Rafer doesn't belong in the game at the last 5 minutes

That doesn't make him right.

 

Uh, you missed the point. It had nothing to do with Spanoulis.

And you must not have been watching the game. They put in Mike James because they had a 12 point lead. The Lakers had just taken out Turiaf and put in a small guard (Coby Karl) -- there was no need to keep in a poor free throw shoot like Hayes with a 12 point lead and 96 seconds to go. Hence, in comes MJ, out goes Hayes.

Rafer was in the final 6:54. Mike James wasn't. Seems like Adelman trusted Rafer just fine.

The idea of putting in a rookie point guard at the end of an NBA game when you have the starting point guard on a 52 win team, despite his limitations, is incomprehensible.

 

Not entirely incomprehensible.

Exhibit A:

Game 7 of 1993-94 Playoff between Rockets vs Suns. Sam Cassel, a rookie point guard performed in closing minutes while the starting PG sat on the bench.

Exhibit B:

Game 3 of the NBA Finals between Rockets and Knicks. Sam Cassel, still a rookie PG, made clutch shot in the closing moments, while the starting PG was having Harper nightmares.

The stakes were even higher in those 2 games, agree?

 

No it isn't. Did the Rockets win 52 games because of Rafer or despite Rafer being the starting PG? Morey stated after the season that we were "exposed" at PG last year.

 

rafer made some good plays but he does the every game mistakes such as missing 90% of 3 pointers when there is no momentum, missing layups, and missing tear drops. Apart from fumbling the ball in the last seconds of the game when he could of just held the ball and get fouled and take the FTs. He also passed the ball to KOBE in the first quarter lol. Rafer still will start though, he can steal the ball and makes some good assists but just dont give him the ball when the game is on the line. He's just lucky there's no good passing PG who is used to the ROckets lineup other than TMAC and himself on the team.
I think SF3 could run the point if he is given the chance to, but he will rust just like rafer did the WHOLE first one to two seasons he ran point for us. I think SF3 will adapt faster than rafer as a PG but he still would need time to adapt, something adelman wouldn't give since SF3 isn't at full fitness.

 

He didn't make many shots but at least he didn't take a lot. Just 6 shot attempts which a huge improvement from last year

 

My theory is that some small aliens got confused watching a previous AND1 highlight video and thought Alston was the best basketball player on Earth and sucked away all his basketball talent...

 

if they won in spite of rafer, how many games do you think they would've won with luther head or john lucas running point?

 

Tell you what, if we have to pick a ballhog to close out game, I much like Francis. Just play him in the last 5 min. He's going to love it.

BTW, why Rafter didnt eat the ball.

 

MJ created the Rockets comeback in the 1st-2nd quarter, i believe. WHen we were missing from everywhere...he gave us a major boost that we didn't have last year with his swishing 3s and great quick drives. .what did rafer show in the first quarter or a highlight? He passed to KOBE for a fast break dunk? LOL. OK, don;t worry rafer WILL run the point because he's the only guy who's adapted to the rockets lineup and he did improve passing wise after like 3 seasons with the team

 

oh, but it's going to get deafening in here, one hears but a faint sound from a distance, and the crowd just gets more and more raucous, "FRANCHISE, FRANCHISE, FRANCHISE!"

 

Rafer got the ball to Yao. Yao scored points.

 

I don't know, but the general statement "The idea of putting in a rookie point guard at the end of an NBA game when you have the starting point guard on a 52 win team, despite his limitations, is incomprehensible." is incomprehensible. You play the player who gives you a better chance to win. If that is the rookie PG because he is better than the incumbent, then you play the rookie PG. It would be unusual, but it can happen and it can make sense. Not in this case necessarily, but the statement is incorrect in its generality.

 

I watch the last few mins again and i think Rafer did ok. Since everything go to Tmac...he's going to pass to Tmac. But i like to see him hold on to the ball more instead of panicking passing the ball away. This team still need to learn how to handle pressure when being trapped. I remember under JVG, they have similar problem. It's the right thing to have Rafer in there because he's the best ball handler and passer.

I do think the Lakers got away with a lot of hacking on Yao's arms that result in turnovers though.

 

He played absolutely terrible last night, had 2 key tunrovers in the last couple minutes.

 

And what about Tmac's gift to Luke Walton right before Rafer's mistake? This is ridiculous. I can't believe people hate Rafer so much. If you are going to blame Rafer for the ending you have to blame Tmac as well.

 

Our offense collapsed the last minute or so, and needless to say that every single one of them had a piece of turnover aftyer another. Not just Rafer!! for your INFO.