I am not backpedaling from 10 assists. I think 10 assists is achievable for Rafer if he has 3 scorers on the floor especially in a faster paced game climate. In case you have forgotten, we are marching right into an era of higher scoring with the rules changes. The days of holding teams in the high 70s to low 80s to win ballgames is a thing of the past. In the following years, teams will be doing well to hold teams in the high 80s to mid 90s. This game is going up offensively. All the scoring stats are moving north. I don't care if there weren't any double digit assist guys in the league the last 15 years. Double digit assists will become more common, just like 30 ppg scorers will become more common. Be forward thinking and quit trying to drive looking through the rearview mirror. You are doing the same thing with the trade. You are looking at what is happening right now, like this is the end of everything, there will never be another season and if there is another season, we are bound to duplicate all these injuries and Rafer and MJ are going to duplicate this year's performances. This is not a static environment.
Ywah, from Bingo. Alston will put up a double-double next season with TMac back and a 3rd scorer added to the starting lineup. to 10 points 10 assists to With a healthy Yao and TMac, he will push 10 assists if he is the starting PG. to If we get a definite 3rd scorer, stay healthy, and continue a faster pace, Rafer will push 10 assists next year. to 10 assists is achievable for Rafer if he has 3 scorers on the floor especially in a faster paced game climate. That is not back paddling. If I can make every qualification, make everything perfect, I can be a perfect predictor too. Anyway, talk is cheap. I suggest you 1)check out the numbers in the high scoring era, or 2)make good of your words.
Oh, and I love how you accuse others of "trying to drive looking through the rearview mirror." That must make you more confident in what you are saying.
I've been consistent in what I've said. If we get a 3rd scorer I believe Rafer will average 10 assists per game. If not, he will be close. If he isn't close, it's because of injuries, or him not playing because of his defense or because he got traded somewhere else. I don't know how else to say it. If we get a third scorer at SG, and everybody is on the floor healthy, Rafer will push 10 assists. RAFER IS AN EXCELLENT PASSER AND A VERY EFFICIENT OFFENSIVE PLAYER when he is surrounded by scorers and shooters.
Sorry, I'm a bit tired by the word game. Everything is in the writing, and we can all read it. I don't know who in your mind qualify as scorer/shooter. Will Eddie Jones, Lamar Odom and Dwyane Wade qualify? Will Jalen Rose, Bosh and Morris Peterson qualify? Yeah, Rafer is a very efficient offensive player when surrounded by scores and shooters. Build a team for him.
Now we're talking. Yes to all but Lamar, Wade, and Bosh aren't gettable. Now Mo Pete may be gettable if we could put together a trade package for him. That's what we need at the SG, somebody with length, athleticism, and a nice jumper.
I know you would take the bait. These are all Alston's former teammates, while he average about half of a double assists. On a serious note, I won't mind Mo Pete on this team.
Actually micheon, jopatmc said that given a third scoring option w/ Yao and Tracy, Alston can push 10 assts...I dont think wade(esp. his rookie yr) jones and odom are as good as yao tracy and jones to help alston...or rose mopete and bosh(his rookie yr as well) better than Yao tracy Rose/mopete for alston's numbers. So if you put say yao, tracy, and mopete with alston as PG.....i agree with jopatmc that alston can avg close to 10 assts.
yes, we should build a team of stars around Alston rather just getting a guy who can bring the ball up court, shoot open 3's and be bothered to defend every once in a while. It's much easier to craft a team around Alston's shortcomings than admit defeat.
Hmmm, so you want to get on some betting action, or not? "push 10 assts" is such a weak statement. Is 7 a push? 6.7? 6.5? It's not about any of the combo above being as good as Yao+tracy+whoever, it's about how far Rafer was from a double-double guy. A double-double PG can receive all-star considerations.
Stars???...Mopete is not a star, he's a good player, but a star.........If you think he's a star than you are out of ur mind......and alston will be the perfect PG to distribute the ball to Yao and T-mac, as well as a third offensive threat.
I never said that it was a lock for alston to avg 10 assts a game...but he can get 8 or 9 a night for us with yao tracy and good 3rd scorer. As far as this: It's not about any of the combo above being as good as Yao+tracy+whoever, it's about how far Rafer was from a double-double guy.......It is about that in reference to rafer's stats, common sense: he will put um more assts with better level of talent to set up.
Hey my new friend on the board (this prob sounds better than rookie), make clear what's in the argument before you come in and back someone's argument. Do you realize I have an standing offer in this thread and no one has taken it up yet?
yes, i realize that and i dont believe anyone will put their own money on the wager of Alston avg a dbl/dbl
Are you a vet or a rookie? I had to look at your post count to be sure. You are attempting to distort reality. You want a definition of "push"? Okay, 9+ assists is pushing 10. You know, to go back and forth on this point of minutia is not worth it to me. And I'm sure it's making the quality of this thread go in the dumper. Here's the last thing I will say about Rafer: If you put one more quality scorer on this team with Yao and McGrady he will look very functional and efficient. And his stats will actually mislead as to how good he is. Every player that plays with Superstar players have their stats padded just a little bit as a result of the superstars, witness Derek Fisher and the Lakers and now his career with the Warriors. And while I would agree with the poster that is talking about getting a PG that can shoot, finish, play defense, and dish......that guy isn't available but for a huge max contract and he's got a bad attitude on top of it. And the bottom line is those types of point guards are not Van Gundy's style of point. So really, as long as Van Gundy is here, we're gonna have to make the best of a low budget situation at the point. But Van Gundy's style is also to have wingmen that can defend and shoot the ball. We need to get one more of those guys to play with McGrady, and the Alston-James trade will not be so controversial. Remember this thread was originally about James and Rafer. My final statement on the subject is James would have been a better fit for us this year if we had known we were gonna be a MASH unit the whole season but Rafer could very well turn out to be a player that fits us very effectively and efficiently if the right moves are made this offseason. You can have the last word Mich since you are dying to show how crazy I am for thinking a double double for Rafer is feasible for him to average.
LOL, Are you a vet or a rookie? Are you sure you have the right quote? maybe the answer is yes? Derek Fisher? His ast number is on par with his Laker years, if not more. No need to say more until another incredible proclaimation comes up. It's all self-evident.
Bottom Line: Mike James > Rafer Alston Period! We may not like to admit it, but anyone who thinks otherwise should have their head examined. James can break down defenses, pass(though not that great), shoot, and play good man on man defense. Alston has trouble penetrating or creating, passes a little better than James, struggles to shoot and play defense most of the time. The reason James got traded was because he felt like he was the third best player on the team. Fact is he was. I'm sure the trade had alot to do with apeasing TMac, our "superstar". What I never did understand was TMac saying he didn't want to be the man when he came, yet when we surrounded him with some quality players, he complained privately. I personally liked James because he played with alot of heart and came up through the ranks. His contract was descent and his personallity looked right coming into the season. His job was going to be simple with TMac and Yao on the squad. Alston has had a rollercoaster ride the last three years, but seems to have found a home here. There's no question we sacrificed quite a bit to keep someone happy, maybe even our playoff hopes this season. Let's hope next time, Van Gundy can sit the players down in a room and work things out like adults. He'll have a better team for it.
