How much does a regular field goal count for if a PG scores it?

LOL

Seriously, I still don't know whether Sam has an extreme man crush with James, or extreme hatred of Rafer, or both.

 

Sam, the same could be said of you. You get so wrapped up trying to defend Mike James that you will went as far as to bash Yao's defense on Stromile. Did YOU watch the game? Or did you just see the side by side picture of Yao and Stomile Big Man Watch by Worrell?

Well you will be disappointed to know that Stromile was not his man. Yao guarded Milicic and Andre Brown. There was only one time in the whole game that Yao ended up guarding Stromile one-on-one and that was with 2:37 left in the 3rd Quarter.

 

Preseason?

 

There won't be too many nights like what you speak of. What there will be is a playoff run where we will need multiple scorers on the floor in positions where they can score the ball.

Again, you guys don't seem to understand what a 3rd scoring option is. It's not a guy that can carry the team when Yao and Tracy are "playing like panzies". A 3rd scorer is a guy that you can go to consistently to give you EFFICIENT offense when you are playing the upper echelon teams and they are keying on your first two options.

And Sam. For crying out loud, I am not saying, nor have I ever said that Rafer was efficient last year. In fact, quite the contrary, I've said he was terribly inefficient, and I stated over and over we needed a 3rd option.

The difference this year is we have a legit offense and we have 3rd, 4th, and 5th options that are not named Rafer. Now, he can play his game which is distribute the basketball.

You know, when McGrady comes out and says that Rafer fits the best with the first unit........that's saying something. Unless you think McGrady is a r****d or you believe he's saying that just to pump Rafer's trade value. Personally, I think he meant it.

All I'm saying is you gotta show it on the court......AND YOU CAN'T DEPEND ON WHAT YOU DID LAST YEAR. Last year was last year, different coach, different system. THIS YEAR IS THIS YEAR! Remember, James didn't exactly have a banner year last year in Minny.

And so far this preseason, Rafer has looked better in the flow of the offense than James or Francis. I'm not saying Rafer is an effective shooter or effective finisher. I'm not saying he's better one on one, he's not. I am saying right now he is running the offense and getting the ball to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth scorers in a very efficient manner. And I'm saying I don't think James did that the other night when he played with the first unit. But I am open minded to the possibility of James getting better and becoming more efficient with the first unit. I think he's more than capable. And if that happens, he could turn out to be far superior to Rafer because of his ability to put the ball in the hole. But that does not look to be the case right now. It is, after all, still the preseason.

You can't form your opinion on the past, because there is no past with Adelman. Neither can you predict the future with Adelman, not yet. What we have to rely on, more than anything, is what we are seeing RIGHT NOW.

Please don't argue that 19 pts on 17 shots is efficient. If that is your 3rd scoring option to take over the game and lead us to victory when Yao and McGrady are mailing it in, then he needs to be replaced in that role as well. Just admit he did not play efficient basketball.

 

Sam,

I did not absolve Rafer of any blame last year. He was inefficient and was a terrible fit as a third scorer. However, most of the blame for that falls on Jeff Van Gundy. Van Gundy put him out there and kept him out there in a role he was not a fit for. What you are saying is not true. Go back and read the threads and quit twisting things. I got sick of his 2 for 14s last year.

And I have never claimed with Adelman that Rafer won't put up a 2 for 14. What I will claim about Adelman is he won't let Rafer OR JAMES or anyone else keep putting up 2 for 14s before he makes adjustments and either removes the player from the rotation or adjusts the offense so the player either does not have to take 14 shots or if they do, they can get back to 8 for 14. Frankly, I don't think there will be more than 5 games this whole season where Rafer takes 14 shots. Frankly, I don't think there will be any games this sesaon where Rafer takes more than 8 shots with 111 playing in the game. He's not a shooter, he's not a scorer. He's a distributor. And if he stays with the team, I would be willing to bet his shooting percentage hovers around 50% as he gets most of his shots off backdoor cuts and receiving the ball at the lip with his defender trailing behind him.


As far as those games when Tracy and Yao don't show up. I would estimate Tracy plays about 60 games this season. He'll take time off to nurse little nicks and stuff. And I would guess that barring major injury, Yao will probably see about 70 games. He'll miss 10-12 games with nagging injuries. In those situations, James will probably prove pretty valuable. But frankly, I think he will prove his value much more than that when he comes off the bench and torches some opponent's second unit.


I am not anti-Mike James. YOU ARE ANTI-RAFER ALSTON.