I am sure the real Van Gundy is sitting in his office and telling his assts. and players "hey guys, we won't have enough stats to really analyze this until mid-season so I guess we've got nothing to talk about from the games so far......." NOT! What was that Phil Collins song? SLEDGEHAMMER!! And as has also been pointed out - no-one really said replace Rafer right now, they just said keep an open mind to it if Head seems like he is playing better, or....if Lebron is obtained in a trade for Juwan. Besides, we all know the real Van Gundy never takes our advice anyway - just his wife's, so what is the harm in talking????? Great discussion! It does seem like most of the players are already putting up similar 82games.com numbers as they did in the past. strengths & weaknesses do come out - they cannot be hidden. Hayes is still looking very good. Yao is still better on O than on D. Juwan, well, Juwan is uh .....no need. I look forward to seeing Vspan and Novak with meaningful sample sizes so we can see how they fare so far against NBA competition.
My God, you think you're the first person to ignore the fact that he's been trending downward over the past few years (as his minutes and shots rise) and that the statistical impact of that one magical night vs. Dallas diminishes each gam? My God, You think you're the first person who has ever tried to dredge up Rafer's 2002 season as if it's somehow more relevant than what he's done lately? Guess what Rookie, you're not, and you didn't prove anything.
Van Gundier, keep on messing with him You've been a class act ever since you showed up. And I REALLY do appreciate your posts. Since I work in the Marketing Research industry, all these threads concerning stats are gold to me and I can get superduper excited (or seriously ill) about somebody's first 12 games stats. I thank you for keeping me on an even keel. RR
Remember, this is a small sample, and this thread is not supposed to drift to yet another Mike James thread. But his first 7 games vs last 5 are as interesting as anyone's. <b>Mike James</b><br /> <table width="650" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0"><tr><td bgcolor="#666666"><table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0"><tr bgcolor="#bb0022"><td valign="top" align="left" width="105"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>Player / Period</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>G</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>MIN</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FG%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>FT%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>3P%</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>OFF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>DEF</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>REB</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>AST</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>STL</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>BS</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>TO</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>A/T</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#ffffff"><B>PTS</B></font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#ffffff"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Mike James (First 7)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">7</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 31.6</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 44.1</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 90.5</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 40.0</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 0.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 4.3</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.00</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.14</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 2.4</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 1.8</font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">15.0</font></td></tr><tr bgcolor="#dddddd"><td valign="top"><B><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">Mike James (Last 5)</font></B></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">26.1</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">29.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">84.6</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000"> 33.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">5.0</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.40</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">0.00</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">1.8</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">3.3</B></font></td><td valign="top" align="right"><font face="arial" size="1" color="#000000">6.4</B></font></td></tr></table></td></tr></table><br /> All his numbers are down significantly, with the only positive being his assists to turnovers. Scoring 6.4 pts/game at 29% shooting is not what Houston fans are arguing about in wanting James. Surprisingly, in the last 5 games (5.0 apg at 3.3 ast/to ratio), he's delivering some solid playmaking as his scoring numbers drop. Seems to be becoming less of a scorer and more of a playmaker with each passing game, which makes for a hot debate about whether MJ is the player Houston fans wanted for heavy minutes in this offense. <br /> <br />
Twolves won the last two games when Mike James scored 0 points twice and played fewer minutes. A poor man's Marbury, can't take his team anywhere as a starting PG. Only useful as a 6th man. There is a reason Raptors let him go for free after his "wonderful" season.
No, wrong, terrible. His game is nothing like Marbury. It never has been, it never will be. This has been explained before on this BBS and debunked mightily. People show evidence of him shooting less and passing more...and the same stock "ballhog/shoots too much" arguments are trotted out. Predictable. I'm fully confident that at the end of this year, he will shoot the ball better and score more than Rafer...while taking care of the ball and getting a fair number of assists despite havign very few spot up shooter/assistable type players next to him. I hope it doesn't though so we can get him for cheap in a trade.
1) Yes, he is not good for 38 minutes. Does that mean he's not for this team? No, it means we need to get him a damn back up. If it's anyone's fault that his shooting numbers are going south, it's the person who's in charge of finding him a back up. Not to mention, even with the last 5 games, he's been excellent. 2) Uhh, excuse you? I brought up every one of the past 5 seasons and brought forth the weighted average. Unlike your baseless claims, I have some stats to support my claim. I'm talking about a 300+ sample size as opposed to your 5 little games or even all of last season. That one game bringing his numbers up? How about that one season bringing his reputation down? Rafer can shoot. He's hitting 38% from the field. You want to talk abotu statistical anomalies? How about you take last season out of Mike James' career? His numbers are suddenly Rafer-like. Except Rafer improved over the offseason and Mike James is making last season look mroe and more like a fluke. Well guess what Mr. "I have 15,000 posts so I must be right", you haven't proven a damn thing. All your claims are baseless. They're opinions backed by no reasoning whatsoever. Me? I brought forth some facts, which supported my opinion. What opinion is that? it's that Rafer has now been at least a good 3pt shooter for 5 out of the last 6 seasons. Oh, and it doesn't take my thousands of posts with the name "Sane" to make anyone's opinion more important. But I think it's good for you that you can draw on your post count to make your opinion seem like it's worth anything. That's really nice with you. You should stick to it.
It' not all about shooting less passing more or shooting better. The guy just doesn't have a good idea about how to contol the tempo, how to run the team, when to make a pass and when to shoot. If Tmac decides to pass more, he knows when and how to make the pass that makes teammates better. Mike James usually doesn't. Rafer is better in that aspect. James is better to be used as a spark plug off the bench.
i think jvg's big lecture with battier at the start of the preseason has fallen on deaf ears...jvg kept on telling him feverishly to take more shots...he's got high bball iq so he knows when to or not to shoot...so what's the harm in jacking up a few more shots?
1.To answer your question of whether I'd prefer a 40-44% shooter to a 32-36% shooter. Of course, I'd prefer the 40-44% shooter, all else being equal. But all else are not equal and we don't have that guy. Ball-handling and passing are still important even with Point Foward TMac. The offense needs multiple good post entry passers, and you can always use more guys who can push the ball up court under pressure or in a fast break. I still get leery about Head trying to throw post entry passes sometimes. Would I take Mike James over Rafer? Sure, if something can be worked out with Minny. 2. Whether Rafer Alstons 3 pt shooting will revert to the mid or even low 30s is a completely legitimate question, given his history. However, it was a legimiate question 5 games ago, too. It would also stil have been a legitimate question had he shot 50% over the last 5 games from the arc. To use your words, I have yet to find 8 game/5 game analysis making a single contributon to the discussion of whether Rafer will revert to his old 3pt % that is not already blatantly obvious. 3. While we are on it... here's my analysis of Rafer Alston's shooting based on a comparision of his first 6 games vs. his last 7 games: First 6 games: 38.4% Last 7 games: 37.5% Seems Rafer has stayed fairly consistent with his 3 pt shooting based on this particular breakdown. Or the breakdown of frst 4 games, middle 5 games, and last 4: First 4: 37.5% Middle 5: 44.8% Last 4: 30.8% Seem Rafer started out normal, but got really hot in the middle and got horribly cold over last 4. None of these breakdowns or his 38% averge for the season contributes anything not already blatantly obvious to the legitimacy of the question about whether Rafer will revert back to his old %. Honestly, I don't care about whether people find that I'm making a contribution to a thread or not. Just stating my observations, and the readers can choose to understand it how they want.
Just a quick question on Mike James vs Rafer Alston argument. I find it intriguing that Mike James was let go at Toronto for essentially a pass first PG that is TJ Ford. Excellant penatrator that Rafer would possibly imitate if his finger rolls and layups acutally hit consistently. I think its a valid argument that Mike James isn't a start but a 6th man for this current Rockets team if he ever joined. I mean even the Raptors didn't buy him as a PG with a all star like Bosh
LOL, it has nothing to do with post count rookie, it only has to do with the fact that my "base", Rafer's mediocre season last year, and the hundreds of posts about it, summed up nicely in this article by clutch seems to be matching his play of late. Worth noting again is you massaging the numbers to try to hide the anchor that have been taking Rafer down ("5 out of the last 6 seasons" - lol, and most of those he was a bit player, playing minimal minutes, three teams and six years ago) By that logic Jeff Bagwell is still a premier slugger because he's put up a few 30 HR seasons in the last five years...
Like the discusion between Van Gundier & Clutch, I fail to see what point you and Ehsan are really disagreeing about. So correct me if Im wrong. His claim against you seems to be, Alston is doing better this year than he did last year and based on his carreer is likely to continue. Your argument appears to be he is not doing better? Or rather he will regress eventually to what he did last year. Yes? Just curious
to me. taking charge is more valuable than a steal since it usually write off oponent's layup or dunk.
Interesting individual stats from 82games.com on Individual floor stats including individual Win-Loss records. BTW I've written them and asked why Yao only has 12 total games (8-4). Individual Player Floor Time statistics Player Min +/- Off Def Net48 W L Win% Hayes 29% +81 100.9 80.0 +20.8 6 1 85.7 Battier 76% +71 95.1 88.0 +7.1 10 3 76.9 McGrady 77% +62 96.0 89.9 +6.2 10 3 76.9 Yao 74% +55 94.8 89.2 +5.7 8 4 66.7 Alston 76% +52 94.8 89.6 +5.2 8 5 61.5 Head 47% +21 96.5 93.1 +3.4 5 7 41.7 Mutombo 17% +7 85.1 82.0 +3.1 6 7 46.2 Padgett 18% +2 86.4 85.6 +0.8 4 4 50.0 Spanoulis 7% -2 80.5 82.7 -2.1 4 1 80.0 Wells 4% -2 98.3 101.4 -3.2 1 1 50.0 Novak 3% -9 77.0 94.3 -17.3 2 2 50.0 Snyder 33% -23 90.0 95.3 -5.3 4 7 36.4 Howard 31% -25 86.4 92.6 -6.2 3 8 27.3 Link: http://www.82games.com/0607/0607HOU1.HTM More debate now since Alston appears to be a winner in this analysis. Snyder & JHo both look bad. Vspan was 4-0 but obviously took a hit in his last game - he was not good. edit: I tried to align these numbers but it didn't work. easier to read at the link.
Code: Individual Player Floor Time statistics Player Min +/- Off Def Net48 W L Win% Hayes 29% +81 100.9 80.0 +20.8 6 1 85.7 Battier 76% +71 95.1 88.0 +7.1 10 3 76.9 McGrady 77% +62 96.0 89.9 +6.2 10 3 76.9 Yao 74% +55 94.8 89.2 +5.7 8 4 66.7 Alston 76% +52 94.8 89.6 +5.2 8 5 61.5 Head 47% +21 96.5 93.1 +3.4 5 7 41.7 Mutombo 17% +7 85.1 82.0 +3.1 6 7 46.2 Padgett 18% +2 86.4 85.6 +0.8 4 4 50.0 Spanoulis 7% -2 80.5 82.7 -2.1 4 1 80.0 Wells 4% -2 98.3 101.4 -3.2 1 1 50.0 Novak 3% -9 77.0 94.3 -17.3 2 2 50.0 Snyder 33% -23 90.0 95.3 -5.3 4 7 36.4 Howard 31% -25 86.4 92.6 -6.2 3 8 27.3 Did it for you already.
