I remember Deron absolutely blowing past Rafer and throwing it down 2 times late in one of the playoff games last season. It was as if Rafer wasn't even there. Brooks wouldn't have done any better but perimeter defense is highly overrated with the rule changes (no hand-checking). The ideal situation would be to strengthen our interior defense and make Brooks the starter or find a better PG than both Rafer and Brooks. Yao's size is a plus but his lack of mobility allows most perimeter players to just go right around him or even over him in some cases (he can't get up in time to contest the shot). Scola and Landry are also horrible defensively. Chuck is our best frontcourt defender but his offensive ineptitude and lack of height ultimately keep him off the court. Jefferson shot 2 or 3 hooks in a row over Chuck last night as if Chuck wasn't even there.
If hitting wide open shots is the reason why Brooks should start, then why wasn't Novak starting last year? This is called selective memory. Rafer has done as good as you can ask for against D-Will in our 2 playoff series against them. Especially in the 2006-07 series when he was healthy. Look at Deron's numbers against us that year and then compare it to how he played against the Warriors and Spurs in the next 2 playoff series.
Yep, and last time I checked, the offense is supposed to revolve around Yao. It's just silly that people want Rafer to come off the bench with the 2nd unit, which doesn't include Yao! You're taking away one of Yao's best post-entry passers. Bad, BAD idea.
Rafer as a best post entry passer? What? Tmac and Battier are the main post entry passers, rarely does Rafer make that pass, about as often as Brooks does. Rafer does make that pass, but so does Brooks. I do agree about your 2nd unit, it would get a lot worse because of Rafer's bad shooting. Oh come on, let's try to keep this a realistic argument....Novak was out of position on D all the time...apples to apples please. DD
Thr offense is about the offense. Its not about who gets the ball to who. Its about scoring the most points and making people guard you. I said at the end of last yr Brooks should be the starter. Now everyone is seeing what I saw last season. Rafer is a bench player on a good team. If rafer is playing more than 20mins, your team isn't going to win a title. A guy of brooks skillset fit best because he can attack the creases and force guys to guard him 30 ft from the basket. Now if people want to be stubborn and believe this myth about rafer running the offense, then go ahead. I know people are more hesitant to leave brooks than rafer. They also close out slower because Brooks has exceptional, not good, exceptional speed and quickness.
How can people not see this is beyond me, I have been with ya, the entire time my brother. The defense has to honor him....from 30 feet in....they leave Rafer all alone. Because the D has to honor Brooks Yao gets more room to operate as does TMac, Battier, Artest...anyone. DD
Rafer is a far better post entry passer than Brooks. It's not even close. Brooks is barely a better post passer than Head. He still delivers the ball to Yao via bounce passes. Rafer has made that pass a ton of times, not just T-Mac and Battier.
What does that matter? A bounce pass is quite an effective pass, the same as any other. I am confused, why do you think the Bounce pass is less than an over the top one? DD
I can't believe this. The radio and TV guys are all over this every time it happens. So many times since Yao was here, we've turned the ball over because of bounce passing the ball to him. It's a major pet peeve. Because of the bounce pass, Yao catches the ball low, so anyone can swipe at it. You want him catching it high near his head. How do you not know this? This is Post Entry Passing to Yao 101.
I was waiting for you to make that mistake in judgement. A good solid bounce pass can be delivered high, low, or in the middle, it depends on where you bounce the ball. Brooks bounces it very well to where Yao is getting it in rythmn at a level just above his hips, and he actually catches that one better than the over the top one, you know why? Because the defender can not get around him at that level to tip the ball, whereas the over the head pass has a tendency if not delivered PERFECTLY to be tipped away. Yao rarely has the bounce pass stolen, but tons of people go around him and steal the over the top entry pass. Brooks is the only one who bounces it, but please take the time to look at what is happening and not listening to guys on the radio talk shows who have very little experience actually playing the game or understanding a lot of the nuanes. Brooks is a very effective post entry passer, especially on the bounce, and that pass works very well either as a scoring opportunity for Yao, or as a set up for the pass out to a wide open shooter. There is a reason the coaches and players aren't complaining about it, but the TV and radio guys are, which ones do you think actually know the game? DD
As far a passing into the post, it is probably more effective for Brooks to use a bounce pass because of Brooks' height. I don't find him to be ineffective in getting to Yao; rather the contrary. Isn't the old adage for the entry pass "fake high, pass low" and "fake low, pass high?" I believe the pass low part is the bounce pass, no?? The best post passers on the team are TMac and Battier. Rafer is okay, but not great. Brooks is about the same as Rafer.
Averaging 110 ppg with Brooks makes me happy. In my opinion we should keep him starting until it actually ends up hurting us. Speculation is all well and good, but I have yet to see the team play as consistantly well as it does under Brooks.
Brooks has been playing consistently. Although his numbers are above the team's expectations, his experience is limitted. He is great spark of the bench. I don't think the personnel would target him as a starter, although the odds are slowly imrpoving.
As long as it's not hurting the team the more experience Brooks gets as a starter now will help the team later on.
