Rafer Alston, unless Mike James magically learned an entry pass in Toronto or Minnesota. But Rafer better not play a single minute when Yao is off the floor.
I don't care. Whichever one is stinking it up won't see much time because of the other. The lack of an alternative last season magnified how bad Rafer was because we couldn't sit him down for long stretches at a time. May the best player be on the floor the most minutes, whoever starts.
Alston because I think he is better at passing/running the point than James. With Rafer starting, James comes in as 6th man and provides instant scoring. Good enough for me.
Start Rafer. Play James more minutes and let him finish games. James provides the scoring we need when Mac and/or Ming are on the bench.
I hope our starting point guard isn't on the roster right now, although I realize it is unlikely that we can add another pg while adding at least on legitimate PF. I just can't stand the idea of having Rafer Alston on this team anymore, but even with that said, I believe Rafer should start over Mike James. I just think Mike James can be one of the best bench players in the game and would be immensely valuable in the 6th man role.
I think it will depend on who the rest of the starting 5 are when the season opens...... we know Yao and McGrady will start...but where will Mc Grady start, SG or SF ? Adelman has said he sees Bonzi as a SG, so if he starts then it could be Rafer at the PG...... if Bonzi doesn't start and Mc Grady is the SG then Battier is the SF and probably better to have a scorer at the PG ala M James.... I really like the roster at this point.... with another trade and a good draft pick, this team could be deep on the bench like McGrady said Utah was.....where it was always someone different coming off the bench to provide the spark for the Jazz...... I would love to get a scoring shot blocking PF somehow... I think that puts this team over the top...... we would match up with anyone....... and we would be hard to stop !!!!!!! just my two cents
I'll put rafer in as the starter and james on the bench. MJ is a better scorer than rafer, therefore, james can help out on the offense end coming off the bench when T-Mac or Yao is taking a rest.
I think we will start with Rafer, and slowly ease James in. Unless we are looking for other trades, or Vspan miraculously decides to put his head down and play his way into the rotation, then that's the way I see it happening.
Definitly Rafer. He knows the offense and is good at setting things up. He might be a poor finisher and a spotty shooter, but that is irrelevent as long as Yao and Mac are both on the floor. When the Rox need more scoring, bring in James and Bonzi. James is basically a shooting guard; we need someone to control the tempo and start the offense i.e. Rafer and btw i <3 Rafer
Rafer. With McGrady and Yao and in there I don't think you need MJ in there. You want to have MJ and Bonzi come off the bench with scoring punch when Mac is out. I do believe that in crunch time MJ will be in there with mac, bonzi, our new PF and Yao.
Exactly what I was thinking, if with Yao and Tmac you want Rafer setting them up so that when Tmac and Yao sit you can come with Bonzi and James creating the offense. I dont see the point in having Rafer come off the bench, who exactly would he run the offense for?
i dont believe this whole "knows the offense" arguement since there is a new coach and a new scheme being implemented. but i picked rafer because his strengths are much better suited at a beginning of a game, setting up an offense, and then mike can come in and do as he feels. but unless rafer works on his shot like crazy this off season i would want james starting because with both tmac and yao on the floor the pg will be given wide open looks and i have faith that mike james will hit more of his wide open shots than rafer
Rafer. I know we all trash him, but the fact remains that he played within himself for the entire season (granted his self wasn't all that spectacular...) Rafer's a great ballhandler and a decent--and more importantly, willing--passer. That's the guy we need to feed T-mac and Yao. Mike James I see as instant offense off the bench, a sixth man of the year candidate. He gets the greenlight to shoot when Yao/Mac are out, but I'll be pissed as hell if he starts chucking when Yao has his man pinned or Mac is calling for the ball. Neither is all that great guys. This sorta reminds me of the two headed PG monster New York used to have with Charlie Ward and Chris Childs. And that makes my head hurt like none other.
Are you joking or you just don't Know? Mike James is not a Point Guard he is a rather selfish shootling guard who tends to be looking for his own shot! Rafer Alston is a fairly decent Point Guard who is good enough only as a last resort to be the starter but he is not a Playmaker Point Guard. He just doesn't know how to be the floor leader and set up his team mates!
i voted rafer. this team needs some scoring punch off the bench. rafer can handle the starting job. especially with adelman able to put in james anytime he wants... mike james will play plenty of minutes with yao and tmac. this team needs the bench help though...
Gotta go with Mike James. During his 1 starting stint in Toronto he put up numbers Rafer couldn't even dream of. In the first 8-10 games he started here in Houston he overtook Yao as our second leading scorer and put up BIG numbers. Don't give me that junk about how they were "selfish points" or how he ruined "offensive flow". He was the reason why we won games against an elite Dallas team two years ago. You start your best players (unless ur SA) and James is better than Rafer Mr. "Playing in the NBA is a Dream Come True".
