Yardbarker: Steve Francis

The 1990's All Rockets Team

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:41:48 -0500

G: Steve Francis G: Clyde Drexler F: Charles Barkley F: Otis Thorpe C: Hakeem Olajuwon And off the bench ... Vernon Maxwell Robert Horry Sam Cassell Mario Elie Scottie Pippen Kenny Smith Cuttino Mobley Might be one of the best starting lineups. Team has a lot more depth at guard than inside, but there are tons of sharpshooters on this team. These guys are contenders ...

The Top 5 NBA Benefactors of Ridiculous Growth Spurts

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 01:59:37 -0500

Basketball is a game of height. You can still become a great player without it, and too much of it can be a detriment, but it helps tremendously to be tall in the NBA. And if you can keep your agility and coordination at a taller height, then there's a real chance you can become a great NBA player. Here are The Top 5 Benefactors of Late Growth Spurts, guys whose destinies were changed from being regular Joes to NBA stars when they grew a ton in high school or college.

Forgotten Weapon Waiting In Reserve For Rockets?

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 02:15:07 -0500

A Daily Babble Production There is a lot to be excited about for basketball fans in Houston these days. Or plenty to be nervous about, depending on your feelings about Ron Artest. Yao Ming is expected to return to action fully healthy. Renowned high-octane offensive coach Rick Adelman will be back on the sidelines for his second season in Houston after helping the Rockets to boast the league's second-rated defense in his first campaign with the team. Shane Battier comes off one of the best seasons of his career and a break-out showing as a lock-down perimeter defender. Tracy McGrady is hungrier than ever for a trip out of the first round. And Artest, nut that he is, has come to town and presumably brought his fairly sizable basketball acumen with him. So it's easy to forget amongst all those factors that the Rockets could have yet another dangerous piece waiting in the wings. He is injury-prone. He seems to have aged quickly as a basketball player. But Steve Francis says he is committed to getting back on the floor (http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Five_Minutes_with_Steve_Franci-282725-34.html), and if the 31-year-old can do that, he could be a big bonus for the...

The Top NBA Player Marketing Figures for 2008

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 17:49:16 -0500

A few months back I made a call for the creation of an NBA marketing database. Places like Draft Express

Jason Kidd and Grant Hill Retrospective: Two Sides of Health

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 07:18:44 -0500

1994. Jason Kidd. With the second pick in the 1994 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected California guard Jason Kidd to run their offense that featured Jimmy Jackson and Jamal Mashburn. Kidd, who signed a six-year $60 million dollar rookie contract (those were the days before the NBA collective bargaining agreement regulated rookie salaries), didn't take long to impress as he helped the Mavs improve that year by 23 wins. By the end of his rookie year, J-Kidd averaged 11.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.7 assists per contest, and led the NBA in triple doubles with 4. Grant Hill. Drafting third overall were the Detroit Pistons who over the last few years had seen their team fall from the NBA's elite after winning back-to-back NBA championships in 1989 and 1990. With Duke senior forward Grant Henry Hill, one of the most decorated collegiate players of his generation, the Pistons not only had a new cornerstone (who signed to a tune of eight-years, $45 million) to build under the guidance of veteran guard Joe Dumars, but also what was to become the "face of the NBA" for the next few years. Hill's status was never more apparent than in that year's NBA All-Star Game wherein he became the first rookie (in any of the four major sports—Basketball, Baseball, Football, and Hockey) to be the events top vote getter. Hill finished with averages of 19.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.77 steals per game. As for triple-doubles, G.Hill didn't match Kidd's total but was able to post one against the Orlando Magic on April 7, 1995. With their individual accomplishments (I can't really say "AND team accomplishments" since the Pistons only had an 8-game improvement will Hill that year), both Jason Kidd and Grant Hill were named NBA co-rookie of the year—only the second duo (until Chicago's Elton Brand and Houston's Steve "Franchise" Francis turned the trick in 99'-00') to capture the award after the Celtics' Dave Cowens and Blazers' Geoff Petrie did it 24 years earlier. In their own right, both Jason Kidd and Grant Hill have had successful and highly lucrative careers. Kidd is third all-time in triple-doubles (netting 100 to date), USA Basketball's 2007 Male Athlete of the Year (going 44-0 lifetime when representing his country), and has reached the NBA Finals twice in 2001 and 2002. On the other hand, Hill had been named to numerous NBA All-Star teams (even making the squad during the 2001 season in which he only participated in four regular season games), is one of only three players (the others being Elgin Baylor and the late Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain) to lead his team in scoring, rebounds, and assists on at least three occasions, and is generally a nice guy (having won the NBA's Sportsmanship Award (2004, 2008) and the Magic Johnson Award (2006)). But in my eyes, arguably the defining point in their respective careers is the element of injury from which no player is immune. The Good. In March of 2000, the Phoenix Suns' Jason Kidd broke a bone in his left ankle with 2/10th of a second left in the first half of their game against the Sacramento Kings. Surgery ensued, and five weeks later, Kidd was back on the court for the Suns' playoff run. Four years later, Kidd had microfracture surgery on his left knee in July 1st and returned five months later without any ill effects—which says a lot because a number of players have either retired (e.g., Terrell Brandon, Allan Houston, Kerry Kittles, Karl Malone, Jamal Mashburn, Bryon Russell, guard Alvin Williams, and Chris Webber), are unemployed (e.g., Pat Garrity and Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway), not really the same anymore (e.g., Matt Harping, Kenyon Martin (procedure on both knees in successive years), Eduardo Najera), or play like they never got hurt in the first place (e.g. the aforementioned Jason Kidd, Zach Randolph, Amare Stoudemire and the retired John Stockton). (The jury is still out on Portland Trailblazer rookie Greg Oden and $111 million dollar man Gilbert "Hibachi" Arenas, so we will have to wait and see.) The Bad. Grant Hill. Once the poster boy for endurance (averaging 38.93 minutes a game during his first six years in the NBA), Hill's health deteriorated after severely injuring his ankle during the 2000 playoffs while playing for the Detroit Pistons. The following year, the Orlando Magic's new free agent acquisition had season-ending surgery to repair a broken medial malleolus (inside bone of left ankle) on Jan. 3 2001. A similar season-ending procedure was done 11 months later (Dec. 19, 2001) and the following season (2002-2003), Hill also missed a majority it before having surgery again on his bothersome left ankle which involved re-fracturing and re-aligning the ankle by re-shaping the heal on March 18, 2003. Wikipedia.com shares that five days after the said procedure, "the unexpected happened: Hill developed a 104.5 °F (40.3 °C) fever and convulsions. He was immediately rushed to a hospital. Doctors removed the splint around his ankle and discovered that Hill had developed a staph infection, from which he nearly died. He was hospitalized for a week and had to take intravenous antibiotics for six months." Grant Hill then missed the entire 2003-2004 in order to rehabilitate his left ankle. Two years later, Hill's ankle was fine but he still missed 61 games due to a sports hernia. And the comparisons don't stop there. Overall, I am happy that both players are currently healthy and with them being in the twilight of their careers, they may still give us a special moment. Don't blink. Because it may just happen.

Derrick Rose is a less creative Steve Francis with Jason Kidd's acceleration and defensive anticipation

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:32:44 -0500

1. Overview : Derrick Rose is similar to Steve Francis in build, style and athleticism. He has an explosive vertical and first step, combined with excellent strength, size and body control that enables him to get to the basket and finish. Also, though not quite built like a truck like Jason Kidd, Rose is a big kid who can truly fly up and down the court. Rose's athleticism enables him to sneak in for rebounds and take them down to the other end and finish, all at once. Derrick Rose's sole season at Memphis indicated that Rose's first instinct is to drive and score, rather than pass, and that he needs the ball to be effective. 2. Player specifics : Derrick Rose has an excellent dribble drive. He can crossover, hesitate, and he has that finishing power dribble that he takes before he takes off for the rim. When he is at the rim, he can contort, draw contact, and do whatever he has to to finish. I've noticed that as explosive and big as Rose is, he does not get enough separation to finish with a dunk in traffic. This usually indicates that there is wasted and telegraphed movement at the point of attack, and in Rose's case, his angle of attack in the halfcourt is slightly wider than optimal (too much East-West movement). Also, there is a longer than optimal lapse between stationary position and the attack, and gives the defense time to set up. Players like Steve Francis and Allen Iverson had almost no wasted movement when they made their move, even as college players. Derrick Rose must also work hard on his jumpshot. His mechanics are a little too tight, and slows down his release. Also, although he is compared to Jason Kidd, he has not shown much yet in terms of being a pure passer. He almost always looks for the shot first, and has not yet shown the ability to demoralize defenses with his passing. In transition is where Rose is at his best. He can really get up and down the court, and although he wastes motion in the halfcourt, he doesn't in transition. With defenders not set, Rose will finish with power almost everytime he gets his chance. What makes Derrick Rose so dangerous is his ability to ignite breaks by getting defensive rebounds or forcing turnovers, and this is where he reminds people of a young Jason Kidd. With his strength, size and quickness, Rose really has a chance to wreak havoc on opposing offenses. For career outlook and team fit, go to original article

NBA Draft: 2nd Overall Pick Rarely a Star

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:09:31 -0500

The Chicago Bulls obviously got lucky claiming the #1 pick in the upcoming draft, but one would have to think the Heat will get a pretty good player at #2 as well. Right? Recent history says otherwise. In the drafts after 1995, only one 2nd overall pick in the NBA Draft has made it to an All-Star game (Steve Francis). In that time, 7 #1 picks have made the All-Star game, as have 5 #3's, 4 #4's, and 3 #5's. One would expect the #1's to be the best and in general they have been, including Dwight Howard, Lebron, Yao, AI, and Tim Duncan. But by draft order, the 2nd picks should be better than the 3rd or 4th. Consider these All-Stars drafted at either 3rd or 4th from 1996-2005: Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony, Pau Gasol, Chauncey Billups, Antawn Jamison, Baron Davis and Stephon Marbury. This is not to say that all the 2nd picks have been complete busts, but the star power has not been there. Will anyone ever be able to explain the choice of Darko Milicic at #2 when Carmelo, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade were still on the board?? The NFL has actually exhibited a very similar trend. Of the draft classes from 1996-2005, the only 2nd picks that became one of the best at their position are Donovan McNabb and Julius Peppers. A few others had decent careers like Kevin Hardy and Lavar Arrington, and others may yet, like Ronnie Brown. However, look at the success of the #1 picks: Keyshawn, Orlando Pace, Peyton, Mike Vick, Carson Palmer, and Eli Manning. What's worse is considering the players who were ranked highly but passed on at #2: Jonathan Ogden (4th, 1996), Shawn Springs (3rd, 1997), Charles Woodson (4th, 1998), and LaDainan Tomlinson (5th, 2001), to name a few. The 3rd picks from the last three drafts have all made the Pro Bowl already, while not a single 2nd pick has (including Reggie Bush). The 2004 class is a perfect example, where Robert Gallery was taken 2nd, between Eli, Larry Fitzgerald, Philip Rivers, and Sean Taylor. Maybe we should name the 2nd pick The Ryan Leaf Selection, because that's how it always seems to turn out. So is there any explanation for this insanity? The #2 pick seems to be littered with college stars whose game didn't work out as well at the pro level. Examples include Keith van Horn, Marcus Camby, Jay Williams, Emeka Okafor, and Marvin Williams. The teams wanted a safer pick where the player had already demonstrated a lot of talent. Other failed picks were young guys that didn't develop to their full potential, like Stromile Swift and Tyson Chandler. Maybe the media hype built some of these guys up too much. It's hard to blame the team strategies because over such a long period, many different strategies should have been tried, along with a variety of team needs and draft availability. So the Heat will have their choice of (most likely) two of Beasley, Rose, and Mayo. Will they manage to find a bust in that group? Will they take a shot on this year's Darko? Or maybe they'll buck the trend and find the next MJ. Time will tell, but history's not on their side.

What does a dinosaur sound like?

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:25:35 -0500

Now we're speaking Dikembe's language. Download: http://www.sendspace.com/file/7ca5x4

Bruce Bowen Doesn't Like Being Called a Dirty Player

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:21:17 -0500

Bruce Bowen is quoted on MySA as saying that he is upset at being thought of as a dirty player. This is in the wake of a suspension for kicking Chris Paul in a recent game. If that was the only incident, he may have a point. However, he has a history of dirty plays and doing things in games that could hurt players. I went to YouTube and it is full of video evidence of Bowen's nastiness. I give you just a few of them. And that isn't even all of them. There are more. It is obvious to me that this guy purposely undercuts players, kicks, and otherwise tries to hurt opposing players. He says that he isn't a dirty player, but as the old saying goes 'A picture is worth a thousand words.' The Spurs as a team play dirty and I hate playing them. Win or lose, I just hope we escape this game without any injuries.

Mike Conley Jr. Shines in Stoudamire's Former Role

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:06:06 -0500

In December of '07, Damon Stoudamire was still the starting PG for the Memphis Grizzlies. He still ran the team and even embraced his new role as mentor of 20 year-old rookie PG Michael Conley, who was out with an injured right shoulder. But Conley has returned with a fury...

Knicks Woes Not All Isiah's Fault. Blame James Dolan.

Thu, 03 Jan 2008 14:55:38 -0500

The reasons why it is mostly Dolan's fault for the Knicks horrible season.

MVN Basketball Press Pass 11-28-07

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 07:03:27 -0500

Today in MVN basketball features the negative X-rays for LeBron James, the banged up Raptors trusting in Moon, the Knicks heading for divorce, Iguodala telling us it's a long season, Rajon Rondo beating the Celtics and Drew Gooden's short-lived Larry Bird impersonation...

The Nuggets are Crushed by the Rockets 109-81 and Are Now Under an Orange Alert

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 17:48:09 -0500

The threat level to the Nugget's season rose from Yellow Alert to Orange Alert last night when Kenyon Martin seriously aggravated one of his rehabbed knees. If both Nene and Martin are out with injuries, the Nuggets are seriously depleted up front. This game report introduces a new scheme, called the "alert level," to sum up the current damage and threat level due to problems that the Nuggets must solve if they want to have a successful season. The details about this new system, as well as about the game in Houston, are at the link.

NBA Trivia: Questions and Answers

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 15:27:44 -0500

As part of my dissertation, I had to come up with several energizers for a two-day seminar that I eventually have to run with some collegiate athletes. Here is some of the stuff that I came up with--a 15-item NBA Trivia sheet. How many did you get out of the fifteen? 1) Who is Shaquille O'Neal's All-Star Magic teammate? a) Dwyane Tyrone Wade, Jr. b) Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway c) Kobe Bryant d) Glen Rice e) None b) Correct Answer: Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and Shaquille O'Neal were teammates while playing for the Orlando Magic (93'-94' until 95'-96'). The duo reunited this year with the Miami Heat (07'-08') 2) Which players were the NBA's top three rebounders (RPG) in the 06'-07' season, in order? a) Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, and Ben Wallace b) Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler, and Dwight Howard c) Kevin Garnett, Ben Wallace and Tyson Chandler d) Ben Wallace, Tyson Chandler and Dwight Howard e) Kevin Garnett, Dwight Howard and Tyson Chandler b) Correct Answer: Kevin Garnett, Tyson Chandler, and Dwight Howard 06'-07' rebounding crown was won by former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Garnett with a 12.8 rebounding average. He was followed by New Orleans Center Tyson Chandler (12.4) and Orlando's Dwight Howard (12.3). 3) Which player won the 06'-07' Defensive Player of the Year award? a) Ben Wallace b) Kevin Garnett c) Marcus Camby d) Ron Artest e) Bruce Bowen c) Correct Answer: Marcus Camby As a center for the Denver Nuggets, Camby won the award for the first time in his career with averages of 11.2 points, 11.7 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 3.3 blocks per game. 4) Who won the Rookie of the Year Award in the 99'-00' season? a) Steve Francis (Rockets) b) Elton Brand (Bulls) c) Mike Miller (Magic) d) A and C e) B and C f) A and B g) None of the above f) Correct Answer: A & B The Houston Rockets Steve Francis and former Chicago Bulls forward Elton Brand are the third trio to be named Co-Rookie of Year after the Boston Celtics Dave Cowens and the Portland Trailblazers Geoff Petrie turned the trick in 70'-71'. They were followed by the Detroit Pistons Grant Hill and the Dallas Mavericks Jason Kidd in 94'-95' 5) How many active players are among the Top 30 all-time scorers in the NBA? a) Four b) Six c) Eight d) Two e) Twelve d) Correct Answer: Two Shaquille O'Neal (25,624 --11th) and Allen Iverson (21,586 -- 24th) 6) Who was the first overall pick of the Toronto Raptors during the expansion draft in 95'-96'? a) Damon Stoudamire b) Greg Anthony c) B.J. Armstrong d) Blue Edwards e) None of the above c) Correct Answer: B.J. Armstrong Taken first overall in the 95'-96' expansion draft, B.J. Armstrong had made it publicly known that he wanted to play for a contender. In October of 1995, Armstrong got his wish when the Raptors shipped him to the Golden State Warriors in a 5-player deal involving Warriors center's Carlos Rogers and Victor Alexander as well as the rights to three 2nd round picks (Dwayne Whitfield, Martin Lewis, and Michael McDonald). 7) Who is the youngest NBA player in the 07'-08' NBA Season? a) Greg Oden b) Thaddeus Young c) Spencer Hawes d) Kevin Durant e) Al Thornton d) Correct Answer: Kevin Durant Kevin Durant (9/29/88) who leads four players born in 1988 (with the other three being 76ers' guard Thaddeus Young (June), injured Kings center Spencer Hawes (April), and Greg Oden (January)). Clippers forward Al Thornton played four years at Florida State and is one of the older rookies in the 07'-08' batch at 23 years of age. 8) Who scored the NBA's 6,000,000th point? a) Dominique Wilkins b) Blair Rasmussen c) Danny Manning d) Steve Smith e) Stacey Augmon e) Correct Answer: Stacey Augmon On March 23, 1992, Atlanta Hawks rookie guard-forward Stacey Augmon scored 32 points in an overtime victory against the Golden State Warriors (126-125). Augmon's layup at 7:41 mark of the second quarter accounted for the 6,000,000th point in NBA history. 9) How many jersey numbers are retired at the American Airlines Arena? a) Two b) Three c) None d) One e) Four d) Correct Answer: One On April 11, 2003, the Miami Heat franchise paid the ultimate tribute to the man known as "Air Jordan" when they retired jersey #23 jersey even though he never played for the Heat. 10) As a follow up to question #9, how many players wore #23 for the Miami Heat before it was retired? a) Seven b) None c) Four d) Three e) Five c) Correct Answer: Four Only 4 of the 154 players in Heat franchise history have ever worn #23: John Morton (91'-92'), Gary Grant (96'-97'), Rex Walters (98'-99'), and former NBA Slam Dunk Champion Cedric Ceballos (00'-01'). 11) How many jersey numbers has Michael Jordan worn in his NBA career? a) Two b) Three c) Four d) Five b) Correct Answer: Three Michael Jordan has worn 23, 45 (during his first comeback in the 94'-95' season), and 12 for one game in Orlando wherein his jersey #23 was stolen (February 14,1990). Despite wearing an unfamiliar number, Jordan scored a game-high 26 points. 12) In the NBA Finals, who is the all-time leader in three point field goals made? a) Michael Jordan b) Scottie Pippen c) Dan Majerle d) Robert Horry e) Steve Kerr d) Correct Answer: Robert Horry Affectionately named "Big Shot Bob" by teammate Tim Duncan a couple of years ago, Robert Horry holds the record for most three point conversions in the NBA Finals with 53. Michael Jordan is second with 42. 13) Did Rasheed Wallace play for the Atlanta Hawks? a) Yes b) Never a) Correct Answer: Yes On February 12, 2004, the Portland Trailblazers sent their disgruntled all-star and shooting guard Wesley Person to the Atlanta Hawks for three players: Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Theo Ratliff, and Dan Dickau. Five days later, Wallace was traded again as part of a three-team deal involving the Detroit Pistons, Boston Celtics, and Atlanta Hawks. 14) How many NBA Championships has Robert Horry won in his stellar career? a) Eight b) Five c) Six d) Seven e) Four d) Correct Answer: Seven As a member of the San Antonio Spurs, Robert Horry became one of only nine players to have won seven or more championships in the NBA. Horry also has the distinction of being the only member of that group not to be associated with the Celtics of the 60's. 15) Who is the all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage in the regular season? a) Jason Kapono b) Tim Legler c) Steve Kerr d) Reggie Miller e) Walter Ray Allen a) Correct Answer: Jason Kapono Playing the percentages, Toronto Raptors guard-forward Jason Kapono is the NBA's all-time leader in three-point field goal percentage with a 46.1% clip. Steve Kerr is second with 45.4%.

A Franchise Not Worth Buying Into

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 05:53:27 -0500

A back up guard losing his job shouldn't even make the Lazy Eye twitch. It has also been less than a full day since we ripped ARod and Kobe. However, Steve Francis has a special place in our heart. See, I was a senior at the University of Maryland the year Franchise "blessed" us with his one year of enrollment. It should have been a better year. I'm sure a number of NBA fans remember Franchise for his fearlessness on the court. He enjoyed going to the rim with reckless abandon. No, he didn't like playing defense, and he was more interested in his stat line than he winning, but he was, for a time, a human highlight reel. Despite all of that, what do most of us remember Francis for . . . pouting draft night because he wasn't picked #1 by Chicago and ended up in Vancouver's clutches. They traded him to Houston and the rest they say is rather mundane history. What a select few Terp fans remember though, was the Tournament that same year. Maryland entered the 1999 NCAAs as a #2 seed with one of the most dynamic players in the country. Against a juggernaut Duke team and a loaded UCONN it wasn't going to be the Terp's year. Nevertheless, we were all stoked. The roadblock that had been the Sweet Sixteen would, at the very least, collapse. Franchise would lead us right past it. Then UMD ran into St. Johns. Or, I guess, they ran over the Terps. During the second half, Francis (surprise, surprise) pouted. He didn't get mad. He didn't yell at teammates. Or, if he did, I either didn't see it or don't remember. Watching that game, in College Park, at Stamp (the student union) was, mildly stated, disappointing. For a University that took a chance on Franchise, even if everyone on campus knew it was only for one year, we felt we deserved better than a half hearted effort. After the team returned word around the campfire was that Francis, during his in game pouting actually told the guys from St. Johns, and potentially his teammates, that he didn't care about the game because he was going to be in the NBA soon. Of course, this isn't the first time, nor the last, nor a particularly earth shattering revelation. However, it perfectly frames the rest of Francis's disappointing career, and particularly the so called "maturity" he found in re-signing with Houston. He wanted to win, to contribute, to put the highlights he so desperately craved in his youth behind him. Well, that's not the case. He is sticking to the standard MO. Say one thing, say all the right things in fact, and when things don't go just the way he wants, he cries to the media, to whoever will listen, and look for another easy way out. Another team perhaps. There were three in high school and college, five stops and four teams in the NBA, and now on the verge of a sixth. Too bad Steve Francis isn't patient enough to actually wait out the season, EARN some minutes, and follow through on at least one commitment. Good luck Steve. I can't say any of us who watched you during your last college game, draft night in '99, or the many other notable moments of your career and think that it's the one thing you've been missing all of these years. I mean, it couldn't be your fault. Right?