[SportsRadio610] Rocket Insider: Carrol Dawson (Fri. Jan 19) Recapping as they go... - Worrisome about injury problems the last two years but feels real good about the team and it's potential and feels like they will be very good when everyone is healthy. - TMac very deligent about doing his back excercises and doing everything he can so the back can hold up, doctors feel like they can continue to get it stronger. Thought about sending him back to Waco but TMac said it was not bad this time. - Every other aspect in Rafer's game, other then his shooting, has been very, very good. Was in every day during the summer working on his game and shooting for multiple hour sessions. Rafer wants to be a better shooter so much CD feels like it will happen for him. This is the worst he has shot in his career, so he feels like he can snap out of it and do much better. - One of the best locker rooms he has ever had in the organization. They enjoy playing with each other. - Depth is much better and why they have been able to win 9 games recently. Feels good about the players they brought in the last couple of years. Feels great about getting Battier and feels fortunate they have a player like him on and off the court. - Feels Novak will be a solid player in the league. - A lot of praise for Battier. Even better than they thought he would be when they traded for him. Has gotten a lot of calls from the national media about him in the last couple of weeks. Same calls about Deke which is satisfying to him. - Praised the Red Rowdies and gave JVG and TMac credit for them. - Typical "we're always looking to improve our team" comment. Feels good about the team and it's chances once everyone, including Bonzi, is healthy. - Doesn't know how Kidd rumors, or many other rumors get started. He has not talked to Rod Thorn (GM of the Nets) at all. Agrees that getting a player with that type of salary would be very hard, especially since TMac doesn't even make that much. OK, tried my best, feel free to add or correct anything I posted.
Thanks for the recap. 2 years of injuries being worrisome, huh? Jeff Van Grumpy and his "cloud of terror" strikes again. DD
I agree with Dawson, Most aspects of Rafer's game has been what the team has needed, apart from his shooting. I personally think he must be in a bad bad slump. Noone can shoot that bad for this long. He'll break out of it soon enough
> Shane Battier was a great pickup - credit this to Van Gundy > There is no trade in the works for Jason Kidd - pure speculation, wouldn't work financially > Tracy is working on the "strength" of his back to avoid future injuries > Yao is working very hard on rehabbing his knee > Thrilled with Rafer's play vs. Phoenix - think's he's turning the corner Sorry, got caught up at work.
I he would just make th elayups/tear drops I would be happy, but I agree with you here. He doesn't try much to get contact to go the foul line.
He seems to shy away from contact a lot. I don't recall Rafer ever taking a charge, for instance. Sometimes, he'll be in a position, but he'll step aside and instead try to swipe the ball away. It's kind of annoying.
Yes, it is a major flaw in his game. It's gotten to where I just cringe when he tosses up a floater, because you know it's got about a 25% chance of going in. And he usually does it when other options were there, and should have been used. Rafer could help the team a lot if he'd simply drive to the hole and either make the layup, dunk (can he dunk??), or draw that foul.
The fact they enjoy playing with each other means there is a better chance of maximizing the results of the talent that's on the floor. 9-4 should answer that.
All this is a 'love fest'- let us not forget that Alston is a poor decission maker shown every game when he selects to set himself up and misses the shot , when there were several open opportunities awaiting the pass from him. Possibly it's not all Alstons fault as we can't be sure if its really JVG's instructions which cause him to make these bad decissions!
Ummm maybe he's avoiding the contact on drives and charges cuz he knows he's our only point guard and we would have no chance to win a game without him
i'm ok with rafer not being able to shoot. i'm NOT ok with his poor shot selection. he shoots too often. if he's open for a 3, then fine. if he's driving and has a layup, that's fine too. i just HATE his floaters and pull up jumpers. they NEVEr go in.
