Say what you want about Rafer Alston BUT...

Both CD and JVD are the key maker and the key holder.

 

To those who think we can do better than Rafer:

Rafer does a few things very well. He controls the ball. He controls the tempo on offense. He plays solid team defense. He can eat up a lot of minutes in any given game and still play effectively.

There are VERY few players that do all of these things as well or better than Rafer, and most of those players are stars.

Rafer is a great fit for this team as a role player, like Battier. They both do things that don't show up on the stat line, but nevertheless are integral to the success of the team.

Yes, he has problems shooting. Yes, he can't finish at the basket consistantly. But he is servicable in both of these categories, and at times he shows flashes of greatness.

Regardless of his weaknesses, Rafer is an exceptional PG because, when all is said and done, he gets the damm job done. Could Mike James say that?

 

funny as hell! you the man.. that was pretty good

 

JVG is the key to the Escalade. He's driving this thing.

On another note, I agree, Rafer is a very important piece to this team. We just need to tweak the point guard spot a little bit. You do realize that Rafer is shooting 37% from 2 and 36% from 3. If he was just shooting a measly 43% from 2 and could up his 3 point percentage to 40%, then we would be able to subtract about 4 losses and flip them to wins just on that alone. That would mean we would be sitting about 3-4 games off Phoenix and Dallas for the best record in the NBA, and that is with Yao missing all that time. If Rafer were shooting 43% from 2 and 40% from 3, you can add at least 2 wins and subtract at least two losses and probably more like 4 games would the outcome of those games been different.

So, Rafer is important, because we have no one else, AND WE AREN'T DEVELOPING ANYBODY ELSE ON THIS ROSTER THAT CAN PLAY THE POINT!!!!

This is why some of us keep screaming for VSpan. We know Head can't play point. We know Lucas can't play point. And we know come playoff time, we are likely to get burned by some team that forces the ball away from 111 and to Rafer.

So, if we are going to continue to run this type of offense where the point guard essentially breaks pressure, gets the ball over, gets it to McGrady, and then goes and stands in a corner for the spot up 3 ball, then we need to get another point like Chucky Atkins that can take a few shot attempts away from Rafer without taking shot attempts away from everybody else. We need to get another point.

Otherwise, we need to DEVELOP THE ONLY OTHER REAL POINT GUARD TABLE SETTER THAT WE HAVE ON THIS TEAM RIGHT NOW. No, VSpan can't shoot worth a flip. To develop him, the offense is going to have to develop to the point where a point guard can and is encouraged to penetrate, break down the defense, and then either finish (which Rafer is really bad at) or dish.

You do realize that Rafer is shooting 43.7% on LAYUPS. We're talking less than 50% at the rim, man. That's the worst on the whole team except for Padgett, but Rafer has shot more layups than anybody on the team except Yao. He's the worst shooter of any starting point guard in the whole league and he's the worst finisher on this team, taking the second most layups on this team, and he's amongst the very, very short list of worst finishers at his position in the whole league. Basically, the only shots that he should be taking are spot up 3 balls, that's it. Because anytime he shoots inside the 3 point line, he is making less than 0.76 points every time he shoots it. And frankly, anytime he shoots off the dribble, his percentages are significantly lower. Servicable? Servicable? Basically, having him out there when McGrady is not facilitating and he is having to facilitate is a waste of time and our offense bogs down. It's kind of a mixed bag. Damned with him and damned without him.

For us to get to the next level, Rafer is going to have to shoot from somewhere significantly better. He either needs to improve to 40% on his 3 point shooting, or improve to 43-44% on his midrange shooting, or improve to 50% on his layups.

I think his shooting will improve when Yao gets back. I think he will be taking less shots and will be taking more wide open 3 point spot up shots, which should help him and us. I just hope it's enough, since it's obvious we are not going to develop VSpan this year. Either that, or bring in Chucky Atkins.....please.

 

Hate to be the one to tell you that they normally don't have ice cream stores in people's houses.

Deke = Key to the Bible (he's playing like a man possessed)

 

Vspan = Key to the back yard (That's where they keep the dog house)

 

Juwan is the key to the floor but he lost the key and his feet are stuck there.

 

Novak = Key to the living room (he's always lounging around)
Padgett = Key to the Attic (that's where you keep the forgotten things)

 

Well, if being "damned" with Rafer is equal to 30-17, I guess I'll be damned.

 

Clutch, with all due respect, I don't know if it is fair to dig numbers out from a single game almost three months ago that appear to show that Luther Head is equal to Rafer Alston in handling the ball.

In my opinion, 3 turnovers from a reserve 2-guard is more glaring than 4 turnovers from a starting point guard. I am not saying that Rafer Alston is Steve Nash here, but it is hard to deny that Rafer is MUCH better at getting the ball up the court efficiently than Luther Head.

 

I agree, and that's what's encouraging- the problems that Rafer has are fixable. I would be more worried about him if he was turnover prone, made bad decisions when distributing, and had bad court vision. Those are things that either take time or don't get fixed at all. Taking bad shots or learning to finish around the bucket are things that can be fixed, even over the course of the season. I think Rafer has lots of upside.

 

hahahahahahaahaha... wait... HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!1!!!!

 

Clyde Drexler = Key to the old jukebox (sounds horrible when you turn it on)

 

Rafer is far from perfect, but he is the best PG option and I agree he fits, at least a lot better than mike james would at the pg position. But he has a lot to improve, the more he does the better the team will be. PG is perhaps the hardest position to play in basketball.

 

Off topic, but does Clyde seem like he's getting a lot better lately, or is it just me? It seems like he has loosened up a bit and is actually saying interesting things. He has stopped relying on his boring platitudes so much.

Of course, with him being more expressive, he is starting to wander into Bill Walton territory with his exaggerated statements, like: "Rafer Alston is one of the top 5 point guards in the NBA."

I like Rafer and all, but that statement last game was pretty laughable.

PS - say what you want about the Rockets announcing team, but after listening to a lot of other teams on League Pass, I think we have one of the best announcing teams in the league. Maybe its just because I grew up listening to him, but I think Bill Worrell is one of the best out there.

 

Bonzi = Key lime pie

 

lol....great one!!!!

 

Im not too sure about him getting better. Last night, Clyde stated that Rafer is easily in the top 5 as far as best PG's go and also said that KG will easily get to 30000 points in the next 5-6 seasons. The word easily is thrown out too much with him.

 

you're the only one on here who's talkin sense! give me chucky atkins. he's been lately though. dont know if memphis will give him up