I think long term contract is a good thing if Alston turns out to be good. We need long term stability and a contract less than MLE for an NBA starter is relatively cheap. Besides, it's said the last year of the contract is a team option. JVG: Too much scoring options already, let's get some more paaser!
woot two months ago, i predicted that Alston would be the Rocket's final piece in this thread of mine: http://www.ezekielbearsports.com/bbs/showthread.php?t=12409
this move is fine (although I wish they had taken Mooche too) James sealed his fate when he got ejected from game 7 and waived off Tmac in game 3 ... Alston gets 6 dimes a night on a bad team, James could pass anything if you fed him 6 bran muffens !
At first I didn't like the trade because I hate seeing a Rocket go, especially one who was good for us like Mike James. However, after reading through a lot of the thread, I guess I'm sold on Alston. This team is so stacked; I love it!
Awsome move!!!! I like James, but I like a lot of you was concerned about James being the starter for this team. James too often was the guy who won a couple of games for the Rockets because he could get "hot". James is a superb backup point guard and shooting guard. But, when a game starts, McGrady and Yao must set the tone of the game, not James; that is Mike not the other one The Rockets need a guy who can pass the ball to a moving McGrady, a cutting Swift, or to a posting up Yao Ming. Honestly, I'll pose a question. Does anyone even think that James would ever make a highlight real that did not involve his shooting? One thing that I remember most of Sura and Barry are their crisp passes; exactly what McGrady and Yao needed last year.
I think you are right but I do think it was more than just game 7. I was flipping through the channels a minute ago and stop on ch.39 while they were interviewing David Wesley. I didn't catch the whole thing but I came in when he said, "Mike James can score, he can put the ball in the hole. But when you have guys named Tracy and Yao, maybe that's not the best thing for the team." It seems like every time someone from the Rockets makes a comment on this trade, they say something about passing.
Let that be a lesson to ALL present and future Rockets guards: NEVER wave off Tracy McGrady! James was out the door anyway -- he said he was looking for a big payoff next summer as a free agent. I don't want an already shot-happy PG trying to bump his numbers up a bit at the expense of the team. Bottom line: If it's good enough for JVG, it's good enough for me. Don't let the screen door hit ya, Mike!
James will love Toronto, he will get to shoot TONS more than he would here in Houston, and it is a contract year for him. Raf already has his long term deal and will love the winning atmosphere. Big plus for the Rockets, and their team passing just got miles better. Raf and Tmac controlling the Rock is going to make it easier for everyone. DD
im happy with the move. I thought they shouldve strongly consider him last year when he was FA but went to Toronto for the green. Mike James was great. I feel bad for the guy, he liked being here, his wife is from here, he helped greatly with the Hopefest, and was a solid citizen. Letting him go sucks, but they did improve the team by adding Skip. He learned to put this street balling skills secondary and just play the game as it is meant to be unlike Franchise. He will be a great addition to the team, and yes, this team is STACKED!!!
Oddly enough, I think JVG might see Alston as more "moldable" than James. JVG likes guys who he can convert into true believers of his methodology, and I think James might be a little too hard-headed for his own good.
Okay, I have to ask... where did the "Sura faints" business come from? I tried a search but there are just too many hits to sift through.
