http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/kelly_dwyer/12/15/player.rankings/index.html Yao Ming Gary Payton and Speedy Claxton may be worse off on a statistical angle, but is there a more destructive starting point guard out there than Houston's Rafer Alston? Yao's teammate can't stop shooting threes (6.3 attempts a game), hits on 37 percent of his shots from the floor, can't work a screen and roll to save his life and is probably keeping Yao from averaging 30 points per game. Yao's at 26.1 points right now, with 9.6 rebounds, and I don't think he's taken in a re-entry pass all season. The turnovers have to stop, however, as Yao is averaging 4.1 miscues in 35 minutes a game.
Someone read this loud to Rafer. I wonder if he ever feel shamed of himself's again and again bad decision making.
"Just a few shopping days left until the Christmas holiday, and we're all ready to offer a sleigh's full of presents: a point guard for Yao Ming, a sense of tact for Zach Randolph, a legitimate NBA starter to play alongside Chris Paul and a right hand for Michael Redd. One thing we won't be sending along is a conscience for Washington's Gilbert Arenas, because he's just fine the way he is. And Kobe Bryant gets an IOU until next December, because he has all he needs: a head on his shoulders and the ball in his hands." Who has the dough to buy Yao the present? Iverson anyone? Antonio Daniels available? How about just benching Rafer?
Iverson wouldn't respect a chinese player enough. That's just the truth. And JVG, in his small-minded, conversative nature, will definitely not get along with AI. All you fans demanding an AI trade are just silly. Offer realistic and actually helpful advice for this team. Right now, I have to say I'm very disappointed with the Rockets. T-mac's injury has just revealed how much holes we have on our current team - mainly the coaching and the point guard are to blame. If we had a better coach who knew which players to put on the floor and how to bring out the maximum potential of our players, we would've been 3-0 Tmacless instead of 0-3 right now.
Rafer needs to break people off the dribble. he is supposedly an elite ball handler?.. comon, attack the damn rim. draw some fouls.he's game has become far to obvious. way to easy to read.
we need steve francis rafer + juwan + sura(contract) for francis! salary match, rafer back in NYC, great pf in jho, solve their marbury/francis crisis. deal done!
forgot to include cato for the above mentioned trade proposal. juwan + sura + alston for francis + cato. salary match, deal done.
i know that's why the knicks might wanna get this deal done. cato is not even in their rotation. cmon get the deal done, rockets' front office!!
if jvg doesn't try out a different starting pg or at least cut back rafer's minutes in favor of spanoulis or lucas, he will officially be the worst coach in the nba. nobody in their right mind would stick with someone who is doing what rafer is doing now, without even TRYING something else. people will say lucas and span would just be worse, but there has been absolutely no evidence to support that.
Looks more and more like those comment about Rafer are right. But Yao hasn't taken a re-entry pass all season? And as for the t/o's, the tops in the league (consecutive) are: AI, DWade, Yao, Carmelo, Paul Pierce. Could it be that these players have more touches and draw more double and even some triple teams?
http://www.82games.com/0607/0607HOUP.HTM Statistically, Rafer hasn't been that bad. The team has played pretty well with him on the court and not so much with him off. Yesterday, a lot of his mistakes were in the last couple of minutes after Rockets got down relatively big (6+) and were in desperation situations. Rafer makes mistakes when he tries too hard to become a scorer.
To be fair in the last game - the turnover kills us. It's not all Rafer Alston fault (even though majority of the blame should be on him). Luther Head made some really big mistakes in the last minute of the regulation. Those mistakes cost us big time.
Stats are not allways a true indicator. Rafer fills up the stat sheetup reall well. however, he's lack of control when the oppsition are making there run are costly. when the fakers were trapping him, he was melting real fast. he's lack of control and shot selection are killers.
There are "winners" and "losers" in sports. Rafer has not achieved status in either category, but the fact that he is not a "winner" means the Rockets must react. V-Span makes too many mistakes, but he already has shown he has the "winner" mentality. Sura was the same way, but he's done. Rafer is a good backup, but the time has come to either promote V-Span or find a PG who can run the team, deliver more assists to Yao and make shots. I wish there were a way to acquire someone like Bibby.
Bibby and Yao would be almost unfair. I would love to see it, but, unfortunately, very unlikely. I agree on your take of Alston, I really feel bad for the guy. He seems like a very nice fellow, but his play is hurting the team. I don't know why the organization traded for him and seems committed to him, a mystery. I would roll the dice with VSpan, a wild and crazy idea I know, but I would try it. At least more minutes.
