Mike James should start at PG right now: who agrees?

I've said this before and I'll say it again. Mike James will be like RA's Bobby Jackson on this team. A spark off the beanch who can score in bunches. This helps the second unit stay in the game if not increase their lead.

 

I think having Rafer start by itself isn't really the argument. The point being that out of our starting 5, only two are real scoring threats. It would be easier for me to swallow if it were just Rafer, but Chuck and Battier are defensive players. The hardest part for me is Rafer not having an offensive game at all. If his fg percentage were higher, if I could shout for joy instead of anger every time I see him do those stupid tear drops, if I have some confidence that when the defense moves off of him, that he would make them pay. On the other hand if Mike James could actually pass the ball on a consistent basis, he would start and Francis could come off the bench, let Rafer play spot minutes.

I think if and when Scola starts at the four, that it would be easier to see Rafer still starting. It's just hard not seeing a lot of scoring threats in the starting five.

 

I am one of the people that said he shoots first. You're crazy if over the last few games, you don't notice that he looks for his shot first. Unless there is an obvious open player, James would look for his own shot before anything. If nothing is there... then he'll dribble and make a pass (mind you seconds are ticking off the shot clock.) Like he said "if there's a shot... i'm going take it. If there is a pass.. i'm going to pass it." Rafer Alston however will try to find Yao first, if hes there in the low post he throws it in, if yao gets double, Alston is open and will shoot the three or pass to find someone open.

He's not a pass first point guard, and that's why I believe he is better as a sixth man. SA use Manu the same way... Do you think Finley is a better player than Manu... of course not. But he still starts and Manu comes in as the 6th man. Why? With Tony Parker and Tim Duncan in, you don't need a scorer, you need people who can shoot. However that's different from our situation. We need a PG to set things up first, so it's easier on TMAC and Yao. Battier can be used as our shooter.

With the Rockets, they have TMAC and YAO and Battier as the shooter. They have Rafer Alston to set up things. He doesn't have the court vision like Rafer Alston have (in my opinion). He's more suited off the bench for the scoring punch.

That's fine. He can shoot all he wants because he makes most of them, however what if he didn't? What if most of his shots didn't go in. I bet you will be one of those people that says he ballhogs too much.

Accept thing for what it is, Rafer fit better with Yao and TMAC out there. He's a low turn over point guard and his assist to turnover ratio is way better than James. Plus i'm sure RA know what he's doing. If Alston starts over James, there's a reason for it.

 

Oh I forgot to mention... off the bench scoring... Francis?

There's a reason he's not playing now. He was out played by Rafer, James, Head. He's not going to get any minutes until he plays better. You can call it rust, but I don't see Francis doing anything soon.

Seeing that, that would lead Rafer to come off the bench as the PG...

Rafer
Head
Bonzi
Scola
Deke

or

James
Head
Bonzi
Scola
Deke

Anyways... we all have our own opinion i guess. I respect yours, i'm just trying to explain why I think James should be the 6th man. I am just an "uneducated reject" after all. lol

 

Probably doesn't matter who starts; however, I hope Rafer's minutes decline.

 

Wow, it's just truely amazing that people still have the nerve to consider Rafer a traditional "pass first" PG. This issue has been beaten to death yet people like you continue to go down that road.

Even whenever Rafer was jacking up more three point attempts than any other PG in the league last year except for Arenas. Even when Rafer continued to take more three point attempts than he recorded assists, you still call him "pass first". It's comical.

Remember that year MJ put up All-Star numbers in Toronto? Yeah, that was the only time in his career where he averaged more shots per game than Rafer last year. 15 shots to score 20+ -- there are superstar guards in the league that would kill for that kind of efficiency. But anyways, compare that to Rafer's "stellar" numbers last season of 12 shots to score 13 and average 5 assists. Wow, what a solid "pass first" PG.

My prediction is Rafer won't finish the season on the team. I also predict that RA will sour on his role as a three point specialist that can't shoot the three pointer. My other prediction, that I have stated all along, is that MJ will widely be recognized as our best and most valuable PG on the roster.

You believe what you want to believe and so will I. Just forgive me for not drinking the Rafer Kool-Aid.

....and as for Francis, give it time. Once Rafer is traded our phased out of the rotation his role will become clearer. I don't foresee a repeat performance of last year's JVG vs. Bonzi saga.

 

Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather start Rafer, but on a shor leash though if he screws up the game with his stupid turnovers anymore.

Mike James does not mesh well with Tmac, seeing as Mike "wannabe THE MJ" James doesnt like passing the rock that much. You can tell Tmac gets annoyed when James doesn't pass the ball to him-and I dont blame Tmac.

 

I think starting Rafer and using James off the bench might be a better use of their minutes.

That said, James should play more total minutes, AND always finish games.

I also there will be other times Alston and James both finish games on the floor together and it is a good thing (let's Tracy focus more on offense than ball security and improves team ball handling and clutch FT shooting, things we couldn't do at the same time last year because only Rafer and Tracy could really be trusted with the ball). I think last game was just a freak thing, James is normally a terrific FT shooter and Rafer is usually careful with the ball. Chalk it up to game 1 jitters and remember we beat a decent team on the road despite those hiccups.

 

Rafer was jacking up threes last season? Are you kidding me? He wasn't forcing any shot that wasn't there. When was the last time you saw him run up the floor and immediately jack up a three...

He shot that many attempts bc they left him open. You apparently had to see that. JVG gave him the green light to shoot when he was open and that's what he did.

He shot a lot and he shot poorly yes, but they were good shots within the offense. In my opinion he didn't jack up any unnecessary shots especially when the coach tells him to take it.

I like Mike James more than Rafer Alston, but I think starting Alston is a better move than James, bc James gives us another guy that can come off the bench and score.

 

some people are unreasonable to the point that its ridiculous

 

Nice try ecept...

1. Rafer is a better assist PG and makes less dumb turnovers then Mike James so he should be the starter

2. Mike James is over 30, not a rookie, so coaching him to dish more is probably a bit of a pipe dream

3. Steve Francis is not going to crack the rotation for a long while baring any injuries

4. The very fact that Mike James is a better scorer means he is ideal coming off the bench as the sixths or seventh man; remember you want to have that scoring punch off of the bench

Having said that I do admire your optimism....

 

totally agree... plus mike james said in a video that noone is going to change what he is. i believe...

 

oddson is on the same page as adelman

there are a bunch of other fans who have opinions, good, but it isn't reality, and i think it is just better for the collective health of those fans to sit back and chill out and let things play out the way the rockets see fit for it to play out.

rafer sucks, it is not something none of us can't see... but adelman thinks he is good enough and so has jvg. this has nothing about him coming back down to earth, he's still going to be rafer, adelman, the coaching staff, the players, the media, other teams, us fans know what he is about.

so i'm going to make a suggestion, take a deep breath and say to yourself, rafer is going to start, mike james is going to be the backup, and steve francis isn't going to play anytime soon.

there wasn't that easy? you didn't have to think, or try, it's just reality. let it be. enjoy the season

 

Let whoever can get Tracy and Yao going start.. which right now is Rafer. Then bring in Bonzi or MJ come off the bench as an offensive spark.

MJ is a better player but you have to look at more than that. Ginobli comes off the bench, too.

 

MIKE JAMES SHOULD START OVER ALSTON HE SHOOTS BETTER CAN FINISH AND PLAYS DEFENSE ALSTON CAN'T SHOOT OR PLAY DEFENSE

GIVE STEVE FRANCIS A CHANCE I BET THE FANS WANT HIM THERE

 

Considering our options, I say keep Rafer starting, but be much more liberal with James coming in, particularly when we need the spark.

I like the energy off the bench.

 

I will agree that Rafer was terrible with his turnovers last night, but then again so were the Rox in general. It was just a sloppy game all together. I will say however, it wasnt like things ran smooth with Mike James in. He made some jumpers, but did overdribble and I think went 0-4 from the FT line, including two late in the game. My point is, James shouldnt get a free pass for his choke job at the line and his awful defense on Farmar on his late drive to the rim. Neither guy was great last night, and I think how RA is using them is fine for now. Its just funny to me that no one is going nuts on RA, but if it was JVG who played Rafer to start even one game over Mike James, the board would be in an uproar.

 

How about MJ starts and Yao and Tmac come off the bench to give him a breather

 

Rox should never start MJ as he is not a point guard. We need a point guard on the team to make the play though Rafer is not a good one.

 

Rafer will work his way out of the starters position.
Last night was just the beginning, wait til tougher opponents in Nov. It won't be pretty.