didn't do that. Johnny Davis' approach of letting Francis do whatever he wants was much more successful.
That is something current Rockets missing! Stevie always has that swagger with him. Sorry but neither Tmac or Yao has that...
Bring him home! The team that Stevie Built! lol He could come off the bench or he could start. Whatever works best for the Rockets. He'd be great as the sixth man though like Barbosa for the Suns. Steve Francis before Van Gundy 21 ppg 6.5 rpg Steve Francis with Van Gundy 16.6 ppg 6.2 rpg
In Bonzi's case, you didn't have to hear his side; because he was so fat, you could see his sides hanging over his belt. Bonzi signed with the Rockets so he could play a great game for 1 season in order to get a max contract next year. Shame on JVG for expecting him to be in shape when he came to camp!! When JVG did try to play him into shape, he either slowed the team down too much or injured himself. JVG had his quirts & faults, but his handling ofBonzi wasn't one of them.
Am i the only one that would prefer to bring back Mobley somehow rather than Francis? Mobley could be a great starter for us, defend alot better, shoot the 3 much better, and not turn the ball over more times than he gets assists. But I'll still take either at this point.
