Mike James, Steve Francis >>> Rafer Alston, Luther Head

If Steve Francis cannot play because he is still injured, all my best wish to him. Otherwise, it's a shame to the team.

I have been watching Mike James and Rafer Alston since their Toronto days. Mike James can finish but ball-hogging, plus he is old. In my opinion, he is not dependable in a long term.

Rafer Alston is a O.K. PG, but he cannot finish. Remember missed shot = turnover. He is not a qualified starting PG in a championship contender tier team.

 

Steve did play well in his short stints, but his body doesnt seem as if it wanted to corporate. I personally didn't believe that he was beat out by some of the other guards, but after watching his play I believe Rick made the right call. As for Rafer, Brooks and Head they all are playing well right now, yes even Head. I can see people coming down on Rafer, he makes me want to throw up at times, but he is are most reliable PG at the time, even if he can't shoot at times. Brooks, he's good but still on a learning curve. Head, well makes bad decisions and can't dribble the ball worth a damn, but he has a nice shot and is full of energy. His shooting keeps the floor spaced and cuts to the basket harder than anyone else on the team. James, I'm sure he still has game, he just doesn't seem to mesh well in this system. I have a hard time giving up on Stevie and feel with Head out for a while that this would be a perfect opportunity for Steve to get back in the rotation. Apparently something is truly wrong with his body. I hope He and it(his body) comes around quickly, so this opportunity doesn't pass him by. We can't lay this on Adelman, as we've seen he has no problem playing anyone on his bench. I don't feel that Rafer can take us to far in the playoffs, as he can't hold his own against the better guards. Maybe a trade, maybe a guy like Bibby or Kidd could land in our laps. That would make me happy.

 

MJ & Franmcis over Rafer & Head is ridiculous.
MJ had his shot and he blew it and with Head out he must prove himself again. Don't expect MJ to get 20+ mins again because he hasn't been producing anything. Head is underrated imo because he has been producing and when his shots are falling he can easily go 20+, same for Rafer. Their shot selection is the only thing that rattles and in need for improvement, MJ just can't shoot. Francis needs to get his chance before we can even say he's better / worse, those two starts don't count because Rafer didn't show a lot either earlier in the season + McGrady was handling the ball for 80% of the times then.

I say if we can get Cassell back then get rid of all these guys except for Head because he's still a good back-up for McGrady. Brooks can back up at PG so nothing to worry about. If not then i suggest keep Rafer and Head in the rotation and when Francis is healthy get him in too. MJ needs to stay out of rotation until he proves himself worthy enough.

 

Rafer is open because he can't shoot.

 

You should have said,
If Rafer plays, everyone is open;
If James plays, he is the only one open.

It's amazing how you guys fall into love with this guy, while he shouldn't even be in this league. He is a streaking shooter, if you take that part of his game away, he won't make your YMCA team, and he lost his shooting now.

 

I really don't see how Mike James can ever be better than Luther Head again, other than the fact that he has better handles. Luther was already the better shooter before he ever wore an NBA uniform, and Mike James at this point is too old to be learning new tricks. At least Luther has lots of upside -- he can become a better passer, and at this point is practically as good a slasher as James is anyway. You can actually expect Luther to give you 20 points and 4 assists with starter minutes. With James, all you get is horrible shots, stagnated offense and nonexistent defense.

It's dangerous to think you can get away with trying to teach an old dog new tricks. James is washed up, and that's the sad reality. Lots of people are still enamored with his off-the-bench performances from 3 years ago. I remember back then people scoffing when the point was brought up that despite his career year in Toronto, the fans didn't like his play and wanted him outta there (while everyone here was busy crying about how Alston for James was the worst trade in NBA history).

 

who's francis?

 

TC has clearly not been watching the same games as I have. I've watched every single rockets game with the exception of 3 or 4 and I say that MJ and SF have been given their fair share of opportunity to make the rotation. In fact, that's the sole reason we had such a poor start; a lack of a solidified rotation.

 

Francis is still rehabbing in the hopes of coming back. If it were to the point where it was hang the shoes up, then he would probably have opted for last ditch surgery. Which of course we haven't heard anything about.

 

one on one basketball, i would put my bet on MJ and SF3. But team basketball, nah!

 

Let's just say that we differ tremdously in our opinions of Luther. I've highlighted the parts that almost made me spit up my lunch. I suppose we'll just have to see happens but this is all borderline crazy talk in my mind.

 

Luther is a third year player who has shown marked improvement each year. In the games he has started in place of McGrady, he has broken the 20pt plateau three times. His most recent start was 20 points and 6 assists. It's hard for people like you to appreciate a young player's upside because you can't see past a few mistakes and turnovers. Yet even with the bad passes and sometimes silly decisions he makes, Luther has been much more of an asset to the Rockets this year than James has. James *used to* be a good player. He isn't anymore. That's the point.

 

..............4 assists to the Red Rowdies.............and another 4 to the Great Toe of China.

Luther is the WORST passer on the whole team.

 

Agree totally. However, I want Mike Miller. Francis, Snyder, Bonzi, and Head gets it done. We could do the deal with the agreement from Memphis that they buy out Bonzi so we can sign him back.

 

His versatility is much improved from last year. It's not a statistical improvement (other than his 2pt field goal pct), but he has significantly improved his midrange game, ability to pull up for jumpers off the dribble, slash to the basket and cut for easy layups. His handles, although not quite where they need to be yet, are definitely better. I don't think it's hard to see his improvement as a basketball player.

True, but he was a better spot-up shooter coming out of college and did shoot a very high percentage until he hit the rookie wall hard. That point is debatable nonetheless.

That point we definitely both agree on -- Luther has much more trade value than James, and for those reasons mentioned. Luther is one of the few players we have that is actually worth more than his current salary. As for Cassell, I don't know. I'd hate to give away our young tradeable assets for a player who is probably the least reliable body in the league and is likely another back spasm away from hanging it up for good. I like Cassell's game, but ... too risky. Now if we were getting a pick along with it, then it might be worth serious consideration.

 

Turnovers per 48 minutes says this is wrong. Granted, he may be passing LESS and put in fewer positions to turn the ball over, but on a per 48 minutes basis, I think he is 8th worst on the team, behind the obvious (Yao, Tracy, Bonzi) and not so obvious (like Aaron Brooks)...

 

Luther has not improved this year. It's not even close.

His defense is still suspect. His lack of handle and passing ability is thoroughly unimpressive for a player that's basically a SG in a PG body. He barely has any ability to create his own shot or attack the basket either.....still.

How do you see any upside at all? I hate always ragging on this guy but I really think he kills us with his inability to play PG. If he had a handle and could effectively play the point i'd be all for keeping him. But i'm sorry, in my judgement he has all the makings of a player that's peaked.

He's a player that you know exactly what you're getting: somebody that at times can be a great shooter and kill teams with his range....and others, when he contributes absolutely nothing when his shot isn't falling.

I want your typical 6'5"-6'8" G/F as our backup SG. I'd even sacrifice the outside shooting for a player like a Bogans or somebody like we've had in the past with a versatile overall game that knows how to play defense, just to give an example. I don't like the idea of having a player with NBA PG size masquerading as an adequate backup two.

Mike James doesn't have the height to fill the "mold" i'm describing but when his game is on he's a much more complete player than Luther. I can gladly admit that MJ has been bad this year and that I, along with the rest you, expected much more from him. Let's see how he performs under his second chance under Adelman before we draw conclusions on him.