Rafer Alston vs. Matt Maloney

DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

Who would you rather have on your team?
 
After thinking long and hard, I have to go with Maloney...
The potential for upside is just oh too much

DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

The season for a professional basketball player can often feel like an unending string of games and practices in front of faceless fans. But every player gets a few special nights -- homecomings. Matt Maloney's night finally came last Friday, when the former Penn star returned to Philadelphia as a member of the Houston Rockets.

"It's a great feeling," said Maloney, a 1995 Penn grad. "I think coming back and seeing my family and friends was great to do. It was great for them to see me play live."

By any way of thinking, the game was a triumph for Maloney. Sure, his numbers were unimpressive (six points and six assists in 25 minutes), but it was his 35th consecutive start since the NBA season began in November. He was rested through much of the game in preparation for the Bulls the next night as the Rockets cruised past the 76ers, 120-99, at the Corestates Center Friday night. Most impressively, though, Maloney was the Rocket in most demand from radio and television stations after the game, no mean feat on a team that includes Charles Barkley and Hakeem Olajuwon.

It truly is a dream scenario for a young player. Maloney joined a successful team as a starter, but is surrounded by high-profile stars like Clyde Drexler, Barkley and Olajuwon to facilitate his development and shield him from pressure.

"For a young point guard, I think it is very important to have veterans on your side, to give you support," Maloney said. "You learn from them every time you talk to them."

Maloney, whose smooth jump shooting earned him the nickname "Money" while at Penn, has translated that support into success. Entering play Friday night, he was averaging 10.1 points and 3.3 assists in 30.9 minutes per game this season. As importantly, the 6-foot-3 guard has earned the respect of his teammates.

"Matt has done a terrific job all season," Barkley said. "He's played great from beginning to end, and he's earning the right to be in the NBA."

Maloney's rise to basketball's highest level has been circuitous. After transferring from Vanderbilt and sitting out a year, he spent three seasons (1992-95) playing for Penn, a span in which the Quakers never lost a league contest. He combined with classmate Jerome Allen to form one of the greatest backcourts in Ancient Eight history.

Although Maloney was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1995, when the NBA draft came around that spring, Allen was selected in the second round by Minnesota. Maloney was ignored by the drafters, but did latch on with the Golden State Warriors as a free agent. When he failed to make the team, Maloney decided to carry his quest to the minor league Continental Basketball Association. He enjoyed a successful season for the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Mackers, being named to the league's second team All-Rookie squad.

One of the highlights of Maloney's season to date came on November 14 when the Rockets hosted the Indiana Pacers, the team that signed Allen as a free agent after a year in Minnesota.

"It was good to see him," Maloney said. "I saw him the day of the game and afterwards we talked a little bit. He's really playing well down there. He's worked hard for it and it's good to see the two of us have some success in the NBA."

Not on the itinerary for Maloney's day in Philadelphia was a visit to Penn coach Fran Dunphy. The two have not had a falling out -- on the contrary, Dunphy recently purchased a cable satellite system specifically to follow his proteges' NBA progress -- but Dunphy was at Yale presiding over the opening game of a new Ivy League season. The two did get together in the first week of January when Penn visited Houston for a game against Rice.

While Maloney may not be the best-known player in the NBA, he has received some national attention. He was featured on NBA Inside Stuff on NBC and NBA Today on ESPN. That makes Maloney something of a sex symbol, at least according to Barkley's daughter, who was very nervous to meet the rookie guard.

"My daughter thinks Matt's handsome," Barkley said. "But she's wrong."
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DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

^forgot the link
 
http://media.www.dailypennsylvanian...tar.Maloney.Returns.As.A.Rocket-2170448.shtml

redao · Jan 20, 2009

I'd rather have Moochie than Rafer.

RudyTBag · Jan 20, 2009

Matt Maloney kept Charles and the Rox from winning another ring...

Rafer would have been a MASSIVE upgrade on the 96 Rox...

CHI · Jan 20, 2009

Many years ago, I think on the old board, when Matt Maloney's brother used to post here... I messaged him thru the board for some free tickets and he almost hooked it up! His excuse was that I asked him too late, and Matt had already given away his tickets. It was for a road game at GSW... I live in SF so I thought he would come thru with the hookup.

I'll always like Matt, but he clearly overachieved. He also sucked after his big contract.

Turbo · Jan 20, 2009

CHI said:

Many years ago, I think on the old board, when Matt Maloney's brother used to post here... I messaged him thru the board for some free tickets and he almost hooked it up! His excuse was that I asked him too late, and Matt had already given away his tickets. It was for a road game at GSW... I live in SF so I thought he would come thru with the hookup.

I'll always like Matt, but he clearly overachieved. He also sucked after his big contract.
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Wasn't his name Paul?

DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

To Knote:
 

Now here's where it gets really good: Pierce, Allen and Garnett happen to be wired the exact same way -- three ultracompetitive guys nearing the end of their primes who would sacrifice anything to play on a winner. All of them were stuck in miserable situations last season (combined record: 87-159), all of them are good guys, all of them understand that you only have so many chances to contend. For all three guys, it will be their best team ever, regardless of who's playing with them. Allen hasn't played with a top-20 player his entire career; neither has Pierce; and Garnett hasn't played with one elite scorer, much less two. For Garnett, his major weakness (crunch-time scoring) gets solved with two proven crunch-time scorers helping him. For Pierce, his major weakness (leadership) gets obscured because he has two intense veterans who know how to deal with the media and lead by example. For Allen, his weakness (a tendency to break down) gets negated because he won't have to carry his team offensively every night.

Just think of these three guys thrown together. All three carried playoff teams further than they should have gone: Pierce in 2002, Garnett in 2004, Allen in 2005. All three were on suicide watch as recently as six weeks ago, wondering how they could extract themselves from untenable (and unwinnable) situations. All three are about to become relevant again in April, May and June. Would you bet against them having monster seasons? Would you bet against them embarking on a 100-game mission to make the Finals? Hell, have three star teammates ever had more to prove in one season?

There's one precedent: In August 1996, when the Rockets mortgaged their future by trading Sam Cassell and Robert Horry to the Suns for Charles Barkley, teamed the Chuckster with Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler and crossed their fingers that a paltry supporting cast (basically, Eddie Johnson, Mario Elie and a gigantic hole at point guard) wouldn't sink them. Although Dream and Glide already had won titles, their careers were at a similar point as the KG-Pierce-Allen trio -- each (including Barkley) had peaked as impact players, but each had something left in his tank. Dream averaged a 23 points and 9 rebounds, Barkley recorded 19-13.5, Drexler chipped in with an 18-6-6, and the Rockets won 57 games and came within two victories of the '97 Finals, losing to the Jazz for one reason: Rookie point guard Matt Maloney was absolutely eviscerated by John Stockton. This was like watching Frankie Williams get destroyed by Roddy Piper on Piper's Pit, only if it happened for six straight games over the course of two weeks. That's why they lost.

One year later, Glide and Dream were just about done, Barkley was headed that way and the Rockets finished .500. They haven't won a playoff series since.

The question remains: If you're a Rockets fan, would you make that trade again? You had that Utah series tied 2-2 before blowing a nailbiter in Utah and losing Game 6 on a Stockton buzzer-beater. You were right there. Was it worth it? In my opinion, absolutely. The whole point of fielding an NBA team is to win a title -- if you have the chance, you have to try. Even if it means crossing your fingers with the likes of Matt Maloney.

Eleven years later, the Celtics find themselves in a similar spot: Three All-Stars coupled with a talented but woefully inexperienced point guard (Rondo), a promising defensive stopper coming off major knee surgery (Tony Allen), a decent backup center who plays hard (Kendrick Perkins), a new Mark Madsen for KG (Brian Scalabrine, who's already working on his high-fives and fist-pumps), two undersized power forwards (Big Baby Glen Davis, Leon Powe), two athletic rookies (Brandon Wallace, Gabe Pruitt) and that's it. There isn't an Eddie Johnson or Mario Elie to be seen. Then again, since they're likely to add one or two more ring-hungry veterans, and since the '08 Eastern Conference is between three and 200 times worse than the '97 Western Conference, who knows? In the words of Chris Shiherlis, the bank is worth the risk.

Could the 2008 version of Maloney screw up Boston's first true title contender in 16 years? It's much more likely that Doc will screw it up -- he should have been fired two years ago. Then again, his three biggest problems as a coach have been:
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DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

^I keep forgetting links..

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070730

Grandpappy · Jan 20, 2009

You can debate who had the better skills all day, but one played about half as many games in the NBA as the other...and counting......down.

Realistically, there's no comparison (other than this poll).

CHI · Jan 20, 2009

Turbo said:

Wasn't his name Paul?
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I actually don't recall his name. But, I remember he was a nice guy... promised me he would ask Matt, try his hardest, etc. apologetic he couldn't get me tickets.

This board has gotten so huge, I don't think any player or family member would ever come out and admit to being who they are anymore. If they did, they would probably be bombarded with ticket requests, etc.

IMO, Matt has Rudy to thank for his million$$$. If Rudy wasn't so into searching the CBA for players, he never would have made it to the NBA.

Rafer >>>>> Matt

Microfridge · Jan 20, 2009

hamza said:

Rookie point guard Matt Maloney was absolutely eviscerated by John Stockton
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When you put it that way, then yes, Rafer Alston of this season would've been able to at least keep up and defend John Stockton. Though we are comparing an NBA-veteran in Alston vs. then-rookie.

AntiSonic · Jan 20, 2009

For all of Maloney's faults, the guy did shoot 40% from behind the arc in his first year. We really couldn't have asked for more from an undrafted rookie.

Also, people tend to forget that Maloney was never intended to be the starter. The Rockets were forced to go with him originally because Brent Price got hurt, and were eventually stuck with him when Price went down for the season not long after the Rockets passed on trading him for Derek Harper.

DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

Rookie point guard Matt Maloney was absolutely eviscerated by John Stockton. This was like watching Frankie Williams get destroyed by Roddy Piper on Piper's Pit, only if it happened for six straight games over the course of two weeks. That's why they lost.

One year later, Glide and Dream were just about done, Barkley was headed that way and the Rockets finished .500. They haven't won a playoff series since.
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You know, I started this thread as a joke..
 
But, looking back, those lines really make you think what could have been...
(Not about Rafer)
 
Tinman, chirp in with your opinion...

plutoblue11 · Jan 20, 2009

Maloney for his shot...he would be deadly on this year's team.

Rafer for everything else, defense, passing (assists), and scoring.

DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

AntiSonic said:

For all of Maloney's faults, the guy did shoot 40% from behind the arc in his first year. We really couldn't have asked for more from an undrafted rookie.

Also, people tend to forget that Maloney was never intended to be the starter. The Rockets were forced to go with him originally because Brent Price got hurt, and were eventually stuck with him when Price went down for the season not long after the Rockets passed on trading him for Derek Harper.
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This is true..

tinman · Jan 20, 2009

hamza said:

Who would you rather have on your team?
 
After thinking long and hard, I have to go with Maloney...
The potential for upside is just oh too much
Click to expand...

Rafer.
Maloney was just a shooter not a PG.

DudeWah · Jan 20, 2009

tinman said:

Rafer.
Maloney was just a shooter not a PG.
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Honestly though, think about it..
In the system that we run, do we really need a "true pg"? With an offense based on lots of ball movement, wouldn't a "specialist" spot up shooter at the PG position help us out?

BigPun662 · Jan 20, 2009

hamza said:

Who would you rather have on your team?
 
After thinking long and hard, I have to go with Maloney...
The potential for upside is just oh too much
Click to expand...

another horrible PG the rockets had, i mean we started eldridge recasner and moochie norris.....by the way, what the hell is "G"?

Mac#5 · Jan 20, 2009

BigPun662 said:

another horrible PG the rockets had, i mean we started eldridge recasner and moochie norris.....by the way, what the hell is "G"?
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ive been wondering the same thing

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Rafer Alston vs. Matt Maloney

I can't get enough of you babyyyyy

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Rafer "the brick layer" Alston

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Rafer Alston vs. Matt Maloney

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