Yes, but if you move Alston the backup and get a real starter then both problems are solved. Pretty simple if you ask me. But not when the team keeps ignoring the problem.
Right now PG position isn't strong but until you bring someone in and they beat Rafer out in practice, then Rafer is the starting PG. I think I am of the rational that if it's not broke don't fix it and if you do bring in another PG you don't get rid of Rafer.
Right now I think the only reasonable and possible upgrade to Rafer is Kirk Hinrich. That is the only aquisition that I am in favor of the Rox doing. Any of the other guards on the list are either untouchable or not worthwhile due to contract/actual upgrade potential.
Man. Everyone bashes on rafer eventhough he did a great job last year. we have more of a need for a back up 2/3 and 5 than we do for a new 1. he runs thies team really well. i know he has his problems sometimes but give me a break, you would rather get an upgrade there than solidify a good talented back up to T-Mac and Yao. PLEASE!!!! however wouldnt mind trying to get Ramon Sessions from the Bucks. all we need is a backup PG who distributes anywhere between 5-10 assists a game comming of the bench, not a replacement. Sessions # 2007-2008= 26MPG/.436FG%/.429 3pt%/.78FT%/3RBS/ 2TO/ 7.9 ASTS/ 8.1 PTS. now that would be a great backup. He is only 22 and his salary is a meagar 427K. Let me know what u think about that.
I trust AB. He will be a solid backup in the coming season and challenge Rafer's starting position in the 3rd season.
Rafer Alston: A Good and friendly Person, Starting Point Guard of the Houston Rockets Basketball Team Point Guard (PG), also known as the one or "the ball-handler", is one of the five traditional positions of a basketball team. Typically, being quicker and shorter than even a shooting guard, the more speed a point guard has, the more likely he/she will be able to create separation and space off the dribble, which allows the guard room to work. a true point guard's job is to create scoring opportunities for his team. He does this by passing, setting up plays on the court, getting knowledge of the game and skill. Rafer brings the ball down the court and mostly passes the ball to T Mac. T Mac then makes all the decissions. T Mac is a great passer but being a shooter himself he often forgets to make the playmaking part of his role and Rafer is most definitely not a playmaker. If the game is truly to be an inside/outside game we need to have a Point Guard who fits the definition. A great team must have a FLOOR GENERAL! Rafer seems to get his assists almost by accident, often he is forced into pasing because he just can't get his shot off and often the pass is to a person who is not open.
Just like with Chuck, we have seen avg so long, we're starting to accept it. Rafer is a 20min backup on a title team. He can get to the hoop, but can't finish. He has a good to ratio, but never hit cutters. 25 games a yr he'll shoot 40% from 3, while the other 60 he'll shoot low 30's. If the rox can't get williams or hinrich, I'd rather go with brooks. I can at least see the upside with his speed and quickness. He's also a pretty good shooter as long as he does have to just straddle the 3pt line. I'd rather just go that route.
looking at how rafer did last season and what an impact he made when he played in the playoffs he is a good enough pg for this team. You're not going to get someone better thru trade without being ripped off. Most these teams with great pgs got them thru the draft and let them develop. You don't want to pull a dallas and set your franchise back. If brooks proves this year that he won't develop to be our starting pg, THEN we can shake u the pg spot.
It looks like Spanoulis has a 37% 3 point career shooting number in European Cups and a 39% 3 point career shooting number in Greek leagues. But he couldn't find his 3 point shot in the NBA in his rookie season (17% from 3 point range) having inconsistent playing time much like Jose Calderon shot 16% from 3 point range in his NBA rookie year. So it's easy to say "get a point guard from Europe that shoots the 3 well" but good shooters in Europe like Spanoulis and Calderon REALLY struggled from 3 point range their rookie seasons in the NBA at 16% and 17%. It takes even good 3 point shooters at the point guard positions in Europe 2-3 seasons to adjust in the NBA with the outside shot it seems based on those two. So using Spanoulis and Calderon as the example - a 40% 3 point shooting point guard in Europe might shoot 15%-20% from 3 point range in his rookie year in the NBA. Since Morey is such a stats guy I am sure he's aware of such examples. It seems to be a bit easier for non-point guards to adjust.
well, the free agent market is pretty dry for a starting pgs, the ones available arent any better than rafer, all back up quality, ie: lue, livingston, cassell. so bottom line, rafer will be our next season starting pg again, like it or not.
This is it in a nutshell along with Yetti's comments. Rafer would be a great back up. In any case his shot count must go way down: it is insane that Rafer takes more shots per game than Yao and shoots below 40%. Compared to the starting PG's in the West, Rafer has to be rated as dead last. The Rockets are kidding themselves if they think they are going to be a contender with Rafer starting and TMac jacking up the most shots at below a 40% rate. Won't happen, can't happen, not in the West.
bingo....real simple people...... i will put it like this.....in simple terms so everyone can understand......... rafe has done well here...i personally dont want to trade him....he gets us in sets well........ but its this simple........we all saw it....when rafer is hittin open shots.......we win period......thats it...when he doesnt........we usually lose........ guys we have yao and tmac in our starting 5.............with scola, battier, and rafe roundin out our startin 5.... so double teams are automatic and somebodys defender must help on D or tmac and yao will score 40 a night............ with that being said they are gonna 80% of the time sag on rafe.......its law of average.........scola and battier are proven enough to make them pay if they help off them.....so they take there chances and sag off rafe and beg him to shoot this is the scouting report on the rocks.......and it will remain that way until we upgrade our point guard...period...... now imagine if we had a startin point who also hits at a consistent clip night in and night out............ who do they sag on then..............??????????...at that point scola battier and new point who shoots higher percentage are gonna have a feast and we will be running teams off the court.....its that simple bring in a mo williams....hinrich, or ben gorden and watch this offense soar..............we will almost be indefensible........ hinrich can shoot people.....i dont know why a bad season on a bad team makes him a bad player he had a new coach....new system......and a horrible team lat year....the kid can play mo williams also can play guys............. all can be had with some expiring and draft picks.........and we can keep rafe......which makes our second unit that much better we are a win now team guys.....so its kinda now or never...yao and tracy are to fragile to look 3 years down the line........
For people who say Kirk Hinrick is the answer right now... do anyone of you truly see Kirk having any success against Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Tony Parker and other point guards in the west? Who would do better seriously Rafer or Kirk in this situation?
If we got Hinrich it would have to be with the caveat that Rafer is our starting pt guard and that he would have to beat out Rafer for the job.
