Dont get me wrong, I think this team is capable of being very dangerous in the playoffs. That being said, we are too inconsistant on most occasions . We have too many nights like Monday when our shots arent falling. Come playoff time we must hit wide open shots or we wont get out of the 1st round. IMO, Rafer will be the difference. If he is hitting his shots we will win. But, as been the case most often then not, he can also shoot us right out of the game. He MUST learn when to shoot and when not too if his shots arent falling. We cant expect to win in the playoffs when our PG is 3-14 from the field. JVG needs to quit being so confident in him and tell him to quit shooting and become more of a play-maker if his shot isnt there. With Bonzi coming back soon (maybe tonight according to the Chronicle), JVG can afford to pull Rafer out. Hopefully Acie Law will be available when we pick in the late first round
tmac and yao are the difference, imo. rafer goes as these guys go. heck, the entire team does. Rafer does go on bad shot stretches but when do those happen? typically when everyone else is off. Maybe he tries to do too much to spark the team but when everyone else is throwing up bricks its hard to focus on him alone. but recently the team has been inconsistant. i think a lot of that is due to getting yao back and trying to work him back into the mix.
I think this team performs fairly consistantly...We just have big time problem areas on both offense and defense(against quicker opponents)...The great teams in this league take advantage of these shortcomings every time. I think we need one more good off season before we become legit championship contenders. Add a better PG and a long athletic PF and we're ready for big time.
I agree, why Rafer has a green light, I have no idea. Yes, he is left with "horse shots," but he can't make them. If I were the coach, he would never attempt another "floater," that's for sure. I would limit him to five attempts per game, unless he makes three of the them, then he gets five more. Throwing up more shots than Yao is utterly ridiculous. You do not want a terrible shooter thinking he is the team's third option. I agree with the poster who believes that he has incriminating pictures of JVG. It is the only logical explanation for the "carte blanche" he seems to have.
Very true that Rafer has to hit his shots, JVG has backed him up the whole season, come playoff time he has to show up or he will probably be gone next season. But we can't blame inconsistency on just Rafer, injury and lack of chemistry at the start of the season are big factors, our teams roster keeps changing so much every season that it's tough for them to mesh
If that is our hope then we're done before it starts. If we want to rely on a rookie with assitant coach leading the way, we're still screwed because he won't play.
It's up to Yao. if Yao chooses to shoot double-teamed jumpers and soft layups, Rockets will lose, TMAC will jack up all quick bricks and all other guys will just watching depressly
not really.at least Hayes will then rush to the basket for an offensive reb..don't be too pessimistic.McGrady knows what he is doing.
give yao another 10+ games...he will be ready come playoff time..and thats all that matters..considering we are like 7 games ahead of lakers..lol
We need Rafe to play like he did tonight...20 points on 7-10 shooting. I know we can expect anyone to shoot 7-10 every game, but its good to see him shoot well tonight
