From the game I saw, Tracy failed to show up much at all tonight. The 4th quarter collapse was a team thing. How you see fit to blame it on one player (whom you don't even believe to be much good to begin with) is beyond me.
I expect solid play from our point guard in the 4th quarter. I expect our point guard to set up the offense for his team like he did during the previous 3 periods, not take rushed shots himself early in the clock. I don't give a damn who the point is if they play within the offense and just run the team, especially during money time. Rafer didn't do that in the 4th.
Show me where I "blamed it all on one player." I thought the topic was Rafer Alston and his play in the 4th.
I understand, and appreciate, that. I prefer to deal with facts over fantasy. I prefer to consider what IS rather than what COULD, or SHOULD, be.
Rafer looks best when the team has a commanding lead. When the pressure is on, Rafer starts chunking them over the backboard. I have watched this ever since he arrived in Houston. True, he had a great start to the game, but he faded big time like the whole team. We need a bigger better shooting and scoring PG or we are going to watch another mugging in the playoffs. Rafer is foolsgold. Don't let his occasional glorious moments misled you; Rafer is Rafer.
I deal with facts in the form of history and looking at what trends correlate to winning teams (or atleast WCF teams) in the past decade. Composure and sticking to the game plan are the biggest things you need from a PG come playoff time... you see these things from Battier and at times Yao but not Rafer. It really doesn't matter how well he plays if he can't face adversity down the stretch. Look at what the addition of veteran Anthony Carter into the starting lineup did to the Nuggets. I'm not saying trade Rafer or cut him out of the rotation altogether, I just think it's a winning move to bring in someone with a strong head who can run plays, penetrate and execute down the stretch.
Rafer's got problems closing out games. I'm surprised no one else has noticed this. I don't have a problem leaving him out there for the first three quarters, but he badly needs some help in the fourth.
Is Rafer playing the best basketball of his career? Probably Yes Is Rafer's improved shooting a big part of the Rockets winning? Probably Yes Has Rafer developed a more well rounded game? Probably Yes. Is Rafer the best current PG option on the team? Probably Yes. Has Rafer every proven to be a big time player in the biggest games? Almost never. Does Rafer have a history of choking in the Playoffs? Absolutely Yes Would Sam Cassell be a better option for the Rockets in the 4th and the Playoffs? Absolutely Yes. Rafer has show improvement and is playing perhaps his best basketball of his career, is the best PG we have right now and has played more consistently than I have ever seen him play and I would still say Rafer Alston has done very little to convince me he won't choke in the playoffs. The Rockets are on the cusp of greatness and to not try to get a proven clutch player to showup for us in the playoffs would be a mistake by management. You only get so many opportunities to compete for the whole enchilada and the Rockets are close to having one of those now. Let's get another point to compete down the stretch. even if it's renting him for only 1 year. The future is now. Phoenix knows that, the Spurs know that, the Lakers Know that, and Dallas knows that. Rafer is still are weak link down the stretch. Tonight's 4th quarter was only a microcosm of that and it will only get worst in the playoffs. With all his great play as of late he has done very little to make me believe he won't be fool's gold come playoff time.
It is what it is. Where would the Rockets be WITHOUT Rafer? It's clear. Without Rafer running the point, the offense isn't as sharp. Yes, Rafer doesn't knock it down consistently, but in the bigger picture, he's too valuable to this team.
The point is who do you think we are going to get when the most obvious pieces we would want to get rid of are PG's that are completely out of the rotation in James, Francis, ect? If we can get an upgrade at PG I am all for it. I just don't see any realistic suggestions on how to do that upgrade this year.
Can you guys pay a little attention to the minute Alston has played before jump all over the guy? It's a well know fact that he cannot play close to 40' a game to be effective, and he played 41' tonight, only Battier played more than him at 42'. This has been the problem even when JVG was here, Alston has played too many minutes. If you cut the guys minutes down to 30', he will be much more effective.
I want to apologize to all the soccer moms and middle aged women I've offended. I guess sitting on my ass, being supportive and sheepishly grinning every time this team escapes an embarrassing loss is not my thing. It's not 2004-05 anymore. I supported the Battier trade, supported hiring Rick Adelman and supported drafting Brooks/Scola. But there is one problem that has been plaguing the team for years and is the reason we coudn't beat Utah/Dallas: executing down the stretch. And yes, Rafer is a big part of this.
