Report: Francis signs with Houston
This may be a non-factor, but I found it interesting. Steve Francis is going to sign with the Houston Rockets.
Years after Houston traded him for McGrady, they end up getting him back for close to nothing (probably--haven't seen the contract details, of course).
Does anybody think Francis has anything left in the tank? If he does, and they stay healthier this season, Houston is going to leapfrog a number of teams in the West, right into that top echelon that includes the other two Texan teams along with Phoenix. They've already acquired Euro-star Luis Scola, as well as getting Mike James for Howard. If Francis gets in shape, they'll suddenly be a lot more athletic in the front AND backcourt.
This doesn't really affect the Dubs too much, as Houston was already ahead of them on the conference depth chart.
This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!
26 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
whooopdy doo!!!
by spartawarriors on Jul 19, 2007 11:56 AM PDT reply actions
I'm
Skip and Stevie Franchise.. that's a whole lotta street ball right there for one team.
by WarriorFanForLife on Jul 19, 2007 12:35 PM PDT reply actions
franchise really reminds me of monta
i got an elevator in my house...... thats f'ing ridiculous
Not that similar
Ellis has shown an ability to get to the rim and to hit mid range shots, but his long shot is at best a work in progress. The high percentage shooting though is a big asset. Francis hasn't consistently shown the ability to shoot for a high percentage, but he's been a better shooter from beyond the arc and gets to the line more often. All told, their scoring efficiencies have been pretty similar but they get their points through different avenues.
Francis has consistently been a better rebounder, good enough for it to be an asset to his team. Yeah, Monta's young and he could improve in that area, but very, very few guys, even the ones who enter the league young ever substantially improve their per-minute rebounding.
Similiar how?
And Francis is a horizontal ballhandler...he goes left right left, then drives...
Monta is a vertical ballhandler... he goes forward slows down, backs up, blows by you.
I dont really see any similarities..
by BlueNgoldBlood on Jul 19, 2007 8:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Word
by BaronForPrez on Jul 20, 2007 2:46 AM PDT up reply actions
i have to say
by Proof on Jul 19, 2007 12:54 PM PDT reply actions
am i the only one who was saying
by Proof on Jul 19, 2007 12:56 PM PDT reply actions
This is important...
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!
by mightymadskillz on Jul 19, 2007 1:04 PM PDT reply actions
If.
hahah
by djchuckdeez on Jul 19, 2007 1:11 PM PDT reply actions
This is a great move
Francis was one of my favorite players back then, and I wish him all the luck and I think he's going to start for them, since he is "the Franchise"! :-)
This combo is gonna be sick for Houston:
Francis, McGrady, Battier, __, and Yao
I have to go with Ballin'
But can they dethrone Phoenix, San Antonio, and Dallas? We'll see.
Tony aka Drawlz600 is AWESOME!!!!
Do Rafer Alston or John Lucas fit the dubs at all?
Quantity, but where's the quality?
Francis, Head, James, Alston, Brooks...and not one of them is a pure PG. Well, you might call Alston one, but he's not great. Seems like wasted roster spots.
On paper, Francis has alot of Tremendous Upside Potential for the (likely) low price, I just don't think he'll be any better than Mike James, who makes alotta cash. Maybe they'll work out a deal with Miami or LAC, who still need PGs.
by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 19, 2007 1:28 PM PDT reply actions
True, but...
A big part of that is Rick Adelman. I think he can do some of what he did in Sacramento, playing Yao in the high post and cutting guards down the baseline or off of Yao's screen. Adding James, Francis, and Brooks gives them more options in that formation, as all three guys can finish but also make passes back out to the perimeter. Head doesn't belong in that role, as he's more dangerous just hanging out at the 3 point line. Alston.. well, I dunno how he fits in at all.
Having more guards also takes some ball-handling pressure off of McGrady, which might just be the most important element of this, as he seems to have back problems every year. He, like Baron, needs to play less minutes. If Francis can get back into shape and become a streak scorer, McGrady won't have to play as many minutes and land on the IL quite as often.
Bet their lineup will be
As long as he was cheap...
this is good and all
The J-RICH show is on his way out...=(
Howard? Decent?
Rocket's PF
The Scola trade also netted him Jackie Butler, another big with great size and alotta potential
Chuck Hayes can be retained.
Shane Battier can spot minutes at the 4. He's not going to defend the biggest guys, but he's long and intelligent enough to make up for lbs. and inches usually.
They also drafted Carl Landry.
In other positions, they have Mcgrady at SF (duh) and Wells at SG. Ming and Mutumbo control the paint.
The Rockets actually have plenty at every position , they might make the West Triumvirate a West Foursome now.
by OptionZero @ Golden State Of Mind on Jul 19, 2007 4:37 PM PDT up reply actions
If he's healthy...
by Bake Da Ripper on Jul 19, 2007 4:11 PM PDT reply actions
I was at that game...
Stevie Franchise
Stevie...
9 points/game
2 boards/game
3 assists/game
1 steal/game
As they say in the Big Apple where he just left- big whoop! Monta will blow by his crickitty old butt then BD then Belinelli then Buike and the list goes on...























