It says that the team loves winning - has the desire to win and strides for it. I don't think it takes away from the team's image at all. Have you watched KG play? I don't know how many times he's made the exact same "shhh" gesture. Hell he even did it to us!! There's nothing wrong with Stevie taking competition above and beyond. That's what super-stars do. I'm sorry but I don't want Stevie to become a Stockton or a guy who will show no emotion. I'm glad he has pride in himself and his team that he'll take on a crowd. I wasn't implying Rocketkid couldn't hoop - so don't try and turn it to a personal matter - I said that I doubted the fact that he has ever played in a high intensity game with the crowd as bad as they were in Minnesota. That doesn't mean the guy can't play, I don't know him. But still, you guys say he hasn't matured because he talked to the crowd? I guess Barkley never matured in his all-star career. Leave the Franchise alone. -LTF
You show that you love winning by winning. Not by doing table dances and acting like an ass in front of the crowd. They had already made their point by winning the game. What's with all the post game nonsense? Get your butts off the court. I'm not saying to show no emotion, but they need to pick the right time and right way to do it. It's not even the little "shhhh" thing that Steve did, because a lot of players do that. But can you name players who act like mad men in front of a crowd after a win? I'm sure players have done that in the past, and I feel the same way about them as I do Steve. I guess he hasn't. Just because he's an all-star, that makes him a mature player? Can you honestly say that Barkley is a mature player? I think not.
Longtime Fan, i can understand the emotional side of it. I like that too. But wasn't Steve hopping around taunting the crowd after the final horn? Im not saying it's wrong or right, but what I am saying is that if one expects to win night in and night out, and one has instilled within in him a mindset that has adapted to succeeding, it shows, but when one is not use to coming out on top against certain foes then when he rarely does that also tends show -- like last night. That to me is all what we we're seeing from Francis last night. The dude was just pumped because hes rarely been there before. Thats cool. But what i'm saying is that it'd be nice to get these morale boosting victories out of the way so Stevie can get to that point where he expects to beat the Minnesotas and Sacrementos.
I'm pretty sure the reason why Steve was not selected to the USA basketball team is because it is a mistake.
Steve plays with passion. Sometimes, he gets a little out of hand. I'd still rather have someone like Steve than an automaton like Mike Bibby. What I'd like to see would be Steve learning to channel that emotional energy for the right moments. But, in case you don't remember, Hakeem once had quite a temper, too. And at a more advanced age than 25. Give him some time. Sometimes I act worse than Francis playing intramural games with my buddies .
What player plays with Stevie's passionate emotion but doesn't taunt the crowd or other players?? Go to Salt Lake and become a Stockton fan if you want that. And I don't think any of that crap about Stevie being snubbed has to do with his attitude. He'll be there when it counts - no big deal. But seriously, just about every all-star that has the "emotion" and "desire" will taunt the crowd and other players. Barkley did it. KG does it. Cat does it. AI does it. Jordan does it. (you can't tell me he hasn't talked crap to other players and got in their face about it) GP does it. Rasheed Kidd Marbury Shaq Kobe Webber Cassel etc. etc. ETC. ----- Please don't mention Duncan. He does not show enough emotion to be considered. Granted, he's one of the best - he just doesn't show everyone. (Eddie! Eddie!) there's nothing wrong with what Franchise did. The Rockets have been struggling the whole season and they've finally put together a winning streak vs playoff teams - they beat the T-Wolves, a HELL of a team on both ends. Now if he did it vs the Bulls or Grizz it might be different. But if its with a major contender as are the Wolves, I don't see anything wrong with it. Not to mention, Francis's "immaturity" is what gave the Rocks a win. Don't hate him for finally deciding to take over as leader. -LTF
I've said it before that after the WC's with lj and kemp, USA basketball has made the effort not to put guys on the teams that have "problems" I'm not saying Steve has one, but I think USA basketball views guys with a lot of techs as problems. Last yr, Steve was 2nd to Rasheed in techs. I'm not sure what his ranking is this yr, but I've seen him get useless techs or delay of game calls because he didn't get a call. It doesn't get better when you really need a foul call if you're always b****ing about one. He's 25 and will grow up then he'll get the star calls, but until then, he just needs to shut up and keep playing hard. The calls will come with time.
gladly. i'm in san antonio, texas. feel free to let me know when you're up for it. really, you're missing the point, though. it's not about one person being a better baller than the other. i made that comment because if you've ever played in a hostile environment, you would be able to understand that sh*t talking goes on constantly. on the court...off the court...between the court and the crowd. not everyone participates in the talk, but those that are emotional players do.
Look I fully understand that sh*t talking goes on, because I experience it first hand about 3 times a week. Do I get all mad and taunt the crowd? Nope. I ignore their sh*t. Do I give a crap about the players talk? Nope. I just play. So I've never played bball before? I've played more organized AND street bball than you ever had. Name the time and place.
UGH......... The testosterone level in here is so strong, it's emanating from my monitor. I CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO A DUEL!!
(chuckle) i'm glad you know me so well. where do you play at, RK? i'm on the north side of san antonio...281 North and Bitters...where are you? and tell me this...why do you assume i'm talking about you? if you experience it, then you know it goes on. and you know there are those that do respond to it. some of those bball players actually play BETTER when they are responding to it. so, i can't understand how that would make those people immature for responding to the crowd...
Let me ask you an honest question: were you talking about me? If not, we can forget all this. When you respond to mess talkers, it shows that you are easily roused to anger. Now is that mature? Nope. You respond by playing good basketball and takin him to school. That's how you shut the guy up. Responding to mess talkers just causes more trouble and usually escalates into fights. Trust me, I know. I don't know how you can say mess talking is in any way mature.
Rocketkid... That's not the way I feel when I play. Granted, I sort of suck... and I'm sure most people here could whip me in a challenge (unless you want to make it soccer )... but when "mess" talkers are going at me, I play better by responding to the emotional energy. Sure, you get angry. But you also get motivated. It's adrenaline. And when the blood's flowing... you say crap you probably don't mean. Look at Jordan, if you feel nothing like this yourself. He basically pretended feuds existed where they never did specifically so he could fuel himself off of it.
It might be helpful to recap some of the low-lights in Francis' NBA career to date: (1) First rookie ever(?) to demand a trade before even playing his first NBA game. Good break for the Rockets, but you have to question Steve's loyalty to any NBA team. (2) DWI this year. (3) Injury prone. I know its due to migraine headaches, but the bottom line is that Steve is not on the court on a regular basis and is not dependable. (4) Did anyone notice in the Utah game last Sunday that Francis totaling ignored Rudy's call for a time-out right before Steve hit the game winning shot? It worked in that situation, but you know it had to piss-off Rudy. I hate to say it, but Francis is not going to be the franchise player to lead the Rockets back to the top of the NBA. I will get bashed by all of the Stevie fans for this post, but the guy is not even the best player on the 6th worst team in the NBA (that honor goes to Cat). Blame it on the migraines, but you have to judge a player on what he does over an entire season, not just the games that he plays. I am extremely disappointed that Steve was not able to play in the Bulls game, given the three-game win streak. For me, Francis' lack of production this season has been even more disappointing than the Rockets' other injuries and resulting bad record.
