Mike James was a game changer in the playoffs. Rafer? I hope he doesn't crack under pressure. This team needs emotional leaders who have grit, swagger and mean streaks much more than go-with-the-flow type of role players because neither T-Mac nor Yao is emotional or vocal leader. That's why personality wise we need the Bobby Sura, Mike James and Kirk Snyder type more than Rafer Alston or Shane Battier type. If V-Span can improve his ugly shot, he's a good future on this team.
I agree with Panda. Spanoulis definitely has the qualities to be the next Bob Sura on this team. But Snyder and Bonzi, I'm not that confident of them. They're fiery players, but I don't think they're the sort who sparks teammates into better play. I think their fiery play comes more from them being just one step removed from being a nutcase.
Enough for the Rockets to want him to be the starting point guard this year - probably because he is so good at taking care of the ball. He made Bob Sura look like Steve Francis. That is the ultimate trump card that the rest of you haters cannot and will not acknowledge; for all the fabrications and disinformation you spin about James, it's obvious who the people upstairs wanted - and that's for a reason: he's the perfect fit.
Nice read. but Rafer needs consistency rather than a breakout game. I also feel that Rafer does best when T-mac doesn't handle the ball too much.
Funny that some people in MIN already feel like James shouldn't be there next year. But wait, theres the trade kicker.
Considering the rest of their squad, I doubt it. Did you watch their game last night? He was the only guy who showed up out of all 12, certainly the only semblance of a perimeter threat. Anyway, who cares? There are many idiots on this board who thought the same. It doesn't make them not wrong. What's assumptive is that assuming that the role of the Rockets point guard is to dominate the ball and rack up assists like John Stockton. (or that Mike James, playing ~20 mpg in 2005, is going to do that). So, you can look up his assist numbers yourself - www.google.com - but the answer I gave you was entirely correct, which is why he was one of the most effective players on the court for the Rockets that year, was again last year, and has been through 4 games this year. All for a bargain basement price; That's why the Rockets wanted him to replace Alston.
Alston is ok, but I don't like the way he runs the offense....too much dribbling and IMHO, he is too cautious with the ball. Tmac and V-span are the guys I like to see creating the offense, though V-span could come down a bit and protect the ball a bit more. I want to attack on offense, and not just the edges as Rafer does, but attack all the gaps...... DD
Kim, At least you're respectful about our different views on the matter. I appreciate that. I'm as astute a Rockets observer as any--I tape games, watch them over and over and have followed the NBA closely the past 12 years or so. But that's ok. Agree to disagree. What I don't agree with about the latter part of your post was that all those guards are 6'2" and under, while Rafer is 6'3", closer to 6'4" (according to reports I've read). Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather have a PG with height and length. My whole thing is this: if Rafer can give us 37-39% on 3s, 8 assists per game, 1.8 TOs a game, and run a healthy offense, I'm all for it. Call me old fashioned, but I believe he'd be doing his job as PG of THIS team. "Run the offense, hit a healthy percentage of your shots (35-36% is around average, I would say), and dont turn the ball over and make stupid mistakes." Defensively, yes he has shortcomings, but I believe it's not from lack of effort. I've never seen Alston slack off or not play all out on the court. I think he's at the age where he can defend the younger PGs anymore, but it's my belief that he makes opposing PGs work on offense. He's also an able penetrator and does a great job with the drive-and-kick game.
Mike James calling off T-Mac at ends of games, Mike James hogging the ball, Mike James failing to run offense or get good post feeds to Yao, Mike James getting torn a new a-hole by the ancient Darrell Armstrong who raped him him that series, Mike James who could not hit a wide open 3 point shot if his life depended on it in that series................... Revisionist history is one of the biggest problems I see on this forum. Prior to Sura getting food poisoning and hurting his knee he was 10 times better in that series than Mike James was. Mike James is probably a BETTER basketball player, but Rafer Alston IS a BETTER point guard. This team doesn't need shooting guards pretending to be point guards (Steve Francis) nor does it need midget shooting guards (David Wesley). What this team DOES need is for its true point guard to shoot better from outside and for a guard off the bench to provide instant offense, tough defense, and to knock down shots. THAT is precisely why Rafer worked on his shot and why James was recruited, it's also why when James didn't sign that Spanoulis was then signed (with the understanding he would need to work on his shot) it's also whey Luther Head was drafted (because if he could ever develop PG skills he could possibly start or otherwise he could possibly have the James role off the bench) Anyone who says otherwise is basically living in a dream world. Mike James was never going to be the point guard of this team. The ONLY reason this is such an issue is because Sura got hurt, if Sura played lasy year none of this would have been an issue. Sura's going to come back and we won't have any more James discussions. RIGHT NOW James would have been the 6th man YES we could REALLY use him in that role, but he was never going to be the starter at 1 or 2 GET OVER IT. Personally I am GLAD it worked out as it did, because that has fueled Sura to return and allowed us to get Spanoulis, and made Alston push harder, I believe by the playoffs we will be better off without James. And NO ONE has even touched on depth or injuries, after last year we should know about this. AT LEAST the Rockets got some added depth at PG because theJames deal fell through. And I know everyone here again likes to change history. But let me explain the truth, if Sura can go you beter damn well believe that JVG would pull either Alston or James in a micro second and put Sura in the starting lineup. Sura is the ultimate epitomy of JVG player.
The amount of lies, distortions, and out and out fabrications flowing between 111 and Dynasty on this issue, like we've seen historically out of them, is a fitting tribute to our democracy on election day. kudos gentlemen. God Bless America. Oh, but I couldn't let this pass: bwahahahahaha
You go watch that Dallas-Houston series and DARE come back and talk about Alston's 3 point shooting in reference to how James shot that series. When someone brings up a point like that it HAS to be called out, for you to then act like I'm the one making things up just shows two things: 1. You totally forgot that series 2. You need to work on maturity.
The fact that you "DARE come back" after being exposed as a liar about certain matters then loudly proclaiming that you were going to leave forever, and then expect people to take you seriously is highly amusing.
This is ridiculous. Someone else accused me of being this Ming_7_6 and I got bumped down to rookie again. Clutch, if you have any prrof that I am this previously banned member it would be greatly appreciated if you shared it with me. Because I and you both know I am NOT this Ming 7 6 person.
I like Rafer's height and athletecism too. He rebounds very well for a PG, but I'm not so sure if that's due to his ability, or JVG's system (because it's been publicly stated by Morey that JVG's system improves guard rebounding)...Rafer's had career best rebounding years as a Rocket. And while he is tall, Rafer is one of the weaker players in the league at 175lbs. So Steve Blake would be one of the guys who have the same problem, but not Derek Fisher or Earl Watson. Every Rockets game, the opposing team usually runs a few plays to post up Rafer Alston. So in addition to being a liability against penetration (I think he's done better so far this year than last...let's just hope he keeps improving...I don't think CP3 was all his fault, but CP3 and Bjax were both unstoppadble last game for the most part)...but yeah add to that Rafer's liability against the opposing PG in the post. Many teams find easy buckets this way and the Rockets are forced to double and scramble...which they don't want to do unless they have to. Rafer's only defensive move is the strip when the opponent rises up. Sometimes it works, sometimes not...and it depends on how refs are calling it that night too. And last game Rafer screwed up big time fouling on a couple of big possessions late in the clock going for the strip when it wasn't even his man, for the shooter was going up for desperation heaves against good defenders, but Rafer just has a tendency to strip the ball when he sees it, for better or worse.
...which renders the fact they went crawling back, breath reeking of crow feathers, hat in hand, to camp out on Mike James' doorstep literally, at the earliest possible juncture, all the more ironic and a frank admission of error, the likes of which I can't recall in Rockets history. The Rockets admit that they messed up when they traded him, that's pretty much the final word.
I totally agree with everything Clutch and SamFisher has said in this thread. James would have been MUCH better than Alston on this team. James had some key moments in that playoff series against Dallas and had a HUGE steal at the end of game 2 when Tmac hit the game winning shot. Alston on the other hand, will be a big defensive and offensive liability on this team if they make it to the playoffs. IMO for the Rockets to take the next step competitively, need a better offensive PG.
