Is this a hunch or insider info? DD, take notes on the rest of Clutch's post. That's what I meant by coming up with concrete feasible solutions.
This is not a fair comparison, Rafer was just coming back from an injury. Check Iversons/Terry, Jason/ nash this stats when he played against Rafer
Solutions? Heck, go down rosters of each team there are plenty of solutions available. If we had Sam Cassell as a backup, it would make Rafer more palatable. The problem is that the team has become so relient on a below average player that it is holding back the rest of the Rockets. Get a PG in here who can shoot, or pass, or for crying out loud...BOTH...and the team can make it work in a big way. But having one who is not a good passer, not a good shooter, but is good dribbling and playing decent defense is not good enough. The rules are skewed in the favor of penetrating players, players who put pressure on the other team's defense.... Not players who can dribble and go into the lane avoiding contact at all costs to throw up a floater. Rafer still finished under 50% at the rim this year, and that is amazing.....why a guy can not hit over 50% of his layups is beyond me. DD
Huh? Game 3 was the game we won in Utah, and also Rafer's best offensive game of the series. If that's "just coming back from an injury", I wish he was doing that all the time.
I feel very confident in saying that management would be absolutely floored if Francis came back. I don't know if Steve has picked up a basketball since his injury.
there are many aspects of the game you don't think his hamstring injury impeded his lateral movement and quickness, esp. on defense? We're talking defense here.
in the season before yao the rockets had the 2nd worst defense in the league. since drafting yao rockets have done no worse than have the 5th best defense in the league. since trading for mcgrady the rockets at worst have been the 2nd best defense in the league.
if only Rafer were healthy for all Six or Seven games. In my opinion the Rockets could have reached the Western Conference Finals with a healthy Rafer.
Your critiques of Rafer are always way out of bounds...you really go out of your way to bash the guy. I don't think anyone on this board is crazy enough to say he's a good shooter. He's streaky at best, I'll give you that. But you've said here and many times before that he's a bad passer and that's just not true. I'm not by any means saying Rafer is the ideal point guard for this team - yeah if we could get Baron Davis over here I'm all for it. But, to say Rafer is a poor passer/distributer is just plain disingenious. Rafer directs the offense in ways no one on this team comes close to (Tracy is the only other person on the team that directs traffic at all). The team runs smoothly when he's at the point and doesn't when he's not - that's all you need to know. Not really sure why this thread is needed anyway...you haven't said anything new that you don't say everytime you get a chance to bash Rafer. Not to mention that saying "look at any teams rosters" is hardly a solution. Rafer is far from ideal, but I think I can safely say I'd take him over any other teams backup (except Toronto) - and that includes the Celtics. I would not want Cassel to be my starting point guard - not now, no thanks.
ladies and gentlemen of the clutchfans jury, I present to you 2 posts about our PG plight. One gives actual names and plausible scenarios for solutions to the issue, the other goes round in circles, talks about the issue ad nauseum but the long winded post doesn't seem it will name concrete solutions any time this millenium. You be the jury.
Rafer shot nearly 50% after his injury. That's higher than what you wanted for the "perfect PG's" range. Sure, he shot sub-40% in the reg. season, but in the playoffs he was on the mark.
After coming back from a hamstring injury, shooting a " stand still three" is much easier that defending someone like Daron.
Very unlikely! Rafer is always inconsistent! He happened to play well in those couple of games after he came back from injury.
Even if he was inconsistent the chance that he could be somewhat consistent in the playoffs is somewhat good. Its not Rafer, its Yao. If we had Yao we would already be leading the LAKERS 3-0.
To keep Yao healthy, the rockets have to create easy baskets for him. Obviously, Rafer is not a pg who can do that job well.
ok but damn, first of all you need to tell him to refuse playing for China. I know it is important to play for your country, but
