Did Rafer Alston do a good job at running the offense?

Much of the time Rafer ran the offense last season. On other occasions (especially in crunch time), Tracy did. But it's a stretch to call Rafer a playmaker because that implies he made something happen. What Rafer did well was handle the ball and get it to the right man in scoring position. What he did terrible was shoot the ball. His awful shooting overshadowed his passing because teams backed off of him and baited him into taking the ball towards the basket and missing. If we had another viable PG and had limited Rafer's minutes to 15-20 per game, the hatred against him wouldn't be so strong. He was asked to do more than he was capable of and his flaws were magnified.

Reminds me some of what's happening to Demarcus Faggins of the Texans. He's a nickleback who should NOT be a starter.

 

The only positive thing that Rafer Alston did for our offense is to bring the ball upcourt on every possession. He was the only one with the ball-handling skills to avoid getting pressed like crazy. (see Luther Head bringing up the ball)

But once they got into the half court set? Absolutely dreadful.

 

The game that showed me how important rafer was to our offense is the game where he didnt play (possible injury???) and we were HORRIBLE! yes we may have more competent players now but JVG was horrible as an offensive coach anyone who doesnt see that is Stevie Wonder

 

Oh, now I get it, to answer the question......NO, Rafer Sucks.

 

Dont blame him, it's on the coach.

 

The coach wanted him when Sura was hurt. Rafer has never been all that great and is getting worse every year.

Wasn't he ranked like LAST among all starting PGs?

And don't give me his PER stats, he is just sucking at the nipples of our good players to get that rating.

Hell even V-SPan had a better fg% from 2pt range...

Rafer SUX !

DD

 

Look, if Rafer was all that effective, then why has Morey been DESPERTATLY trying to replace him all summer?

Signed Mike James
Signed Steve Francis
Drafted Aaron Brooks.

I mean that is THREE moves to replace one player, if that doesn't tell you all you need to know, I don't know what does.

RAFER SUXOR !

DD

 

I think the problem with Rafer last year was that he played too many minutes without a viable backup. If you lowered his minutes by 4, he would be a good option to run the offense.

It will be interesting to see what the Rockets do with him. My guess is that he'll be be delt around the trade deadline. But I wonder what role hes going to have until then?

 

Oh come on, you can't be seriously asking that question?

If you are trying to trade a player, you talk him up, make him look better than he is...to draw interest.

You don't say.... "Well we know he sucks, will you trade us a decent player for him anyway?"

Common sense....

He shot his highest percentage in the 4th quarter....which is not saying a lot.....

You people defending Rafer need psychiatric help......he is rated as the WORST PG in the NBA....the WORST !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not middle of the pack, not top of the heap....the absolute BUTT end....

If he is the starting PG of the Rockets this year, I will have to lower my expectations.

DD

 

I think you underestimate the capacity for NBA GMs to think.

If Morey gets on the phone with some GM and says "Rafer is good guard, we're just going in a different direction with Adelman's offense. You can get an otherwise good NBA starter," the GM on the other end of the phone is thinking:

a) Mike James? then Aaron Brooks? then Steve Francis? It's clear that they don't bleive in him.
b) Even if they did believe in him they clearly don't need him.
c) Rafer a good starter? Does Conan O'Brien really think i'm an idiot?

If Morey was really all that concerned about his strategic trade value, he wouldn't have picked up three new guards in the offseason.

 

He is not worried about his strategic value, but some GMs and Coaches think that a particular player might fit their system better.

And he might be better than the other team's current cache of PGs...like Clevland etc.

Rafer's days are numbered, I would be SHOCKED if he is still running the point for the Rockets, his best days are far behind him, and those weren't all that great to begin with.....

He gotsta go...

DD

 

What? Is it on coach really? I don't think so. That's on Rafer.

 

I would say he is one of the better 4th string PG's on our team. But of course I could be giving him too much credit.