Rafer to start since we have a 1-2-3 punch offensively in the starting unit w/ TMac, Yao, and Scola... I think we needed Brooks offense in the 2nd unit to have a realiable 1-2 offensive punch on the bench with Artest... Rafer can also comes of the bench to get some needed rest and to kinda get his rhythm back since Brooks is doing tremendous job in the starting line up... Either way, I good with it as long as we win...
Brooks seems to be passing Rafer as far as skill goes but Rafer's BBall IQ is alot higher then Brooks. Brooks is still young and has alot to learn. When we play better teams like the Cavs and lakers, Rafer will do better because he has the knowledge to run the team. When the time comes that Brooks can match or come close to Rafer's knowledge of the game then I say goodbye Rafer as the starter, but I dont think that will happen for atleast another year or so.
No one threatened his job before. He's shooting better now. He doesn't deserve to lose the job this year, at least not yet.
I hope he comes off the bench and plays limited minutes at first and then makes his way into the starting lineup over the course of the next three games depending on how his hamstring responds. No need to rush, especially with the way AB has been playing.
No one has threatened his job before because we had a roster full of *horrible* PGs. That's like saying no one threatened Ryan Bowen's job or Chuck Hayes job. It is stupid to not give the best five players the most playing time. Brooks is simply a better PG than Alston (who is by most measures in the bottom quarter of PGs in the league).
Kenny was an excellent shooter...his entire career....Kenny Smith was 100 times better than Rafer Alston was, or ever will be. As for now.....Rafer will start, but not for much longer, Aaron Brooks is better than Rafer at pretty much everything, and he is going to be even better, Rafer is deteriorating from a not very high point to begin with. Out with the old, in with the new. the sooner the better. DD
Right, so Bowen and Hayes had their jobs until someone took the job from them, not while they were hurt or anything. As far as Rafer goes, you are choosing to ignore the fact that Rafer is actually playing well this year. I mean if you are, that's cool. I mean it's your take on it. We just differ in opinion, that's all. To me, the fact that Rafer is playing well, I put him on the court with Tracy and Yao. I run Brooks with Artest off the bench. It's just the strategy I'd roll with it. Does it bother you that much to give Rafer his starting job back off an injury, and if he plays badly he loses the job? I doubt we'd go on a significant losing streak or anything.
Ess, I don't mean this directed at you, but why do people say Rafer has been playing well this year? His FG% is 36.7 percent...which is horrible for a starting NBA PG Every year this happens, he has a few hot games and it is like everyone took a purple look lately pill and thinks he is playing well. Last year, same thing but overall his year was ...again...CRAP..... The guy puts a few games together every year where he gets hot and people go......ooooh....he is turning it around.....then...reality hits and he sucks like always. Brooks has been FAR more consistent......Rafer Alston should lose his job, there is no doubt in my mind the team is better off with Brooks playing starters minutes....and Rafer only playing the backup minutes unless he is hot. DD
I think Rafer should start with AB taking that Sam Cassell type role. It's nice and all that the team has played the defensive juggernauts that are the Nuggets, Kings, T-Wolves and Nets the last four games....the Cavs are a different story. Plus, as mentioned already, Shane is back, T-Mac is back, Artest is in a different, seemingly more comfortable role, etc. I can see Rafer and Brooks getting equal minutes the rest of the year, with Rafer starting and whoever is playing the best that particular game finishing. That said, you can't look past results, regardless of who they're against. If the offense goes south, Rafer goes to the bench quickly, imo. With Battier and Rafer playing together, maybe you do need Brooks to add another potential scoring threat.
And a gimpy Tmac.......trust me the team needs a penetrating player this year to help Tmac as he gets in shape. Rafer is not it.....if Rafer starts (which I expect he will) he has to be hitting his 3s or he is worthless. DD
Hey, McGrady has been VERY agressive lately. He has been driving to the rim and creating easy looks for Yao, Scola, even himself. I know he didn't do that against Nets, but he didn't have to. He made most of his jumpers, and it was a blow out from the start to the end. I love Brooks, but for me he is too selfish. He shouldn't play with Yao and Mac, because they both need shots. So when Aaron comes off the bench it makes him more comfortable, because he can be 'selfish'
I am wondering, if the rockets wanted to shop Rafer now, which team would what him? Honestly, I don't think any other team wants Rafer as their starting pg. Even as a backup pg, very few teams would want him.
everyone said cp3 would destroy ab, ab proved em wrong they said devin harris was too much for AB, AB responded by giving Harris 3 quick fouls and put the game in the rockets hands from that point on. Brooks is the real deal, but rafer was shooting and running the offense equally as good before the injury, I would like AB to start. But AB coming in with the second unit with Artest is just as good as well and Artest will have a legit hand feeding him the ball which is awesome and will keep us in games and not allow teams to go on long runs. Brooks brings pressure on the ball and that is exactly what the second unit is lacking on the 3pt line.
I am mystified at why we defend Alston as the starting PG. In previous years, we also defending having Hayes as the starting PF. Your team is not going anywhere if you have players like Hayes and Alston starting. They simply do not have the essential fundamental skills that NBA players ought to possess.
Against a short and quick backcourt of Williams and West, I wouldn't mind seeing Alston and Brooks out there together at times. Honestly, if any of you guys recall how Adelman handled his pg rotation of Jason Williams and Bobby Jackson in Sactown, you know that it really doesn't matter who starts. BJ most ofen played down the stretch and got the majority of the minutes even though JW was starting. And even after the Bibby trade, BJ still got plenty of minutes and shared the court with Bibby a lot. Basically, Rick is going to play the most effective PG, whoever that happens to be.
So are Derek Fisher, Steve Kerr, James Posey, Robert Horry, and Bruce Bowen. While I agree that Brooks is looking like the better player and should get the majority of PT, Chuck and Rafer's status as role players shouldn't automatically count against them. Role players do have vital roles on winning teams.
