rafer - 35% fg overall, 22% on 3s. he got worse from last yr, so it's possible to go from sucking at shooting to suckinger at shooting
If SF3 should clash with RA much like what we saw with Bonzi clashing with JVG last season, I would like to know when was the last time a player clashed with RA in his other years of coaching. For the most part, players RA coached enjoyed playing for him. There may be that distinct possibility that SF3 may be taking up a roster spot rather than being a help to the team, if anything. Keep in mind that SF3 wound up disappointing every other head coach he played for after Rudy T. PLEASE DON'T FORGET THAT FACT!!! RA might now be the latest of the head coaches that SF3 is disappointing.
Tracy mcgrady dissapointed his coach in toronto by not getting out of the first round, then disappointed fans in orlando for the same. He the proceeded to dissapoint jvg, and RA could be the next in line to be disappointed by tracy cuz he cant get out of the first round. See i can do it too. You can twist any situation to make it seem like a guy isnt good enough, but the bottom line is, rafer sux, luther sux, and francis was once an amazing player and still might be, but we wont find that out until he puts his sneakers to the hardwood. WE WANT STEVE that is all.
I agree we're much better than last year. With Bonzi and Scola, we're much less vulnerable if T-Mac/Yao has a bad night or if we face a team with a good defender that shuts one of them down. However, I think we can't always depend on one of them to step up. James is another option, but IMO, Francis is also another good option. If both of them play within their limits and minimize their turnovers, I think it will solidify enough of our weaknesses at PG that we can be a legitimate title contender. In the playoffs, the other team will pull a guy off Rafer and put him on Yao or T-Mac. If we can't make them pay for not guarding our PG, we're still not getting anywhere near a title.
I think the reason that SF3 hasn't fit into the system is just nonsense. Why could Mike James dribble the ball for a long time? Why could him shot the ball whenever he like? I think there are other reasons apart from out of shape and not get into the system.
Tonite, we saw T-mac playing the facilitaor again. Adelman said he wanted to make Tmac's life easier by lessening the burden of playmaking. However, with a weak pg, Tmac's role is the same as last season. We need Tmac to be a scorer. We need both Yao and Tmac if we want to win a championship.
I think Rafer is pretty good pg (of course he had some ugly passes last night) and Tracy plays more off the ball. But yes, we need to use him like we did in the first several games, just to be a scorer. And hell after that game I'd really kick Alston's ass out of the rotatnion and put Francis here
Good point. As i said, Steve got the way too much hates...much more than the guy exactly should get...People hate Steve dribble the ball when James dribbles more, people hate Steve "don't know how to pass" when his apg career average is the most in the team, people hate Steve not a good shooter when rafer can not shoot at all, ext.ext...
I was at the game, and me and my friends cringed every time Rafer set up to shoot, I mean how bad can you be as a PROFESSIONAL making all that money, and you can't shoot for jack. Let me break this down guys, obviously everyone said Steve Francis disappointed during the preseason: 1) RA said that during the preseason, he offered to put Francis in but Francis always told him, i quote "Coach, let the young guys play, they need the minutes". I think this more than anytime could be the reason for him being benched. I used to work with u of h coaching staff, and despite how cuddly and sweet some coaches might look on tv, they r just humans like us and have egos too. 2) Also, if a few preseason games was all it took to convince RA that Francis was bad, why hasn't a few season games proved to him that Rafer was just a preseason MVP who chokes every time we play a team with an average pg. Its like Rafer gets scared of the big name pg, remember, ol dude came from AND1, probably the only one that ever made it through that route and might still be suffering the inferiority complex. Francis on the other hand is a has been all-star and that never leaves the brain, when he plays against this new pg, he will treat them like they are beneath him, meaning he will be more comfortable posting them down without rushing off shot. Rare on the other hand just plays like the kid that is just overjoyed that he was even allowed to play, and is too scared to ruffle the big boys. 3) Understood, Rafer is the only true point guard on our team, because Aaron brooks is kinda like Arenas too in pg abilities, but, obviously he has not been the solution, so it is only sensible that RA tried something else just to get a different opinion on how things will look. My Solution !) Mike James should still keep his minutes, he has some off games but he has had some big ones too and we know what he is capable of 2) Stevie should be tried out against a team in REGULAR SEASON so that his coach can see if he is ready. 3)Aaron Brooks should get a turn at pg cos it can't get any worse than Rafer 4) THE MORE WE KEEP STARTING RAFER AND LETTING HIM LOG MAJOR MINUTES LIKE UNDER JVG, THE MORE HE THINKS HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THINGS
How about if that happens, you pass the ball to your 7'6" center? You don't start attack a packed paint like Steve Francis used to do. Now a day, the referees blow less and less whistles to Steve's "Oh f*ck, I got blocked" drives. He lost some of his quickness as he get older.
I wish coach A could read this post,I really cannt understand why he didnt use steve even for a minute!!!!!!! Scola is entire losing in this new system,he can even play,why steve cannt play?In any event,coach A should give time to let steve prove himself,even one or two minutes. Can this clutch bbs administrator help us to send a email to coach A or the assistant coach?We have so many rox fans,all of us are asking coach A to use steve,cannt our opinions influence his decision? If it is this,whats our purpose talking here?
Last year eveyone was smarter than JVG and now everyone is smarter than RA......shouldn't expect any less from the GARM Horrible nite for our guards last nite but a coach like RA is not going to change his rotation when he is posting a 5-1 record, just isn't going to happen. Steve will get his chance once he outplays someone on a regular basis in practice and gets back into playing shape.
