Can anybody tell me where Rafer Alston is and why this guy isn't in the NBA? I know Arenas beat him out in GSW, but I just don't understand, at Rucker in the summer this guy EATS UP guys like Marbury, Marc Jackson, etc. He's probably the best ballhandler on the planet and he's not in the NBA, does anybody know where he is playing, is he going to be in the NBDL or what? Anyone?
The guy got his chance with Milwaukee, never really showed himself to be a NBA point guard. There is no doubt about the skillz he's got, but i think those skillz are much better used on the street instead of the stadiums.
Saw him in the preseason with GS... it's not that Arenas beat him out, it's that there was little discernible difference between him and Dean Oliver. So what if he can get past anyone off the dribble? He can't finish in traffic at the rim, and he can't hit jump shots -- so in the pros, no one will bother to guard him.
His ball handleing skills are overated. He's got the skills to make a person look stupid and to drible around them in circles etc., but he doesn't have the skills to escape another team's pressure or to break down another teams defense. Those are the skills that nearly every NBA point guard has. Players like Steve, Stockton, Gary Payton, and even the pg's like Charlie Ward and Moochie have better ball handleing skills than Alston because they can do this. He may be able to dribble with his feet but it won't help him run an offense.
Showboating skills don't translate into ability in a professional sport. There are guys who can keep-up a soccer ball for hours, and golfers who can out-drive Tiger Woods substantially in longest drive competitions, but they never have any significance in real sport.
He's eaten everybody up... On the street, I doubt if there is anybody who could keep him from scoring at least 30 points every time he steps out. In the arena..., Well that's a different story.
Rafer aka Skip to MY Lou can ball. IF you have caught up with him in Fresno State you would understand. I bet half of yall didn't know he even went to Fresno. And Yes he ate Marbury alive and I have seen him eat up Iverson. He eats them up on his court and they eat him up on there court. He had 5 teams interested in him so Espn says and he gets cut by the Warriors is beyond me. He is no All Star in the NBA but he is serviceable and should probaly look into signing with the Cavs to show off his talent. Hurd they are taking just about anyone nowadays.
Well, I knew he went there. And if he is serviceable, how come he's bounced around the league for several years with no decent minutes? Here's why. As someone already said, trouble finishing in traffic, no J, and bone-headed plays every fourth time down court. Drives coaches mad to see that. NBA defences are too good if all you can do is drive. Gotta have some sort of compliment to your game.
so do someone know if u can download some videos when alston is killing marbury etc. cause those games aren´t viewed in the and1 mix tapes
Naw those games are viewed on the sideline at Rucker Park where he ate him up at. WHen NBATV had the EBC going on they had a cuople of clips of Rafer eating Marbury up and they also showed when Kobe made a visit and he treated everyone ridiculously. Driving by anyone. As far as why if he is serviceable has he been boucned aroudn the league so much? Well to my knowledge he has only played for the Bucks and he went to Golden State so therefore he hasn't been bounced around the league. Marbury who is a All Star capable pg has been bounced around the league a cuople of times. You don't have to be a bad player to be bounced around.
Umm, he's somewhat below "bounced around" right now -- he's unemployed. Any team in the league could sign him, but no one wants him. Think about that for a moment. He may have game in Rucker Park, but he doesn't in the NBA. Life is rough sometimes.
Man... lots of animocity for the street players here. Alston seems to be a 'trigger player' in the street ball vs. old-school ball debate. ANYWAY, looking at it from a distance, based on his career stats, the .332 career fg% would have to be a big reason (.346 last year). When you take into account that he's shot the the 3's decently (.330 career, .380 last year) you have to assume that Swopa's assertation that he can't finish around the rim is most likely correct.
If he ate Marbury up so many times, he's probably pretty heavy now, so I guess that's why he's not playing anywhere
Well if your a GM and you are rebuilding a team you want a pg who can take your team to the playoffs and so forth. HE isn't that type of pg. If your a team who is a contender you want a pg who when your starting pg gets hurt you want a guy who can keep you on track ala Nick Van Exel, Bobby Jackson, Derek Fisher retired Terry Porter and so forth. He isn't that type of pg. His stats are horrible so yes I am assuming he can't finish at the rim no one is debating that. This thread was pointed at why can't he get a job in the NBA I have no answer for that. I think he is a serviceable player and a great Rucker Park player. Yes NBA and Street are 2 different things yes. But during the off season 7 teams in the NBA were interested including Bucks, Mavs, and Golden State. So unless he has done something to piss GM's around the NBA off I have no explanation to why he can't get a job. HE just can't play in the NBA right now or maybe never will.
BTW, reason why GS didn't resign him was just trying to be cheap and decided to go after Logan who didn't sign with them anyway. Golden STate players were reportedly upset to see him go and now Golden State still have no point guard though Arenas is playing real good ball he is best fit at the 2 just as Larry Hughes was.
If GS let Alston go because they were cheap, then why did they claim Oscar Torres off waivers? Why did they sign Guy Rucker while Fortson was out for personal reasons? Why have they signed guards like Guyton and Boykins to play PG with Sura out? Newsflash: Not everything Chad Ford says on ESPN Insider is true.
