First of all, T-mac DOES have at least the average speed of SG. Hes an energy saver, thats why. But when you see him getting to the hoop and dunking, hes one of the quickest. Why would people call t-mac one of the best first step players if the players can easily catch up with him later? And yes, we do need a passing PG more. Alston is not a bad person, but alston just isn't passing enough. Any regular NBA team should have a PG who is able to dish out at least 8-9 assist per 4-5 games. I won't give up Brooks, and Im giving francis another shot. He still has the heart, and Im sure he wants another chance.
To me it was obvious tonight that Brooks needs to play a role on this club. I really think most of Brooks' problem is listening to all Alston's chatter during games and practices. When I watch him, he is trying to mimick Rafer's game of bringing it up, handing off to McGrady, then standing around at the 3 point line. Thank goodness when he did receive the ball he attacked with it tonight as opposed to just launching the jumper all the time. If that floater he threw off the glass that barely bounced off the rim goes down, he's 50% from the floor with 14 points on 10 shots. As it was, he was one of the most efficient players we had tonight with 12 points on 10 shots, 3 assists and no turnovers. One thing I know for sure is Luther is never going to be a point guard. Dude is throwing bounce passes along the sideline 35 feet from the basket trying to thread the needle in between 2 defenders???? He singlehandedly accounted for a third of our turnovers tonight. Luther and BJax are the same player except BJax has a slightly better handle (but still not good), and is a more effective passer (Head is terrible). Both of them are small shooting guards that are streaky. We really struggled in the first half with BJax in there until Brooks and Head came in and sped the game up. I attribute that mostly to Brooks. I think if Brooks and BJax had been in the lineup together, the results would have been the same or maybe even better with BJax feeding off Brooks. I am partially convinced that Brooks being around Rafer has gotten him discombobulated from his game. Rafer has been "teaching" him how to "run the team", which means dribble up, hand off, go stand on the 3 point line, and take the spot up J. That is just not Brooks' game. Brooks is a scorer/creator. He should have the ball in his hands and be given space to do something with it. It was silly how easily he broke down the defense when he did have the ball tonight. I hope Adelman seen the light tonight and sees the need to have Brooks ready to go in the playoffs. Head should be the guy on the outside of the rotation, not Brooks. I'd much rather see the ball in Brooks' hands for the shot or play than Head. At this stage of his career, Brooks is already a more efficient offensive player than either Head or BJax, and there is no doubt in my mind that he is more efficient than Rafer. Head can shoot it fairly well, but his turnovers and poor decision making along with his inability to gaurd anybody out there just makes him less efficient. BJax is going over the hill. He's smarter than Head and uses his smarts defensively. Brooks, as poorly as he has shot this season, is stil maintaining his scoring efficiency on par with those two. It's because he's quicker and will get to the foul line a whole lot more because of the pressure he can put on a defense. We need that, especially come playoff time. Sure hope Rick sees it and gives the guy increased minutes in this last stretch to have him ready to go in the playoffs.
I really like how T-Mac stood up tonight and knew he just had to get more shots up when Scola went in foul trouble that was smart because without Scola then the players on the court are really playing 3 on 5 and this is what makes Mac a gifted player being able to shoot accordingly when its time to.
combinations that have produced the most of whats left on the roster this season. Yao Scola Battier McGrady Alston Yao Landry Battier McGrady Alston Scola Landry Battier McGrady Alston Scola Battier McGrady Jackson Alston Mutombo Hayes Battier McGrady Brooks Mutombo Scola Battier McGrady Brooks This is like 6 different playbooks. Some simple than others some more complicated.
I was thinking the same thing over a month ago when Brooks was struggling. It just seemed Rafer had his ear and was misguiding him. Of course I have no evidence to support it. But my gut feels Rafer was stunting his growth.
but you know,we only need a PG who is good at passing the ball first such as Kidd and Nash rather than a PG like Chris Paul or miller who scores first!
We need a PG that is a triple threat.....can score when needed, pass and set up teamates for easy baskets, and can handle the rock. Steve Blake would make a nice addition to the starting lineup.....his D is worse than Rafer's but he is a better passer and shooter.....and he probably comes cheaply and can be acquired too. DD
Really?? I don't see it, Brooks seems to be able to do everything he can do. He is much faster too. I'd rather wait for AB to take over the starting role than trade for a guy like Blake. If we're gonna bring in someone new why not have them be an upgrade instead of a lateral move swapping defense for offense.
I am ok with Brooks too, it was nice to see him play last night, I kinda wish Adelman would have kept playing him all along. He brings a much needed dimension to the team...actually the dimension that this thread was created for... DD
Yep, Judging by your sig i would say your satisfied... I've said Brooks isn't really that passing PG that everyone wants him to be, but who is on our team? If we're gonna have a small SG out there with Tracy why not have it be the fastest one, the one with the best passing ability, and the only one who can penetrate effectively. Alot of times we'll need a steady hand like Rafer, sometimes we need the deep ball that Bobby brings, but with our sputtering offense alot of times we just need a guy who can get in the middle and disrupt the defense. Penetration, it really helped out this game. You win DD.
It helps every game......a guy that can drive and dish when Tmac gets doubled at the top of the key..... It opens up so much......so much..... I know Rafer does a solid job of playing it safe, I just think you need a player that is a bit more willing to take on the risk... As for me winning...meh...who cares, just get the Rockets to win...... DD
"Playing it safe"........a very apt description for what Rafer does. And I think it comes down to he plays it safe because that's all he can do. If he does anything else, his shooting percentages fall down so low and his turnovers go up so high that it makes him not viable. I'm not down on Rafer really. I am glad he improved his shooting as much as he has this year and I am glad he has been a steady hand for this team. He's been a good point guard on a good team and has helped make this a good team, very good team. But........especially with Yao out, we gotta get more from somewhere and the logical position that we should get more from is the point guard position.
Rafer has NOT improved his shooting this year, he had a good stretch, but he is right back around his career Rocket averages again....... DD
Agreed, but he did have a nice stretch of games there that made us wonder if he could bridge the gap. I'm convinced he can't.
Ditto. Glad to see AB get in last night, having fresh legs is important at this time of year.....and it forces the veterans to move it up a notch too. DD
Then you and everyone here would be complaining about how his "D" stinks and is costing them games so that's not a solution either. You really need to face the fact that there is no magical or easy way out of this situation. The PG position has been a weakness ever since they traded SF3. Bashing Rafer for his limitations is not the answer no matter how good that makes you feel. I must say: How quickly you all choose to forget - would you rather have Moochie Norris back? The hard truth is that there are no easy answers to this and what you arre seeing is the end result of 7 years of poor to lousy player acquisition by this organization. They knew what they faced in this conference in terms of PGs but while SA was finding Parker, NO was finding Paul, PHX was grabbing Nash, the Rockets were content to basically run through a variety of warm bodies at the point. Well, now here they are ready to take that proverbial "next step" in the elite category but they find themselves lacking an elite PG. Unless Morey can (somehow) find another Steve Nash sitting on someone's bench, this a weakness that they will need to address after this season. And they will need an awful lot of luck doing so. I really like Brooks but I also feel that given his history (college career) and physical limitations, he is not the answer at PG unless he somehow develops into another CP3 - a prospect which I consider to be most unlikely. I said at the beginning of this season when nearly everyone wanted Rafer gone that they will need a PG that did the things he could do only better and as the season has progressed, this need has become more and more pronounced.
Sadly I agree with you. Do you think SF3 can come back from his surgery to a decent level? Will he be dilligent in his rehab and come back ready to prove he still has it? That would be a MASSIVE help at the PG position.....and an unexpected welcome. DD
I have noticed something about lastnight's game in Portland. Team average after Yao Ming went out. 102ppg 88against Lastnight 95ppg 86against T-Mac's #'s after Yao went out. 29ppg (no Yao) 22ppg (season) Lastnight (35ppg should have gotten 42) The difference of the overall team production is the difference of what T-Mac's #'s are for the season & when Yao does not play. Also the difference of the 7 freethrows he should have gotten. Im starting to wonder if the league scripts the season accordingly to as to what the league wants the viewers to hear and believe and see once the playoffs role around. Is this why Adelman protested or if he did? Right now we are locked in with the Lakers for the 1st round and i bet you this is what the league wants the viewers to see to help all the non sence they have said about Houston before and to make these experts look better on television when this time rolls around. This is just the flat out truth. But the averages do indicate this
*Miller doesn't want to re-sign with them. As a 32/33yo vet in his last few years they do him a favour and let him go in a S&T. *Philly decide to take the plunge and give Louis Williams the reigns at PG. *Alston+Jackson+Brooks Rafer is cheaper and a very good starting calibre PG from a good WC team just not elite in Alston, more than good enough to backup Williams. Brooks's potential could make him attractive as trade bait. Jackson is a decent sized expiring.
