Still think he's a better two than 1. He is gonna have a hell of a time against Kobe and Richardson, etc. I guess the one thing that really made Francis "special" was his rebounding. But, I think some have mentioned that he would be better off letting the big guys fight for them. He should be on the wing ready to push up court. Maybe Mobes is the better 2? Steve looks like a thicker version of Wade, though Wade may be better......
People know damn well Steve is a pretty inconsistent regular season player. Personally, I think the Magic are going to sneak into the playoffs and make some noise. Not saying they will win but they will definately be competitive and it all starts with #3. I think he will elevate his game in the playoffs much like he did with us against the Lakers. We all know he is a better player than what he's been putting out there lately.
Actually I'm starting to get the feeling that Steve just doesn't care anymore. He was traded to Orlando, something he disliked, until the GM starts preaching family and a new future with him as the face of franchise. Then the next thing you know, the family was broken up with a bad trade of Mobley for Chrisitie, something that probably blindsided Francis. Most likely scenario is that Francis is now dis-enchanted with the current situation in Orlando. add to his first non all star appearance after making 3 straight start, he most likely just doesn't care anymore. Watch the earlier games of the season for Orlando, Steve was doing everything he can to win the game and out to prove the Rox wrong for trading him. Now it seem that his heart (his biggest asset) just isn't there anymore.
Shooting guard Francis creates more questions Published February 28, 2005 The Magic's Great Hoop Experiment entered Game 2 on Sunday night. The results were not encouraging. How not encouraging were they? Let's just say that if Thomas Edison's light bulb experiments had gone this poorly, Sunday would have had to be a day game. Miami, minus a certain ex-Orlando center not named Michael Doleac, beat the Magic for the second time in two days. With the season quickly setting in the Eastern Conference, Orlando's hopes now ride on two things: A rookie guard having a fabulous final stretch. A veteran guard having an epiphany. Neither seems likely. Jameer Nelson actually had a pretty nice weekend as the new starting point guard. But playoff teams do not traditionally rely on rookies to run the show. They also don't try to turn a player who's always been a point guard into shooting guard with 27 games left in the season. As a shooting guard, Steve Francis only lacks a couple of things. Shooting, for one. This is a dangerous experiment being concocted. But Johnny Davis is not a mad scientist. He is a desperate one. Davis knows the chances of this working out are not good. They are better than the alternative, however, which was to stand around and do nothing. That's what the Magic offense often did when Francis had the ball. The season's early promise has been swallowed by the Steve-O Vortex. He wows you with his intensity and offensive trapeze act. He frustrates you with his laissez-faire attitude toward responsibility and defense. It's an undeniable thrill ride, but it eventually brings down a team. You can't totally rip Francis for being a ball hog who never met a shot he didn't love. It's not all his fault the season has fallen apart, but he will have the most say in whether it's salvaged. He is what he is, and what he's always been. The Magic's mistake was thinking he would become something else. They hoped they could refine Francis' game, or at least get it to where the other four players didn't turn into statues watching him operate. That wasn't happening, so they decided to force the issue and move him to shooting guard. "It's cool, man," he said of the switch. "Like I said, I'm a player. It doesn't make a difference to me where I am on the court." He's right about one thing. He has been cool since the change, hitting only 10 of 30 shots. If this keeps up, his .422 shooting percentage will dip below Ted Williams' batting average. Francis' game depends on rhythm, dribbling, breaking down opponents and taking dumb risks that turn into Sports-Center highlights. That's not classic shooting guard technique, but it's something Francis is going to have to get away from if this experiment is going to work. Ha-ha-ha-ha. Had ya there, didn't I? There is no way Francis can not be Francis, even if wanted to be, which is doubtful. He is addicted to the excitement that comes with being Steve-O, like when he did a double between-the-legs dribble, then gunned in a jumper to cut Miami's lead to 90-86. When it works, it's a sight to behold. But it had stopped working long before Francis took his extended all-star vacation. Whatever he was fined for missing practice, it does not seem to have inspired a sense of humility and discipline. For what it's worth, Edison went through more than 1,000 trials before he got the light bulb to work. He certainly proved his critics wrong. Unless Francis does the same, it'll be time to turn out the lights, the season's over. David Whitley can be reached at dwhitley@orlandosentinel.com. Link
man the Orlando Sentinal is harsh Steve had more than his share of bad games for the Rockets but you would never hear the Chron say stuff like that oh well...we've got T-Mac
We had this argument last year and a lot of people including myself felt Wade was better. I don't think it's a question anymore. However, up until the all-star game a lot of people were saying Steve got robbed and should have made the all-star team. I think he definitely had a case. He was putting up numbers. Right now he's in a major funk and playing the 2 may not help. It will be interesting to see what happens.
I like Stevie he has faults but still is a likable guy. For some reason im thinking if Rudy's old quote saying Francis could be one of the best ever. And i thought were was a chance to at one time also. I think in hoping the best for Steve would be an eventual induction into the hall of fame, and maybe he could win a ring but he would have to be on the same team as a top5 player to get there.
Awesome article you found there Fegwu. None of this stuff should be a revalation to anyone though, as there are people right here at ClutchFans who have been saying the same thing for years. Steve is at his most effective if the ball is in his hands all the time, as it was in the playoffs for us last year, but he is not good enough to get the team anywhere past mediocre.
The Orlando media are nothing more than gutter trash pigeons looking for the next scoop to chase away their superstar. It worked with Shaq, Penny, and TMac. Steve is just another speed bump to Orlando's true champion. Keep waiting, pals.
