I like the replies but FreshPrince is trippin I got a stat about who's better of the two...look back at Marbury's first game in New York....sound like marbury has a good reason until not to dislike francis...but it could work..hate sometimes turns into the best kinda love!
Francis Torches Marbury, Knicks
Stevie burns Stephon in much-hyped home Knick debut, Rockets roll 111-79
By Clutch
JANUARY 8, 2004 8:51 PM | BOX SCORE | HISTORY VS. KNICKS
Role Reversal: Steve Francis took it to Stephon Marbury in his Knick home debut (Reuters photo)
It was his night, especially in the third period. Francis scored 14 of his 27 in the third quarter alone, finishing with 27 points, 8 boards, 6 dimes, 3 steals, 2 blocks and one nasty crossover on Stephon Marbury.
You know it's eating at Marbury that the guy who he views as having taken his All-Star starting spot (Francis) last season just abused him in the only home debut he will ever have, in front of all his friends. Despite 10 assists, Marbury shot just 3-12 from the floor for 6 points.
Stephon Marbury will simply never live this one down.
In front of a national TV audience with all the hype from his New York Knick home debut, all his childhood friends from Coney Island and family in attendance, all the talk about his ownership of Steve Francis...
And Francis humiliated him.
Steve scored 27 points, grabbed 8 boards, dished 6 assists, picked 3 steals and blocked a pair of shots, including a Marbury drive, while holding the new Knicks prize to 6 points as the Rockets routed New York 111-79 in Madison Square Garden.
The loss sent the Knicks reeling, talking about firing their head coach (and former Rockets coach) Don Chaney any moment now.
On the other hand, the win puts the Rockets at 20-15 on the season and the 111 points was the most they've scored all year -- and it's only the fourth time this season in 35 games that the Rockets have gone over 100 points.
And this offensive explosion came less than 24 hours after Houston could muster just 66 points against Detroit.
Lets face it -- Marbury isn't going to be able to shake this from his mind anytime soon. Ironic that it was almost a year ago to the day that Marbury was yelling to Francis that he was a fake All-Star and Stephon was the real deal during a 102-96 Rockets win over Phoenix in Houston.
Yes, it was only Marbury's second game on a new team and yes he was nervous on the big stage in front of his friends, but Francis used and abused him ... going right at him at times. In the third at one point, Francis challenged him, crossed him right over which brought a gasp out of the crowd, and drained a long jumper right in his face.
No doubt the "true All-Star", who has now been traded 4 times in his career, was embarrassed by that one.
But it wasn't just Francis who was hot for the Rockets.