Steve-Haters... are stinky? Again without the cussing...

Oh man, that would make me giddy !!

DD

 

Me too, just like if China lost power for a few years and we lost all the YOF.

I hope no one's mistaken my defense of Steve/criticism of fans as a sign that I don't desperately want this trade to go down.

 

So you like the site better without Chinese fans? With all due respect, I tend to find that a bit narrow-minded, especially since not all Chinese posters are Yao only fans.

 

It was a freakin' joke. Jeez.

And leave out the "all due respect". You're not kidding anyone.

 

don't try to read that in, SJC!!! i hope you're kidding.

 

heh... don't take it too far, be careful you don't get banned Rocketguy3...

I gotta say though the lack of love for Francis is kinda appalling, this being a Rox board and all. Francis played with all his heart for the Rox, as did Mobley, and they both usually get non-stop criticism. And although it's not really hating, I'm surprised that more ppl can't embrace their team a little more. This board should have really been rooting for Francis, Mobley, and Yao rather than starting a war. I really respect Francis for wanting to stay with the team and I'm actually having second thoughts as to if this trade will definitely improve the Rox. Francis, Mobley, and Cato is a lot to give up, but in the end I think this could benefit all, the Magic and the Rox and the individual players, so I still say pull it.

Show some love for our Rox that may soon be Magic players.

 

I waiting for ROCKETGUY3 - to come with that EPIC - "T-mac is NO Kobe" reply...

then we are all sit back and watch this thread crash the server !

 

That's right, TMac is not Kobe, thank goodness. I'd take TMac over Kobe anyday.

 

i constantly berated Steve when watching Rox in the comforts of my home.

when in the company of non-Rox fans i sang a different tune. Sort of like criticizing your family member w/strangers.

This board is a tough call ... but ultimately should be considered as "in-house", IMO.

 

I will remain a big fan of Cuttino Mobley, and I'll always wish him well. He brings almost everything to the game that Steve does--he may not jump as high, but he defends much better. In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing him shut down McGrady--as long as the Rockets win. He handles himself better off the court, and he does it all for much less money. I also believe that after three or four years of playing point guard, he'd be just as good as Steve is with that role. Nothing steller in the decision making department, but just as good as Steve.

For that matter, I really bear no ill will towards Steve. He has frustrated me at times, but I've never thought that he wasn't a very special player. I think he's one of the "bottom of the barrel" players for those earning max salary, but that still makes him one of the very best players in the world. Is Steve a superstar? I think his mental part of the game makes that debatable, but still—he’s an excellent player. I wish him the very best of luck, but I'm not going to gloss over the fact that he's done things--Vancouver, Superbowl, leading the league in T's last year, and now possibly killing a deal that will put the team I'm a fan of in a dire predicament—that have earned him the moniker: problem child. I’ve seen this written by some of our illustrious sports writers, and I think it’s quite befitting. Steve isn’t always the most mature player, and he has caused some problems.

Does this make him completely undesirable? I don’t think so. But it sure makes this already easy decision to trade him for a bona fide superstar in Tracy McGrady that much easier.

 

that's so funny! i do the exact same thing!

 

bah, I couldn't care less about the statements SF has said so far. I'd be more upset with the Magic GM if he actually let Steve's comments so far influence his decision.

What bothers me is his game on the court. Weak d, no vision, careless with the ball, inability to run a fast break, poor decisioin maker, can't catch and shoot ... he has his strengths, but the negatives outweigh the positives imo, esp with a max contract.

I don't have too much trouble with his off the court stuff, but he is still a prima donna.

 

LOL! im sure most people here feel the way you do. Every year Francis loses more and more fans, this was the year when i finally gave up on him. If he sabotages this trade , rocketguy3 and maybe a selected few others on this board would be the only people coming up with an excuse for us not to blame the guy for sabotaging the deal.

Get over it! He will no longer be here! He is gone regardless of what happens!

 

Having lurked around here for a good amount of time, the dynamic between Steve fans and Yao fans (aka Steve haters) is quite amusing/entertaining.

I'll just say this.

I don't hate Steve, but I'm not at the point where I'd put him on the same level as Dream or any of the other Rocket greats.

Of course I harbor no ill will or animosity towards Franchise, and I appreciate all he gave us for 5 years, but he is not and was not, going to be the Rockets equivalent of MJ. T Mac is that type of player (I'm not saying he's as good as MJ, but he can define the next generation of this franchise, and few players in the NBA exist like that).

Just because someone wants to trade Steve, and someone is pissed off about Steve's initial reaction to the trade, doesn't make them a Steve hater. You can appreciate Steve for what he has done thus far, but realize the upgrade in getting a player like McGrady, and what it will do for the Rockets as a franchise, and be willing to move Francis.

Anyway, thanks to Clutch for running this site. I don't post much, but being in Chicago, it keeps me up to speed on how things are in Clutch City. It's not like I'm going to convert to being a Bulls fan.

 

I was actually not sure to what extent you were joking...

And what's wrong with showing a little respect? Might be a foreign concept to some, but...

Seriously, your posts sound like you regard me as some kind of "enemy", which I do not wish to be .

 

Nice post, HTownND. You should post more often.
It's the idea that Yao and McGrady would anchor the franchise and make them title contenders for the next decade, if healthy, that has most of us excited. Let's hope it all pans out.

 

1. I was just joking about getting rid of Yao only fans.

2. MM and I greatly respect each other. I tend to be liberal in who I respect here. From the beginning, even my biggest "enemies" on the board I couldn't wait to meet. TheFreak, BrianKagy, MadMax, Refman, etc. The first time I met Clutch was in the aftermath of the 2000 election where we had gone at it all the time, but I couldn't wait to meet a man I respected. Of course, I've disrespected his board enough that the feeling's not mutual, but I've been trying to change...about 98% successfully I might add.

3. Consider the hatchet buried.

 

The fact is that we wouldn't be trading Steve at all if he did improve these skills.

You guys can talk 'heart' all you want but how much heart are you showing if you can't even improve your game in 5 offseasons?

I guess he leaves everything out on the court during games, but practice is different. Afterall, it's just practice 'we talkin 'bout'.

 

I have wondered the same thing. Why did his 3pt shooting take a drastic dive? Why can't he hit the mid range shot anymore? Why has he not added a floater to his game? I'll miss Steve's hustle and intensity, but i'm not going to miss his game.

 

Francis wasn't that good of a shooter, mid or 3 point, because the threat of him driving wasn't there anymore, opponents didn't sag off of him as much as before. Jeff's offense doesn't exactly encourage penetration, that's a big reason why his offensive game took a step back. A floater is gay, it's for dudes that can't beat everyone to the basket and have to shoot it over them, and for dudes who don't like taking hits.