Let's give steve another round of applause and love (espn article)

ESPN article talking about Steve's maturing:


Francis is overshadowed, but not undervalued

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By Scott Howard-Cooper
Special to ESPN.com


Do you want the rapper's version?

The rhythmically challenged reporter's?


Houston's Steve Francis is averaging 23 points per game.


His own?

Yo, yo, yo. Now we know how big Yao Ming really is, in size and growing stature. His arrival has practically blotted out public awareness of Steve Francis, who isn't the new fad from Houston but, in the real important detail, is still the Rockets'. Just in case anyone forgot.

Maybe it got lost somewhere behind 7-feet-6 of Gen Next center and the mountain of attention going to Yao, the rookie and the real deal.

Maybe it got overlooked because all the news about Francis last season seemed to be about injury and illness that kept him to 57 games.

Maybe it got dismissed because that's the way it seems to go with USA Basketball, the real recognition he desires, but so far met only with disappointment.

"Obviously, they have to notice," Francis said. "A quote from one of my favorite rapper, Jay-Z. It's what he said about his music. He said, 'Do you listen to rap or ya'll just skim right through it?' So do you look at basketball and just skim right through it? You know what I'm saying? You can't be that blind. The numbers are there, the wins are slowly coming. That's all I can do."

Stevie (Still The) Franchise was at 23.7 points, an insane 6.3 rebounds for a 6-3 guard and six assists as the Rockets broke out 13-10 and declared themselves immediate and legitimate playoff contenders in the wake of the injury-wrecked 28-54 of last season. He was averaging twice as many assists as any other Houstonian, so there shouldn't be a question about selfish play. He was playing 42.4 minutes a game, so there shouldn't be a question about strength and durability after the frustrating 2001-02.

So he shouldn't be the most forgotten star in the Association.

"Even last year, nobody noticed because I was in and out of the lineup," Francis said. "My second year, I averaged 20, seven and six. Last year, I averaged 21, eight, and six. It's the same thing. But this is our first time around (the league). People just really want to get acquainted with meeting the big fella."

Oh, yeah. Him.

Yao was commanding enough attention just by showing up -- the publicity of being the No. 1 pick, compounded by the oddity of measuring 7-5 in bare feet and 7-6¼ in shoes, compounded by the curiosity/international-relations experiment of being from China. He was gifted all along, contrary to the absurdity of people declaring him a bust and five-year-plan project after the season opener, and then barely needed a month before he started to consistently prove it on the court. That he was just as real in personality, handling the crush of attention and pressures in two countries of needing to succeed, made the immediate showing even more impressive.

The big fella is on billboards in two languages, not even counting the different and sometimes-varied dialects in China, and on the tip of NBA tongues. He may not have singularly dominated opponent's scouting reports when the Rockets were next up, because other teams still recognized the versatile weaponry of Francis, but the buzz from the public was about Yao and the questions from the press was about Yao.

And all the while, Steve Franchise still was.

"I think he's pretty much over that getting back," teammate Moochie Norris said. "He's back. He's proven that he's back. Now he's just playing at another level."

The same guy who was co-Rookie of the Year in 1999-2000 with Elton Brand, speaking of players too-often overlooked, and who the next season became only the 18th player to ever lead his team in in total points, rebounds and assists, and who in 2001-02 was an All-Star has somehow become forgotten. Because the only victims of Yao's play haven't been opposing centers.

"As long as we're winning," Francis said.

Except that it's not that simple. He wants recognition from USA Basketball, to be picked with the other stars to play in the summer's Olympic qualifying tournament and then in Athens in 2004, after being disappointed to be left off the team that went to the world championships in Indianapolis. He hears the suggestions that it was retribution for in-your-face exuberance that the selection committee was concerned would come across Ugly American or that, worse, it was the revenge of Stu Jackson, the NBA exec who was forced to trade Francis to Houston when the draft pick refused to sign with Vancouver. Francis sticks with the belief that his shoulder injury kept him off the roster.

He deserves attention from everyone. Francis is becoming a better leader. "He's really working at that, and it's just a natural progression, maturity thing," coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. Francis is growing emotionally. Already considered a good guy by people close to the team, if misunderstood by others because of a rash of technicals early in his career, he has been letting more of himself be seen.

"I matured a bit," he said. "I'm more relaxed."

Relaxed?

"Just have to be at peace with yourself to feel better," Francis said. "A lot of young guys don't realize that until they're 30something. I'm 25. Luckily for me, I think I'm playing more relaxed than I've ever played this season for some reason."

We noticed.