Steve Francis' ego won't let this team turn the corner

egn, MFW, iOrange...(We know that Yao has problems, but this is about Francis)....

The sad fact is that Francis is not good enough to do those things you talk about...

He's not talented enough to "take over a game physically (like Jordan, McGrady or even Kobe). Physically, which frustrates him, he's not as strong/fast as Marbury. He will never grow the hands of Baron Davis. He'll never grow as tall as Kobe. Those are just facts. It's a stark reality.

The last avenue for improvement would have to be in the "smarts" department, which can overcome physical ability, if applied correctly. But Francis has yet to show us that he can learn that either.

For example. Take Nash. He's not as "gifted" in terms of athletic ability, but he makes up for it in "smarts." He's NOT turnover prone. He's a team player. He knows HOW to get others involved.

Take Derrick Fisher. He's not as fast or quick as Francis. He can't jump as high, but he knows how to setup his teammates, make simple passes, defend, shoot the 3, shoot the 2, and run a fast break. It knows his abilities.

Now, pretend you take Fisher or Nash and tell them. "We want you to be like FRANCIS. We expect you to jump as high, go as fast, and run as quick as Francis." Those guys would kill themselves doing it, turning the ball over, making a mess out of the game, trying to be something they are not. They would be overextending their natural ability and knowledge.

Is Francis doing this? You know that tittle "Franchise?" Do you think that this TITLE was given out too quickly? Were we too willing to give out that proclamation? That's a great physiological burden. Francis THINKS that he HAS to be the "Franchise." Maybe he's just not THAT good.

Screw All-Star! Francis is less a player than Pippen. Yep. That's right. Forget rings. EVEN STATISTICALLY!

Now, would you build a team around a player that was worse than Pippen (a second-banana) in ability AND smarts?

It's time for Francis to take a back seat. And move over for someone? Maybe Yao. Maybe not. But it's not Francis. And if it's not Yao. Then we are in trouble.

 

Davids:

Your post brought a question: How many players in this league deserve the "Franchise" title? i'd say only Shaq, TD and maybe KG

A perimeter player has to be extremely dominant to carry a team, i.e. you have to play like Jordan. I don't think Kobe and AI would ever to close to that level. T-Mac is the best physically but he has yet to show some maturity and toughness.

 

DavidS,

I'm sure you remember when I posted that Fisher was a better PG than Francis. And that I would rather have Fisher than Francis, and with the money I saved by doing so (theoretically speaking), I could go out and get some more solid players. I'm also sure you remember just as well, me being harshly criticized for these comments. And if I had the time I would actually look for the thread, but anyways, people are starting to realize what I was talking about, and it's not such a bad idea afterall.

 

Yes, I remember.

What's hard for people to understand is that it's not a STRAIGHT UP trade, talent for talent. But rather an relinquishment of what we think in Houston as a "leader" or "Franchise player." We were essentially putting our our eggs in one basket. Sure, Francis does great things. But those "great things" should not grant the keys to the "Franchise."

It's like this happened...

===================
Report Card for Steve Francis:
Speed: A-
Quickness: A
Leaping: A+ (dunking/rebounding; not really a skill but rather a physical ability)
Shooting: C+
Court Vision: D
Decision Making: D-
Defense: C+
===================

Now, which grades get shown on ESPN highlights? Which grades make people go "ohh!" and "ahh" ? The first three. Now, because of that he gets picked for All-Star. And the fact that HE WAS the 2nd OVERALL pick in 1999. He does have talent. That is true.

But the analysis is narrow-minded. He's not THAT good. He's not THE FRANCHISE in which he deserves the key to the city. It's almost like, in reality, the only reason that Steve got the title "Franchise" was because his last name was "Francis." It mean, it's a good story. Francis = Franchise. Like Clyde the Glide. It's a good nickname. Too bad that Francis's name wasn't Johnson. Then, we'd have Steve Johnson, and he'd never have the title of "Franchise." Less burnden on him, and less expectations on us.

Maybe Steve "the rabbit" Francis would have been better.

He's got "mad-hops!"

As I said befor the year started. I'd trade Steve for Melo and Miller. Or LeBron. That wont happen now...hmmmm, I'd take Barron Davis. Other than that, we'd have to take a one for 3 player trade (Francis for a bunch of good, soild, smart players. But not of Davis's caliber.). Then, it'd be Yao's team. Period. If Davis came here. It would be his team. All this is just dreaming. But we're stuck with him. So, that's all I can do.

Sigh...

 

I remember hearing

"Jason Kidd willed the NETS to the Ring"
"John Stockton won't let the Jazz lose to the bulls."

Wait aminute. . . I don't remember either of those

Rocket River

 

If the Rockets want to maintain the core, I'd say the Rockets just need to bring in a primary ball handler who is good at passing and is a solid shooter. He needs to be able to make good decisions too. The cap situation of this team is just plain bad. I think the Rockets should use the trade exception to just pick up Charlie Ward for the remainder of the season.

 

We nned more than that. We need a real starting PF. As well as Cato played in this game, it was the same old story in the second half when Marion came to play. Our PF was just too slow to defend against quickness. A simply ISO or Pick play will beat us to death. Could you believe that? We lost 21 points in the 4th quarter because of that. So, simply fixing ball handling will not solve our problems.

 

Are you talking about trading the greatest And1 player in the NBA?

 

Steve hurts our team when it counts. He always turns the ball over when we need a score. He would rather look good and lose than look bad and win. He is a wanna be superstar. Trade him!

 

As much as this team lacks defense at the power forward spot, it's been the offense that has lacked the consistency at times to get any points when Steve goes selfish or Moochie is in the game. Van Gundy can at least bring in Padgett if Maurice is playing like garbage. Steve plays like garbage? Moochie is the only recourse? That's the biggest problem.

 

Derek Fisher is the perfect point guard for the Lakers since they need solid role players besides Shaq and Kobe. Bibby or Nash is what I would like for the Rockets. As much as centers are lacking of quality in the NBA, point guards who are good passers and who can shoot a decent clip are not abundant.

 

Cato gives us defense and fire. But for all these good things, he leaves a BIG HOLE in that thing we called, OFFENSE.

One of the thing that keeps defenses honest is taking advantage of double teams. That mean, when Yao or Francis is double-teamed, the inevitably they will leave someone open. Guess who? Cato. And where is Cato open? At the 10-15 foot area. The opponents plan is this: We will make Cato beat us. He'll have to make those 15 footers in order for us to stop double-teaming Yao or Francis.

Cato can't hit his outside shots. He's not that type of player. Thus, nothing changes. We continue to struggle against double-team against double-team. I think they call that "TRASHING." It's an uphill battle. We never keep the defense HONEST. They just keep doing the same thing until we make a change (hit our outside shots) or bring in someone that CAN hit those shots (MoT sometimes). But when MoT is there, he gives up rebounding and defense. So, it's pick your poison.

The issue is. Our starting FIVE should NOT have big weaknesses. They don't have to be perfect players, but they can't have glaring weaknesses like MoT or Cato. Those guys are NOT starters. Not with Yao and Francis as the leaders. It might be different if Yao could play like Wilt. Or Francis could play like Jordan. So, our ceilling is different. Thus, we need better players overall.

Role players, that ARE STARTERS, should be able to play the game of "basketball" in the more generic sense of the word. That means, they are very good at a lot of things.

That's they type of players you should surround Yao and Francis with. You don't surround them with SPECIALIST unless those specialist are the BEST in that specialty in the whole NBA. Cato is a rebounder/defender. MoT is a shooter/scorerer. Are they the best in those categories in the NBA? No.

They are weaknesses, then. And should not be starters.

Our team was set back 2 years the moment that Eddie Griffin was released. He would have been that solid PF I talk about.

 

That's right. Fisher is a setup point guard like Kenny Smith.

But Bibby and Nash are combo gaurds that can pass AND score (like Parker and B. Jackson too).

 

It was in theory. I am by no means saying that Fisher is my PG of choice, I would much rather have Nash. But essentially this team would be better off with Fisher at the point rather than Francis.

 

Tony Parker would be a better fit than Steve too. He's been playing much better as of late especially in the assists department. He got 10 assists in the Spurs win against the Blazers.

 

Bibby and Nash have better passing skills than Francis. It doesn't seem as forced as it is with Steve. Also, I'd take Bibby and Nash's outside shots over Steve's too. Steve is a better slasher to the basket than both Bibby and Nash though.

 

If Cato could shoot the jumper, he'd be a killer.

 

Yes, that's why I'm hoping that Malick Badane develops.

 

That is true; but Bibby is fairly weak in defence mainly because of his size and poor foot speed.

Nash has been relying on his BB IQ. His ability is the lowest of all three PGs.

When Francis, Bibby and Nash were drafted, Francis was clearly the most talented by far. Yet Nash has made huge steps in improving his game while Bibby has been gradually making progress.

As to Francis, I still think he will end up having a better career than Bibby and Nash simply because of his better athletic ability and skills. I don't think it's his ego. Rather, it is his self-assertedness that make it difficult to change his game. He showed similar behaviour even when he was drafted in Vancouver. Nothing new.

That type of character could turn into very successful if he is doing the right thing because he believe in himself and his own ability.

Sometimes, it need an event or a mentor to turn the corner of his career. I hope he is getting it this year. Maybe if we are in the playoff at the end of the season, his competitiveness will bring him to the next level. Then when we look back, we shall be grateful of his self-assertedness.

 

I think that is why the Rockets must take the ball out of his hand and put it into the hands of someone who distributes it to the right guy at the right time. Steve won't need to think about passing. He'll just need to move without the ball into a position in which he can catch the ball from the passer and then make a play whether it is to shoot a jump shot or slash to the basket. Steve's aggressiveness can be put to good use.