I think he's both overrated and underrated. Think what you will about him, but he is a below average point guard on a team with no point guards....So that makes him our best option at PG. When he makes his shots, we win. When he misses them, we struggle alot on offense. That's what makes him both overrated and underrated. If people watch a game in which we win, Rafer usually has a good night from the field and it seems like hes the guy making the difference. When we lose, he is throwing up alot of bad shots and missing and he looks like the guy who is the weak link. If Rafer ever found some consistantcy shooting the ball, he'd be a very good PG for us. Problem is, then he wouldnt be Rafer anymore.
I won't try to debate that we'd be better with an upgrade at the point. However, I'll present you with the same argument I throw at all the "trade rafer" posters. If not rafer, than who? kirk hinrich makes 10 million a season. The guy is overpayed, and we don't have the resources to bring in a contract that big. The only way that would happen is to throw in Battier, or even a three player package...say Head, Landry, and Alston. However, at this point, is Hinrich even worth that? I think no...and my argument for that is that we don't have a huge hole at the point. Rafer is an okay point guard. He's certainly not great, but he's better than half the point guards in the league. He is effective from 3 point range and can distribute effectively. I don't want him taking very many shots once the whole team is on the floor, and he won't. Thus, his 38% from the field isn't that big of an issue. This team isn't built to require a premier PG anyways. Besides CP3, Deron, Calderon, Nash, Rose, or even Ford, who is even significantly better than rafer? I refuse to include Hinrich. He's absolutely better, but not twice as good, as his price indicates, and you'd be hard pressed to make your point the Kirk Hinrich would be a major step towards a championship. If we could make an upgrade, then I'm all for it. However, I'm not willing to part with Battier, or another signficant player it would certainly take, to get a player that is only marginally better than what we have. It looks like "one step forward, two steps back" to me. We're a far better team when Rafer plays, and he's not going anywhere. It's time for some of you to get on the bus, or start presenting real solutions that would work.
Excellent post. If were going to find an upgrade over rafer, it will most probably be through the draft.
I would trade Artest....he has an expiring contract, doesn't really compliment Yao and TMac...and if you could do something like Artest + Rafer for Hinrich or some such...you do it. DD
No, it isn't. The Rockets need to cut $1.7M + Deke's pro-rated salary if they plan on getting under LT. The Rockets have little chance of trading for a TE to solve that problem. One other option is to trade at least 9.55M for 25% less minus $100k in return. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=4077231&postcount=671
The rockets are only going to make a move right now if it gives them a better chance to win. Hinrich for Artest and Rafer doesnt do that. Hinrich is an injury prone PG who shoots about the same percentage as alston. He is also really bad in the playoffs. Trading for Hinrich would be very lateral in terms of how it changes our PG situation, and then youre probably giving up Artest who is going to be a very big part of why were successful this year.
Did USA basketball ask Rafer to play? I forget. Hinrich fits better with Yao and Tmac what is stupid is people not understanding how important that is.... DD
Problem with Rafer is that he is so inconsistent. What he is exactly "coming back" from? He wasn't hurt or injured, didn't come off surgery, ect. He's playing great right now but I just hope he keeps it up.
How is he that much bigger of an upgrade over alston. He's always injured, he turns it over more than Rafer, he is a career 41 percent shooter from the field, his assist to turnover is about the same but only because hes been the main ball handler in chicago for his career. He is about the same in terms of defense. How is that a bigger upgrade? Wasn't he on the USA team that lost anyway?
A Hinrich trade only makes sense and achieves the goal of getting the Rockets under the LT if it's made at the trade deadline. Artest isn't getting traded by the Rockets this season. He simply won't be in trade package for Hinrich, therefore he's not an excuse as to why the Rockets shouldn't trade for Hinrich. Over 40% FG% isn't the same, it's better than Rafer. I like the idea of pairing McGrady with a 1 who can switch over to guard his man. He also brings good perimeter defense which the Rockets are lacking with their crop of guards. His supposed leadership could also help or fix another problem the Rockets have. A broken thumb doesn't suddenly make a player "injury prone".
this is by far the most accurate assessment of Rafer Alston I've ever read on this board.. This guy is so bad he gets credit for "not turning the ball over so much".. Steve Nash won 2 MVPs almost leading the league in TOs.. Alston is an above average defender, I'll give him that, but I swear, even when he's swishing his shots, I cringe.. it's not because of my preconceived idea about him, it's because they're horrible shots.. horrible horrible shots..
When you play with a post player like Yao and a faciliatator like Tracy, your job as a PG is to protect the ball, play defense, and occasionally knock down some jumpers....Alston is capable of all of those things. Trading him just isn't going to happen. No team that is looking to deal with us will think Alston will get them over the top. He's just not going anywhere.
I watch games, I don't just use statistics to say who is better than who. Of course Hinrich is better than Alston statistically. EVERYONE is better than Alston. Hinrich's biggest problem is that he's not that much better. And he makes a lot of the same mistakes: pull up jumpers in transition he never makes, poor finishing inside, and crucial turnovers in the 4th (Rafer's cut that out this year). If you want to pay 9 mil/yr for a marginal upgrade I question your value analysis. If we're going to pay big bucks to replace Rafer, we'd better do it right. Mo Williams, Bibby, or TJ Ford would have been worth it. Hinrich isn't because he's easily one of Chicago's worst guards. You guys are all so desperate to replace Rafer that you're willing to hamstring our team with horrible contracts.
-appluad- This is so true....Everyone knows that Rafer is not a great NBA PG. Morey knows it, the coaches know it. The thing is though is that he's the best option for the team right now. You can't just pick whoever you want to be our PG. It doesnt work that way. We arent going to improve at that position right now, and to make a move for a Kirk Hinrich would be a panic move that would hurt us now and in the longrun.
He fits too....a good penetrating player that can pass the ball on the move and run the pick and roll...yes please. There are more types of players that fit.....Alston fits...he is just not very good on a consistent basis. Artest just doesn't fit...IMO.... Now sure he is ok while Tmac is out...lol but once back, you will see the same chemistry issues with Tmac and Artest that have been going on all year and that I talked about before we even got him. DD
