Wiretap: Francis Still Hoping to Return

[A.J.]

http://basketball.realgm.com/src_wireta ... to_return/

Steve Francis has become a forgotten man throughout much of the NBA, but the folks in Houston hope he can still return to form.

"I'm not going to sit here and say I'm 100% because I'm not," said Francis. "I still have a ways to go. It's going to be a tough process, but I'm willing to sacrifice. Even if I don't start the season, I know within the next three or four weeks I'll be 100%. I don't want to go out there if I'm not 100% and possibly re-injure myself."

I hope he returns to our team. If Aaron Brooks somehow struggle at the backup 1 position then we are doomed if he doesnt come back.

[Iggyemu]

LMAO. "Doomed if Francis doesn't come back".

I am sorry..I can't stop laughing at that comment.

We are dommed if Yao goes down. If McGrady goes down. If Artest goes down or flips out. We'll be just fine if Francis doesn't come back. LOL at you talking like Francis is Chris Paul or something.

[A.J.]

LMAO. "Doomed if Francis doesn't come back".

I am sorry..I can't stop laughing at that comment.

We are dommed if Yao goes down. If McGrady goes down. If Artest goes down or flips out. We'll be just fine if Francis doesn't come back. LOL at you talking like Francis is Chris Paul or something.

Naw, I meant as our PG situation. If Brooks struggle badly or something.

[moofs]

True, if Francis can't come back and Brooks struggles badly, Francis won't be able to come in and struggle badly instead.

[Transistor]

Healthy Stevie would be stupendous...but i'm not crossing my fingers....Barry and T-Mac can get some time at the point

[bubba]

well i want a bigger paycheck, but that aint happening either!

[ShaY]

That article really doesn't make me optimistic.
It looks like this year again he can't work out until like a week before camp and he will be in terrible shape.

He is talking about not even starting the season.

He should take it slow and try to join during the season in great shape , if he can't do that and Brooks doesn't find his outside shot we gonna need to trade for a backup pg.

[KiDdFrESh]

I hope he can return. He is still one of my favorite players...

I think Barry could get some minutes at the backup point.

[HarlemHeat37]

I came here to check out some reactions from you guys after I read that wiretap headline..Francis is one of my favorites, and I'd love to see him come back healthy, even though it would suck for the rest of the West..

you guys surely aren't in trouble without him though..Brent Barry is one of my dudes too, and he's more than capable of running the PG position and playing at that spot in general(offensively only though)..he saw a lot of time with us last year, where he was the primary ballhandler..he handles pressure well, even though that's something he won't have to do with your big 3 on the floor..

[PocketRockets]

and what is his definition of 100%? 100% of 2001 form? or 2006 form? It's very unrealistic to think he will give us more than 2.8 ppg and less than 4 TO/game. =/ I hope he proves me wrong....but I seriously doubt he will/can.

[tisbee]

If all goes fairly well it looks like it will be late Dec/early Jan before he could play significant minutes.
About a month before he hopes his knees are going to be as strong as they can be,another month or so of conditioning and working the rust off his game-it doesn't sound like he's been doing any shooting-a couple of weeks of practice and spot minutes before he's ready. That is early Dec at earliest,but I expect there will be some swelling,soreness and stiffness issues that will limit him for another few weeks.
Some scenarios:
He provides a lift in late Dec/early Jan when newness of season has worn off and the grind begins.
The Rockets recover from difficult early schedule and are rolling when Steve is ready,so team showcases him for trade.
Same as above except Steve rides bench as cheerleader as team keeps him for emergency injury replacement.
Brooks falters and Francis assumes the Jackson role.
Never fully recovers and is inactive for the yr.
Brooks falters and team believes Francis will be ready so they don't go out and get another PG and Francis can't physically get it done.

[BaYBaller]

If we knew the real reason why Francis didn't get much burn last year we'd have a better idea of what he could contribute but right now it's all up in the air. If Francis really was injured last year (which is signs seem to indicate with the surgery and all) then there is still hope, especially considering we're not asking much from our back-up PG spot and the competition he's up against. If Adelman just benched Francis and Francis used his injury as a excuse then all is lost (though if this were true I do not see why Francis would've picked up his player option).

[kwelis fiasco]

too many haters. steve is a baller, hes been healing for awhile now and should be nearing the end of his healing process. he can score anywhere inside the 3pt line, set up our offense, decent defense w/ a big body. he doesnt suck, but he hasnt bee healthy for awhile, even last season he wasnt 100%. if he can get healhty and stay healthy he can be a solid backup, or starter... . he used to be pretty daam good tho.

[Baller 24]

Feel kinda bad for him, last season he was shooting the ball way to much IMO rather then penetrating, seriously whats up with players in Houston shooting more than driving, even though they are better at driving and suck shooting(See Tmac/Francis)?

Anyways...if he isn't back Brooks is not a good idea to play at PG, he is quite inconsistent, but I'd love to see Barry there. Who is a terrific passer, can handle the ball fairly well, and will bring a great spark off the bench. Remember how fun it was watching Jon Barry doing those awesome passes? hopefully we will see that again this upcoming year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZOKe6T42JY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAfolFsv ... re=related

Couple of my favorite by Barry back in Houston.

[RaoulDuke79]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XrL_F6t ... re=related

[tisbee]

Baller 24,
We're prob going to see Barry coming in as a "SG/SF" but actually running the offense. He'll be teamed w/Brooks/Francis/Head who will defend the other team's PGs.

[McGrady2Head]

i pray francis can comeback, because brooks is the worst player in the nba

[Guy986]

i pray francis can comeback, because Head is the worst player in the nba

Fixed

[moofs]

i pray francis can comeback, because Lance Allred is the worst player in the nba

Fixed

Fixed.

[TMACFORMVP]

I'm pulling for Francis, I still think he can be a productive bench player, but when people start expecting more becomes the problem.