Rafer. How else do you explain it? Preseason, he has to actually compete for playing time, he plays great. No more competition, he tanks. Now, competition again, suddenly he's making shots. Not a bad thing that he feels threatened by Stevie and others, but I am just baffled by those 'sudden' changes when he knows that someone else might just end up taking his spot, at least the way things have been going with Steve.
now if james can turn it around..... that would be sweet. and, although unrelated to the 1.... bonzi, too. having a bench consisting of bonzi, sf3, james, and scola is as solid as any team in the league.
Rafer. No need to explain much. 1 game doesn't define Rafer. Need to keep it real and look at the bigger sample, his entire career with the Rockets he's no better than 37% FG shooter, has been crucified by opposing PGs, and horrible at the end of games. I would take MJ, SF3, and AB ahead of Rafer anytime. I don't understand how so many Rox fans seem to ignore Rafer's consistent mediocrity when he has a rare somewhat decent game (which are so far and few between).
Actually, I don't think Rafer does well under intense pressure. I think he realizes the world doesn't depend on him now and he's relaxing some.
Um...no. Rafer isn't going to magically become Steve Nash, because he feels competition. He will be Rafer plus in some games, and Rafer minus in other. But the baseline is Rafer. Rafer teardrop Alston. Rafer 30% jumper Alston. That guy isn't going anywhere, until he's Gone. The longer we put up with that crap, the longer we suffer. It is a unique form of sado-masochism, to start Rafer with Yao and Tracy. Kind of like nipple-clamps. Horrible, yet some sick people like it. I'll take the torture of Steve Francis turnovers and brain-lapses anyday over the consistent torture of an evil vise like Rafer. That guy is always hurting you. 24/7. Mike James is what he is. Selfish score-hog. Chain him to the bench until we need a selfish score-hog to attack. At least he's not Juwan.
I never really understood the "pushing each other" theory in relation to shooting. Sure it might inspire someone to play better defense or give dig deep and give extra effort, but it isn't like Rafer was shooting poorly on purpose before. He is just a streaky shooter who takes most of his shots from 3 pt range which in turn gives him a low FG%. An interesting stat that JVG referenced last year when asked about Rafer's shooting is adjusted field goal %. Last year Rafer was at .470% which is just barely below Tmac's .474%. In comparison Mike James was at .480% and Francis was at .469% This year Rafer is at .446%, James at .426% and Francis is at .397% Because so many of Rafer's shots are 3's his overall FG% tends to be below average, but his AFG% is actually pretty good in comparision to the rest of the guards.
yeah we have good core of guys coming off the bench... they all need to challenge each other to play well every game... if any 2 of these guys can step up each and every game we have a great chance of winning
Errr. Now you mentioned. You ruined my moments with Francis from last night. Francis hop steps, dribble mania, kamikaze attack and blindly pass out for a bail out. Errr, those were pretty pain to watch too.
He's had two good offensive games. Two. If he strings together 20, then I will take back all that I have said about him missing shots, defending poorly, taking ill-advised shots when there is still 8 seconds on the shot clock, playing better transition defense, etc... As much as I dislike him, he has stepped up for two games. Although I think Baron Davis is going to spend a lot of the game posting him up and exposing him. Hope I'm wrong
Check Rafer's points in the paint (teardrops and layups) if you can. No way it's above 25%. That was what was so great about the Francis drive at the end of the game...no way in hell Rafer makes that shot
With Baron's big booty, his going to have no problem posting up SF/PFs and still manage to score, that is going to be matchup problem that no team in the league is able to overcome, that is why the man averages 20+ a game. If we force him into his errant 3-Point shooting game, it will be better for us. Francis has been awesome coming off the bench, and Rafer has stepped up his game (driving/shooting/individual defense) aswell since Francis has been getting playing time. One arguement might be as the thread starter stated, competition. But I have heard another interesting arguement that points to have a legit reliable back up at PG letting Rafer feeling more at ease and less pressured to perfom, hence the arguement states that Rafer performs better without pressure. I don't nessarily agree with the arguement (I'll need more stats and personal observation for that) but I do find this an interesting arguement. _ Labyrinth Blues P.S Thank you whoever reactivated my account.
Reposted here from another thread: It's NOT the competition that brings out the best in Rafer. In fact, it's exactly the opposite. I think Rafer plays his best ball when he feels the least pressure. Think about it: When he knows he's the go-to guy at PG and he gets lots of minutes, he doesn't do so well. When he realizes that Mike James and Luther Head, two SGs in PG bodies, are the only other PGs in the rotation, Rafer feels the pressure to perform well at that position. He knows he's the only guy of the three who can competently run the point (well, sometimes competently). When Steve finally cracked the rotation, though, Rafer could relax. He now knows that there's someone else to help carry the load, someone who actually has some PG skills and has played the position. So with the pressure off of him, he relaxes and plays much better. This theory also explains why he plays so well in preseason -- because those games don't matter. That's why I've always thought it would be dumb to trade him. We just need to make him a backup PG, or at least split his PG time with Francis. He's better than 90% of the backup PGs in the league.
