Steve is supposed to be this teams leader, and with that role he needs to speak out. He needs to speak out when players aren't fulfilling their roles to this team, but he also needs to speak out to management. Someone has to let the management and fans know how the key players feel. Sure, some of his comments come off sounding a little too "I"oriented, but I know if I were going to have to sign a long term contract with my employer you can bet the bank that I'm going to get all of my questions answered before I do so. We all have the option to go to work where we want, and if we don't like we can leave. Signing a long term contract makes that a little more difficult (not impossible but difficult).
No, most people in this forum are fans of the Rockets and not individual players. Steve's better than Baron Davis. He's better than a lot of players. Part of the reason people are hard on him is that you have to expect a lot with his talent and heart. However, even if you're Shaquille O'Neal or Tim Duncan, you're not above the team. If they were, what's the point in having a front office? Stevie's paid to play, and that's what he needs to do. We don't need to take or not take Yao Ming based on the opinions of some player that's never actually seen him play. Steve's a very, very good player... but there is still that line to becoming a great player that he hasn't crossed. He has the talent to get there, but his maturity is lacking. He needs to become a leader that stands behind his team and pulls his teammates together, instead of second guessing management's decisions on players that he's never seen play. Of course we should resign him for the max... that's not even a question. But, when there's a player with that much talent that doesn't seem to mentally get it, it's frustrating. The only reason people can be so hard on him is that they realize how great he can be with just a few improvements.
Also, if Francis is the so-called leader, he needs to break up with his boyfriend Cuttino. The only player these 2 guys pass to is each other. It's obvious that when Francis plays, he really only looks to pass to Mobley. Those 2 seem to think they can be the entire team, and we can still win. Until Francis realizes that he has to rely on his teammates to win, we never will.
The thing that I do not understand is why he is blasted for expressing his opinions. He doesn't really like Ming okay? I know we are all Rock fans so most support Ming just b/c he is a Rocket but he's no slam dunk. There are still a lot of questions surtronding him. I'm nervous, why can't Steve be? Yes CD and Rudy T are better talent evaluators but they did draft Jason Collier, Dan Laghi, passed on RLewis 3 times, trade for Rice, sign Cato to that ridiculious contract, and overpay Mooch in the last several years so they are by no means perfect. Ming could very well be a mistake ( I don't think he will but it is a possibility). Francis like many young people makes mistakes, come off cocky, etc. Its funny how when that Ming article came out and he was calling out NBA players only a few people took him to task while the majority of the people were trying to call the article fake or giving Ming props for saying all that stuff. If you take Steve to task (which is fine b/c sometimes he deserves it like any other player) take everyone to task when they deserve it. Haven makes some good points about Steve's strenghts and weaknesses but kidrock8 there is no way is weaknesses outway his strenghts. He'll calm down as he matures and he'll get the team more involved when Rudy T actually draws up a play or two instead of running those stupid ISO's all the time. We only won 2 games w/o him and our record will be just as pathetic w/ Ming & Nachbar if Steve isn't in there.
Kidrock B:- You have touched on the very heart of the problem! Steve Francis can make himself a bigger star by making his team better and become a contender. Somewhere along the line he must come to the conclusion that we now have talent on the Rox and as their leader he must band this talent together into one mighty fighting force. Not Steve Francis & the Rox but 'The Rockets Championship Basketball' Team! We know he can do it! Does he?
Stylez:- Why does Steve not like Yao Ming? He's never played against/with him and has only seen videos of him? Is he afraid of loosing Star Status in the future? Is it racial? It just plain simple that the Rox used their own judgement(not his) at the Draft and he is burning with hatred, because his desires for the team were ignored? Or is it something else? I for one (A Rox Fan) would like to know! Even a statement from Troy Barros might help!
Yetti, I think he's just nervous about the guy. He's never seen him play and he's heard all the bust talk about him. I'm a little worried and I think every Rocks player, member of management, and fans is concernered deep down. Yetti, your sig says it all. RUDY adjust his game to win it all. Francis does what Rudy tells him to do. Dribble the ball around in an ISO and take your man to the basket, maybe try a pick and roll here and there. Passing is not a big part of the ISO offense so what is he supposed to do? Rudy's gotta run plays for everyone to be invloved. Oh and kidrock8 nice job w/ the Steve & Cuttino boyfriend reference very mature. Read my above statement and you can see why Francis only averages 6 assits a game (which is more than Bibby, Fisher, JTerry, Snow and a lot of starting PG).
In the better late than never category, ElGrandeQueso, you are the official dumbest poster on this BBS. I mean, there's not even any competition. You're pathetic. How dare you say that anyone is not a Rockets fan when you put up a site saying our number one pick "sucks" without even seeing him play? I don't agree with the Steve bashing, but at least people are able to present arguments for it. Steve's played for us for three years. There's a record (both on and off the court) to criticize and/or applaud. Before Yao even plays his first NBA game you declare him a bust and then you say the rest of us aren't fans of our team. I would just love it if you would say that to my face, you little puppy. I've been a diehard Rocket fan for more than twenty years. I criticized Hakeem when he acted like he was bigger than the team and I reserve the right to do the same with any other player who thinks he's bigger than the team I have loved since I was a small child. It is you who is a Steve fan and not a Rockets fan. You should be ashamed of yourself. I don't use the ignore function, but I can't wait til you say something stupid enough to be banned. Incidentally, I really haven't been hard on Steve. I love him and I hope he spends his whole career here. I feel the same way about Cat, Yao and Eddie Griffin. I'd also love it if we could find places for Mo and KT. They are both hard workers and good team guys.
All Francis has to do is look at big game James Worthy. James could have been a 20,000 point score and up for mvp awards but no rings because he went to la. He was college player of the yr and the #1 pick, but when he went to la he was the 3rd best player on the team. As Kareem got older he moved up to 2nd but he sacrificed his game for the greater good of the team. If Ming and Griffin becomes the player everyone thinks they will be, Francis could be the 3rd best player on this team in a couple of yrs.The important thing is that he still will control the team because he is the pg. He's still young and needs to mature, but sooner or later the too young sticker will run out. Look at marbury, now he's 25 and dc who's in his 30's now. The time goes by quick and hopefully francis matures quickly also. Maybe Ming and Griffin are the perfect compliment to him.
Look, I'm sick of all this **** about Baron Davis being better than Steve. Francis outplays him in head-to-head matchups time after time, is sleeker with a smoother game, and can hit a free throw. Davis IMO is overrated because of his assists and playoff success. (It just seems everyone forgets to mention the fact that Davis actually has a frontline capable of doing damage). We're now looking at FIVE 3,4,5's that we didn't SEE or hardly SAW last year! With Yao (rook), Boki (rook), Eddie (improved inside game), Rice (coming back from injury), and Mo (coming back from injury), we have a revitalized front court capable of helping out Steve and Cuttino on their playoff quest. You are 100% right, TheReason. Steve Francis is the franchise. And he will lead us to the playoffs this year, quote me.
No I wasn't talking about you this time. I still think you are stupid when it comes to Iverson, but atleast you support the Franchise.
Hakeem Olajuwon was a moody, pouty, uncommunicative, brilliant franchise player. Steve Francis is an egocentric, freelancing, showboating, brilliant franchise player. Not every franchise player is as wise and likeable as . . . uh . . . Yao Ming. Deal with it.
To all of you hattas, Steve has proven him self in this league that we call the NBA, while on the other hand any body that think's that we'll be better off with Ming than Steve you might want to put that crack pipe down now.
Here's what I think (to add to what Will said): Some Rockets fans are just holding on to the past a little too much. Hakeem was such an introvert. He always kept to himself and hardly ever talked to the media. He also had the reputation of being humble. He never showed any emotion. He was also, for the majority of his career, one of the most underpaid players in the game. Only at the end of his Rockets career did he get those big balloon payments as a sort of "thank you" gift from the Rockets. He was also underappreciated by everyone, always living in the shadow of Jordan, Shaq, Ewing, Robinson, etc... In many ways, Steve Francis is the EXACT opposite of Hakeem. He IS loud and vocal. He screams on the court, jumps up and down, talks to reporters, appears on magazine covers...He also gets enourmous respect from everyone in the NBA for his work ethic and enthusiasm for the game. In a short time, he will also sign the most lucrative contract in franchis history. If you think people are critical of Steve now, you ain't seen nuthin' yet... THAT'S why everyone jumped on the Yao Ming bandwagon so quickly and seemed to turn on Steve just as quickly, because Ming is more like Hakeem than Steve is. Griffin, too. Griffin has that quiet demeanor and easygoing manner defined Hakeem. Add that to the fact that both of these guys are big men just like Hakeem, and you can see why Steve bashing is more popular than Bingo at a retirement home...
Less than 20 shot attempts, better than 20 points, better than 6 rebounds, and better than six assists all in more than 40 minutes a game. How is that selfish? Please stop it people, I mean thank goodness that he probably does not read these posts. Some of you people absolutely kill me with these statements, with fans like those of you who bash him no wonder he gets migraines. And same goes to all of you Mobley bashers, where will this team be without both of them. If you really want to know just look at this team last year when they were either out or playing through injury.
Jev, thank you for posting some nice stats. Steve is on record praising Ming. All the other stuff is rumor, myth etc. Steve's stats on court don't look like someone who's too selfish. Jordan was called too selfish, Hakeem was likewise. All of it changed when the personell on the team improved, and those players then trusted the personell around them. To me it seems like the Rockets are headed in the right direction. Hopefully Steve will see it that way too. As of right now Steve hasn't said in anything the contrary!
1.Steve hasn't questioned management. He's on record being supportive of Ming. 2.He spoke to Cat who then relayed the feelings. Once he had more information he spoke positively of Ming 3.Steve has gone to the Mayo clinic, Steve had the shoulder surgery early all so he can be ready to go by the time the season starts. That sounds like he's doing a great job of taking care of himself. 4Steve is not only learning the NBA game, but also learning a NEW position as PG. Hopefully that part of his game will come around. Having better people on the team will also help that. 5. I don't see anything that Steve has said as not being loyal to the Management. He's talked to Cat etc. and done things to keep him on the team and other things showing loyalty. 6.I think a lof the immature things Steve is accused of have just been rumor. Looking at the statements that we know to be factual is usually positive. If indeed Steve was very angry about the Ming pick, he did show maturity by waiting until he had all the information on Ming before commenting publically. At that time it was a positive statement. That shows maturity.
