Based on UTAH leaving Rafer wide open for drives and/or layups and him failing to convert (33% shooter). I would rate the following point guards as our best options for 2007 - 2008. 1. Steve is looking better by the minute I pray the nucklehead Knicks buyout Francis and we throw everything at him to get him back. 2. Mo Williams (low cost very efficient and defends) 3. Mike Bibby (shoots the ball very well, finishes at the rim, knows Adelman's offense, and defense is horrible) 4. Mike James (shot happy defender) 5. Draft Pick (Conley, Acie, or Javaris). Concerned with Conley's inability to hit shots, however, Tony Parker has learned. I don't think a rookie point guard can lead us deep into the playoffs, however, if we are patience and based on the develop of Deron. I would trade Head, Juwan, Sura's contract, and our 1st round to move up and get Conley or Acie Law. I would trade our 1st round this year and Luther to move up and draft Javaris. I don't believe PF is a major issue in comparison to our point guard woes. There are guys that can give us solid minutes at the 4 by just being athletic and playing good D. Also, Shane can slide over to replace foul a minute Chuck Hayes. It is time to move Juwan for something. The West point guards are giving us fits (Nash, Deron, Parker, Paul, and Jason Terry) and leave our PG wide open to miss at an alarming rate.
I agree! Bring on Stevie Franchise, he'll fit well i think under coach Rick Rocketman. Oh and ah! Why do you have to hit that bottom twice to get the attention. Chill!
I think the PF position is the Rox weakest. The Rockets play in the Western Conference and are always battling against the Duncans, Garnetts, Boozers, etc. Both of the Rockets PFs are undersized and limited. Chuck Hayes has no offense and JHo is too old and can't guard anybody. Also in the playoffs versus Utah, neither could make a shot to help out TMac or Yao take the pressure off of them offensively.
The board's fascination with Steve Francis shocks me. Yes, he had some decent years while he was here, but never THAT great, he was never a leader, and he has only gotten worse. Let's simply compare Steve, whom you have ranked #1 with Mo Williams, for last year: PPG - Advantage Williams FG% - Tie, Mo better overall, Steve better 3 pointers RPG - Advantage Williams APG - Advantage Williams SPG - Advantage Williams BPG - Advantage Francis Height/Weight - Advantage Francis Age - Advantage Williams Turnover/G - Advantage Francis Assists/TO Ratio - Advantage Williams The only thing Steve does better, as it pertains to helping this Rockets team, is shoot 3 pointers, though with the exception of this past year, and his 24 games with NY in 05-06 where he shot lights out, Steve has been at, or udner 30% 3 point shooter for a while...hence, Maurice actually has a better career average. Steve is bigger and stronger, and blocks more shots...but from the PG position, this doesn't seem like a huge help. There are so few point guards that will effectively use their strength down low these days (basically Chauncy & Baron), that Williams advantage is defensive quickness and steals per game seems to make up for it. Finally, Mo is much much younger, isn't a headcase, and is a better fit for this team. Steve is an over-dibbler, he doesn't understand how to play in a movement offense, unless he;s changed considerably since he's left. He's a bad fit for Adelman's squad. If I was ranking the same group you have, I;d do it as follows: 1. Mo Williams 2. Mike Bibby 3. Draft Choice (only because of age, and the group you have listed...no chance we can get any of those guys, though) 4. Mike James 5. Steve Francis
both are important. chuck/howard combo just wont get it done. Then again, rafer/whoever is on the roster, will also not. That being said, if i could get one position with a 'better' player, it would be PF. Despite the rafer bashing, he is servicable but he certainly needs someone else to bail him out on bad nights.
1. Stevie isnt gonna get cut. 2. Mo Williams will want more than the MLE. 3. Talk about players that are more realistic
last month, in the dime magazine, they had an article on mo williams. his only reason to play basketball was to pay for his family. he wanted to be in the mlb, but he had a kid during his high school years, and now has about 3. i think. i'm pretty sure he wants the most money as he can get. i'm pretty sure a team like bobcats would try to get him. if he wants to come here for the mle, then let him come, but i doubt it.
Can we combine the Sura contract, Head, and MLE to get Mo? or No! What about Juwan, Head, and Sura Contract and draft Almond at 26th or the shot blocker from Boston College.
I agree with AXG. A decent Power Forward will be more difficult to find than another point guard. Rafer is going to be the starting point guard most likely. Mo Williams would be a great option. I would start him over Alston. We can find a decent point guard either in the draft, free agency or trade. The big question is who can guard some of the great power forwards in the NBA??? I am not excited about the power forward prospects with the 26th pick. It is going to be difficult to move up in a trade for Luther Head and the 26th pick to the late lottery selection. We will see Dirk, Boozer and TD in the playoffs. We usually have 4 games against TD, KG, Boozer, Brand, Dirk, Matrix and Amare (if both stay in Phoenix). We need a power forward in order to have a sucessful playoff run.
Are you so unaware that you just don't understand that we don't need a Point Guard but a Playmaker Point Guard- This has been pointed out at least 500 times on this forum. Rafer is unworthy of the starting PG role because he cant take control of the game and focus on setting up the other players, leaving Tracy Mc Grady to have to play a dual role of playmaker and shooter. You also could have had a fourth catagory as we do need all three positions- A playmaker Point Guard,a tall strong athletic Power Forward, a shooting guard to back up Mc Grady [Francis could play this role]
That's the #1 need for those who think Chuck Hayes is a starting caliber WC PF. At least when Deron Williams or Tony Parker torches Rafer, Rafer can still score a few points of his own to narrow the deficit. When Boozer, Okur, Nowitski, Duncan or Marion torches Hayes, his 5 ppg doesn't help too much. You can't use an MLE as part of a trade. It's for signing FA's ONLY.
Well I know PG is more important but in my opinion we need a PF more. Why? Cause Yao isn't a rebounder (he's too big to have 9RPG) so we need athletic guy who can dunk it, rebound block and also make wide open jumpers PG is also important, quick guy, good passer but also good shooter That's all we need
Judging by the way San Antonio is playig right now, we need our own Tony Parker. A Parker-like pg will put us in the WEstern COnference Finals next year. We already have a duncan(Yao), Ginobli(Tmac), Parker(????).
It's a hard choice. But I voted for PG. You can hide a bad PF. You can't hide a bad PG. You can get a SF or a C to play PF. You can't get anyone other than someone who can actually play PG to play PG. Well, the only think that made me think twice about the choice is that you may say our real starting PG is not Rafer Alston, it's Tracy McGrady. Alston is an under-sized SG who has the duty of bring the ball upcourt.
That's my point, yes Rafer can score a few points, however, Rafer handles the rock more than Chuck and usually makes bad decisions. Adelman's offense requires a guard that can shoot. That's not Rafer's strong point, his is running the offense and dribbling. Adelman's offense requires all 5 players to run the offense and pass effectively. We can find a rugged tall, quick power forward in the NBDL that can come in an rebound. The scoring part is another issues. I would prefer to make the point guard of another team have to play D and possible get tired in the forth quarter instead of a PF.
I think this year,the chance to get a quality pg is higher than getting a quality pf. Look at the free agents, players likely to move, and the number of guards in the draft, there is an abundance of them. Now look at the powerfowards, less than a handful are available and none of them will provide an impact. Less also means that they will be in higher demand as well. I say we need a pg, not just in because rafer sucks, but because we are more likely to get a higher gain out of it as well.
