[Chron] Clutch will love this...Lopez does a 180

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/4310037.html


Nov. 4, 2006, 12:45AM
Alston all Rockets need at point guard


The three qualities that should be valued most in an NBA point guard are, in order — handle, passing ability and shooting.
So why were the Rockets so intent on finding someone other than Rafer Alston to hold the keys of a team so well-equipped in virtually every other way?

Alston personifies those qualities in every way. He cannot be considered a premier NBA point guard, but a premier guard would command more shots. That is, take shots away from bigger, more important stars and shooters on this Rockets team.

Alston is, instead, what the Rockets need, but apparently do not always want. He keeps the ball on a string, is equally adept at going left and right, drives, splits double teams and breaks pressure.

His offensive mentality since his blacktop days, when he earned the nickname "Skip To My Lou," has been pass first.

And though you could argue he has yet to become the shooter he should be, Alston has made dramatic steps, knocking down shots, as his second-half effort (15 points) in Wednesday's season-opening loss at Utah would attest.

Besides, on a team that features Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady and added nice weapons in Bonzi Wells, Shane Battier and Kirk Snyder, along with shooters Steve Novak and Scott Padgett, what more would you want from the point?


Something missing
Apparently, something.

This will be the most important season of Alston's career, if only because he's been the object of so much rumor and doubt.

The Rockets tried desperately to get Mike James in the offseason, before the former Rockets guard signed with Minnesota.

When that didn't work out, they signed Greek star Vassilis Spanoulis, announcing early they hoped he would become, "a rotation player" and praying he would. He hasn't.

They signed John Lucas III and sent him to the Las Vegas Summer League in hopes of his developing into a rotation role at the point. They extended the contract of Luther Head, a natural off guard they have tried to fit into the point role in the past.

They even released Ryan Bowen, a proven role player, to save a roster spot for point guard Bob Sura, 33, whose work toward recovery from knee surgery has been remarkable, but remains a long shot to return.

And, of course, come crunch time, the Rockets always have taken the ball out of Alston's hands and run McGrady at the point.

Over and over, the Rockets sent subtle and not-so-subtle messages to Alston that he was their man, but likely only until a better option came along.

"They were trying to go in another direction, maybe not totally, but were looking for another one maybe to start," Alston said. "I looked at it all summer."

With the home opener tonight, it has become clear Alston might not be the Rockets' one and only, but he is the starting one.

Equally as clear: Despite the big additions and big stars, the key to it all for the Rockets this year is the immensely skilled, but often-doubted point guard whose status as the starter should be considered shaky.

Alston must prove them wrong and somehow find a way to break free from entrenched perceptions and doubts about his game.

That whole Skip To My Lou street-ball reputation has hindered Alston his entire career. In truth, on most NBA nights there is not a more deliberate, unspectacular player on the floor than Alston.

He's in fact the anti-Skip To My Lou in demeanor and approach. Yet among the shortcomings often rattled off about his game — and he hears them all — are that he has yet to rein in the street ball. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The more legitimate doubt might be Alston's abilities as an outside scorer, but he has made strides and scored all his 15 points in the second half in Wednesday's loss, helping spark the ill-fated Rockets comeback.

The Rockets keep looking. Fans keep wondering: When's Spanoulis going to be ready? Why doesn't Lucas get some time? If only the Rockets had a better point guard.

"People want shooters," Alston said. "People love the scoring point guards. That's the way of the league. You have your (Stephon) Marbury, you have Baron Davis, Allen Iverson. People aren't into the true, natural point guards.


Natural point
"That's my game. I've got so many weapons. I know how to get them the ball. But the general public might not like that."

Here's Alston, who finished 10th in the NBA in assists and eighth in turnover ratio among point guards who averaged more than 34 minutes per game last season. He's still holding the keys. Still often doubted.

"I've been among the leaders," Alston said. "Tenth in assists? And they still were trying to find someone else. If you're going to find another one, he'd better be in the first nine."

If the Rockets are going to reach a higher level this season, it's not just fans and critics Alston must convince. It's his bosses.

 

hahahaha

sigh dumbass!

 

What a hack. Just chalk him up as a assistant coach butt kisser, because that's exactly what he is.

He already sounds like he has a disposition against Rick Adelman.

 

anyone else can't stand his voice on his show on 790? I like the show, that mixture of country, and tex-mex accent mixed in with the nasal is so annoying.

 

I heard him once, and was thinking how the hell did this guy get a job on radio?!

he must have a great resume

 

somebody should totally call in to his show today and call him out on this.

 

What Chronicle writers arent total putzes?

 

And now, it's posted in the comments section.

 

The title is somewhat misleading (editors make up the titles, not the writer, generally), and it was written last November. All he's saying is that Alston has a lot of qualities you'd want in your point guard. And that's absolutely the case; just look at what happened to our team when he wasn't on the floor. That said, it's obvious we need more point guard depth, if not a new starter.

Besides, there's nothing wrong with changing your views on personnel needs after a full season.

 

Lopez = idiot. This guy is something else.

 

Hello Mr Lopez.

 

Even though Alston has decent Assists he isn't a Playmaker Point Guard. He isn't the floor general who guides the play of the entire team on the court.

 

I don't think you have grasped the concept that RAFER ALSTON IS A TERRIBLE POINT GUARD!!! IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO HIS BACKUP IS!!! Sorry, I thought shouting might make it a little more clear.

 

HP - lucky for you I bookmarked the original Lopez article a while ago:

kind of hard to blame that on the headline writer.

Oh, and by the way Rafer, we need to amend your statement from "first nine " to "first twenty two", though if we were on a per minute basis you'd have to say "first fifty-six"

 

Rafer is a decent backup PG. He's a below-average starting PG. His backup(s) is terrible.

 

Question: Would you take Adur Rahim if it meant getting Bibby?

Rocket River

 

"With the home opener tonight, it has become clear Alston might not be the Rockets' one and only, but he is the starting one.

Equally as clear: Despite the big additions and big stars, the key to it all for the Rockets this year is the immensely skilled, but often-doubted point guard whose status as the starter should be considered shaky."

I agree. If you read it carefully, he's actually saying that Alston is all the Rockets HAVE right now, and he needs to prove himself if he wants to keep his job.