Trouble ahead for the Rockets?

[slinslin]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_4068.shtml

The man known as Stevie Franchise was not on hand to help the Rockets welcome their new head coach, which is indicative of how the guard feels about his man Rudy Tomjanovich getting the boot. After the season ended, Francis said he would demand a trade if the Rockets fired Rudy T. Well, they didn't exactly fire Rudy, but they did make it known that he will not be on the bench when the curtain goes up on a new arena next season. The Rockets were pursuing Larry Brown at the time, and Francis made a statement in support of that move.
Privately he said he would enjoy playing for Brown, who is known as a guards' coach. He also said he would not be as supportive of a move to land Van Gundy, who is known as a control defense coach. Well, just as the Rockets were on the verge of signing Larry Brown, the Pistons fired head coach Rick Carlisle and stole Brown right out from under the Rockets. Steve Francis was unavailable for comment when I called the Rockets on Wednesday. He's in Washington DC, where his grandmother lives, and does not plan to be back in Houston until camp begins. He's not the only one staying away from Westside Tennis Club, where the Rockets usually work out and play basketball for much of the summer.

It's being said that Cuttino Mobley knows he's on his way out, and is staying away from Houston to wait and see where he ends up. Most if the rest of the team is waiting to see what Jeff Van Gundy decides to do with the lineup. Meanwhile, Moochie Norris, Eddie Griffin, and James Posey are still in Houston, working out at Westside and getting ready to take their roles next season. Posey expects to begin working on a new deal with the Rockets soon.

The first step has been made. Jeff Van Gundy will have his contract finalized and his next priority will be getting his team of assistants set. Those two steps will probably be all but instantaneous. Then the real funs begins, and the only place where you can find daily comprehensive coverage of what Jeff's up to? [email protected].

 

[SirStefan32]

Francis has always been a crybaby.
This doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[sunsfn]

Hey,,,,,,,,,!! maybe the Memphis Grizzlies will trade for him!!!!!!


((P.S. they are the team that drafted him that he would not play for, and they were forced to trade him!!))

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Francis sucks. Absolutely the most overrated player in the NBA.

 

[CardNots]

I would take Francis in a New York minute. Wait, the phrase should be "in a New York no-hitter". Poor Yanks...

I've always liked Francis since he was drafted by Houston. I remember a few games when I prayed he wouldn't launch another shot. This guy can shoot. Lets put it this way, no player we currently have on the roster can shoot with this guy...

 

[slinslin]

Francis isn't a better shooter than Marbury even overall a worse % and slightly better from behind the arc on less attempts.

He was drafted by Memphis!

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Francis "shot" is, like Slinslin pointed out, highly overrated. So is his 6 career assists per game.


Francis is basically everything that Marbury is accused of being. He dominates the ball, he shoots poorly, he plays too much of a one on one game, he is whiny, and he is not a winner.

 

[green machine]

Originally posted by CardNots
I would take Francis in a New York minute. Wait, the phrase should be "in a New York no-hitter". Poor Yanks...

I've always liked Francis since he was drafted by Houston. I remember a few games when I prayed he wouldn't launch another shot. This guy can shoot. Lets put it this way, no player we currently have on the roster can shoot with this guy...

He was not drafted by Houston. He was drafted by the Vancouver Grizzlies, but said he would not play for them and that they needed to trade him. It is a wrong thing to do, and he cried to get his way. He is a good player, but not a team player. If people say Marbury's selfish, then jeez, this guy is 10x worse. Overrated is the word that comes to mind...

adam

 

[Charles V]

Originally posted by CardNots
I would take Francis in a New York minute. Wait, the phrase should be "in a New York no-hitter". Poor Yanks...

I've always liked Francis since he was drafted by Houston. I remember a few games when I prayed he wouldn't launch another shot. This guy can shoot. Lets put it this way, no player we currently have on the roster can shoot with this guy...

I'm not quite sure what you mean. Both Marbury and Marion scored more points and shot for a better percentage than Francis last season.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

i'd be happy with francis as our 2 guard as long as we didn't have to give up anyone.

mmmmm . . .

marbury
francis
marion
amare
me


winner

 

[NYSunsFan]

Steve Francis is in no position to even tell ownership or GM who to hire. Has the Rockers made the playoffs under Francis?

With that said, look for Francis to get over it and embrace Van Gundy.

 

[fordronken]

Has the Rockets made the playoffs under Francis?

Didn't they make it while he was a rookie and playing in the twighlight years of Barkley and Olajuwan?

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

i am almost positive that Frances has never been to the playoffs in his 4 year career

 

[elindholm]

i am almost positive that Frances has never been to the playoffs in his 4 year career

There's no need to speculate. Just go to NBA.com and look under the player file for anyone you're interested in.

http://www.nba.com/playerfile/steve_francis/index.html?nav=page

Francis has no playoff stats listed, so that means he hasn't played in the postseason.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Francis came the year after Barkley.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by Chris_Sanders
Francis came the year after Barkley.

Actually Francis came during the year Barkley had his career ending injury in Philly.

 

[AZ4Life]

Francis is a crybaby and the biggest ball hog I have ever seen. When there would be Rockets game on, I would be screaming at the television for Francis to pass the ball down low to Yao. Instead, he jacks up a 25 footer which clanks off the back rim. Just think, if Yao was playing with a selfless point guard who gave him the ball half the time (marbury for instance), he would be averaging 30 points a game

 

[Errntknght]

I'm not a Stevie fan but you guys are being too hard on him. A PG who rebounds as well as he does is playing damn hard. The problem started back when Rudy T built the team around the isolation play of Francis and Mobley. Until Yao emerged in the middle of this past year the Rockets haven't had a post man that needed to be fed. About that time Rudy had some serious medical problem so it's not too surprising he left the offense roll along on the same track.

Next year, with Yao pretty well established and a new coach who isn't particularly guard oriented I think you'll see Francis sending the ball into the post a lot more often. I also think Houston will finish the season very strong next year and be in the playoffs. I expect JVG to turn them into a tough defensive team - perhaps even a powerhouse. He's got stuff to work with, starting with Yao plus Posey and Mobley are good defenders. Francis isn't too bad for that matter.