hey buddy, that's exactly what we had last season, and see so far we went? pls take your rafer lovefest elsewhere.
I don't understand the vilification of Alston. He is what he is, and that's why JVG wanted him. Yes, he frustrated me last season but at times so did every other player on the team. If Rafer goes, let him go with dignity. He deserves our respect, just as we should respect ourselves as fans. Belittling a player only belittles oneself. I have mixed emotions about seeing Steve Francis come back. On the one hand, I fear that he may still be lacking in team basketball. However, on the other I also know he will be a warrior on the court and he gives us so many more offensive and defensive options. Whether Adelman or Morey is pushing the buttons, I am unsure. However, I do know that I am beginning to like this team.
Zboy, have you EVER said anything positive on this board? of your 3000+ plus posts were any of them serious rather than sarcastic or demeaning? Rafer's flaw is shooting, which was exposed when he was forced to play 40 minutes a game. In an offense designed to pass the ball back out for three pointers he did the best he could. He improved over the prior season and did what his coach asked. He's not a bad player or person and your negativity isn't an asset to the board. Have some chocolate or something and cheer up.
i understand what you're saying...but.... they clearly needed a 3rd scoring option. i think that was brutally clear. no matter what position it comes from. rafer was the easiest to upgrade in that starting lineup...he's the one player in that lineup that is least missed in terms of overall contribution. having said that...i like rafer. i wish him well.
I agree with you, but now we have more talent to trade for a legitimate pass- first point guard. Rafer is NOT a legitimate pass first PG. He's weakness are too huge. Don't worry about Francis, if he doesn't contribute he'll just be put at the end of the bench. We aren't in a position where he has to play 40 minutes like he did before.
I'm starting to like this roster just from the entertainment perspective (what is sports for any way?) If nothing else, this team will be interesting to follow: 1) How will Steve mesh in -- does he have enough left in the tank? 2) How will James fit in? 3) How much can Scola contribute -- can he start? 4) Will the new scoring options actually open things up for Yao and McGrady (less double and triple teams) 5) What will the new offensive schemes look like? More wide open -- less "force the ball to Yao" or "make McGrady make something happen" and more movement - team play 6) How will Yao be used -- I'm excited about Adelman mentioning expanding his range and usage We also have more "hustle" type players -- Francis, Scola, Chuck, Battier. I cant wait for the season to start!!!!
Agreed with everything you said. However I have faith in Francis coming back, since when he was last here we needed him to be the main man. Now if he doesn't do what he is supposed to do he will be benched, so it is a win-win situation.
Playoff teams are smart and over a 7 game series they will expose your weakness. Rafers was exposed as a non shooter and non finisher in the paint. As a result, the Jazz chose to let Rafer beat them and they new he couldn't. Thats why I couldn't understand him playing 40 minutes. I guess he had to since Luther couldn't run the offense or fast break without turning it over.
Except that if Francis gets benched, there's no one there who's actually proven as a PG other than Mike James, who is really NOT a PG. In effect, if Alston gets traded, our PG woes continue. We have upgraded talent, but we have NOT upgraded our team comparatively speaking. Or rather, we have, until we signed Steve Francis to probably be our starting PG. As you can see, I'm not hot on Stevie coming back, unless he seriously proves me wrong when the season tips off. Every team needs a pass-first pg in this league, especially so when you already have a scoring point like Mike James.
Gang, We do not need a PG on this team, it is not predicated on one guy setting up the offense, it is a situation where EVERYONE will touch the ball and pass it, and cut. All the PG is going to do is bring the ball over half court..... Combo guards work better in Adelman's system than pure PGs. Rafer....is expendable. DD
I hope you're right Dakota, I'm anxious to see how this all works. I have to believe Adelman approved the signing, yes?
I think it is nice to have a GM and Coach on the same page...... So, yes, I assume Rick Adelman approved it.....let's watch the press conference at 3:33pm and see what he says..... DD
I am still unsure as to whether Adelman or Morey is orchestrating the moves. Until Adelman arrived, Morey's moves were poor to downright bad. Since then (except for the Brooks draft), I have been very pleased with the development of the team's structure.
This is why Rick was so high on Span and too bad Span did not realize this. In the long run it worked out better for the Rockets because we got a guy that want's to be here and who can help right away in Scola.
He has only been the GM since Adelman arrived, so what are you talking about? Morey has made zero roster changes pre Adelman
I totally agree, and still think Span could have done well, but now, who cares? I would rather have Scola than Span anyway as that was a more pressing need on this team. A good GM would wait for the head coach to be involved, you want to be on the same page and work together. Look what happened last year when the GM got penetrating attacking players to help fill out the roster, and the head coach had a completely different plan. They sat. Got to have them both working together. DD
I believe that the job of our PG next year will be get the ball halfcourt, and then go with the flow(either T-mac that creates, or a moving offense like we know of Adelman). I agree with DD we do not need a pure point guard(like alston one that can only pass and cannot shoot). James and Francis can get the ball halfcourt.
My guesses: James (???) Reed (Morey) Brooks (Adelman) Landry (Morey) Newley (Holdover from last regime) Francis (???) *In one of those translated chinese articles by Pryuen, James said that Adelman was the one who had sought after him.
Actually, looking at our roster now, the Battier trade makes even more sense. I wonder if anybody else has actually brought this up before.
