[Sports Radio 610] Rafer Alston practiced today and probable for tomorrow

And if all of our other PG options screw up the rest of the year, and CD & Gundy totally screwup the draft and FA market for PG's this summer, Mooch might be invited back next year at Vet Minimum.....

 

Finally, we are getting some good luck. FINALLY!

 

I will bet the house that the three, count 'em, three, new additions have the Rockets offense running a lot smoother. Props to JVG for going out and getting two offensive minded players from the CBA and think it's going to work
out suprisingly well. Kinda like Sam Mack and Eldrige Recasner worked out for the Rockets seasons ago. with Alston back, for the first time we have a real point guard with Mcgrady on the court and with Lucas a backup who will eventually replace norris who has the ability to score and drive. The hope is that Josh Davis can be this years Scott Padgett and spread the defense. That kind of player can do wonders for Mcgrady when he's being smotherd by defenses. You gotta have that kind of player to create space and open the defenses up sometimes. So we get two players who can handle the basketball for the first time in a long time and a pf who has the potential to spread the defenses. Call me crazy but i think we're about to make a serious push for the playoffs.

 

This is good news. Hopefully we'll get everyone healthy & into playing shape so we can make our run to the playoffs after the All Star break.

 

LOL, a sticky for Rafer Alston's comeback? It just shows how desperate this team is.

 

I though Rafer retired. Remember last year he threatened to quit on basketball.

 

good, i get to see skip to my lou in person...

 

I hope you are right because if the team waits for Yao to come back it will be too late. Absolute must to play at least .500 ball while Yao is out to have some chance at making the playoffs.

 

Glad to hear that rafer is back. Now JVG need to know that he needs to let Rafer loose because he is not a player that likes to get in a set. He needs to tell rafer to play like our second option and start penetrating alot more.

 

glad to hear we are getting another player back.

Now, if only Rafer can actually score some buckets, we might be ok.

 

Okay, Crazy.

 

Good deal. I need more to look at before I can decide if this trade was a disaster or not.

 

suprised to see such optimism for rafer coming back when he didn't do anything in the games he played.

 

Anyone still gonna kick and scream that we didn't sign Damon (older was definitely a downside)? Out for the season..

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=251230022



Stoudamire to have knee surgery, may be out for season

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -- The Memphis Grizzlies' big victory was dampened by an even bigger loss.

Guard Damon Stoudamire ruptured his right patellar tendon and left the court on a stretcher in the Memphis Grizzlies' 93-90 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.

"We just lost a big, big part of the heart of this team by losing Damon," said coach Mike Fratello.

The 32-year-old Stoudamire will undergo surgery pending an examination by team doctors in Memphis and will likely miss the rest of the season, said team spokeswoman Stacey Mitch.

Mike Miller scored 15 of his 23 points in the second quarter for the Grizzlies, who led by as many as 15 points in the second half before Portland rallied, getting within two in the final seconds.

The Grizzlies hung on down the stretch, with Eddie Jones hitting two key free throws, but the sudden loss of their starting point guard reverberated in the locker room after game.

"It's really painful for the team to lose Damon," said Pau Gasol, who had 18 points and nine rebounds. "He's been a great leader for us and we'll miss his great finishes down the stretch."

Stoudamire, who was originally said to have sprained his knee, ruptured the tendon while driving to the hoop in the second quarter.

"I had a layup, but when I went up it felt like a sniper shot me," he said. "It was just a feeling I've never had."

Stoudamire, who played more than seven seasons for the Blazers, was making his first appearance in his hometown after leaving to sign a four-year deal with Memphis in the offseason.

He lay motionless with his head buried in his arm for a few minutes until being wheeled off the court.

"What's crazy is that when I went from the court to the Blazer locker room, I cried. And I cried upstairs," Stoudamire said.

Ruben Patterson scored 22 points and Zach Randolph added 18 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers.

Miller finished 8-for-10 from the field after hitting his first six shots. He scored 18 points in the first half and stayed in the game despite suffering a sprained ankle just before halftime.

The Blazers missed the inside presence of Joel Przybilla, who sat out for a second straight game with a sore knee.

"They have a really nice team with inside presence by Pau Gasol and outside presence by Miller, Jones, (Shane) Battier and Stoudamire," said Portland coach Nate McMillan.

Portland got within 90-88 on Patterson's rebound put-back with 18.9 seconds left.

Jones then increased the lead to four with two free throws before Juan Dixon made a layup to get Portland within 92-90.

Bobby Jackson hit one of two free throws with 10 seconds left and the Blazers missed a chance to force overtime when Randolph missed a 3 at the buzzer.

Stoudamire's injury also shook up some of his former Blazer teammates. While paramedics attended to the guard, Patterson repeatedly tried to leave the Portland huddle to see him, but assistant Maurice Lucas held him back.

"To see the guy go down here brought tears to my eyes, man," Patterson said. "He came out here and I told him I love you and keep your head up." ^Notes Memphis is 6-14 all-time playing in Portland. ... The Blazers were also without G Sebastian Telfair and F Darius Miles. ... Gasol had 26 points and 12 rebounds for the Grizzlies in an 89-79 win over Portland in Memphis on Dec. 21.

 

or a bricking option.

 

Do youseriously believe Rafer was not injured? Or you are in the joking mood?

 

I do know that Rafer got to practice shooting 2's and 3's for the past 6 weeks under Charlie Ward's tutelage while he healed. That has got to help the shooting. We may never know the truth unless someone posts the x-rays on the net.

 

Also it was nice to see Rafer contribute last night. And if Lucas can push him from behind ie some healthy PG competition, we could be in a good situation PG-wise in a couple of weeks.

 

Alston is our starting PG coming off of a 14-6 season.

 

I doubt an injured ravaged team would keep a key player like Alston out of the lineup because he was in the doghouse. This isn't an Artest-type situation.