Rafer the past 6 games: Shooting a blistering 48% for 3, with a 5:1 A:TO ratio

Rafer is stepping up his game, hopefully it lasts all season.

 

We're lucky Rafer brought his 3 point shot with him last night..That was the biggest difference in the game IMO.

That being said, what is the deal with our team shooting better from beyond the arc than inside of it. I know we get alot of open looks out there, but come on! Make your layups!

 

Rafer should never shoot inside the arc.

 

THis is the most we can expect from Rafer... and quite frankly... it's enough to help us get the wins. For all the critics on Rafer, ironically, in this fan's humble opinion...

RAFER has been the BEST complementary PG to Yao since Yao came into this league

No disrespect to SF3 or Bobby Sura... but if you think about it.

Yao = higher than avg. turnovers
Rafer = lower than avg. turnovers

Yao = needs a pass first, shoot second PG
Rafer = is just that

Yao = needs half court sets
Rafer = can set those sets well w/o turnovers

Credit JVG for seeing Rafer's fit with Yao and getting him over here after talking with his brother.

theSAGE

 

It is a long season, if he can keep up close to those numbers for another 5 games. Then I'm sold.

 

I hope he just stays playing at this level somewhat. That will be very good for the team.

 

Not sure what you guys are expecting rafer to play like because he isnt cp3 sorry to point out the obvious. If he can play consistent and run the offence like he does we have plenty of scoring options and hopefully artest comes to life sooner or later.

 

Rafer kept up those numbers for about ...hmmm... 22 games last season.

Rafer was out 2 games in the playoffs ...we lost.

Rafer came back. We won that game.

Rafer ain't perfect ...but finding an upgrade to him is easier said than done. Yea, it would be nice but so would winning the lottery.

Our biggest liability is TMac shooting 40ft shots with 18 seconds left on the clock with 4 minutes left in the 4th quarter in a tied game. Or Yao not playing aggresive and shooting fade away 10 footers in double coverage.

Rafer proved he can hit open 3's ...but that's about it.

Knowing that, it's up to TMac and Yao to be smart and punish teams on single coverage or draw double teams and kick out ...CONSISTENTLY.

Our role players are good enough.

Now we need TMac and Yao to play like superstars.

 

/thread

its nice when rafer is feeling it, but then you have to take the games when he's blowing layups, so it would be nice if he just played within these limits consistently

 

Without Rafer we lost last night, thats for sure.

I knew he couldn't play that bad all season.

Now if Ron could just stop making our offense die, I'd be happy.

 

Unfortunately, this is happening during the regular season and consistency isn't in his basketball vocabulary. Let's see how long he can keep this up. Would love to see these type of numbers in the playoffs, but I think I will put down Reefer's crackpipe now.

 

Rafer can keep this up.

 

i have 2 problems with rafter.. 1. his pullup jumper in transition... he can't hit it ever and it just wastes a possession. 2. his "teardrop"... i cringe every time he tries that shot since it has like 10% chance of going it

 

If we are counting on Rafer hitting 5 threes every night, we are screwed.

 

No doubt. Those shots will be the death of me. Why he does it I just don't know. In fact, Rafer should only drive the lane looking to move the ball. When he goes in to finish, it almost never turns out good.

The one on five pull up J is the absolute worst though. Plenty of time on the shot clock, wait for your team and just run your offense, why force up a shot that you know isnt going in especially when you have no rebounders underneath. Why does he do this?

 

Can you provide Rafer stats when we win and lose including the playoffs. I really think Rafer is the key to our winning. He shoots well with a great assist to turnover ratio we're winning more than 65% of the games.

 

That's all well and good, however, what happens when the point guards of the better teams like the Celtics and Lakers PG's stop holding Rafer and doubling everyone else forcing them into difficult shots or passing out to Rafer for a brick or crooked floater.

 

Dunno for sure, but im pretty confident that you are right about this. When he shoots well it gives us points in a way that the opposition wasnt prepared for.

Thats why I think adding Artest was so huge. He gives us another guy that can score in bunches if the team needs it. He provides basically everything we wanted Bonzi to be and WAY more in terms of his defense, his jump shot, and his hustle and intensity.

 

Rafer played like this pretty much for our entire 22 game win streak and our stretch run. Without Rafer's improved play last season, we would not have won 22 straight games. Rafer is inconsistent though, which is why the haters love to sling at him when he has a terrible "Rafer" game, when he has a good game, haters still hate because they say it was a "fluke". We all know Rafer will be hot/cold throughout the year, he is what he is, just like Yao.

 

finally...a almost positive rafer thread. i had given up on that one a long time ago...


now, what you also have to consider is this: with yao, t-mac and artest making roughly 45 mio $ per season rafer has the 3rd lowest salary among starting point guards not on a rookie contract.

we're still desperate for a good backup point guard, though. because when rafer's cold (happens every other night) brooks is not always the best option matchup-wise. i'd like to have another option when rafer can't hit a shot and brooks will get abused on defense. if only stevie could be that option...