It's going to take some time before our starting lineup gels and begins to play up to its potential. Obviously, Alston's going to have to shoot a lot better, but there are just too many other variables right now, such as McGrady coming back from injury and Artest learning to play with the starters. Plus, having Brooks lead the charge in the second unit makes more sense. Adelman also seems comfortable with Brooks and Barry as the backup backcourt, and I see no reason to change that. I just think it's just too early to make a drastic change in the PG position or elsewhere. I also think the team chemistry and minutes will change a great deal when Battier comes back. So, at this point, it's better to wait out Alston's shooting slump.
as good as brooks has played so far (in 2 games), i don't think he has enough play-making ability to be a starter, yet. his only means to get an assist is speedy penetration. in terms of reading the defense and making wise decisions, he's not yet there. maybe barry can help him on that. i think adelman's plan is to make aaron a bobby jackson kinda player (in his heydays), since aaron is more of a natural scorer. all this doesn't mean rafer qualifies as a good starting pg. but you can't have all 5 starters at all-star caliber. so for now at least, we may have to live with rafer. if aaron can improve on his "conventional pg quality", which i think he can, i won't be surprised to see him start in the midst of the season, though.
It's only 2 games. If he keeps it up, then he's definitely deserving of a starting point. Or maybe he's better coming off the bench and giving us a spark. He's playing amazing though. I really am loving it.
We knew Alston is not a shooter, he is a pure PG. Now T-Mac controls the ball, what do expect from Alston? He need to take the ball and distribute.
I thinks he fits the bench role too. But I do think he needs to get more minutes, maybe even more minutes than Rafer.
problem is Rafer does not know he is the worst. He acts like he is something special dissing all other scoring PGs. I'd pick any scoring PG over him. yes, Brooks is better than Rafer. So far, Rafer is the worst PG in the league.
pure useless PG. what do we expect from Alston? nothing, or less bricks. what do we expect from our PG? scoring, create.
rafer will get better... he at least can give decent assists every game. his shooting is poor ,and so is t-mac. rafer cannot be replaced.
I think teams will adjust and start posting Brooks alot more. I thought it was idiotic that the Mavs didn't post up Kidd on him.
Let's not sugar coat it.... Rafer is a below average player at this point. He can't shoot jumpers, he can't finish layups, he doesn't set up his teamates with assists, and he doesn't have to be guarded by the other team...AT ALL. He is Chuck Hayes with a dribble. He can play defense Ok, and he has great handles, and protects the ball well. But, Brooks is a more effective player, he gets his teamates EASY wide open shots...and you have to guard Brooks. Should he start? No....but Morey should be looking for an upgrade at the PG position....... DD
alston will come around. you guys forget that this guy sucks from the field in shooting. just because he had some abnormal year last year when he went off, everyone thinks he will do the same. its obvious that he is starting off slow as normal.
This bugs the crap out of me....that he had a great year last year.....he didn't....he sucked about the same in shooting as he always has....look it up. He had a decent stretch, but then he followed that up with some stinky play. Rafer is a crutch that this team needs to be weened off of....the sooner the better. DD
Maybe you can't appreciate Rafer job running the offense or defending the p&r with Yao like partner (...) because you don't know basketball. And that's not Rafers problem.
Rafer usually AT LEAST is a decent ball handler and can hit the wide open 3... but he hasn't done any of that so far. He's been miserable. He's been making stupid passes, he's been a liability on defense at times, and he's just flat out sucked when the ball has been in his hands. Aaron Brooks at least breaks down the defense with his penetration and kicks out for the open 3 or gets to the rack and scores or draws contact a good percentage of the time. You have to think at this point Rafer can't play much worse... but if he doesn't improve I think the Rockets are going to be forced to start Brooks and bring in a veteran backup via trade.
Rafer is presently playing himself out of the starting lineup. Brooks may be best suited as a backup, but he has a chance to play himself into the starting lineup if Rafer continues to throw up bricks, something he has actually done since he has been here. He is an amazingly poor shooter for an NBA player. He hits a few streaks each season, but they don't last long. Meanwhile, TMac is bricking pretty consistently too.
If ever there was an opportunity for a formerly good player to get himself healthy...this would be it.. DD
omg........I agree with the dakota....... Rafer has always sucked.......iand its getting progressively worse.
