The thought of Rafer playing 38+ minutes a game in the playoffs...

No Clutch.

I just feel that Mike James is another guy much like Bonzi.

They are one year rentals basicallly everywhere they go because of the attitude.

If Mike James wasn't a total a$$ then by all means he would be better than Alston, but the attitude has an enourmous effect on the player.

Bonzi could have been a major star had he not been an a$$.

Also Mike James although an excellent shooter, driver and defender is unfortunately NOT a real point guard.

He's a 6-2 shooting guard trapped in a point guard's body.

However he is a good playmaker which Alston really isn't.

So Clutch my opinion IS that BOTH players are 6th man type gunners off the bench (with James a better shooter and Alston more point ability) but BOTH are what they are 6th men type gunners who launch from 3.

Sorry but I never felt either was a true answer at starting guard.

I was asking why is there fascination here with one and not the other?

BOTH are essentially different versions of the same role player, I simply prefer the one with less skills and less mental attitude problems.

Ok apparently you and others prefer the guy that shows up mainly for the contract.............


the point I was simply making is why is one so much more superior and holds such esteem on this forum over the other when NEITHER is even a legit starting point guard?


I am just trying to grasp this.


All I ever see here is how much Spanoulis sucks and he's already IMO a better point than either and JVG doesn't even play him.


Apparently I am just an idiot and am watching different players than mostly everyone else here, but I know a real point guard and the only ones the Rockets have are Sura and Spanoulis and I guess any hope held out for Sura is pointless now.


I just don't get the use of constantly arguing that having the 6th man type James over the 6th man type Alston is soooo important when one is here (Alston) and the other CHOSE NOT to be here (James), when neither is the starting point material in the first place.

EITHER one would suffice as that 6th man, so should we not be looking for an actual starter instead of having two backups and arguing over which one should start?

Right now we have 4 backup points and we are arguing over who should start (hell really Lucas and Head are NOT even points they are midget 2 guards)


That is all I am saying Clutch I am not some crazed Rafer Alston fan, like I said I don't even think he's as good as Spanoulis HOWEVER yes he's good enough to be our 6th man so I just don't get this whole issue about let's swap one 6th man in Alston for another 6th man in James, especially when James is a distraction and a knucklehead.

Why not worry about actually getting a legit starting point guard?

 

That is the best you have ever explained your position.......while I may not totally agree with it, I understand a lot more about where you are coming from.

Well done.

DD

 

Bottom line the most important postion on the court at all time is PG....look who we have and look who the top teams have around us. Nash, Terry, Billups, and Parker

 

Yep, we are hurting there big time...and other teams leave Rafer wide open knowing that it is their best chance of winning.

DD

 

I wish...I really do. Sam's great...and I think he can still be good for a couple of years. Most importantly, he's money in the clutch, as we all know.

 

They might go for it to clear room for Livinston, take away his crutch so to speak.

Especially if you threw in a first round pick.

DD

 

Of course he is but he cannot guard anyone at all anymore.

Knowing how Van Gundy is I doubt this would go over well.

 

Rafer Alston is an average NBA point guard. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. He can play big minutes on a team that gets into the playoffs, but that's about it.

Obviously the Rockets are looking beyond the first round. And their championship window isn't open indefinitely. Three, maybe four years, tops. And if they hope to win a title, it's hard to imagine Alston running point.

But he's all we got right now. If he can hit threes, play adequate defense and hold on to the ball, he's definitely not hurting the Rockets. He's just not elevating them to The Next Level.

 

he's average? no jarret jack is average. jose calderon is average. this guy is trash.

 

I like Rafer, but sometimes he is just stupid, and his decisions are too quick. Rafer if you dont have position DO NOT shoot 3s!

 

rafer alston sucks chocolate salty balls its just that simple....

 

why do you like rafer? why? im just wondering

 

You do not need to worry. Rafer did not play a single minute last night.

 

i rather yao run pg at playoffs than him

 

Right here. I just don't live on this site as so many do

Anyway, I've found out it doesn't bother to argue about Rafer, simply because I'm pretty certain the organization sees it how I do. They wanted a PG who doesn't turn it over, plays defense and hits the open shot. Well, Rafer averages 2.8 (or so) TOs for his 38 mpg, and averages 1.8 steals. So he's doing that. He doesn't get burned on defense often at all. And he's shooting 36% from 3, above the league average of 34% (last I had heard). And he clearly has the support and confidence of JVG and the players. It's already been proven that this team is at its most efficient when Rafer is running the show. It helps no one when TMac is running PG because he's just wasting precious energy, and God forbid Head or Spanoulis run the point.

I am anxious, though, to see this board's response when Rafer doesn't get traded anytime soon. And if they do bring in a backup, I'd like to see the response when Rafer's minutes are only cut by 2 or 3, not all the way down to 28 as so many would like. The bottom line is that Alston is staying. As for those who want him gone, it's easy: just wait 3 more years when his contract expires.

 

Are you his agent? Rafer Alston is a poor fit when this team is at full strength. He is better in a bench role where he can penetrate and get shots for guys like head/bonzi/etc...

When we have both stars we need a point guard who plays defense, minimizes turnovers, and can hit the outside shot, but who can also drive and kick/score when defenses rush at him. Alston is ok at defense/turnovers most games but he is an average, streaky at best outside shooter. He is not consistent with it. And he can't do anything inside the arc. Either Atkins or James would come in and steal a lot rafer's minutes esp james. They are better options for the team at full strength when both yao and t-mac are on the floor. And even francis who is a mediocre 3 pt shooter would be useful if healthy because he can finish at the rim/mid range game better than alston. But he's the worst fit of the 3 guys I have mentioned.

 

Rafer's +/- on the season is +5.1 or so. Whatever his flaws and whatever the flaws of the +/- stat, I think this number generally suggests he is doing something right.

Last night was not a good game and was a tough loss. But it does not negate the rest of his contribution. The team is 33-19 with him playing heavy minutes.