Where Does Steve Francis Stand Among The Rockets Greats?

i remember before he left for Toronto, he wasn't happy with the offense.
maybe it was Cato, part of me says its Steve+Cuttino

 

hakeem thought he could still play, he was wrong. he was unhappy with Rudy not offering another contract, that's well documented

 

Agreed.

And I don't think Francis is among the Rockets all time greats, he is a level below that.

DD

 

maybe i'm confusing barkley and dream, i know someone wasn't happy with steve!

 

yes barkley wasn't happy with them, he said they didn't listen.

 

----->

I knew I would get this reaction out of someone.

That's the only contribution I actually give Francis credit for, getting us the first pick that year = Yao.

 

I can't believe there is a thread about this...he is done, and will probably get traded before the deadline with Luther for a 5 or some cap space.

And as for the Rocket's greats, I don't see how he can be anywhere in that list...a lot of people here love him because they loved the flashy plays that he brought. I would give that up for quality basketball anyday!

However, we should thank him for Yao!

 

scott brooks was a better point guard than steve francis was. lol

 

The only thanks you'll give him is that he led the team to Yao? Come on... Every game he played the hardest out of anyone in the game. Somethings that is hard to find in some players including some players in our team.

And if this board loves Bob Sura so much, I don't see what Bobby did that was close to what Stevie brought.

Some of you act like Francis was a scrub and Rafer and Brooks help the team a lot more than Francis helped the team back then.

 

What on this earth are you talking about? Francis through the mouth of Mobley was dead set against Yao Ming coming to the Houston Rockets.
He was upset by the possibility that the lime light whould be taken away from him

 

I was referring to the (unintentional) luck he brought by being our representative

 

this thread is silly. the op says he isn't talking about on court performance but, rather, how much heart steve showed. so, by that logic, couldn't I put steve below:

battier?
thorpe?
scotty brooks?
elie?
chuck hayes?

I mean, all of those guys visibly play hard. but how do you know who's trying harder??? too subjective.

as for his place among rox pg's, he is at LEAST below:

murph
lucas
smith
cassell

I don't think he should even be considered to have his number retired.

 

One of (if not the most) under-appreciated players in Rockets history. He unfairly gets the low "bball IQ" and "loser" labels from being surrounded by less talent than a certain someone who perennially gets a pass for it.

It's a shame that so many people are so quick and even eager to kick sand in his face when he's one of the few players to have left it all on the court for the Rockets.

 

barkley was right.

 

He wanted to win, he wanted to be a Houston great....but only if it were to be on his terms. He wasn't able to make others better and suffered greatly with his mentality on the court. "If Cat and I are our best offensive options, why should we waste a possession giving the shot to someone else?"

Marvelous talent, but was never going to understand how to maximize it within the concept of a team. Was never willing to accept that there were facets of his game (overdribbling) that needed to change.

Again, I liked him a lot as a person...but you can't win with point guards in that mold (Iverson, Starbury, Arenas). They need to shift to SG or alter their game like Chauncey Billups did.

Where does Steve stand among Rockets greats? I don't think you can put him in anything better than top 25 Rockets of all time. I say that with all seriousness. Look through the Rocket All Time stats....he barely registers. In fact, you'd come away thinking Cat was a better Rocket. I like the guy, but....

 

emjohn, i don't know if you mean totals but i'm sure scoring avg as a rocket, he would be in top ten, and assists top five, I don't know what you're talking about.

the rockets don't have great pg history, and he did avg twenty combined his first four seasons

 

"Francis" and "Greats" do not belong in the same sentence.

What kind of "Great" would ditch his job to watch a football game?

 

I really like Francis and love that he has been true to this team which is why he wanted to come back. In terms of personality, loyalty and heart I would take Francis over T-Mac and a lot of other players. But an all time great he is not whether it be basketball players, point guards, or Rockets.

Francis was very good and he could've been great but injuries and his own mentality held him back. I don't deny that he did a lot for us and I honestly think he was willing to do what it took to win including trying to change his game to suit JVG's system. The problem is that it isn't that easy to just say you are going to change and for whatever reason Francis just isn't wired to be a Steve Nash that can play tough D that the Rockets needed.

Francis is what he is and I will always be a fan of him but I can't honestly put him among the all time greats.

 

I think the actual comment was "knuckleheads".

 

Sleepy Floyed
John Lucas
Robert Reed (because he played the point when we went to the fiinals in 86)


All better point guards than Francis