<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Steve Francis made a big mistake Wednesday night. He started talking junk to the wrong guy at the wrong time, and, by making it personal, contributed greatly to the Rockets’ ugly 85-66 loss to the Pistons. It was late in the first quarter when Francis made a quick move on Chucky Atkins. The move was so quick that Atkins lost his balance and fell. Francis hit the shot. “From then on, that started Chucky’s engine,” Chauncey Billups said. “Steve started talking and Chucky stepped up to the challenge.” Did he ever. “Me and him got to jawing at each other a little bit,” Atkins said. “He made a statement that he was going to start lighting me up. I made a statement back to him that I wasn’t going nowhere and whatever he wanted to do, we can do it. “He started playing a one-on-one game and I knew I had help. So it became one-on-five, and that’s to our advantage.” With Atkins goading him, Francis started to dominate the Rockets’ offense. After he scored six points in the first quarter, he had four errant shots and one assist in the second. While Francis was trying to make a point to Atkins, his team’s offense went dry. It went 5:52 without a point. Yao Ming, who got the Rockets’ first two baskets of the game, did not touch the ball in eight minutes in the second quarter, and he didn’t get another point in the game. “I was sitting there with about four minutes left, and Coach wanted to put me back in,” Billups said. “I said, ‘No, let Chucky finish it out.’ ” He was giving us what we need. Steve was taking bad shots and Chucky drew a couple of fouls. He did a great job.” Atkins, by the way, got eight of his 11 points in that second quarter. “It was a personal thing,” he said. “He got mad and I was already mad, so it happened like that.” Francis finished with 15 points, missing 10 of 16 shots. </div> By Chris McCosky / The Detroit News Steve Francis made a big mistake by talking trash which cost his team.
I doubt that if Francis hadn't been trash talking his team would have won. Still, that isn't the first time trash talk has gone too far. Professional athletes learn to turn criticism into motivation. In the NHL, some members of the Colorado Avalanche made the mistake of saying they had the series in the bag when they were up 3-1 on the Minnesota Wild. The Wild reacted by coming back to win the series, 4-3. I think it's sort of funny.
Chucky got in Stevey's head, big time. He messed up his whole game. The Franchise is really struggling right now, he's not playing very well, and chucky made the matter worse. It was funny to see how frustrated Franchise got during the game, and he was through completly off his game.
I think Chucky did a good job on Steve Francis. I wouldn't talk trash to anybody until I knew we had the game won. But you know how some athletes can be.
The game was fun to watch because of the way Franchise acted (Until the fourth quarter, when Darko lit it up). Players need to act more mature and stopping being selfish. BigMemo, you posted about the Avalanche, what about the Pistons? We were also down 3-1, then Tracy McGrady decided that he was in the second round. Then we came back and won 4-3! I also think it is funny. Players need to play to win, not just throwing trash out at the other players.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">The game was fun to watch because of the way Franchise acted (Until the fourth quarter, when Darko lit it up). Players need to act more mature and stopping being selfish. BigMemo, you posted about the Avalanche, what about the Pistons? We were also down 3-1, then Tracy McGrady decided that he was in the second round. Then we came back and won 4-3! I also think it is funny. Players need to play to win, not just throwing trash out at the other players.</div> Man, my best friend is a huge Magic Fan. Everyday in the hallways at school he would throw up 3 fingers, then 1, to signal that the magic were up 3-1. He would call me and say " 3-1!" then hang up. Then, the Magic Lost. Boy, I had some fun gettin on him.
That is funny BenWallace3. I had something similiar with some of my friends. They weren't Magic fans, but just Anti-Piston. It was still fun. I like Chucky Atkins, I think he is a good player. If he decides that he doesn't mind being a bench player then I wish he would stay on the Pistons.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BenWallace3:</div><div class="quote_post">Man, my best friend is a huge Magic Fan. Everyday in the hallways at school he would throw up 3 fingers, then 1, to signal that the magic were up 3-1. He would call me and say " 3-1!" then hang up. Then, the Magic Lost. Boy, I had some fun gettin on him.</div> LOL, that must have been so sweet It's good to see Chauncey differ to Chucky like that. It gives the impresison that Chauncey thinks more of the team than his own stats.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting iamme:</div><div class="quote_post">It gives the impresison that Chauncey thinks more of the team than his own stats.</div> That is the great thing about our team, everybody thinks more about the team then their own stats. Why is there a sudden rush of new Piston fans? Some were here for a while but never posted. I hope it stays this way, this forum is semi-active now!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PyroManiac:</div><div class="quote_post">BigMemo, you posted about the Avalanche, what about the Pistons? We were also down 3-1, then Tracy McGrady decided that he was in the second round. Then we came back and won 4-3! I also think it is funny. Players need to play to win, not just throwing trash out at the other players.</div> Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I block out the bad parts! What, they got swept by the Nets? When did that happen?
Yeah, I know what you mean. I was about to post that we kept making jokes directed at the Anti-Piston fans until we got swept. Then I realized that I imagined that, and promptly pressed backspace.
