what GMoney and I are saying is that many of us think second-guessing a coach like Adelman can get to be pretty silly. I mean, make your points...but remember, this is not coffee talk to Adelman. He's got very strong reasons for making all his decisions. it's one thing to second guess a bball coach wrt to micro things like time mgmt or end game play calling...but when 2 rockets coaches in a row have praised Alston for doing what is asked of him, I just think it's absurd for "us fans to second guess the coach" by saying Alston doesn't make cuts to the basket like he should. I mean, maybe it's just me, but if you don't make proper cuts for a coach like Adelman and shoot low % like Alston does, there is no way you're getting that many minutes. I'm describing what I see. Some of your are describing what you're not seeing... want to see, and insinuating that Adelman is in agreement, when there is absolutely no proof from a scouting perspective. My way of looking at it: If Alston is not doing a lot of cuts to the basket, it's because that is not the system. So then I try to figure out what the system is. Your way of looking at it: Alston is not executing properly, because you think the system is something other than what we are seeing being executing. The latter fan approach is of no use to me. I have a scout mentality. I know dozens of motion system. If you don't see something, it's a tell that the system is something else. I think it is insulting to the Adelman to even suggest that Alston doesn't do what he's is asked of him on the court...or to suggest that Alston is going against Adelman's wishes. There is no way Alston is going against Adelman's wishes and getting this many minutes. It's just ridiculous to suggest otherwise.
Here are his FG% for the last 13 games. Which 6 of 7 game stretch do you want to cherrypick? 52.9 40 26.7 30.8 30.8 45.5 31.6 16.7 45.5 53.9 47.6 60 46.7 Personal? Why would I have anything 'personal'? Is it possible that you consider me reading more into your post... i.e. what you've always rapped rafer on... 'personal'? Does that mean that you are implying you only meant that he had a few bad shooting games... and that's all? You intended nothing else? I'm saying it's just what happens. So what? Great game , bad game... averages out. Too many here overreact to difficulties a players has, whether a single game or over the course of several. I don't know what your hang-up on Rafer is, but I rarely have seen you giving him credit for what he contributes, and you jump all over him if he has any problems shooting... as if that's all that matters for a point guard. You obviously carry a lot of extra credibility here. I hate to see anyone, but especially you seemingly condoning ridiculous expectations ... i.e. every player plays every game 'great' and all of our players are comparable to any other team's all-star at the same position. You're obviously not nearly that bad ... you seem to save your ire just for Rafer. As for me, yeah I admit it, I'm a homer. But only so long as the guy is working hard, and working hard for the team. We will never have 5 all-stars, you might want to help some others realize that.
That is interesting! The average of these 13 games is about 40.67%, and it is close to his average number for this season. What are his fga numbers for those 13 games? And what are the rockets' team fg% for those 13 games? Can you also offer those numbers? BTW, I think Clutch used the last 7 games (take away the lakers game) before the last night. (40+26.7+30.8+30.8+31.6+16.7)/6= 29.4%
the answer is: rafer is not a great player. in fact, i wouldn't even say that he is an average player. he is a little bit below average as a starting western conference point guard. i personally doubt our title chances with rafer as our starting pg. but, it is what it is. we have no better options at this point. but, i do believe we can win a series, and if we get lucky two.
No cherrypicking involved. You just have to be intelligent or willing enough to follow a series of posts on a message board and I assume by now in your case the problem is the latter. Recap: When a Rafer fan wants to know where "Rafer haters" are after a great game, I say probably the same place his fans have been the past couple of weeks. You say just because his assists are down -- I say no, his shooting has been way down. You don't like this as apparently being accountable only works one way. You've tried several bizarre ways to counter my statement that his shooting is way down on average the previous 7 games -- including mixing in the most recent game/previous 13 games or treating it as a broad player assasination of Rafer that isn't there -- and yet here we are. I'm sure Rafer will have a very good game soon as he's had plenty this season, and you'll somehow think that's your counter -- but unless Rafer hits 88mph in a custom Delorean, nothing I posted was incorrect or out of line. Simply put: You haven't gone anywhere with this to date and once again have yet to refute any stat I posted. You couldn't accept my simple analysis at face value (and made this much, much bigger than it was) because, like I suspected, it was personal for you. You more than proved my point.
He plays very well but sometimes he takes some stupid shots! Last game he played like he should, he drove to the basket and made his jumpers, thats how he should play every game.... Sometimes he thinks he can make those difficult shots because he had a good night before and then he misses and misses... Tmac does that a lot of times he takes jumpers which are very hard to hit, instead of drivin to the basket, create some contact or just make the shot, that would be easier....but if he is ON he is ON and then ich makes those shots. Skip is Skip!
I am not 'willing enough' Clutch? You missed a critical sentence: Is it possible that you consider me reading more into your post... i.e. what you've always rapped rafer on... 'personal'? I consider 'personal' to mean I have an issue with you, your personality. Why would I? I have no issues with you 'personally'. But if you define 'personal' as me identifying you with your previously stated opinion, then I guess you would have to consider this 'personal'. So you are correct, I could not accept your comment at face value. Why? Because it was consistent with what you have previously posted on Rafer and why you thought/think he suck(s)/(ed). So that's where the disconnect is; on how we are defining the topic. You're claiming that it only has to do with Rafer's performance in 6 of 7 games... nothing more? I see it as a continuation of attacks on Rafer based solely on his shooting. Unless you've changed your opinion of Rafer this year and this was a rare and solitary post by you concerning Rafer's poor shooting ... then this topic is Rafer's overall performance. In summary, I understand that your basis for attacking Rafer's abilities has been his shooting. That's what you repeated again here. My response is that to pick a few games from the toughest stretch of the season, looking only at his shooting, and then remove his best game (ever), to continue the general attack on him, is unfair. You have to look at his performance, in every aspect, this season. And throwing out that I either lack the intelligence or willingness to follow is borderline 'personal'.
i dont think he is under the average...some teams have their strenght in the PG position but houston does not need that because we have yao and tmac but yao is down... rafer can make baskets down the stretch and pick his game up a bit..you look at those pgs...denver....lakers...portland....kings but then look at those others they are all star PGS
CrystalPistol, History shows superstars can win without a allstar PG. But until our superstars get us to the finals, many fans are going to blame the role players, while others point to the superstars. I'll tell you one thing; if we never make it to the Finals, history is going to remember Yao and Tmac's legacy of failing, while Alston an obscure footnote, as Avery Johnson was for David Robinson (until Duncan saved Robinson's legacy).
First off I am not a Rafer fan. I only state facts and try to disproof misconceptions. If you would take time to read my post then you would see where I totally agree with everyone that we need an upgrade at PG. I have never once said that Rafer was the answer at starting PG because he is not. The only beef I have with everyone is that a lot of people have been bashing Rafer lately when he is just a role player. Like I said before Rafer has for the last 2 months tried to bring his A GAME and that's more than I can say for some other players we have on this team that I choose not to name (McGrady). I'm not a Rafer fan and I'm not a McGrady hater. I just think people on this BBS just have their priorities really screwed up. How can you bad mouth Rafer without first throwing stones at McGrady? I mean come on now. Dakota who is one of the oldest members on this BBS totally disagrees with me and that is fine. Other members disagree with me as well that is fine too. But I will give my full opinion on a subject and try to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. I don't have any problem with someone saying that Rafer is not that great and we need another option. If that is how you feel then great. But at least grow a pair and be a man. As a man you stand your ground on how you feel. All the Rafer haters we have here and when he carries our team nobody has anything bad to say? That sounds mighty odd to me. I don't care if Tracy scores 100 points next game I am still going to feel the same way about Tracy. I think Tracy is an amazing talent but he is super lazy and lacks a lot of heart. That's my opinion about Tracy and nobody else’s. Is my opinion about Tracy set in stone? No. But nobody can change my opinion about Tracy except Tracy. When he goes out and shows me he has some heart then I will think differently of him. Stick to your guns if that is how you feel about Rafer. If one game makes you feel better about Rafer or any player then guess what? Your feelings were never 100% valid. Even when we were well into our 22 game win streak I continued to make comments about Tracy. It just really sucks when you have bandwagon fans that hate you when you are losing and love you when are winning. And to me that is all it is. BANDWAGON FANS.
Being streaky or erratic can cut both ways. The Rockets have several players that are especially erratic and unpredictable, especially with regard to their shooting accuracy. Rafer is one of them, but so is TMac. The "streak" proved that this can make the Rockets dangerous, but last year's playoffs proved that it can also make a team vulnerable. I wish we had a starting caliber talent that shoots upper 40's. Wait, we do, but Yao isn't playing.
Yea the west teams have really good point guards, but how many can you say are good defensive pg's. Chris Paul is the best defensively, Rafer most likely second in the west.
Rafer reminds me of John Starks of the Knicks. As John Starks went so did the Knicks. Sometimes Starks could be really good and other times he was just atroucious. For that reason, I don't think the Knicks could ever make it through the playoffs unscathed to win a championship. Too bad for Ewing too.
lol... Wow, did you just compare Rafer to John Starks...lol... I think its safe to say he is one of the best defensive PG's in the league though (probably the only thing he's one of the best at). I think we're just in a good period for PG's though, there are alot of them that are all-star caliber. He isn't so why does it matter.
tyrone lue & derek fisher can make baskets doen the stretch as well.... but that doesnt put them above or below rafer. all three of them are below average starting pg's... im not saying that they are horrible, but they should be in the east or something. finding a good, suitable pg is hard. and i won't ever get upset cause of our pg situation. but, it certainly is not a 'good situation, or an optimal situation'.
that's the exact reason why a scoring PG is more important. You have to take the advantage that most PGs dont play defense. On defense, no one can do anything to stop Paul, Williams, Nash, Parker, Kidd, Davis, ...........
