3 All-Star starts show Francis' national appeal

Wow! This would be my dream trade for this team. It probably won't happen, but man, I would love to get Baron on the Rockets.

 

I hope you aren't suggesting that winning a regular season game is better than actually getting into the play-offs?

Yao has to improve. We will depend on him. And if he has weaknesses, he must improve those.

The up-tempo style you are refering to that got us wins against Dallas was the exact "style" that did us in, against other teams. The "ISO way" of playing did get us wins sometimes. But not consistently. What you are talking about is an aberration of guard oriented ISO ball. That's a lot different than "small ball" under JVG.

JVG small ball is not exclusively ISO-ball. And if we needed to make a change vs Dallas, that would be the way to go sometimes. JVG smallball has a lot more movment than Rudy ISO ball. I never want to go back to that.

 

I love Baron, but I have always seen Stevie outplay him. Besides, even if they are equals what JVG-type skills does he bring to the table that Stevie doesn't already irritate JVG with?

 

He's younger, smarter, and a better passer than Steve. Plus, I like his attitude a heck of a lot more.

 

Not idiots and worthless. Just inability to improve and they are holding the team back unless they DO improve. <---this is what the media recognizes

Yao has shown improvement in his 2nd year what it's taken Francis in his 5th. Sooner or later Yao will pass up Francis.

And then the "*hit" will hit the fan!

Yao = shown great improvement, and when he does make mistakes they are easily forgiven because his total game is showing promise.

Francis = shown little improvement, and when he does make mistakes the are not easily forgiven because his total game is NOT showing promise.

 

I don't understand the purpose of this thread. No one has ever questioned Steve's popularity, but rather his value to the team winning the title.

 

The great players, their notoriety is made in the playoffs," Collins said. "They're in a position to be a playoff team and maybe win in the first round. But you know, Michael Jordan got great criticism early in his career because he was a great player but he didn't go anywhere in the playoffs. Isiah (Thomas), the same way. Then these guys led their teams to championships.


That quote seems to be about championships so I guess this thread does have a purpose.

 

In respone to Collins comments...

At least Jordan and Isiah were statically sound in their earlier years. Francis is nether "great" statically or leadership wise. He's poor on both counts.

If we are in a "lets wait for them to improve" mode. At least show some statistical improvement, if we are to "wait for for their development."

Because statistics and intangibles are directly related.

 

Dude, I'm just responding to StupidMonkier's specific criticism of the article.

 

I edited my previous post.

 

"Steve Francis is fundamentally sound"............................Wow Juugie. You've outdone yourself with that one.

 

Are you going to sit there a honstly TRY to attempt to compare Francis's statstiscs to JORDAN, Isiah, Magic and Oscar!? Are you kidding!? I can bring out some stats on Jordan/Oscar/Isiah that will burry Francis!!!! Let's forget about the rings for a second....

Did you know that in Jordan first year he averaged...

28.2 PPG, .515 FG%, .845 FT%, 5.9 APG, 6.5 RPG?

Psstttt...in 1987-88 he averaged 35 PPG! Best year in assist? That was 88-89: 8.0 APG!

"Became the fourth NBA player to average at least 15 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game"

And spare me with the 15/5/5....please....What? Next year it will be "Became the fourth NBA player to average at least 14 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists per game?" Last year it was "Became the fourth NBA player to average at least 21 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists per game."

Let me show you what you are over looking....

Just because Francis achieves,15/5/5 does NOT mean that it's equal to Magic Johnson or Oscar. That's what you are trying to say. You are spinning the stats in order to encompass the total effectiveness of that player.

Here's a little bit about Oscar you might not know about...

"Robertson captured the 1964 NBA MVP Award with impressive numbers, 31.4 ppg, 11.0 apg and 9.9 rpg, but the "Big O's" best statistical season came in 1961-62. Oscar averaged a triple double for the entire season, averaging 30.8 ppg, 11.4 apg and 12.5 rpg, a feat that has never been duplicated. Robertson concluded his career with 26,710 points (25.7 per game), 9,887 assists (9.5 per game) and 7,804 rebounds (7.5 per game). Oh, and achieved while maintaining a .485 FG%.

Now, are you going to honestly try to compare 15/5/5 to 25/9.5/7.5? Oh, and if they kept tunover stats, I'd give you those too. I would say that it would be hard to believe that Oscar was turnover prone. Anyone have turnover stats on Oscar?


How about Magic? Hmmm, .520 FG%, .848 FT%, 7.2 RPG, 11.2 APG, 19.5 PPG. Again, that's not the same as 15/5/5 with .40 FG%, 5 APG, and 5 RPG. Putting aside the 3.7 TOPG.

Let's not go into intangibles like leadership and court vision. I don't think you want to go there.

 

Everyone is making some interesting points.. but im tired of this "who can piss further Yao or SF3 debates" they are getting old.

Right now Yao is our future.. but I dont think he can do it by himself, like how Shaq and Dream didnt do alone either.

SF3 is becoming a more complete player and is working on his all around game. So people please relax and just enjoy the game I think we are in for a big suprise the send half.

J

 

Why cannot we have two franchise player instead of one?

Lakers has Shaq and Kobe. Of course PJ might try to build the team around Shaq, but Kobe is their fan favorite. And I don't see that you can win the big one unless you have more than one star player.

The Spurs might be an exception, but I consider both Ginobli and Parker as players close to star player caliber, and they had Robinson.

 

because yao wont be a 30 pt scorer. But thats about it.

 

You hit it. When Yao is choked, what I want most is Steve driving to the basket with acrobatic layup to score or to get free throws.