Steve Francis has always had the talent, he has always had the desire, what he has lacked is leadership and savvy. This year he has shown SIGNIFICANT improvement in both leadership and savvy. He has been passing the ball to teamates, he has been taking over down the stretch, in a word he has become a "SUPERSTAR" Francis is seeing the court a lot better, witness his one handed bullet pass to KT in the 4th quarter for a rim rattling jam. Francis is trusting his teamates more..witness him giving EG more touches, and making sure that the team is moving the ball. I think the light bulb has finally come on, he will still drive into trouble sometimes and still make mistakes. However, we are winning the close games and the reason is clear....it is SF leadership. Way to go Steve......glad to see you in a Rockets uniform. DaDakota
exactly. people say "hey he's always been doing this" but damnit - no - he has not. he is FINALLY playing a team game!!! yes, the #s are the same, but bball isn't won on numbers...it's won on the court. he has now officially risen to the elite status - more than a numbers guy...now a winner...now a team player...now a SUPERstar. that is amazing. imo, there are only 4 or 5 SUPERstars in the league: shaq t-mac duncan and now... francis.
BOOOO!! You're posts were a lot more fun to read when you were constantly bashing Francis. If anybody wants to see some CLASSIC DaDakota, click HERE
Now I definately understand this BBS. When Rockets win, everyone is lickin their ass. When Rockets lose, everyone is steppin on em. Just like politics. Hear ye hear ye, if anyone of you who have opted to embrace Francis decide to trip out on him when Rockets lose a game, I will personally hunt you down.
Whatever, you guys act like it's a crime to change your mind. That's what makes it like politics. As for Francis, he's looking good, but he's no superstar. Superstars are made in the playoffs, not the beginning of the season which is quickly forgotten come december.
I was glad to watch the Game last night! Its starting to look more like great Basketball and Steve Francis is starting to play as a Point Guard.He can only get better and our under acheiving Team will improve greatly as a result of his increased confidence. All I want is for every member of our team to reach their potential. The Franchise and Dynasty together winning Championships!!
But I hope other teamates, KT, MoT, Yao, CAT, Eddie, can be part of this development in becoming superstars. Cause Rox cannot rely on SF only to win games.
Superstars are superstars, Charles Barkley was a superstar on Philadelphia, then in either 1990 or 1991 the 76ers missed the playoffs. Did he suddenly stop becoming a superstar that year or did his supporting cast take a hit. Francis has put up big numbers every year he has been in the league so no I don't think it's an early season thing. About superstars being made in the playoffs, legends are made in the playoffs, but superstars are made in the regular season where consistency is the rule. If the playoffs is where a superstar was made the regular season records wouldn't be the ones that were official. Heck Ernie Banks is a HOFer and he never made the playoffs.
NewYorker: hey! he said the "birth" of a superstar...not that he was fully grown!!! truly, francis, if he stays the course, is on his way - THIS YEAR - being a SUPERstar.
The man's playing so good he needs two threads. SF has been amazing, and 2nd only to Tracy McGraddy this year so far in numbers. Teammates are starting to realize whos team this is and letting him take over at the end of the game. This also really shows how much the migraines were effecting him last year. For him to make this much of a jump in one year. WOW!
That's what makes it great to be the Anti-A Train...I always support em and try not to bash even tho I might be disappointed...that way I can say that I never doubted em when they play good.. Seriously, the improvement in this game is not something you can see on the stat sheet, unless you count the W. SF tryed to get everyone involved early in the game..and then took it over in the 4th when noone else would. Their team D was improved, and even tho Mo didn't have his touch back yet, the rest of the team did what was necessary to win. If SF can continue and build on his performance against Port., we are gonna have something special..
Dakota, you must admit that the old post hurts. Come on fess up! That having been said. I agree that Steve is just exploding and I would say was near Jordanesque last night. I am amazed at how good his outside shot has gotten. If you recall Jordan did not become Jordan nor Clyde, Clyde till their outside shots started developing. There does seem to have been some mental development going on also.
It certainly is an impressive run he's had to start the season. I don't consider Mcgrady and Carter, or even Bryant to be superstars. They are just all-stars to me, which is what Francis already is. When i think of Superstars, I think of Hakeem, Bird, Jordon, Clyde, Malone, Magic, Payton and O'neal. Maybe it is a birth, but we'll be only able to tell looking back if Francis continues to put up these crazy numbers and leading the team in crunch time.
The birth of a superstar means that you can say their first name and you know who they are immediatly. Kobe, Shaq, Vince, Tracy. Steve will be up there soon.
NewYorker: tmac is a superstar. and i would never put him in the same category as kobe. he is - hands down - the most dominant 2 guard in the league and now that hill is back will probably carry the magic to the ecf. in fact, tmac is better now than clyde was in his prime. as for steve, he has the ability to go into the rarified air of historical superstars. up there with the jordans, magics, birds, etc. that air however, requires rings....multiple. and usually is accompanied by revolutionizing a part of the game. it'll be fun to watch the next 8-10 years to see if he can fulfill that potential.
Of course Steve is growing, this is only his 4th year in the league. The reason we call it "Steve Hating" is because you guys acted like Francis would never improve. The trade Francis for Miller threads are proof enough. The point is you guys didn't give him a chance when we've been saying all along, "Just you wait and see." I can't remember who in particular, but there also people who accused him of only wanting to pad his stats and not caring about winning. The same people probably said that Steve wouldn't stay if Ming was drafted or that he'd demand somebody else be drafted or the pick be traded so that another Terp could join the team. See where I'm going with this. Steve never gets the benefit of the doubt from you guys. Instead of saying, "Steve is a Houston Rocket, I'll support him and save my criticism for when he messes up big time," you guys were all about criticizing the kid for every little thing you think he did wrong regardless of the outcome of the game or the performance of the rest of the team.
