Rafer needs to get benched:

Hey Coach DaDakota, I think Coach JVG has a better idea of which players give us the best chance to win than you. Rafer is not that good of a defender, but JL III and Head aren't exactly good defenders either. WE ARE WINNING!

 

Agree!! Yes JLIII shows good ball handling and quickness in few minutes he plays but when it comes down to defense Rafer is a better defender than JLIII and that is probably one of the reasons why JVG (defense first coach) doesn't play JLIII that often.

 

Rafer is great at not turning the ball over. He doesnt make stupid passes usually and he distributes fine. I just have a problem with him shooting. He is just taking too many shots. If he limited his shots, people would not be so pissed of at him all the time. By taking 15 shots a game, he is taking shots away from people who shoot better. I would just like him to cut down all the shots to maybe 8-9 per game. i would be fine with that.

 

Concur.

 

Alston forces about 2 of his 15 shots per game. That's not bad...i get mad as hell when he forces it, but it's not a common thing. T-Mac forces a bunch more shots than anyone, but he's a superstar who can make forced shots, and sometimes needs to take forced shots to set up the offense.

It's not Rafer's fault for shooting so much. I'm no Rafer fan, but I really don't blame him for his volume shooting. I did a stat comparison earlier in a stretch of games when T-Mac was injured and Rafer and Head were starting together. They both played pretty much identical minutes, and took around the same number of 3's...those numbers said to me that most of the shots Rafer and Head are getting are a result of the system and how the defense reacts.

Occasionally Head gets a play called for him to run around two picks and go to the corner for a catch and shoot. The only time Rafer looks for his own shot is early in games in early shotclock around a pick. Rafer was forcing about 5 bad shots per game earlier in the year, and I was all over him for doing that...I hated it so much, but he's really cut down on forcing.

The whole point is, it's not Rafer taking 15 shots per game, it's anybody who plays PG for the Rockets for 40mpg is going to get 15 shots (5 to 7 open treys and 8-10 open drives). That's the way the system is. Rafer is not taking shots away from anyone when he receives the ball on a kickout with 7 seconds left on the shot clock. So as I stated, as fans the best we can do is hope for Rafer to shoot better, or hope everyone gets healthy because Rafer's minutes will go down.

 

Yes we are winning, but we are also in 6th in the West, and we have some weaknesses which need to be addressed.

The goal is to WIN the championship, not just show up in the first round.

And, did JVG have a better idea when he cut Chuck Hayes, or what about when he brought in Rick Brunson, or Rod Strickland, or what about Charles Oakley?

I think JVG has an opinion and makes his decisions based upon his opinion, and it is an educated opinion but that doesn't make him right.


Of course, same could be said of me...sans the educated part.



DD

 

Rafer only forces 2 shots each game? Are you serious? Kim, I like reading your posts a lot but lets stay credible. ~90% of Rafer's runners and teardrops are forced. Nothing makes him charge into the lane and leave his feet. Nothing! He should finish a wide open layup, pass the ball or dribble through and come back out. This is what other small PGs do. Semi-open drives DO NOT necessarily have to result in a shot, especially with a player that is a notoriously weak finisher. Seems like Rafer takes more teardrops than the master himself, Tony Parker. Memo to Rafer: DON'T TAKE THE BAIT! Kim, you also need to take a look and see how many times he misses open shooters when he drives. Sickening.

Here are Rafer's last 6 games from inside the arc: 1-4, 3-9, 3-11, 5-12, 1-8. Totals up to 16-55 which is 29%. So you are saying he is shooting that bad while NOT forcing shots or that he has cut back? Let's be real. If you are correct, he is worse than Rybo and shouldn't be in the NBA.

Since he continues building his brick mansion, our best hope as fans is for him to get less floor time now that Snyder is back. He won't shoot better because he can't. We can also hope the Rockets trade for another PG.

Don't take this personally. The Rafer debate is fun for me. Please note that I am not talking about his 3 point shooting.

 

C'mon, even you would have to agree with me when I say this team will only go as far as Yao and T-mac will carry them. IMO we'll win it all with those two superstars close to 100% AND a healthy Bonzi (a.k.a. Spurs killer). As far as us only being 6th in the West, I'm pretty sure that has a lot more to do with the injuries to Yao and Tracy, and T-mac not being his old self until the Patterson treatment than what Alston is and isn't doing.

Don't worry about our seeding either. Because of this stupid playoff format, the only way we could get higher than a 5 seed is if we finish with a better record than San Antonio or Dallas. We're pretty close to the Spurs actually, but I'm not going to count on it or even expect that. Considering that T-mac is officially back, and that he's one of the best road players in the game, I have no problem with starting the playoffs on the road.

You're going too far when you label our PG situation as a "weakness". I would call it a "weakness" if we didn't have a PG that was capable of taking care of and distributing the ball. Alston can do both of those things. There's no doubt he's struggling with his shot, but I believe his shooting will improve over time. Look at Juwan Howard. Plus, Rafer will be taking less shots (to the relief of many fans) once Yao, Bonzi, and Snyder come back.

I don't know you. I don't know JVG. But I think I'll take JVG's educated opinion over your's. No hard feelings.

 

Should Rafer get benched? No, because he's the only pg who push the ball up the court consistenly without many turnovers.

However, I wish that he wouldn't force up some shots at time and that dam teardrop rainbow ugly shot of his needs more work. Also he takes too many dam shots and bricks many in return. He needs to defer those shots to higher percentage shooters like Shane, JHo and Luther.

Unfortunately, Rafer is the best we got at that position , so we need to do the best with what we got.

 

A3PO, let's just agree to disagree. I hate the teardrops, but I don't think they're forced...seriously. I need to watch more closely (I've been busy), but I don't think defenders are leaving their man to collapse on Rafer. It's not like Rafer immediately drives to look for the tear drop every possession, for that would be forcing it in my opinion. I think Rafer drives when there's less than 10 seconds on the shot clock, he has received a kick-out, the swing pass isn't there, and the defense got back in time to contest the shot, therefor that's when the drives happen. I really think that scenario is what happens on most drives, and that would mean they are good drives...and subsequently unforced tear drop shots because defenders are staying at home in my opinion, because they want Rafer to take the open close range shot.

Steve Nash and Parker and co, they initiate the offense with their drives, so they have time to take it back out if nothing is there. Rafer's drives are mostly form kickouts where the shot cannot be taken before the D gets there...just my opinion. Again, I don't like Rafer's game, but I don't think those are bad shots considering the circumstances. That's why I'm hoping for a quick recovery from Snyder. Many of Snyder's minutes will come from Rafer, and Snyder is great at driving and getting fouled when the shot isn't open. The only problem is he can't hit freethrows, but that's another issue.

Soooo, let's watch this next game carefully. If Rafer's coming up early in the possessions and driving for those tear drops all the time, then I'll admit I'm wrong, but I really think my scenario is what happens most the time. Rafer's getting the kick out with 10 or less seconds on the clock...he doesn't drive unless he has to: meaning the swing pass isn't there and the shot isn't open...just my opinion.

 

Heh heh, didn't take you long Kim. Too bad I'll miss the game tomorrow, so you analyze and update the thread. Looking forward to it. Let me say right now that I know not ALL of Rafer's runners are forced. The problem is he must play within his abilities, which don't include hitting runners. As PG, it's up to him to direct something else to happen like good PGs do. Playing within one's abilities is essential for players like Rafer that aren't very talented to start with. When he takes fewer shots and his 2pt FG% goes up, I'll leave Rafer alone.

 

Agree with everything said here. From what I've seen, Rafer forces more threes than runners. Everyone on the floor, including Skip, knows that him driving and shooting is the last option.

 

I think this is worth another read. Kim, I totally agree with you here.
Our "system" is what gives the PG those shots. Now, if we could only find a PG that works better in our system. One that is a bit better 3pt shooter and one that has some form of a midrange shot or the ability to drive to the basket. Our PG is a defacto SG in our offense with Tmac being the PG.

 

While I agree to a point, if Rafer is not shooting well....and clearly he isn't....he is free to drive, force the defense to react and PASS THE BALL TO THE OPEN PLAYER !!!

He does not have to shoot 15 times a game....he can create for his teamates...you know...like a PG should !!!

DD

 

I think Rafer feels when he drives (which as Kim says is late in the shot clock) that he feels HE is the one that should take the shot. Basically he feels HE is the 3rd option on the team. I don't think the drives are forced. They are necessary. And sometimes Rafer's drive shots are necessary. It's just that they dont go in nearly as much as we need them to. But, you are right DD, Rafer needs to colapse the D and find cutters. Unfortuately they are all standing around the 3pt line. And many times they are covered. I think defenses basically say, let Rafer drive and dont leave your man because Rafer can't make any shots in the lane or in midrange.

Rafer is open on purpose. Our opponents are smart. They are allowing Rafer to be the one shooting the ball. And not anyone else.

 

This is a good thread, a key for Rockets' final success. Probably better with a title: How do we live with RA as a PG?
His shooting is not reliable. His FTs tell everything. He shoots too many, may has something to do with the JVG's system, may aslo be related to other team's baiting strategy. The low percentage shooter always gets the most open shots.
RA should change his mindset for shooting. He doesn't need to be told to shoot open 3s. But he has to bear in mind shooting first for him is detrimental to the team. I like his speed to drive to hoop, but I'll be much happier to see he gets an asist rather than a 2 or a miss.
A changed Rafer is related to this year's Rox dream. Will this ever happen?

 

Good discussion going on here...threads usually get worse not better, so this is nice.

Anyhow, just my opinion, but I don't think Rafer is not trying to be selfish on his drive and shots. Whether he feels like he needs to be the 3rd option is irrelevant. I've play by played quite a few chats and have watched pretty much every game (missed about 4) this year and I've seen many times where Rafer has drove and dished for layups and shots...mostly earlier in the year. I think Rafer's court vision is fine.

The problem is what is Rafer to do when defenses adjust? Teams are basically saying "okay Rafer, you got the ball back with 7 seconds on the shot clock, and we ran out to you at the 3pt line in time, so you're driving it, but we're not leaving Battier open in the corner, we're not leaving Deke/Chuck open inside for the layup, and we're definitely not leaving Luther open for the 3..basically, we're leaving you wide open from 18 feet to 5 feet to the rim. If you were tall and athletic, you would ram the dunk down our throats and get an AND1, but you're short and you suck at shooting, and there's no time left in the shot clock to reset the play".

So confronted with this situation, Rafer decides to shoot, which is a good shot...perhaps instead of the tear drop, he should stop and pop for the 12 footer...that could be an adjustment to his game, but on the other hand, I understand that he wants to get his teardrop working because it will be very available and can be an effective record down the road.

If Rafer doesn't shoot those shots (which is the majority of the situation), what should he do? Hold the ball for a 24 second violation? Force the pass to a covered Head? VSpan is great at making creative precision passes, so this is where VSpan can help in the future, but VSpan's passes are also very high risk...Rafer's not that type of guy. Rafer can make a good pass, even a risky one, but Jeff Van Gundy would kill him if Rafer made risky passes with the clock winding down. The proper basketball decision is to shoot the damn open shot (tear drop or not) with the clock winding down, rather than forcing a tough pass.

Basically, Rafer is the weakest link in our offensive scheme, but he's a necessary link. If he doesn't shoot, our offense will suck more...more turnovers and it would just be destructive. He's a necessary evil right now, and all we should do as fans is support him and hope he gets better, and hope for the rest of the guys: Snyder and Bonzi to get healthy.

 

Great post.

Inserting V-Span into the lineup would create nothing but uncertainty and inconsistancy. Say what you want about Skip, but there's no doubt that he keeps the offence running like a well-oiled machine.

 

Yes,I believe Crawford would excel playing with Yao and Tracy.He doesn't have to be the man.Being the 3rd or 4th option would work well.Like you said he can handle the ball very well and would definitely slice Rafer's minutes.The guy DOES have the ability to take over agame too.The whole thing to me is whether Crawford tones down his game and fits into this role.On this front I'm confident.