After watching the flagrant foul on the highlights, I'm concerned that Francis might Godforbid get hurt if he makes a move to charging to the basket or looking for a shot or dunk when it might be easier for him to pass the ball to an open player. But I'm very relieved to see him well and doing such a tremendous job to lead us to victory again.
All you have to do is put "Proud Member of M* A* S* H*" in your sig. You can put it under what you already have or erase something. Doesn't matter as long as it is there. As for a position, you just make something up.
what francis is doing right now is insane, but I worry that he is carrying too much of the load. he will not last another five years at this incredible pace. He is a really tough player, and he takes a lot of hard falls. Like Calvin said in the Portland telecast, steve should learn the stop and pop, that way his back would land hard on the court less often.
I have to agree with your take, I remember that early in his career Jordan would always take it to the rack hard. Then as his body began to wear down he completely transformed his game with that jumpshot of his, it was incredible how he was still 30ppg with that shot of his.
I definitely think Steve should consider the risks when going for those high flying slams in traffic and perhaps lay it in more instead. It's not as pretty, but Steve is the Franchise and if he goes down so do the Rockets. Look at AI, and how injuries have plagued him. Steve can not afford to take a beating every night. What if he breaks his arm?
Francis has taken his game to the next level. You almost wonder what Mobley is thinking while watching him. It's got to be an inspiration to everybody on the team.
i haven't read this thread yet, but let me say this: steve francis is playing - no exaggeration - hall of fame basketball. these last 2 games (gws & portland) were absolutely phenomenal games for him. he, for the first time in his rocket career, is actually playing the point guard position and still scoring at will. i never questioned his ability...i questioned his decision making. he is proving to me and the world though that he can do it. i've always believed that he could involve his teammates in the first 2 or 3 quarters and still get 30 a game. he's doing it. steve is playing - dare i say it? JORDANESQUE...
I have been as critical of Steve in the past as anybody. All I wanted was for him to step up and lead this team. I think right now, the way he is playing, he has elevated himself to the HIGHEST level. Steve is an elite player, and is playing like it. I would now call him a SUPERSTAR. Glad to see him get there....and glad he is a Rocket. GO ROCKS.... DaDakota
Rockbox, if you don't know the difference, you never will. Team assists are up near 20 (18), he got his team mates involved, he used the pick-and-roll and not just ISO, Francis played defense (he would fly by the shooters and had 4 fouls), and the rest of his team played defense; Hawk, Griff, Yao, and yes, even Mobes. In other games, we'd take the lead, only to give it up to bad defense, or shoddy ISOs turnover. The funny thing is that Francis needs help. PERIOD. He's the leader, yes. But getting tiped balls in his direction, steals from other teammates and block shots all help Steve look good too. If this was a loss, it would have been a average 3 quarters of a game. Hawk, Griff, and Yao (and Steve at the end) all made this game a TEAM effort. That's what makes the game seem worth while. This was not like the 1st two wins. Those were ISO games. Also, The more I see Yao, the more I see Steve's game looking better. Yao is team first! His wont show up in scoring as much, his will show up in other players scoring! Yao changed the game the moment he entered the game: Didn't you feel it?
Remember Sabonis? Does anyone remember the feeling you had when the Rockets had to play against the Blazers about 6 years ago? Sabonis would trick so many players with his passing. It was so frustrating to play against Sabonis because you never knew where his passes were going to go. He was so tricky, and BIG! Hakeem was even fooled by his passing. Well, when Yao enters the game, I'm on pins and needles because I'm so looking forward to what Yao will do. It's like he has a bag of tricks that are just brimming to come out! And every game, he shows something new. Not just scoring. But his all-around skills. His passing will be his most dazzling skill. When Yao is in the game he changes the game. It's magic. He's not strong now, but he will be. I love the fact that he has passing skills are like Sabonis; one of the best players that no one ever got to see (back in 1985). Well, we get to see Yao.
Team assists have nothing to do with what Francis did last game. Team assist have gone up because KT has been passing these last two game and Cat has been swinging the ball around more. We also didn't score anymore last night then we did in any other game. In regards to using picks, what difference does it make how Francis is getting his open shots. He is getting them. Its not like he getting more assists from using the picks. He is just finding another way to get open. I do believe the team is passing the ball around more but that has nothing to do with what Steve is doing. He is doing the same thing he has been doing all season long which is take what defenses give him and making them pay for it. Steve is playing like a God. I just think it is kinda funny how some wins changes how the Steve haters look at him. Steve had a great game against Seattle but team didn't play defense and lost and somehow it is Steve's fault because he didn't pass the ball enough. We beat Portland because of our defense with Steve doing the same thing except he didn't pass the ball at all in the fourth quarter and somehow they realize he's a top five player.
Frances' maturity has been painful to watch. His skill, abilities, and potential have never been seriously questioned. His decision-making, play-making, and defense have. This year he seems determined to answer all critics and skeptics. Is he really as good as some people think he is, or is he a showboating pretender? Well, we have an answer. He may be better than the rosiest predictions. He may be All World. He may be the second coming of M.J. His performance last night was Jordan-like in many ways. He took over at a critical time and willed his team to win. Last night was pivotal, some kind of mystical right of passage. Indeed, something very special is happening.
My ID name says what I think about Steve. I have tracked this guys career from the moment he stepped on the Maryland campus. Yes I was a freshman when Steve came to College Park. I have always marveled at his amazing talent, but the thing that always stuck out about Steve is that he has a complete game. He can do everything on the offensive end exceptionally well. He has no holes in games and as he has learned how to take the jumper when the defense gives it to him and when defenders go under on the pick and rolls, rather than attacking the basket everytime. He is quite simply the most talented point guard I think this league has seen since Isiah Thomas. His atheltic ability and skill package are just unmatched. I love the guy hes been my favorite player since the first day I saw him. One thing that I want to point out to those who dont know, it is no fluke that Steve has improved every single season. This guy works his ass off to improve his game. After Maryland practices he stayed, not one hour, but several hours by himself with a family member working on his game. And I dont mean just shooting around, he was running hard around cones/trashcans shooting jumpers, dribbling, around cones. Running the steps at Cole Field House. The great ones, with amazing talent like Steves, who work their asses off to improve are the ones who will be great ones. Steve falls into that class, I still think Kobe is head and shoulders above everyone else in the league in that aspect of commitment but Steve is right there with him. To be honest with you when a great player wants to win and will put in the work to improve themselves even if they are already supremely talented then thats when you have to respect them. Iverson doesnt work on his game or lift weights during the off season, that is why there is no improvement in his game from year to year. TMAC just recently got the hint, Duncan doesnt work as hard as he should. Steve is the best point in the league, the best talent at the position and I think the hardest worker at the position and therefore will continue to improve on his already amazing ability. By the time he retires he will be held in the same light as Isiah Thomas. I love Steve and his game. As for who I would trade for Steve? Kobe, TMAC, and thats it. Ask me the same question in two years, I would most likely say Kobe only....and maybe Lebron James if hes anything what people say he is. Steve will be my favorite player in the league until the day he retires and I really am encouraged that the Rockets fans are starting to give him the support hes deserved since day one in the NBA. Best thing folks is that the best is yet to come....Get your VCR's ready we are lucky to have such a gem on our squad.
People will someday look back and wish they saw the early Francis. History has shown that small, high flying acts like Francis change and evolve their game. Those highlight slams we enjoy won't always be around as Francis grows in other ways (and realizes his chances of getting hurt increase the higher he jumps).
FA, You are right on the money as usual. As soon as I read your post, the hard fould that Wallace put on Steve came into my head. Right when that happened last night, I was thinking that in time, Steves going to have to learn to finesse that shot instead of trying to power it into the hoop. A nice little floater would have worked and would have probably kept him from being slammed so hard. Also, if he would have just turned towards his left and did a right handed layup, he could have used his back to take the brunt of Wallace's body. Im sure Steve will learn that in time. Thats whats scary to me. Steve hasnt even reached his prime yet and probably wont for a couple of more seasons. Wow.
I totally disagree with the word GREATNESS. (I think this is the first time I have disagreed with Jeff in 6 years!!) Yea, Steve has skills and the jumper and all that. But wheres the defense? Has he led us to a championship yet? The word or the description of GREATNESS is used way too much to describe athletes. I have to see defense. I have to see the "make others better" aspect of his game. Most of all, show me the rings. Karl Malone is great without a ring. So is Barkley. So is Ewing. But they did it for 15+ years. If Steve does it for another 10, I will look past the defense and the ring. But to call him great at barely mid 20's? Don't think so. He is a good ball player who is getting better and who COULD be great. To think we are seeing something special is a little over the top. I see alot of players come and go and do what he does. Tim Hardaway comes to mind without the hops. And I guess Hardaway was special?
