He only passes because his shot is suspect. Though I'll give him credit for perfecting the slingshot release from 23 ft.
Rockets will need to dump Rafer's contract to Bobcats or some team's TE ASAP if they're looking to stay under LT. Art the moment cutting Sura would get them there but re/signing Hayes, Deke, and Landry will put them over.
I'm not sure you need to sign both Landry and Hayes or even Deke. If I was an owner that didn't want to pay it, I'd sign Hayes and maybe Landry. Also, we have trade pieces (non-Sura) that we might get a big man for using Rafer/Head/JL3/Snyder as bait. Haslem or Foster or ? Or maybe dream big, pay the LT and get Camby. There are other solutions besides dumping Alston for nothing to a team under the cap or TE to keep us out of LT land. I'd explore those options first.
Personally I would still start Rafer. On paper the team has alot more scoring options, but several of them (TMac, James, Francis in particular) dominate the ball. We need some back court players that are pass first. As bad as some of you think Rafer is, we looked absolutely horrible when he went to the bench. Francis and James can both sub for Rafer, TMac, or Battier depending on the opposing team match ups. Rafer is certainly no all star, but as a distributing point guard he is the best the Rockets have. The problem is he was playing 10 more minutes per game than his career average and due to the way the offense was structured most of his shots were 3's (which in turn made his overall field goal % lower). Francis isn't much better shooting % wise and his assist to turn over is considerably worse which is what matters most to me for a PG.
I think you use Rafer and Head to pick up a Chuck Hayes type like Najera, Foster or maybe Haslem, and then let Hayes walk. If you get Foster, then you can probably let Deke walk as well. I love both of those guys, but it doesn't really make much sense to bring them back with need to move Rafer and possibly Head.
Who were the Kings pgs when Adelman coached there? Did he need so called "pass-first" point guards to fit into his system on that team?
DO NOT make crazy threads that insist we keep a marginal player that JVG drools over, welcome to the real NBA where scoring in the playoffs is what counts, not the intabile things that he does to help us maintain a stupid 3 pt. lead late in the game. We need threats like M. James and SF# to urn the tables.
Despite being shoot-first gaurds, Bibby and Jackson are MUCH better passers and playmakers than Francis or James. Is not like Webber and Stojakovic couldn't get their touches.
You can say that again. Bobby Jackson's career average of 2.7 assists in 23 min/g and 1.8 ast/to vs Steve Francis's career average of 6.1 assists in 36 min/g and 1.6 ast/to If you adjust Steve's numbers to Bobby's minutes, that's 4 assist per 23 minutes.
I can see making the case comparing passing skills of Francis and Jackson. Making the comparison with Bibby is just silly.
I agree. I'm not sure how much of an impact Brooks will make. He's probably too short to play solid defense.
