Posted this nerdy stat trend several times already. If its about WINNING the championship not just getting there, DONT start 1st or 2nd year players. In the past 25 years, teams with a rookie or 2nd year starter have only won the title 2 times. Let the veteran start, keep Brooks on the bench. I'm thinking its mostly coincidence, since Rajon Rondo last year was 1 of the 2 examples, but a 90% coincidence is enough for me to stick with the current convential approach.
Rafer's flaws are that he cannot hit a shot and he cant drive to the basket, AB can do those things. And honestly, Rafer has been at his best in his career coming off the bench, like when he did it for Miami. I still think Skip is the weak link in the starting rotation. What he does has not worked for 4 years, maybe its time to try something new
I love the knee jerk reactions on here. One game and we need to completely shake up the rotation? Rafer has been as consistent as anyone over the last 10 games and unless you're a scoring is all that matters type of logic fan then you would see Rafer is the best starter. Rafer as starter: - Better at running the offense - When hes in a grove with his shot I actually think hes the better spot up shooter(there will be more looks when with the other starters) - Better playmaker, passer and ball handler - Hes better at playing the big point guards like Baron and Deron. Now all the pro's for Brooks I think add to the fact he comes off the bench. -He's better at creating his own shot but theres another starter who is going to be doing a lot more of that than Brooks. - His explosive speed. This is better used with the reserves as he will actually have others that will run with him. I think by moving Brooks to a starter all you do is add a little more scoring power but lose the boost off the bench(As rafer would be nowhere near as good as Brooks as an impact player). The one thing that may change my opinion on this is if Artest is going to be used off the bench all the time. Besides some poor judged shots at times Rafer is a lot better for this team than some of the posters here make him out to be. Lets face it he takes a lot less poor shots that T-Mac and Artest.
I think tmac is our best PG, as Rafer Alston as backup, while AB be our shooting guard, Ron Artest lead the bench, so our starter lineup is: PG: T-mac SG: AB SF: Battier PF: Scola C: Yao
Someone posted the same ealier, and it makes sense. Obviously we'll get to see this starting line-up over the next whatever games, and will be interesting to see what happens when Rafer comes back. Maybe if the team gets a roll on Rick will stay with it, otherwise I can see Rafer coming back to the starting 5 when he returns. Have to figure the change would have been made earlier otherwise.
i agree with playing Rafer as starter, but replace with AB as soon as Rafer sucks, no need to wait till end of 1st/ 3rd quarter.
Brooks has only started two games in his entire career. So are you a time traveler who's come back to tell us what we have to look forward to if he continues to start?
No need to rush Brooks into the starting lineup. Let him get his minutes and become more consistant. Brooks will be the starter within 2 years.
I believe this was the starting lineup this morning (err evening for you guys I guess); RA just labeled Ab as the pg to avoid controversy, but we all know who was the real pg and sg. I believe the results were good enough to warrant another try the next game If our Big 3 winds up with a monster game and the rox win again the next few games, then AB0 starts, healthy rafer or not.
In Adelman's eye, Rafer is the best PG, almost can surely make a conclusion Alston will be starter again when he back. Only if, we get chemistry during the period Rafer is out, and Rick wont break that chemistry. Yeah, I had ever thought about let Head start when vs Hornets, but the real PG was tmac, head only need to do is dribbling the ball to front court then give the damn ball to tmac, may shot if have chance, we know there are to many great PG in the west.
this season? no, I think AB is still too "rookie-ish", however he has showed us what's capable of and why he is one of fan's favorites. In a year or two he will surpass alston. due to his height, he needs to find his ways of passing and dashing out and not just a fast scorer. Tony parker was a great scorer, but his value is always with his passing to TD.
You really want Rafer coming off the bench? Brooks is the perfect spark coming off the bench. The 5 best players on the team shouldn't necessarily be the starters. You have to take into account your bench. You don't want everything to fall apart when you start making substitutions. The starters and the bench should be balanced.
Aaron brooks puts pressure on the defense. You saw it tonight. Rafer does not have the ability to attack the rim like that. Rafer should come off the bench, and when the rookie struggles, then you give more minutes to Rafer. Rafer is the weakest link. The reason AB outdid Chauncy was shear speed, and just like Yao having size, you cant teach speed. Some will say Rafer has speed, but only in a straight line. Side to side, in and out, break a guy down speed is a huge asset, anyone who played ball will know this.
Rafer should start but give more PG minutes to Aaron... he can be our seventh man off the bench since Artest is the sixth man. TMac can run the offense while he is not yet 100%. Chris: I'm a birdman!!! WTF Aaron?
