I actually remember Houston beating the Jazz in Utah game 3 of the first round last post-season. Let's see... who was missing those first two games? Rafer made a big contribution to help a Yao-less team beat a team who only lost 3 games at home (by a team other than the Rockets) during the regular season. In other words, he can deliver in the playoffs. If you ask me, that's all I care about. In the playoffs he hit 44% of his threes, 80% of his free throws, had a assist/turnover ratio of 3.0, and averaged over 14 points in a little over 30 minutes of play. What more do you want? I could care less if he beats Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point record in the pre-season this October, according to what your signature is insinuating.
Once again, if he's knocking down big shots and has low turnovers in the playoffs, I could care less if he's consistently inconsistent during the regular season. Here's Rafer's average stats during the 22 game winning streak by the way: MIN 36.0 FG% .354 3PT% .396 FT% .697 OREB 0.5 DREB 3.8 TOT 4.3 APG 6.6 SPG 1.5 BPG 0.5 TO 2.0 FOULS 2.0 PPG 15.7 The only red flags I see are that his FG% is lower than his 3PT% and his FT% is quite low. If he's consistently inconsistent, that's a helluva lot better than being plain inconsistent. Sure he had some bad games in that streak, but he's only human. Secondly, his play seems to be a reflection of how his team plays. So stop hating.
That first red flag you spotted is one big a$$ red flag. If that was his FG% during the 22-gamer then it is pretty obvious to me that we won that many games in a row despite Rafer Alston.
Actually... I'm about to put a paper bag on my head and pretend I don't exist, but that wasn't actually his FG% during the streak was .425 I should have double checked before posting. Thanks BrooksBall.
Unsure how you can knock on Rafer after he shouldered the second biggest load behind T-Mac after Yao went down. Remember the game against the Lakers? It wasn't T-Mac who beat them, it was Rafer. He set the tone that game. His floaters are starting to drop, he's playing with a lot of confidence, and I no longer cringe when he launches a three. I fail to understand how this guy still doesn't get the respect of some people.
You say they are starting to drop yet he finished last season shooting sub-40% from the field once again. Yea, he was draining 3s when we played the Lakers during the streak. I remember that game well but every dog has his day. The fact is though that Rafer remains an inefficient overall shooter and that isn't likely to change. Sure, those are 3 of the best PGs in the league but you'll be hard-pressed to find more than a couple players who are less efficient shooters than Rafer. You see that little red sliver on the right side of Rafer's shot chart? That was his only hot zone... and he took 10 shots total from that spot.
I love how you compared him to peeps who make almost 3x the amount he does. Steve Nash 13,125,000 Chris Paul 13,758,000 Deron Williams I think he is the only one who hasnt resigned yet? Devin Harris (3mil more then RAlston) PPG 14.8 RPG 2.70 APG 5.8 EFF + 15.66 Rafer Alston PPG 14.3 RPG 1.50 APG 4.5 EFF + 12.75 Derek Fisher (makes the same) PPG 10.2 RPG 2.20 APG 2.5 EFF + 11.81 Delonte West (1mil less) PPG 10.8 RPG 3.30 APG 4.2 EFF + 11.92 You know you could make better arguments comparing him to other players in his pay rate that way you can say what he isn't providing that someone else is. Otherwise he is providing the same that these players are. You wouldn't compare Tmac to Caron Butler would you? No, ofcourse not so why would you compare the best PG (CP) to Rafer?? Thats just unreal. Of course Rafer is gonna look bad to him.
Lets post 3 point percentage and steals and To's as well for all those PG's listed. 3 Point % (Season/Playoffs) SPG (Season/Playoffs) TOPG (Season/Playoffs) Rafer .351/.440 1.3/1.0 2.16/1.50 Derek .406/.440 1.0/2.0 1.10/.95 Chris .369/.238 (um whoa?) 2.7/2.3 2.51/1.83 Delonte .367/.429 1.1/1.1 1.96/2.46 Deron .395/.500 1.1/.6 3.4/3.08 (damn) I really dont think Rafer is doing that bad, at least as bad as you make it. I also think now that he isnt going to be needed as a third or fourth scoring option he wont have to take pressured shots like last season when YnT (either or both) were out of the game therefore raising his shooting percentage. Just keep your TO's low, keep stealing and raise your assist this year.
joesr, I was specifically talking about overall shooting efficiency. I wasn't talking about his overall game or his value per $. You could compare the shot charts of every single player from every single team in the league to Rafer's and the point would remain the same: Rafer Alston is one of the most inefficient shooters in the NBA. Regardless, this is the wrong thread. If you want to debate it further, we can do it elsewhere.
Thanks joesr for the current/potential salary comparison of those players. I was going to point that out but you beat me to it. Some people forget that the six seasons before Rafer was a full-time starter in Houston he was only a full-time starter one of those six seasons. For a street-ball transition into the pros, I must say that's pretty damn impressive to get to where he is today, starting for a legitimate title contender. And once again, the 22-game streak stats I put up, the FG% was incorrect. It was actually .425, not .354. I was in such a hurry to make a rebuttal to that Rafer-Hater that I miscalculated the average. Oh, and check out this interview: "Rafer Alston: We’ve got two All-Stars and now we add a guy like Ron Artest who can be an All-Star any year in this league. So I think that not only as a point guard do you love that, but collectively as a team we should all feel excited about playing with one another. Jason Friedman: Does it change your role at all? Rafer Alston: I think it does. I think last year I had to take on more of a scoring role, especially when Yao went down..." So stop crying about his inefficient scoring ability! Now comment on my "Right Stuff" poster that I spent a good amount of time doing! While you're at it, put up photoshoped images of your own, since this is a photoshop thread after all.
Funny how you compare Rafer to the top 3 point guards in the game with that shot chart. Damnit Rafer, why can't you be more like Steve Nash and make half your shots? Sighhh
let's try something new for this thread...I give the cap...you make the photoshop...we can even call it a competition if need be... "WELCOME HOME THUNDER DOME!" aaand go....
