Rafer isn't that bad ?

We were hurting without Rafer in the first two games. I think if we had had him from the start, we would have had a better chance of advancing further. We needed him. When B-Jax is all we have to rely on as our PG, it doesn't usually go very well. When we have Rafer THEN B-Jax, at least we have him as an alternative. It's true that Rafer has a tendency to go really hot and then really cold from game to game, but if he hadn't have had that hammy injury, I think he would have been a lot more on point.

 

Damn Rafer Hater.

Whoever said "Rafer is not that bad" needs to be slapped. That is a huge understatement.

Rafer is the perfect PG for this team. He runs our offense so well, and has significantly imroved in Adelman's offense.

You're just a hater. What this team needs is a wing who can slash/score.

 

Rafer knocked down the open 3 last season, and especially in the playoffs.

He even knocked down some crucial, highly contested ones, as well as his tear drop.

Rafer hater.

 

Fact is that we suck when we play without him, he is the team's vocal leader and he tells people where to go and what to do.
Bad thing about Rafer is his inconsistent shooting, but we all know that when he is knocking down shots we have usually win the game. If Rafer could turn into a 45% FG shooter we would be in the finals immediatly.

 

Rafer isn't that bad. We just don't need him shooting 14 times a game.

 

The Chris Pauls and Deron Williams of the world don't fall out of the sky.

Jose Calderon would be so difficult and far fetched to get, that it's more wishful thinking at this point.

Good PGs are at a premium and most of them are getting paid MLE or more, unless you want Booby Gibson.

Rafer is flawed for our system but he's slowly improving. He's finishing around the basket better and not having horrendous 1 for 10 from the 3 line as much. He still has bad shooting nights but not where I can say it was the SOLE reason we lost that game anymore, or not as much at least. He also is our best ballhandler and gets us in our offense the best, also a low TO guy and a good defender.

Getting a better PG at this point is a bit more of a reach then say getting that 3rd scorer. We should concentrate on getting Mike Miller first.

btw, this thread goes in the No Schitt Sherlock category, but like any problems you need to come up with a concrete feasible solution if you're going to point out the problem. WE KNOW RAFER HAS SHORTCOMINGS, tell us something we don't know, like you're grand masterplan of fixing the issue, for which I got a hunch that I will either rolleyes or snicker at.

 

unfortunately our opponents forces our team to let him shoot.

 

And again, the difference between you and I is I see Alston and Battier as Siamese Twins. Rafer is slightly better (than Battier) in transition O and Battier is basically a half-court plant myself at the short corner player that detracts from ANY offense but one specifically run by Alston.

So therein lies the dilemma for YOU. If you exclude Yao, McGrady, Scola, AND Battier from trades, there is no way I can foresee TO SUBSTANTIALLY upgrade the PG spot.

They are stuck as long as they hold on to BOTH Battier and Scola.

 

so are you saying the celtics aren't a championship contender? if so, then you've just lost all credibility as someone who can rationally assess the quality of a team. if not, then your entire argument falls to pieces.

that said, i'd love to upgrade the point. nobody is satisfied with what we've got. but every team has someone that gets dared to shoot, not just the celtics and not just the rockets. nobody pays much attention to shane battier out there either, why aren't you complaining about him?

 

Um...

Like others have said, I would really like a "solution" to Rafer if you're gonna b**** about him at this point instead of reaching for straws. Anybody can tell Rafer is not the greatest shooter.

However, he does command more respect then Rando...35% 3 point shooting is nothing to sneeze at.

 

Rafer is not bad, you can't say that guy who averages 13/5 per game is bad...

What I hate about Rafer is that he is not always a real playmaker, he sometimes takes too many 3s and jumpshoots. Sometimes he plays like he doesn't care.

He is getting open looks with T-Mac, Yao but one night he can go 8/11, the other one he can be 3/6 but you are not suprised if you see something like 3/12, etc...

But I still think we need to upgrate at pg position. we need better shooter, more consistant who can attack the rim and what's important - who can be a real playmaker.

 

I'll say it again. Rafer is a top ten PG in the league and the best defensive PG.

We just have a bunch of haters here because he isn't putting up Chris Paul and Deron Williams numbers. He's perfect for this team. Look at the other superstar swingmen in the game; Kobe, Wade, Lebron, Pierce. Who are their PG's!? Fisher, J-Will, West, Rondo. I would take Rafer over any of them anyday.

Next year he's gonna be a whole lot better with Scola emerging as a reliable scorer and hopefully the addition of a wing player who can get buckets.

Many people mention Calderon. But what does he do so great. They both can hit the open shot, neither guy turns the ball over, but Rafer is 50yrs ahead of him defensively. Calderon was torched by Jameer Nelson and Keyon Dooling. Rafer in the games he played was matching numbers with Deron Williams.

I don't know what upgrade there is possible for Rafer outside an All-Star PG. And as far as I'm concerned he's the best of the non All-Stars.

Rafer isn't that bad..... NO!!!!!

Rafer is that great!!!!!!

 

so I think the general consensus is...


Rafer isn't that bad

 

I honestly now believe Rafer could be part of a championship team, but I could be delusional.

1. He needs to take 10 or fewer shots per game.
2. Rox have more of a scorer at the 3.
3. Have T-Macs offensive efficiency increase by further embracing Adelman's system.
4. Have high efficiency bench players (e.g. not Jackson, though I like the guy's grit and lack of turnovers... he just doesn't shoot well anymore).

Those are all longshots, but if true, Rafer is good enough running an offense, and D-ing up, and being firey, that he could be part of a championship team.

Think of all the past champions that had non-scoring point guards. Start with Cousy and think of the BJ Armstrongs of the world. (No I am not comparing Rafer to Cousy directly!)

{EDIT PS} I just looked up a bunch of FG% for people like Mo Cheeks, Norm Nixon, etc, etc, and cannot find a championship PG with FG% consistently under 45%. Not to deflate my own argument... but what I've posted here may be more of a longshot than I'd like to admit...