Any potential offers for him are likely to be worthless.He still is of some value because if Mike James goes down JL3 and VSpan are even weaker than him. VSpan has potential as a backup but he needs time to get better.
Agreed, and that conclusion shouldn't even be a point of debate. Two seasons of evidence: he cant' shoot, not even up close. How can you be a starting PG in the NBA and you can't shoot? Am I missing something here?
The Rockets are in trouble if James or Alston are starting PG. Both are backup materials and unfortunately the Rockets are playing in a conference full of elite PGs. James is a better shooter but a sucker in running offense. Alston is a poor shooter but capable in running offense. Only if we can combine the good of James and Alston in one body then the Rockets have a starting PG. I'll pick Alston as starter and James comes off bench. It suits their abilities better.
does Adelman's offense even require a true playmaking PG? i know Tex Winter's triangle offense doesn't. Bibby actually averaged over 8 assists a game in Vancouver. when he came to Sacramento, he didn't exactly turn into Steve Nash with over 12 assists a game with all the offensive weapons they supposedly had. no, one year even Chris Webber averaged more assists (5.4) than Bibby (5.2). what i'm saying is that the Rockets should just use the best player available that can defend that position as well as bring the ball up the court under pressure, and then it comes down to whoever can understand the new offense better. the problem is that neither of those two strike me as having high basketball IQ. however, Battier, T-Mac and Yao and even Bonzi do. so i guess we'll just have to see.
if they're both here, i'd say rafer probably starts. but we'll see what kind of moves morey has up his sleeve. i voted james because i'm sure he'll be here.
Ugh....how are we spending more than $10 million a year for the next three years at the PG position and still so weak at that position? I'd say we need Mike's offense off the bench when T-mac or Yao is out of the game.... But since Mike makes a million more than Rafer...it would appear that the market thinks Mike James is the more valuable player.
I say that the point guard position is solid. Let's not forget that not too long ago, our point guards consisted of Matt Maloney, Moochie Norris, and a large revolving door. Steve Francis held that title for a while, but he was in all essence a combo guard. Raefer Alston and Mike James seem to make a good tandem. Both have good handles. One is a scorer and the other is a tempo controler. Nice rotation.
I can understand the argument for James being a 6th man scoring punch of the bench, but I'd rather have him start. Rafer can't create his own shot and can't create shots for others. His only offensive asset is an ability to make an entry pass. But people focus on that only because of Head's complete inability to make one when he was running point. Having Rafer in there with Yao means double teams that turn into more 3 point jacks that go clank. It's funny that people condemn James as a shoot first guard when Rafer isn't a true point either. He jacks up almost as many (and recently more) shots than James but is just less proficient at actually making them. It's going to be a new offense but I imagine that, given the opportunity, Rafer is still going to shoot and miss a ton of 3's and drive to basket but be unable to finish. I'd like to limit that as much as possible. If Rafer would censor himself more and take a reduced shooting role then I'd have no problem starting him and let James be the energy off the bench. I just have my doubts about that happening. But maybe that's something Adelman can bring to the table that JVG couldn't. (JVG should have fined Rafer for every floater he attempted). Maybe you can start Rafer but have James play more minutes. James may get a few minutes at SG but if Bonzi's back and healthy and contributing, those minutes will probably be limited. All I know is, that at any given moment, I'd rather have Rafer on the bench and James on the floor than the other way around.
I think Mike James would be a better starter but it wouldn't be stupid if Rockets' put Rafer in the starting lineup. Mike and Bonzi would be a great power commin' off the bench
Alston never really had any competition for the starting position. With james here that might encourage rafer to become better and improve his skills.
Id want rafer starting- say what you will, but hes a great (yes, great) passer- no nba player will deny that. i mean 1st quarter has typically been (and i think will stay as) where tmac carried the load (or just does 'heat checks'). after mac, then ming kicks it into gear. by that time, were well on our way in the second quarter, nice time to bring james in, hed be a great boost off the bench- not quite ginobli-esque, but can still get the job done.
Agreed. Rafer is hated for no reason, he is solid contributor, but when he has to be 3rd scorer and play 44 minutes, sorry he is gonna straight up suck. Give him 25 min, and make him 4th option (AT BEST), Do same with James and we have a decent 1/2 Pg punch.
not really. rafer starting isnt/wasnt the problem. It was not having a good backup for him, especially one that was better at scoring.
The real question is, Will M James be able to handle comming off the bench? Will it turn him into last years Bonzi?
I agree. JVG just let Rafer shoot all that stupid 3s. Now wwith Adelman our offense will be beautiful and I'm sure Rafer won't play 40 minuter per game and will have to drive more and be more a playmaker not a stupid shooter cause Tracy wanna be our scorer
How can you be a great passer if you never penetrate and draw in the defense? It seems kinda hard to be a great passer if you hand it off to Tmac at the top of the key on every possession.
