I went club hopping last night with some good friends. We went to 3 different spots and got VIP service in the last 2 places because of some of the people I know. Well I went to this place downtown. This is the flyer for you skeptics that like details. Anyways, I have a lot of good stories to tell about last night but I'll get to the point. I bumped into Rafer Alston. I think I stopped here a little after midnight, skipped the line, didn't pay went straight to the bar and it was packed. The way the club is setup there are several different VIP areas so you can have your own little private spot if your important enough or pay enough money I guess. He was in a different VIP than the one I was in but I was going to the restroom and was walking past his when I realized it was him. He was with JR Smith and some person I didn't recognize who was drunk as hell and dancing on top of the sofa and grabbing every woman that walked by. He is a really cool guy too because I never met this man before in my life and he looked at me and said whats up, walked over to me shook my hand and just started talking to me and cracking jokes like we were life long friends in a club packed full of people. I won't bore you with the details of everything we discussed but the point of the story is he ended up telling me that they were actively trying to get him back down to Miami. That was how he put it. I told him that was messed up(edited version/not my exact words) because he was by far our best ball handler, passer at the position, and was superior to Francis and James at feeding Yao in the post as well as getting the ball to T-Mac where he likes it. He basically told me that they know that but the new system and coach call for a different type of player and they have a logjam with 3 guys capable of starting. Just thought I'd share my story.
Cool story. Yeah it's kinda true about he offense. Rafer's skillset doen't really fit well on an Adelman team. A lot of people are arguing that he's the only true PG on the roster not realizing that we don't NEED a true PG anymore. Everyone will be able to initiate the offense. I wonder what trade with Miami coud still be on the table though? I want no part of Doleac.
hey Will, juxtapose that quote to James' quote, "we will be running around like chicken's with their heads cut off."
Hey that poster looks made up! Just kidding. To bad about Rafer, I think he feels a little betrayed by the team and I don't blame him. He spent all last summer working hard to try and improve his shot and it looks like the Rockets will trade him anyways. Funny how the guys that will take his spot are guys that we traded in the past. I hope things work at for him and the Rockets. We could use another front line player. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for the story. I guess we'll see if that's the way it works out. I'd like to hang on to Rafer, but I don't feel sorry for the guy. Houston took him from being a whiny guy who couldn't get off the bench in Canada to the starter on a playoff team. He's got opportunities.
I would like to know Rafer's beverage of choice, please. Negroni? Soda water with olives? Pina colada? I can actually see him with a rye manhattan.
still trying to get him to the heat after they signed smush? it seems too late to go crawling back to them now. i think morey dropped the ball on this one. if you're gonna trade rafer, you have to do it at the beginning of the summer when teams have wholes to fill. at the end of the summer no team is still w/o a PG. rosters have filled up. now we will probably have to wait until mid season.
I would hope Miami is still looking for a PG. Surely, they don't believe Smush and Penny Hardaway can handle the job (if they even plan to play Penny at PG). For all of Rafer's shortcomings I think everyone will agree he is superior to both of those guys.
Yo, I'm not saying the flyer is fake and I'm willing to give you the benefit of the doubt, but isn't Rafer spellt "Raffer" on the poster?
I cant imagine they are happy with a Jason Williams/Smush Parker combo at PG. Rafer would be a great addition to them since he wont be expected to score a lot. Do you really think Morey dropped the ball by not taking Doleac for Alston, cuz that is what was appeared to be offered. I wouldnt do that deal then, now, or midseason. As for teams filling holes, look at our PF position. We added Scola, but Im sure would still be interested at adding another PF if we could. Clips added Knight but I could still see interest in Rafer on their part since Livingston is out for awhile and Sam has been hurt so much lately.
No he isn't, but I suppose it depends on how you define "true" point guard. Bibby is a scoring PG, which is a better fit in Adelman's offense because the PG doesn't have the ball in his hands as much and isn't called upon to initiate the offense every possession. In Adelman's system, the PG has to move without the ball and he must be just as prepared to receive the pass and score as get an assist. When it comes to receiving a pass and scoring, Rafer fails. Both Francis and MJ beat him hands down in this regard. With the magnets known as McGrady and Yao on the floor, the other players on offense MUST be able to convert easy opportunities. Rafer, who has no mid-range game and is pathetic at attacking the rim, killed us. Both he and the Rockets need to move on.
