Steve Francis just proved he is NOT a franchise player

I think Francis is equally afraid of Yao turning into a Duncan/Shaq/Kobe as he is of him flopping. If Yao is a franchise player, what's going to happen to Steve? He'll get to be the guy who gives the ball to the franchise player in tough situations. I don't think he wants that.

I agreed with this statement. Francis wont get any better in the next two years if he doesn't learn how to be an unselfish player. A point guard cant help a team to win a champ trophy like kidd. I bet francis is jealous that the news media focusing on Yao Ming rather than him. Griffin and Yao will be a much better player than francis.

 

Umm WRONG! This team will go as far as the supporting cast will take us. If drafting Ming makes Francis unhappy then not drafting Ming wasn't the answer, clearing up Francis attitude is the answer. If drafting a potential franchise center upsets your franchise player then there is a problem with the PLAYER not management. Since when is using the #1 pick on your weakest position bad? Where has it been stated that other players are upset? The players didn't know anything about Ming now they do. I'm not ripping Francis but the bottomline is that Francis gets paid to play basketball, and Rockets management gets paid to put a winning product on the court, and they do a fine job at it. If they think drafting Ming will speed up the rebuilding process then I trust them over Francis, and someone who thinks Ming sucks without seeing the guy play a second of basketball.

 

Nobody in the draft has lead any team anywhere in the NBA so with your logic the Rockets shouldn't have drafted anybody. In fact, at the time he was drafted, Francis hadn't proven anything, so he shouldn't have been drafted right? And unless Steve Francis is god, him thinking Ming is a loser doesn't make it so. Lets see Rudy has 2 rings, he thinks Ming is good. Rockets management that put together 3 WCF teams and 2 championship teams think he is good. Oh but Francis allegedly thinks he is a loser, oh well he MUST be right!

<b>It's sad that so many of you so-called Rockets fans are turning your backs on Steve since Yao arrived. </b>

The ironic thing about your statement is that you turned YOUR back on the Rockets #1 draft pick before he even had a chance to prove himself. Before the guy has step foot on a court as a Rocket you have put up sites saying he sucks, calling him a loser, and just ripped the guy. You also advocate Francis hating him, even though Francis hasn't said he hates Ming. So you rip the fans who turn their back on Francis (even though I think people are jumping the gun on Francis and blowing things out of proportion), but it's ok for you to turn your back on Ming? Yeah Ming hasn't proven anything, he hasn't had a chance to play in the NBA yet! Yet it's ok to call him a loser and say he sucks and build pages saying he sucks? Glass houses. . .

 

we should have traded Francis to the Bulls for the 2nd pick. Then we could have picked up JWill too.

 

Then we have a completely inexperienced team. So when the team is losing this year "gaining experience" we'll enjoy an entire season of "fire Rudy". I don't think so.

 

Actually, dude, I remember watching a SportsCentury show about Jordan and it talks about him being discouraged with the way his team was going before Phil Jackson arrived. So, Francis is doing the same exact thing and he should be able to. He is planning on signing with this team for six years, nearly half of his career. He has to plan and see if we are able to win. It is like me thinking of marrying somebody without being sure she is ready for the commitment. You have to plan it through.

 

I also want to add one more thing. For you people that just love complaining about how Francis acts and thinks, just look at the Sixers. They have a player that went into a house with a gun and threatened people. Yet Sixers fans are still following him because they are true fans. Francis is a great guy and we should be glad to have him. He has not gotten in trouble (the DWI was not true-he was taking medication and he passed all the tests), he has a commitment to winning, and he is wants to stay with us. Unlike Andre Miller, Shawn Marion, Baron Davis, and Elton Brand (when he was in Chicago) he has not even thought about leaving our orginization. You guys should be ashamed for bashing our best and most entertianing player.

 

And that's why you are not in that postion. Your reactions are based on your hurt feelings than the actual truth.

 

Where's TroyBaros?? This thread seems perfect for him. Surely he can tell us exactly what Steve is thinking!!

 

Overreaction, guys. Steve should be OK now about Yao. He didn't agree at first with drafting Eddie, he didn't like the Rice trade (well, I won't argue on that one), yes, he questioned drafting Yao; but he should be on board with Yao Ming now. I think he has a right as the franchise player to at least voice his opinion to management before major decisions are made. Management doesn't have to do what he wants; but he'll at least be heard first. Steve can get better as a player, yes, but he does a boatload for this team, plays his a$$ off, and he should expect the same of other players we bring in, especially if he decides to stay on a team (ours) that has a lot of major competition in the way (Western Conference).

He'll sign the long-term extension, and he'll sign about the same time Yao does.

 

It's certainly not nice to say "The team I lead is a doghouse in the NBA and I'm sick of it." Nothing wrong so far for expressing the desire to win.

But,

A franchise player should've taken the doghouse status as an insult and do everything he can do to get his team some respect, instead of saying:"I'm gonna resign and do whatever I can to help the Rockets." Francis says:"I want to be in a situation where everyone wants to win." I guess this sudden twist in words rubbed some fans in the bad way.

Three interpretations:
1. A ploy that tries to maximize contract length.
2. Suggesting something to be done to get rid of losers(maybe Cato) on the team, as a condition for contract extension.
3. Trying to bail him self out to avoid becoming the possible second fiddle to Yao.

What's the truth? Hell I don't know.

 

Come on Kid, last year before the season started there was reason to be optimistic after we finished with a respectable 45 win record, and then...Maurice Taylor got hurt after working his ass off in the preseason and signing a big contract, the whole Marc Jackson situation, Glen Rice forgot how to shoot, Steve Francis ruptured the arch in his foot and missed several games, Francis missed several games to migraines, Franics played several games with migraines, and Francis injured his shoulder bad enough to require offseason surgery. You're telling me before all that happened you weren't the least bit optimistic about the Rockets?

And this year we have MUCH more to be optimistic about! Maurice Taylor seems to be working his ass off again, Bostjan Nachbar sounds like an intriguing player, Eddie Griffin is poised to contribute more this season, Franics should be healthy, Glen Rice will hopefully find his shot again, and then there's the 7'6" chinese guy. After last year's nightmare, injury-prone season, the only thing I'm pessimistic about is the team's ability to stay healthy. As far as the team goes, I'm very optimistic.

 

You should be ashamed of accusing Iverson of something the courts cleared him of and for trying to defend Francis when he clearly he knew he shouldn't have been driving on that medication and not only jeopardized his life but that of others.

Francis had his best year winning wise when Dream was helping his team.So mgmnt. went out and got another big man to help Steve when and NOW HE'S QUESTIONING THE DIRECTION OF THE TEAM?

Mgmnt. went after plyers he wanted (MoT), fought to keep players he wanted (Cat), and perhaps even drafted players he wanted (TMo) and now he's questioning MGMNT!

So they don't make every move you want... you should be the leader of this team and the biggest believer in mgmnt. They have gone out of their way to keep you happy, yet you can't understand the direction the teams going?

You have to learn to take your lumps Stevie...and to trust in your teammates. YOU WILL NEVER BE SUCCESFUL UNTIL YOU REALIZE THAT YOU MUST TRUST IN YOUR TEAMMATES. Mgmnt. is trying to take the pressure off of you...You and Yao both want a ring.He needs you as much as you need him. Have a little faith and a little loyalty. When the rest of the league was dogging on you for being selfish, this organization put it's faith in you.. now's it's time for both of you to cash in on that loyalty. Time for both of you to get something in return.

Believe it or not not every decision Steve wants to make is best for this team. The rockets will never get far enogh with Cato as center.

Steve must learn to be a pont guard when it's time to be a point guard and a scorer when it's time to be a scorer. Magic knew when and that's why he was successful. MGMNT HAS FAITH THAT YOU CAN DO THAT...DO YOU NOT HAVE FAITH IN THEM?

Steve must learn to be an all around player which means learning and excelling at DEFENSE. What good is to score 30 or 1 point at all if you can't defend the shot to end the game?

Maturity on and off the court. This is a huge issue we all have concern with Steve. WE all believe he will make it through these times and learn to trust in his teammates and in management....they have faith in him....why doesn't he have faith in them?

I BELIEVE STEVE CAN BE A FRANCHISE PLAYER, AND IS LUCKY TO HAVE PERHAPS OTHER FRANCHISE PLAYERS ON HIS TEAM..WHETHER HE REALIZES IT OR NOT HE NEEDS THEM, Garnett knows all to well that you've got to have some help...MGMNT has gone out and got him help...he shouldn't be questioning them...IF HE CAN"T SEE PAST HIMSELF AND REALIZE THAT THIS TEAM IS HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION THEN STEVE WILL NEVER BE A FRANCHISE PLAYER...the only person Steve should be questioning and re-examining his himself....only then will this team be successful with STEVE as our FRANCHISE player.

 

If thats all he said, I don't see the big deal. I do agree that for a player that hasn't made the playoffs he certainly has alot to say about the teams direction. If I were Francis , i would sign a 6 yr extension with an opt out clause after 3 seasons to be sure the team is headed in the right direction. I may be one of the few people who believe Francis isn't a franchise player yet, but a pretty good player. He can with better basketball iq and the understanding of how to run a team become a franchise player. I understand where he comes at times, but he needs to realize that his odds are better with a good frontline than without one. Just a glance at the west , he should be the happiest pg this side of andre miller. Its a luxury to know you as a guard don't have to get every rebound or score every point for the team to succeed plus the team is better prepared to play better if francis is hurt like last yr. He'll come around and everything will work out.

 

Let Steve leave, so the real Franchise PG can start.

 

MJ was just very competitive. It is Phil hype you must be buying into that made it sound like Phil came in and made everything cool. MJ never suggested he needing to see if his team could win. He was the team. Mgmt never made any major changes. Switching coaches is overrated. Magic and Bird both won titles with coaches who they later got fired. MJ won with what he was given, plus a draft pick in Pippen. That's all. No major blockbuster changes, relative to what other stars commanded/demanded.

 

i think he's challenginmg his team to prove him wrong. You know the Caron Butler attitude. I have a feeling that the losing is over and we will make the playoffs. I think even Cato wants to get better so we can make it. Steve has rubbed off on the team, and now everyone is trying to improve their game.

 

The Rockets should be the ones questioning the direction of Steve Francis...(not vice verse)

 

Question: How can I be part of a winning team and not a "doghouse"?

Answer: Do your part...(as simple as that) This is really and truly the best way to be part of a winning team.

Question: How can I be assured of my team's commitment in improving to get better?

Answer: That is why we have CD as GM. That is his job to improve the team...A player's job is to play ball and to do your part...Management is responsible for ensuring players do their parts respective to playing time as well as being members of the team...In other words, management evaluates if a player is a keeper or not, and the prominence of playing time...(Essentially, this question is doubting the competence of Rockets management since we all know or should know their aim is to constantly improve and output a winning product)...

The reality is this question is best answered by getting at the root of the concern...This concern may or may not be legitimate, but faith in leadership must be a given to obtain maximum performance from a player...

 

Pfft. You can't make such bold claims, then refuse to argue with us. Well, you can... but it makes you look ridiculous. If you have something to say, and want to tell us... you should have good reasons for it.

Why is Steve a better evaluator of talent than our scouts and CD? Why does he know better than Rudy? Didn't it appear last year that Francis has very little understanding of basketball strategy?

Isn't it abundantly clear that he's not a franchise player in the manner of Shaq or Iverson? If it's not, why? If you'll accept the obvious, then why shouldn't we shoot for another franchise player? Teams need franchise players to win titles. What's your suggestion?

If Steve wanted to do EVERYTHING exactly contrary to what CD, the GM wanted, should we do it his way? Why? That's the logical conclusion of what you're saying.

You've backed yourself into a bizarre corner. Now explain to us why you're there, and why we should join you.