I like how in the opening night gamethread someone accused me of being a MJOF because I thought he was playing well... Forgive me if Id rather play the guy who is going to get us the win over the hometown favorite...
I don't think there are any Mike Jame hater or Rafer lover here. They are very different player and both are not great. Both had their own weakness and strength. Those who support Rafer doesn't mean they hate James. I don't understand why once you support Rafer, you are automatically labelled Mike James hater. There might be some Rafer though! WE NEED BOTH at different time and match up. I want Rafer to start and James come off the bench, which is the best combo rather than James start and Rafer come off the bench.
If someone raved about Boki after TWO good games, Sam would laugh at the silliness with all kinds of smartass derogative remarks.
VSpan of Houston in Minnesota for the whole season has been McGrady of the Rockets bench for 1.5 games. Niiiice ...
MJ>> Rafer, I have said this for a long time. Rafer is not a starter material, should not be a starter.
.....maybe because one player has a far greater track record of success, and had it at the time we gave him away, which is what lead us to try to get him back repeatedly, and is now doing the things that people expressly promised he couldn't do (doubly ridiculous because at the time becuase he was already doing/had done them). But if you want to start a thread about Nachbar's first game go ahead - I watched it. Didn't look like the guy who scored 30 points in preseason or the guy who you implied had a superior 1-on-1 dribble penetration game - though not for lack of trying. This is not the thread for this, but I have admitted several times over that I was wrong - he developed a consistent three point shot and has become a competent NBA player after being left for dead several times. He also has some weaknesses, but his shooting is enough overall to keep him in the league. Not sure what that has to do with James.
Yeah it's not like he's ever been a good player for the Rockets before or been a deadly outside volume shooter with high efficiency or a role player on a championship team - this is completely new ground. It might be a fluke!
i'm one of those aformeentioned James haters. I thought he was a horrible fit in a JVG system that called for him to defer to TMax and Yao which I did not think he was capable of doing and would thuis have him playing against his natural tendencies, therey diminishing his game. However, in Adelman's system, it seems that if you have an open shot, you are to take it no matter how much time is on the clock. I think this is more in line with Jame's natural tendencies, and his stellar play has shown that he can definetely succeed in THIS system
Nice thread. Been a huge James supporter and I'm pumped he's playing so well on this team (again) Yeah, such a ball hog, shooting those 6 shots yet getting 15 and 7
I'm not suprised James had a good game last night. These are exactly the type of matchups where we need him. I said before the game that I wouldn't be suprised if he started do to those same matchup problems. He played well and didn't force the issue like he did in the Lakers game. Utah is a bad matchup for Rafer. There will be other games where he will be the better player. That's exactly why we need both of them and trading one for the other, without having a backup, would not have brought us the championship the last couple of years. This was a great win. You could easily say that we wouldn't have won this game without Mike James. You can just as easily say the same about Scola. Scola's stats don't do justice to the effect he had on the game last night. Cheers, Brock
I have been pleasantly surprised so far. Rafer is absolutely killing me and it's only a matter of time before stev o is in the lineup, but off the bench (and probably closing out games) James is exactly what the doctor ordered. Don't forget how good Scola looked last night as well. His rebounding is much better than I anticipated.
Man, this is awesome to have great bench players like James and Bonzi continue to maintain or taking lead...because first of all with Rafer Tmac Shane Hayes and Yao. The chance of playing competitive and taking lead is pretty high. So maybe it's not a bad idea to start Rafer and Hayes.
