DP, I refuse to believe you are that shallow in your representation of last night's game. Did you ever consider that the reason Yao and Ron missed all those shots is because the Celtics double teamed them off of Rafer all night long? Maybe, just maybe the fact that the Celtics only have to guard 4 of our guys when Rafer is in the game allows them to smother our better players rendering them ineffective. Rafer is garbage, he has reached Ryan Bowen status on offense and the other team's know it.... If you are not going to start Brooks, we have to find somebody who can hit a wide open 3pt shot, which is what our PG has to do....and please do not tout Rafer as some defensive genius, because I watched Rondo torch him all night long like he was standing in mud... Rafer's best days are 4+ years behind him, and they weren't all that great to begin with. Please take a deeper look next time. Thanks, DD
DD- I brought this up and wanted to bounce it off you. What about Rafer for Anthony Carter and Steven Hunter eventhough Hunter is out and for a minute and because Anderson is playing well. Then trade Head for Calvin Booth. Now the Booth can play 17 mins for Yao and he can hit the 15 fter while we start brooks and bring carter in behind him.
Alston played 30 minutes. In those 18 minutes that he didn't play, Yao and Artest were still missing shots. That's a direct contradiction to your premise that Yao/Artest missed shots because of Rafer. More unreasonable Rafer hate at its finest. Now it's Rafer's fault that Yao is too soft to play against the Celtics and Artest thought taking 10 threes was a good idea (and he wasn't doubled when taking them either, genius). Feel free to stop posting like this. Very irritating.
leeb, I would have to think about that, the only reason I even started this thread is that Rafer is killing the team by not forcing the opponent to even guard him on the perimeter, it is clogging the paint for Yao, Tmac and Artest...and while I am NO LUTHER FAN.....if all we are doing is asking someone to bring it up and hand it off and hit the 3.....Luther can do that better than Rafer. Personally, I would try to get Hinrich. DD
Everything sounds good with exceptions of bringing in Head. Start Barry instead and give Aaron more minutes. Nuff said.
Brooks is ready but not.... it's weird. I say start giving him more minutes and then make the switch with Rafer come December if Rafer isn't going to step up to the plate and be that scorer he has the potential to be.
Prigioni isn't very much of a 3 point shooter,he shoots high 30%-ish from the FIBA 3pt line, but his great field vision is something we can make use of
An upgrade at PG would complete this team. Hinrich would be a considerable upgrade to Rafer offensively, and about equal (depending on who you ask) on D. Adding a long (over 6'9) young athletic 4/5 to backup Yao would be the cherry on the sundae. I would rather give up Landry than Battier at this point. I like Landry a ton, but some value has to be given up. But I would initially trade Luther Head to New Jersey for F/C Sean Williams, giving the Nets perimeter scoring punch off the bench (currently lacking) while adding more length youth and athleticism at F/C. Acquiring Williams would allow Houston more leeway to let Landry go. Then package Rafer, Francis & Landry (plus pick(s)) to the Bulls. Landry's post offense and solid PF skills would be a good complement to the uber athletic but very inconsistent (not to mention very light in the pants) Tyrus Thomas. Landry would be a more versatile offensive threat than either Tyrus or Noah. Rafer could be released or paired off with Ben Gordon coming off the bench. Francis is more than likely jettisoned. All 3 teams improve with this trade. Only problem is Landry's trade restriction. Anyone know how long that lasts?
Even the commentators are saying that teams are gonna leave Rafer open because he shots at a VERY low percentage..at its obvious yesterday. Celtics was leaving rafer wide open to take the shot to until he hits one, but as they predicted, rafer never hits it.. Hell I would rather even have Wafer on the spot-up 3..too bad he isnt a PG..
Why do we need all the garbage from other Team? First Stephon Marbury now Hinrich. Do we want to bring back Vin Baker too? All the players will be better , It is only beginning of the season. Radical changes when we are 3-1? Trade Yao, Cut Tmac, give Ron 20m/yr contract, fire RA, dump Battier, sell the team and let us start to rebuild.
I want to win it all.....I don't think our current PG is good enough......and I would give up 2nd tier players to get a good PG like Hinrich is that so hard to figure out? DD
I wonder what the shooting percentages are when AB is in the game vs Rafer, that would tell a lot. Fair enough. DD
I followed Hinrich's career a bit. When he was an assist machine for those 2 years earlier in his career, I always wished he'd be on the Rockets. However, Hinrich falters against better competition. Plus, he's too similar to Rafer to be an upgrade. Ron Artest needs to come off the bench. Battier can't get here soon enough. Yao clogs the paint too much for McGrady to drive. Yao's presence also takes away one of Ron Artest's weapons: post play.
Crazy talk. I hope that assertment was not just based on career stats. Hinrich was an all-star AND a member of the Olympic team. The only thing similar about their game is that both are pretty good defenders w/some size (Hinrich 6'4, Alston 6'3), but Hinrich is much more of an offensive threat than Alston. Alston is more of a pure PG, Hinrich can also play SG. Only reason that is even possible to trade an Alston for a Hinrich is Hinrich had a bad season last year. But Hinrich is young, and ONE bad season is nothing compared to Alston's multiple seasons of average play.
I want Rodriguez. Blake is pretty good but he's rather soft too, we need a PG who should be a little bit stronger. Rodriguez is an ideal piece as that he can shoot 3 and break into the rim with his strong body.
