The differences between Kobe Bryant and Steve Francis are not all immediately apparent. Both Bryant and Francis are dynamic young guards, high flying dunkers, excellent shooters, quality rebounders and leading their team in scoring. Both now play on winning teams and are two of the more popular players in the league. Yet, Francis is definitely the ANTI-KOBE. While Kobe cries and whines about points and shot distribution and how he wants to be traded cause he isnt satisfied being hte leading scorer on the defending world champions and how he should be the MVP and on and on and on...... Francis has quickly developed the maturity matched by few otehr players in the HISTORY of the game. In an era of high flying, toot your own horn players, Francis has eagerly accepted the challenge of actually leading his team. He does not care about his stats or how many shots he gets, he just wants to win and have fun at what he loves to do--play basketball. Just wanted to take a moment to thank Francis for being such a positive, to the Rockets, the NBA, and the great sport of basketball. This time next year we'll be chanting Francis for MVP and Kobe will still be crying. ------------------ "There are some frauds so well conducted that it would be stupidity not to be deceived by them." Charles Caleb Colton (1780-1832)
Nice post Francis played wonderfully tonight. Did not force too much, let the offense flow around him - not forcing it to go through him. Found open players. You have to like the fast break wheer he was ahead of everyone - free dunk - and dishes off to Mobes for a monster slam to boost his career night! ------------------ EZLN
I noticed that too... he could have taken it in... but him being unselfish just dished it, is nice to know that there are still players out there that are more then capable of taking over a game but know when and how to do it.... like I said long time ago... ENJOY IT GUYS, WE ARE SEING GREATNESS IN THE MAKING ...... ------------------ If you are a positive thinking person but yet you listen to country music, isn't that odd?
I agree totally. How many times have we seen Francis miss a triple double by one statistic...simply because he's more focussed on obtaining the win than thinking about personal glory. Did you hear Bryant after the Vancouver game? They asked him if it was important to him that he'd got his first triple double and he said "yeah, I was going for it". Consider this: that was a close OTgame...not some 30 point blowout...and the guy is worrying about his own stats. ------------------ [This message has been edited by ScreamingRocketJet (edited January 19, 2001).]
All Vancouver fans should be required to read JayZ's post! ------------------ [This message has been edited by wrath_of_khan (edited January 19, 2001).]
I agree!! Vancouver fans, ask JayZ a question or say why Steve is crap and he will give u the answer! And too all the Rockets fans, we already know the answer! Steve "FRANCHISE". ------------------ Miggidy Markell says: 1. Eastcoast is da sh*t 2. Rockets rule 3. Hip/Hop is dope 4. Buy the new Ruff Ryders album! Miggidy Markell is watching Stay STRAPPED & WATCH ya back or be Assimilated.
No offense to anyone but... Kobe is one of the most well spoken players in the league. He gives great interviews. He is also highly intelligent. He is every reporters dream to talk to therefore he gets alot of press. Francis is a bright kid, but is not nearly as easy to interview. Also Stevie may need to take over games more. Our record is only 20-19, it's not like he's sacrificing hisgame to lead us to a title. Granted I love Stevie's unselfishness but if he is better than Kobe I would rather him take over each game and lead us to a title, or at least the playoffs. Just my opinion but Kobe is far and away a better player than Francis right now. Alot of Kobe's vcomments from the Shaq fiasco seem like a selfish player, but he may honestly be the best player in the NBA right now. It's a natural ego to want to be the man. It will be interesting to see how Kobe-Shaq works things out. The 2 (arguably) best players in the league havwe not played together since Magic-Kareem and they managed to survive and be fairly succesful.
This thread is not abut who the better player is, it is about how unselfish Francis is. Bryant is amazing right now and is making a strong push to be the best, but he does it in such a bad way. He is very concerned with all the stats - the personal glory. What does interview-ability have to do with it? Bryant may be a better interview, but please do not call him intelligent - he is not. Steve cannot dominate like Kobe right now - but a few years ago Kobe could not either - but he still tried. He would try to take over, jack up shots left and right, etc. Stevie realizes his limitations right now - takes over when he "feels it" but defers to others when he does not. ------------------ EZLN
Anyone get the feeling this Cat explosion might have been the game plan, to get Cat off and keep Francis fresh for being guarded by Kobe tonight. Francis seemed unconcerned about running the offense while staying loose and relaxed on the weakside. Pretty much everything was being initiated by Cat. We didn't really see the jumping and jiving Francis...although I did take a cat nap in the 3rd. I expect Francis to be fresh for tonight, and that is a good game plan.
not so much preplanned game plan. more like impromptu. "go 'head cat. your moms is here and all. get yours. ****, bobby sura's guarding you." "i bet i can light his b****ass up for 50. watch."
I agree that Kobe is, at least off the court, an intelligent person. His interviews are always coherent and well-spoken. Of course, to me they are boring, as all Kobe does recently is complain (at least when Steve and the Cat give interviews-ala post Raptors game, they try to be entertaining, and you could tell the reporter on the court was enjoying himself). As far as Kobe being the best player in the league, I dont buy it at all. Does he have the talent to be the best player: definitely, and Steve doesnt right now. But Kobe doesnt have the on court smarts. Heck he isnt even the MVP of his team. Say what you want, to me it is pretty clear that the reason the Lakers arent doing as well is because of an inferior defense this year. I attribute this to two things. First, the common..Shaq doesnt get as much in the flow of the game offensively and defensively. Second, Kobe takes a lot of shots, and when he misses deep shots it means a lot of teams are running on them. When Shaq misses a shot, he either gets his own rebound or there are no long rebounds and there are players back, such as Kobe himself, who are good defenders to ensure the other team must set up in the halfcourt. Kobe needs to learn how to better utilize his god-given talent for the sake of his team and stop whining. There is no excuse for such cocky, whiny, arrogant players. It gives the league a bad image in my opinion. ------------------
verse, I thinking more like this: Rudy: "Sura is on Cuttino, and Kobe will be on Francis tomorrow, night. Cat we really need you to get off tonight so Francis get rest on the weakside." Cat: "I've been saying that all year. Everyone should just follow me." Francis: "You mean, me and you....Wolfpack!" Mobley: "Wolfpack!" Langhi: "Wolfpack!" Cat and Francis stare and laugh. Jim Boylen: "Good grief. Good thing Hakeem isn't here to hear that." Bullard: "Can I set the picks for Cat." Shandon: "Don't forget, Cuttino; I'm always open in the corner." Moochie: "And give it to me if there's only .5 seconds left." Walt: "Coach, I thought I was supposed to be open in the corner." Rudy: "Oooh look...I need to freshen my drink...I mean, I need another Coke."
I listened to the game on Warriors' radio in the Bay Area and they couldn't stop talking about how impressed they were with Francis' unselfishness. They said he Led the team realizing he didn't have to step it up when everyone else was getting their streaks.
Maybe if Steve spent more of his time listening to the "How to talk like Mike" instructional series like Kobe he'd be a better interview. The least Steve could do is give us an epic "flu-like symptoms" game. ------------------
I hope Steve Francis does bring this team back to its dominating level in 94....or at least to playoff calibur, I'd hate to see him become like Shareef...(well, Houston isnt THAT bad.) ------------------ Who's ya daddy?
Hmmm, and I have been calling myself the anti-kobe. ------------------ There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."
Kobe does give great interviews...but it's much easier for him considering all he has to do is read what Jordan used to say and repeat it constantly ------------------
Kobe Bryant is a sham. He has almost never played a game without Shaq backing him in the middle. When he has played without Shaq, he has gotten his 30, but by shooting 12-35. If Kobe had to face constant double teams like Shaq, I don't think he would be that good. There is no denying his 1-on-1 talent, but I have issues with his 1 on 2 and 1 on 3 skills. Most importantly, Kobe is a selfish git who will never win a thing without big Shaq there to rebound his large variety of bricks. What a great way to reach 500: Bashing Kobe. ------------------ "Rarely is the question asked: Is our children learning how to put food on their family while being put to death." [This message has been edited by ZRB (edited January 19, 2001).]
