Nine games into our new post-Rafer point guard rotation, and we are scoring more points, giving up fewer points, we are more multi-facted offensively, we are shooting a higher percentage. There is no question that we are a better team minus Rafer plus Lowry. Just a few stats to back up the point: The Rafer/Brooks combo at point combined: to shoot 38.5% from the field, 35% from 3, 83.5% from the FT line, 5 rebounds per game, 8 assists per game, 1.72 steals per game, 3.25 turnovers per game, and 21.77 points per game on 1.096 Points Per Shot. The Brooks/Lowry combo at point combined: is shooting 42.9% from the field, 38% from 3, 86.8% from the FT line, 6 rebounds per game, 8.3 assists per game, 1.77 steals per game, 3.33 turnovers per game, and 21.33 points per game, on 1.18 Points Per Shot. The Brooks/Lowry combo also is getting more rebounds per minutes, more steals per minute, more FT per minute, and a better A/TO ratio all while taking fewer shots per minute. The only statistic that is worse is the turnovers per minute is slightly higher with Brooks/Lowry than Rafer/ABrooks. But that is simply a function of a faster pace/more possessions, because all the other stats show that this combo is more efficient with the handle than Rafer/Brooks was. In addition, we are scoring more than a point more per game and giving up a point less per game as a team. Yeah, this is only 9 games in! Too small a statistic sampling you say? I say, just wait until Lowry gets to know his mates even better and just wait until Brooks gets even more comfortable with what shots he should be taking and with running the show for Adelman. These guys are going to get even better than they are now. This team is much improved with the tradeout of Lowry for Rafer. There is no doubt about it.
I liked Alston, but I think it was Brooks time. I agree Brooks/Lowry is better than Alston/Brooks. The turnover thing will improve too because Brooks is still learning how to be the starting PG and Lowry is so new he hardly knows the other guys names. Alston's strength was his assist to turnover ratio and he played much better when McGrady was out and he was allowed to run the offense. But in 2 to 3 years Alston will be done and the Rockets will have one of the best 1 - 2 punch PG tandems in the league, (I hope)
He is saying the combinations are better for the team overall.... But I will say Lowry is better than Rafer....why not? DD
Nice stats but come playoff time, we're going to get hurt by our inexperience. Just watch, we wish we had Rafer in there. I still like the trade and think Lowry is our starter for the future because he can finish at the basket, makes great passes, is strong, drives to the hoop and is overall a true pg. People say he should be able to shoot the three if he wants to start with the inside out game with Yao, well he can. His stroke is really good and his shot looks good almost every time. He doesn't even have to take the three, because he finishes a high percentage on his drives and evertything inside the circle. I think you could even make a case for Lowry being better outside the paint but inside the arc than everybody on our team except Scola. Let's just hope he gets a lot of minutes because he really showed in the Utah game had you always have to attack the basket, get them in foul trouble and get to the line. It was like Kyle showing Tracy and Artest how to do it But still I'm worried because Brooks is not a PG and he will remain the starter. RA is smart enough so hopefully he will split the minutes according to who is playing good at the time.
Its not that simple you have to factor in that Brooks now plays with the starters so he his now more effective and Lowry is now able to take over the role that brooks had. Also now with fast point guards we push the ball more frequently then before whether its the starters or the bench. The defense now has to respect our point guards ability to drive an finish at all times. I think this move was great for us
Although you are making a good point, the data used really isn't feasible for a few reasons The injuries in and out of the rotation for the better part of the first half does have an effect on those stats. Take into consideration the stagnant non-existent ball movement type of game we used to play with our injury torn star player forced upon us. I do agree I like the current combination better, but the pool is too small and there are many outside variables to take into consideration
So far so good. Brooks/Lowry should be better as Lowry plays more and more. My guess is that we could have Lowry/Brooks comb next year.
Is this a typo? The difference between 1.096 and 1.78 is huge. In and of itself, 1.78 is ridiculously good.
I sure hope it's true. Awesome stat! Nice thread, jopatmc. I was wondering what the statistical difference might be. Clearly (at least to me), the Brooks/Lowry combo beats the heck out of the Alston/Brooks pair. Good to see the numbers bear that out.
I don't see how it could be. For reference, J.J. Reddick had a PPS of 1.51 his last year at Duke. That was while shooting .470 FG, .421 3FG, .863 FT, which is obviously better than Brooks/Lowry. The highest team average is Phoenix at 1.34. I just don't see how 1.78 could be true.
Have you seen our past playoff series with Alston at the helm? Lowry/Brooks may indeed fail. But Alston has PROVEN to fail. I'll take my chances with the young guys.
Probably the difference in FTA. Alston hardly went to the line while Lowry is great at getting there. Also you replace Alston's terrible shooting % with Lowry's ~50% shooting.
The Same Rafer that we went 0-2 with in the 1st 2 games without him? Rafer Alston plays like Rafer Alston in the playoffs, not clutch, not choke. Luther Head is the only player we ever had that we knew that was going to choke. I don't know about Brooks or Lowry. I think Lowry is clutch, Brooks? I don't know about post-season clutch.
