[CHRON] Alston's skills earn thumbs up from Rockets

damn...VG joking around already?

that crack about Baxter...adn then the one about Luther?

could this indeed be a new Van Gundy we are seeing this year?

Bill and Bull mentioned that he is even taking it easier on the team during camp...

btw...Luther had some really sweet passes...and Baxter was a bull in the paint...I think they will both help make us a damn deep team this year.

 

truth is, jvg isn't joking at all, i don't think. he's just a straight-up straight shooter, tells it like it is. won't compliment a player if he doesn't deserve it, and will call out his mistakes.

 

yeah thats kinda jacked up that they both (Alston, and Head) played really well in their debuts and JVG still finds a way to criticize them.

 

if he isnt joking...he is making liberal use of hyperbole.

cause I personally saw Head make several great passes...so it isnt correct to say he shot it everytime he had it.

ok..maybe the line about Baxter cant be taken as a joke....it just was funny in the way he phrased it...lumping in fouls and turnovers with good plays.

 

surprised? nope. that's van gundy

 

Uhh.. okay? JVG said Alston has to control his emotions better. Truth? Yes.

He said Head shot a lot. Truth? Yes.

Head played a great game, but I noticed too it seemed like he was attacking anytime he got the ball, and not necesarily running the offense.

JVG's a straight shooter, and I love him for it.

 

But we need him to be a <b>Rocket</b>.

 

head made some great passes. JVG (who sees everything when studying the tape) will notice or already did notice.

head played the 2 last night. what i really liked about him was when he was playing with the rotation players he seemed to pass much more (only taking one drive for a shot in the 3rd). when the 4th came and he was playing with baxter, langford, moochie, and the other big guy, he realized that he was the best player on the court and stepped up to take over as such. great leadership.


JVG comments about passing might also mean that he knows he's on the team so pass the ball so some guys who are trying to make the cut.

 

I thought Alston played a near perfect game for his debut, he might have passed up a couple of shots that he'll need to take during the season.

As far as Head, I thought he was unbelievable, he took a lot of shots but they were also wide open. JVG must have been drooling inside with the defensive intensity Luther was showing.

 

Head was in there with Mooch if I recall for a lot - Mooch was the point, Head was usually the SG in the small ball lineup that was thrown out there.

 

I was freaking out when I saw him do this because it's exactly what he didn't do in the summer league. Maybe he was trying to defer to other guys trying to make the team, but when you're the best player on the floor for your team, you've got to take charge. Head in the summer leagues was passive and was always giving up the ball. His shot wasn't falling either. Head in his first pre-season game was aggressive and attacking. I also like the fact that he's Mobley-like in that he's great running around without the ball - always in motion. I was hoping to see him on the break more because he's always out ahead of the pack.

 

something i noticed from skip that i havent seen from a rocket in a while is that when he did not have the ball he was still busting his ass. it reminded me of the way reggie miller moved without the ball.

 

I saw Skip make a perfect inlet pass to TMac in the post. TMac was posting up near the baseline, then turned and cut to the basket. Just as he did that, Skip dropped the ball into him and lead him perfectly to the hole just like a QB leads a receiver. What happened? TMac got the easy bucket and a foul.

It was funny, I stood up and yelled "oh yeah, Moochie!!" because I thought it was him that made the pass. But alas, it wasn't. I'm still getting the player numbers straight.

 

Im sure this game..has proves the doubters wrong (im one of them)..at first i was very skeptical about this trade..but much to my delight..rafer fits in PERFECTLY...his D wasnt too shabby too..

 

EXACTLY who i've been comparing him to. remember when cat was a rookie he was considered a defense first combo guard who can hit the 3. very similar to head. head, however, has good passing ability and a high BBall IQ, and might actually end up as a PG.

 

Alston's a baller!

I only watched first quarter, but he is a good creator..he can pass and handle the ball. He can score for himself. He can run..and pretty good defender. Good point guard for our team.

He turned the ball over a few times ..like tried no look pass from corner to left wing..but intercepted. But he will limit the bad actions soon.