How about after 3 preseason games? Right now, Steve is the odd man out. When Steve gets no time with Yao, TMac ect ect, then the writing is on the wall. When Steve cant get time untill all scrubs are in, and you sit your own starters, then the writing is on the wall. Steve right now is on the short end of the stick, and Im beginning to wonder if this wasnt set in motion right from the beginning (5 mins in the first preseason game) by RA. Not claiming conspiracy, but just that Steve was never going to get a shot at the first team no matter what. I dont understand it really. SF does turn the ball over more, but he is a higher assist man. He definately gets more boards, more blocks, more steals, shoots the three almost the same as alston, shoots MUCH better from the field, can finish, gets to the line much more while shooting the FTs way better, creates his own shot, plays better D is more explosive and scores at twice Alstons clip. I understand that there is a perceived "higher basketball IQ" with Alston but I dont see much from Alson except watching TMac run the O while he bricks shots, and doesnt turn the ball over. It would be nice to at least see SF with the starting unit a few preseason games, to gauge how he would do given the chance. But its looking more and more clear as though SF is going to be the 10-15 minute guy every day.
10$ says it ain't T-Mac who will be sacrificing If he jacks up as many shots as last year. . . I will be concerned as well Rocket River
why should he sacrifice? he's our smartest player. he's in shape this yr and esp. in this offense where his athleticism will make him so dangerous, u want him to look to score. the same with yao. u want yao to sacrifice shots when he has a midget guarding him? look man, francis ain't on the level of our stars. he knew that when he chose houston. he could have gone to other teams. so he'll sacrifice. ppl on this board read too much into things.
i think they see it in practice. adelman does not hold players down. he gives everyone chances. stojakovic sucked for a while when he first started but adelman still gave him minutes. francis still has those tendencies: holds the ball a lot, tries to do a lot off he dribble... w/ tmac and yao, since they're so great, u want to maximize their potential. having francis holding the ball and trying to break down defenses won't do that.
i have a feeling steve francis will actually start... T-Mac hasnt really played much... infact, Steve Francis has played more than T-Mac has... I heard Matt Bullard say that "guys like mutumbo, arent playing much because they already made the team." Maybe the reason why coach adelman isnt playing francis much is because he could be T-Mac's partner in that starting back court. Maybe Coach Adelman is playing Rafer and Mike James alot more in the pre-season to actually find out whos better between the two to run the point or run the 1guard... Thoughts guys? cuz i mean, it looks like Coach A isnt playing his top players much.... maybe he considers SF3 one of his top players? hmmmm
Keep Sura on the roster then after Steve's TRS is up, trade Steve and Sura ($ speaks to the Clips owner) for Corey Maggette. I think Steve would be happier in Clipperland with his buddies.
I don't get that impression at all. I think Rafer is starting and Francis and James are the replacement backcourt with Bonzi playing the 3 and Scola rotating with Yao and Chuckie. I think Steve is taking his time getting ready and I don't think he has figured out the offense yet. He is still too much dribble 1 on 1. He's not even bringing up the ball quickly, everytime he gets the board or the pitchout he lollygags up the floor with it, looking around like he's lost. When he is off the ball, he stands out there at the 3 point stripe. He hasn't learned how to move and cut off the ball from what I've seen. I think there are two things happening. 1. He's not all there physically, little problem with the knee, he doesn't want to push himself too much. Frankly, I think McGrady and Bonzi are both playing this game too. They're all kinda taking it easy since it is preseason. They're not wanting to peak early or exhaust themselves. 2. Stevie is going to have an extended adjustment period learning how to move off the ball and fit into this offense.
You have to watch the games. If you compare skillsets, SF blows Alston away and should be starting. But when he's on the floor, the offense bogs down when SF touches the ball, which is why he isn't starting. There is no conspiracy against him. Of all the rotation players, SF is having the hardest time adjusting to the motion offense. I'm going to judge Tracy on his shooting percentage, not the number of shots he takes. On offense, that's his major flaw. If he throws up just as many dumb shots as last year, most everyone here will be on his case. However, if he's efficient, I don't mind him taking the same number of shots.
tmac>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>francis for the life of me i cant figure why some people are so freaking infatuated with this guy. when was the last time francis was even relevant?
im confused. i heard yesterday francis wasnt playing and i stopped watching the game at halftime. now all of a sudden he did play? was he put at the end of the bench or what?
His knee tightened up before the game so he thought he was not going to play. It loosened up later on and he went out there. There was a scary moment where a defender fell on his knee. Nothing big though, he shook it off and kept playing.
Probably because he was all Rockets fans had between the end of the Dream Era and the Yao/McGrady Era. Hate him all you want but he went out there he played hard for us every single night. Also, the last time Houston fans saw him in a Rockets uniform was in the playoffs where we nearly upset that HOF Lakers lineup. Yes we lost 4-1 but it was closer than you think with SF3 averaging near a triple double, 19pts,7ast,8rebs per game. So yeah, that might be a couple reasons why Stevie is such a fan favorite here.
Not gonna read this whole thread, so if anyoen has already put forth this question, my apologies. And I ask it in this thread because I didn't want to start a whole new thread about it, since there are too many 'Stevie' threads already anyway: Is it necessarily a given that Steve makes this team? I am not saying I want him to be cut or anything, but if Steve doesn't demonstrably 'fit in' into the system being run here now, and remains hobbled, then with the utter premium on every roster spot this year, is Steve's roster spot really already guaranteed? Personally I would be shocked if Steve did not stay, or got traded, but you never know, crazier things have happened.
nah i think theres no question he'll make the team. even if he can never fit into the offense, he's still talented. but right now he's the 10th man behind luther head, and i think it'll stay that way.
plus francis would make good trade bait. there had to be some team out there that thinks he can help them
I personally never thought SF was a good fit for this team. I think he has very low basketball IQ and I think basketball IQ is very important in RA's offense. That being said, Francis will certainly make the team and will not be traded. The Rockets would be sending the wrong message to other free agents. Francis took less money to come to the Rockets. They can't turn around and screw him, because it would hurt their chances with other guys who have a choice who to play for. Sorry, SF succophants, Stevie has lost it. No way should he still minutes or a place on the team from Head or Brooks.
Francis looked pretty good when he was attacking last night. however he didnt look all that sharp when he had to feed the cutters or keep the ball moving. he still holds on to the ball to long. stagnates the offense far to much. Talents not the problem, just look at 3 point play he created. he can still get it done, but my only problem is he must play within the offense. dont take so long to pass it. dont over dribble it. Having said that, unlike some here, i believe by the allstar break francis will probaly our 3rd most important player. 3rd or 4th. depending how scola adjusts.
He MAY be behind MJ and Alston, but NO WAY is he behind Head or Brooks. You sound like a pure hater and are kidding only yourself if you believe that. Have you watched a game?
