ive always appreciated rafer's limited game. but some other posters (you know who you are) have been jumping off rafers bandwagon and now after two preseason games are jumping back on. that is nuts. one game was against no and the other vs. billy's team who just sucked balls...why the rafer love now. what happened to the stevo love? what about the novak love? why is everyone raving about that lunatic bonzi now? get on rafers bandwagon or get off of it...but it sure seems to be filling up now doesnt it!!!!!
He played very well these past two games. He was under control, shot the ball well, and ran the offense smoothly. However, I still have nightmares about his play last season. Opponents were leaving him WIDE open, even for his spot up shots. He was more than happy to oblige them. And those teardrops...oh god, those teardrops! Rafer was hot early on last season, too. Two games isn't enough to change my mind on anything.
I'm glad Rafer is playing better. This is still the preseason so it means jack. If he ends up getting a meaningful spot in the rotation (I hope he doesn't) and makes layups, defends well and NEVER shoots the ball unless wide open, then I will say he is a decent player. Until then, the memories of his terrible play and decision making keep me from wanting him to get any PT.
He's going to be an important part of the rotation this season. His preseason play is making that apparent. Now all the haters have to be quiet and all the folks who always knew Alston was a decent rotation guy are speaking up again. Plus, we have some flip-floppers, I'm sure.
The only reason people jump off and on is because he's very inconsistent with his 3's. Other than that there is no reason to appreciate the guy.
Wait......................no wait......................................wait for it.....................................LOL! Rafer is a career .380 shooter. Rafer has fallen the last three seasons to a dismal .375 from a career high of .415 5 years ago. In the last 4 years he has dropped his shooting percentage all years except one. A year he post a .414. Rafer does this while having wide open looks due to TMac, and Yao. Rafer also is barely average a defender...nope, we can call him subpar in this category. If he is running the point over James, Francis, or even Brooks for the season, I will pull my hair out. Ok I know it was two good PREseason games for Rafer, one against the scrub league. But come one...really a bandwagon?
i didnt know rafer had a bandwagon and if he does im cetainly not riding. all these "clutchfans" hop on every bandwagon. i recall draft day. what happened............rockets select brooks and everybody cried. 2 weeks later brooks for president. i dont know about rafer he always does good in preseason and then he sux when it counts so i will leave it at that. i dont think we should trade james (although i dont really like him) because he can score and he wants to do just that. he is consistent even though he sometimes thinks he is kobe. so get your own opinions and get off the bandwagon. Walk home!!!!! hahahaha
I think Rafer is playing better because this offense is more free flowing. He isnt being asked to do as much has he had to under Van Gundy, not to mention he has plenty of competition breathing down his neck. He probably wont have to play as many minutes either.
If everyone here were a Rafer lover, I would criticize him. But instead they all whiz on him, mercilessly and excessively. So I defend him. The truth is that he fits this team well. He's on a team with frigging Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. He doesn't try to take over the offense like certain other former-and-now-again Rockets we won't mention. He just goes out there, moves the ball up the court, gets the ball to the people who need it, and puts himself in position to help if called on. His defense is serviceable for the NBA. Not outstanding, but he works hard, and he makes far and away the best decisions of anyone we have at the 1. He's not Steve Nash, but anyone here who thinks we need a star PG on Yao and McGrady's team is playing fantasy ball, not the real thing. All that said, I have old video of guys like Smith, Maxwell, and Cassell hitting big shots when we absolutely needed them in the playoffs. And I have very similar video of Rafer taking those shots, except that in his case the ball doesn't go in. In the big scheme of things, this doesn't matter as much as most of us think: The 3 layups a guy saved you on defense when you weren't noticing, or the 5 passes where he made the right decision and netted you 6 points, matter more than the 2 bricks you noticed because he was the one with the ball. But it still hurts. Rafer is a lot like Battier. Not good for your fantasy team, not capable of carrying the load. But on a team with enough talent, he's a good addition and makes the whole thing run more smoothly.
I don't think JVG was asking him to allow his defenders to blow by him, take stupid unneccesary shots and miss a record number of layups/teardrops. Pretty sure his job was to actually play decent D, bring the ball up the court and let the big 2 do their jobs. He failed. miserably. I can't forget that. Sounds like most of you can, and good for you.
Rafer is the same player from previous years. He's a decent 3 point shooter, good ballhandler, low turnover, horrible 2 point shooting PG. He's not going to change drastically. He might have a slightly better year this year, he might not. He is what he is, and I've always hated the Rafer-hate on this board. But hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion. Mine is I like Rafer on this team. So I'm happy for the guy and hope he does well.
I hope someone bites and trades for him, I don't think he is a viable option when we get some true NBA competition. DD
