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Stevie Nixed: 'Confused' Francis Plays Only 12 Minutes

Discussion in 'NBA Dish' started by EssTooKayTD, Mar 27, 2007.

  1. EssTooKayTD

    EssTooKayTD Member

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    Just for those that still follow SF3.

    http://www.nypost.com/seven/03272007/sports/knicks/stevie_nixed_knicks_brian_costello.htm

    By BRIAN COSTELLO
    FORCED TO WATCH: Steve Francis sits on the bench during the second half of last night's 94-89 loss to the Magic. Francis scored one point in 12 minutes of playing time.March 27, 2007 -- Steve Francis bit his tongue so hard during his postgame interviews last night, he may need stitches.

    After being relegated to the bench for all but 12 minutes of last night's 94-89 loss to Orlando at the Garden, Francis clearly was upset but doing his best not to say anything inflammatory.

    "I'm definitely confused," Francis said about his limited minutes. "I don't really know what it is."

    With the Knicks fighting for a playoff berth and Jamal Crawford done for the year, it seemed Francis would be the guy coach Isiah Thomas turned to as Stephon Marbury's backcourt mate. Instead, Francis has seen his minutes dwindle in the last two games. He played 21 minutes in Cleveland on Saturday.

    "It's hard," Francis said. "Being a veteran, last week playing 44 minutes to this week playing two minutes. It's tough, but it's the nature of the business."

    Francis started last night, but went to the bench six minutes into the game. He came back to open the second quarter, but played just three minutes before returning to the bench. Rookie Mardy Collins, who had five points in 23 minutes, started the third quarter in his place. Francis played three minutes in the third quarter and not at all in the fourth.

    He finished with one point off a free throw.

    "I liked the way Mardy was playing," Thomas said. "He was having a good game. I just felt he'd give us more defensively."

    Francis tried his best not to criticize Thomas after the game to avoid drawing the wrath of his paranoid MSG bosses. When he finished his session with reporters he even said: "Political answers, guys," as he turned away.

    Francis said he has no plans to speak to Thomas about his minutes.

    "That's the way he coaches," he said. "There's no need for me to intervene."

    Francis missed practice Sunday with the flu, but said he was ready to play last night.

    "I definitely wanted to play, but I guess it wasn't time out there for me," he said. "I can't beat my head up against the wall. I've got to hope to figure out a way to get back on the court."

    That may be hard to figure out because Thomas isn't giving many clues about what he expects from Francis.

    "I don't know what to do to get back on the basketball court," he said.

    This is the latest chapter in a strange season for Francis, who came over in a trade last year from Orlando. He missed most of December and all of January with knee tendinitis. He played sparingly in February, too. Rumors circulated the Knicks wanted to buy the guard out, but the team denied it.

    brian.costello@nypost.com
     
  2. texanskan

    texanskan Member

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    wrong forum
     
  3. weslinder

    weslinder Member

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    Great title!
     
  4. heypartner

    heypartner Member

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    Poor Francis. They never let him get his revenge on Orlando.

    and I agree with weslinder on the cool title.
     
  5. zhangstein

    zhangstein Member

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    Come to Houston, we will give you 13 min
     
  6. T-Yao

    T-Yao Member

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    hahahahaha
     
  7. Baqui99

    Baqui99 Member

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    Francis has turned into a total loser. He can't even get minutes on a team that's 10 games below .500.
     
  8. DaDream

    DaDream Member

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    He can't get minutes becuase that organization is a bunch of idiots. He still got game , he just needs to be shown some luv.
     
  9. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Awesome title. Deserves to be in GARM for that reason alone!

    Man, I feel sorry for Francis. He's always had sorta of a goofy personality, but compared to many, less famous BB players in the league, he's OK. One thing you have to say about him... the guy loves to play. (except during the Super Bowl)
     
  10. Fuse

    Fuse Member

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    I feel sorry for him. He deserves to play at least somewhere. Compared to other malign personalities within the NBA, Francis looks like a saint compared to them.
     
  11. Baqui99

    Baqui99 Member

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    He doesn't fit in well anywhere, and now that his hops and jumper are gone, he's just another ball-hogging guard who turns the ball over too much.
     
  12. ClutchCityReturns

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    I would find it hard to care less about Steve Francis, but the wrong forum this is not.
     
  13. JuNx

    JuNx Member

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    Bring Francis..... cut bonzi.
     
  14. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    I think Francis missed his tide at the deadline.
     
  15. Ziggy

    Ziggy QUEEN ANON

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    He hit a game winner the other night and now he is playing 12min? Isiah is like the bizarro Van Gundy. Man with all that depth at the guard you'd think Isiah would press and play them all 20+min. Whatever...
     
  16. DarkHorse

    DarkHorse Member

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    He put up some pretty decent numbers over the past couple of weeks. Odd that they would reduce his role now.
     
  17. rofflesaurus

    rofflesaurus Member

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    i'll tell u why hes not playing. it's cuz he makes the offense stagnant with his incessant dribbling. isaih yelled at him earlier last week for not passing the ball to curry plus he's a liability on defense. francis' weaknesses are exposed in a halfcourt offense its that simple really knicks are hoping to get rid of him.
     
  18. smeiou78

    smeiou78 Member

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    Come back, Stevie! If he's already not playing in New York, I don't think he would have much of a problem coming off the bench in Houston. :)
     
  19. Roxnostalgia

    Roxnostalgia Member

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    :rolleyes: Snore...

     
  20. RiceDaddy7

    RiceDaddy7 Member

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    I would love to see Steve Francis get a second chance in Houston. And so would all of you. ALL. OF. YOU.
     

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