well hopefully it looks like brooks is gonna be our backup pg or startin if rafer didnt improve his midrange game. brooks balled vs the mavs tonight
He played well but the soft Dallas defense made him look like a star. Unfortunately it won't be this easy once other teams recognize him.
The problem is that Rafer is our other option and he brings almost nothing to the table. - He has low TOs but that's because he never puts any pressure on the defense. All he does is dribble up the court and hand the ball off to another player 9 out of 10 times. He often gives it to another player before he even gets to half court. - He can't shoot. No need to defend that point. - He never gets to the FT line. - He never penetrates and breaks down defenses. He just pretends to do it but it never fools defenses because he so rarely follows through. Apparently, he is afraid of contact. - I'll give him that he is a good floor general. He understands what we are trying to do on both ends of the court. - His defense is overrated. If you watch closely, almost any time the opposing PG wants to take him one-on-one, he gets his way. Rafer plays decent team defense and has quick hands but overall he's an average, at best, defensive PG.
Rafer has his qualities. He is a superior defender to Brooks and knows how to run the team. He rarely makes mistakes. But it's clear that Aaron Brooks is the better option in the 4th with McGrady/Barry beside him. You just have to have as many guys on the court who can put pressure on the defense and Rafer doesn't do that.
Because he never takes any risks. Nash turns the ball over more but he penetrates, breaks down defenses and sets up other players. The best PGs are aggressive and take risks and are usually successful. Rafer is not aggressive and does not take risks. His low TOs is overrated, in my opinion, because of how little he does to create. I agree with everything else.