this is not a Rafer Alston bashing thread. it's not a place to come and trash Skip. what I want to know, as a Aussie dude that gets to see limited games in full, is what makes Alston go from being an absolute gun for stretches, but then frustratingly go into major cold patches. never in my life have I seen or heard of a player who can go from hero to whipping boy so many times and so quickly. what makes the boy tick??
Streaky shooting. And he didn't drive nearly as much last game, not like we were getting any calls though.
Shooting less want help him but it would help the rockets.........but he thinks he can drive and teardrop like Tony parker and he scks at it.........it might drop sometimes.........but his tear drop makes me mad........ I think he can shoot.......just take better shots.........like wide open ones that tmac sets up.......or off screens hen the defender leaves him...... And when he drives.....bring the ball to your chest and finish at the rim......get fouled
He is a very frustrating player to watch. His magical run during the streak was near all star level, but I have watched him play for long enough to know that was very, very uncharacteristic. He is a streaky shooter if streaky is defined as bad most of the time, and really hot every once and awhile. Look at his career averages, he is a 30% something shooter, which means he shouldn't shoot much which he unfortunately does. I will testify, and I see almost every game, I don't think he made one of his famous teardrops over an almost two year period. But, he continued to shoot them almost every game. He has made more of them this season than in the last two seasons. He has good handles and passes pretty well, but I think his playmaking abilities are overrated. He is one of the team's major weaknesses, and that will likely become apparent in the playoffs as it did last year. During the streak, however, for a good bit of time he was a hall of famer. Everybody deserves a "Rudy" moment. Basically, he drives me crazy, and I am amazed he is still here. How can we miss him if he never leaves.
Rafer has improved. But teams now know they can easily take away the lane with Yao out...they are primarily doing this to stop TMac penetration. Penetration by Rafer is even more difficult. This turns him back into a yet another marginally good 3pt shooter...as far as his scoring is concerned. but I still say Rafer has improved noticeably.
His shooting comes and goes, and that is it really. If he hits, he plays awesome, but when he misses, he rarely stops shooting and he continues to miss. DD
Rafer can hit his teardrops, they at least look better than last year. Hes just in a slump, he'll go back to normal 40-something percent shooting form.
every tear drop rafer shoots makes a tear drop from my eyes cuz we all know hes gonna clank it off the back of the rim
As a career Rafer defender, I'm getting that feeling I had four years ago when Steve Francis lit up the Nuggets for 33 with 11 dimes to clinch a playoff berth. I like Rafer. I really do. I think he's playing at the top of his game. Which is why, if he keeps it up for the rest of the season, this summer is the time to trade him.
I so hope you are wrong, because that is a terrifying thought. The list of PG's he is going to face in the playoffs is like a Hall of Fame roll call. Not good.
Rafer plays better when he is criticize by the local media and fans. So lets make our voices heard! Or he could be Dr Jekell and Mr Hyde.
