Where does Francis fit?

I am in absolute awe that someone describes Rafer as "elite" in all other categories except shooting. Well what about his rebounding? His Free Throw shooting? His suspect D? The ONLY thing Rafer does well is not turn the ball over...THAT IS IT. He is not elite in any category of any significance.

So what was his excuse in Toronto, and Miami? Because he shot as much with those teams just about, on a per minute basis. In two years with Houston he averaged about 12 shots per game. At toronto he shot over 12 shots per game. In Houston he hits about .375, in Toronto he hit .414 (to think this is pretty much his career high too!) Enough with the Rafer excuses. He sucks, has always sucked and will continue to suck. He doesnt do anything at all except watch someone else run the offense, get no boards, play no D, get the benefit of open shots due to Yao and Tmac and miss them all game long.

 

God. Rafer in averaging less minutes with Toronto the first go around, and Miami, still couldnt hit the side of a barn with the basketball, still didnt get to the freethrow line any differently, still didnt hit his freethrows for ****, still didnt board at any better a clip, still shot as much if not more on a per minute basis, and was the EXACT same player his is now. Only its worse in that he gets WIDE open looks all game long and still misses. He is a PG, who lost his PG duties to TMac, because Rafer could not initiate the offense for crap. Have you guys not seen rafer play the last two years? He is worthless as a PG.


And Ill guarantee you that Head will not get anywhere near the minutes that Francis gets this year, short of injuries, or a mental blow up by Steve.

 

LOL tell us how you really feel.

 

For my two cents, I think they should get rid of Rafer due to his off the court troubles and inability to assert himself despite having years of opportunity. If he had been worthy of a starting position we would have recognized it over the last two seasons.

I think Rafer should be behind Steve, Head, and James in that order in the backcourt rotation. Even if Steve flakes out, Head and James are both deserving of a chance to start.

 

I'm sick and tired of this blind hatred to Rafer. Anyone who thinks Steve' s gonna start is delusional, and I m a big supporter of SteveO. RA said Rafer is the perfect fit, Tmac said Rafer is the best pg on this team. What makes you think you know better? When the time comes, that MJ or Steve show they have fully learned RA's offense, they can be the floor general of team while shooting better and penertrating better, they will start over Rafer, I wont have problems with that, but that time has not come yet, judgging from the 3 preseason games, it's not even close. For now Rafer is our starting PG, get over it.

 

That is all I needed to read to know that you dont know **** about basketball or the team. I can't wait to watch Rafer start and Luther get more minutes than Francis. Then watch Francis continue to whine about it.

 

I still don't understand while some of our fans haven't grasped that this is a completely different team. You can throw what the guys still here did in JVG's offense (or lack there of) out the window. It's not even close. The new guys are adjusting to a system.

For one, I would also like to know when Rafer lost his pg spot to TMac? You do realize he's our go to guy in the clutch (in terms of bringing the ball up and looking for his shot) because Yao is relegated to the post. You know, how Kobe does it in LA, AI, Melo, P2, LBJ, DWade, ect... but I guess your logic would make all those guys pgs?

I think the majority of the board has to realize Rafer is starting by now. If you haven't realized that yet then now you know. He is far from an elite pg. He is simply the best fit in Adelman's offense. Whether you want to listen to Adelman, TMac, or posters on a message board it's a fact. He's played great so far and we can only hope he continues like this. The offense is perfectly suited for his style of play so if he falters here then I'm sure we'll make the neccessary moves to win. I simply don't see him faltering but that is my opinion.

Also, if you have watched, I think you can see what James role is as well. People have bashed him, wanted him traded (in fact he was getting bashed in the game thread even when he played well) for no reason. Reality is what you are seeing is most likely what you are going to get out of James. He's instant offense off the bench. He's a shoot first pg. As you noticed Adelman inserting him for TMac shows that. He will still be the primary backup though at pg but he will be looking to score when he's out there. `

Luther is also a perfect fit in Adelman's system. He cuts well, and is our best shooter. He's also really good at moving without the ball.

Steve is trying to find a place. You see flashes of his athletic ability and what he can do but he is still the same player. It really boils down to if you want Mike James or Steve Francis playing. Mike James already has that spot locked down so unless Luther struggles Steve is going to get sporadic minutes

 

Where does Francis fit??????


Francis fits in all the cracks in the opponent's defense as he weaves his way into the paint for a layup off the glass. That's where he fits! (reference rox vs mavs)

 

You certainly don't consider that the Mavs I hope. In fact, that team may have been worse then the Greek team we played.

 

Francis seems to no longer have chronic over dribbling syndrome. He does a good job of moving the ball, and he still has times where can penetrate, or shoot the jump shot.

All of that is good, and will fit in with the team wherever they put him. I like it.

There are still some TO's. That will be a real concern if it continues. However, I'm content to wait and see if it isn't more because learning new players, a new system etc.

Maybe there is a negative in that he won't be happy with his minutes, but in talking about the on the court stuff for him, I'm happy.

 

I am now of the opinion that Stevie doesn't start. But that is because of his unfamiliarity of the offense. Not because he can't do it or is not athletic enough. Mike James will probably get a lot of minutes and what is in Mike James favor is the offense they ran at Toronto is almost exactly what Rick Adelman is running in Houston. James knows how to cut. He knows how to get open and he's going to jack up shots. However, this is important, his offensive efficiency in Minnesota wasn't much different than it was in Toronto. In time, as Steve Francis gets more familiar and comfortable, he'll get more minutes off the bench. As soon as someone gets injured and trust me, if recent history is any indicator, we are gonna have 2-4 of these guys go down with injuries and Steve will get his chance.

 

STEVE FRANCIS WILL START BY MIDSEASON!! RAFER IS TRASH!!

ANYONE KNOWS THAT REPLACING AN AND1 STREETBALLER WHO BARELY MADE IT TO THE NBA WITH A 3 TIME STARTING ALL STAR IN THE WEST CAN ONLY IMPROVE A TEAM, NO MATTER WHO IS ON THE COURT!! YOU GUYS ARE IDIOTS!!

 

I actually like what this guy is saying. If we could trade both Alston and James for a premium pt guard, I'd do it in a heartbeat. This guys says Jose Calderon. Not a bad guard and certainly an upgrade over both James and Alston. Here's the article.

http://hoopsblogging.com/category/mike-james/

Archive for the ‘Mike James’ Category
Houston Rockets Preview

Posted in Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Adelman, Daryl Morey, Mike James, Shane Battier, Bonzi Wells, Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Luis Scola by Chad on October 6th, 2007

20 Comments


Houston Rockets - HoopsBlogging.com
Last Year’s Record: 52-30
Key Losses: Jeff Van Gundy, Vassilis Spanoulis, Juwon Howard.
Key Additions: Rick Adelman, Luis Scola, Mike James, Steve Francis, Aaron Brooks, Jackie Butler, Carl Landry, Justin Reed

1. What significant moves were made during the offseason?

While the Celtics stole the show, the Rockets made equally impressive moves this offseason without having to hit the front page of every news outlet on the continent.

Daryl Morey, the Rockets GM, not only added a lot of offensive spark to this squad, but he also put in a coach that could handle it: out with Jeff Van Gundy, who couldn’t manage to eliminate the Jazz after going up 2-0 in their quarterfinal series, and in with Rick Adelman.

The Rockets have often struggled to provide a consistent scoring option behind Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Now the only question is whether or not they have enough shots to go around. Mike James and Steve Francis have both proved that they can be relied upon for scoring and Bonzi Wells will likely have impact as well, seeing as how he played quite well under Adelman in Sacramento – putting up 23 points and 12 rebounds per game in the 2006 playoffs.

The Rockets will enter the season with two new starters – Francis or James at PG and Luis Scola at PF – as well as a much deeper bench. Luther Head was the bench last season, now he’ll be lucky to pull down 15 minutes per game.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

The Rockets biggest strengths are scoring and depth

It’s hard to think of the Rockets, who were one of the best defensive teams last year, as an up-tempo offensive powerhouse, but that’s what they’re striving to be. The only two players that will get time regardless of their inability to score are Dikembe Mutombo and Chuck Hayes.

This team is finally prepared to handle a McGrady back injury or Yao foot injury without completely falling apart. Their added depth will not only make them able to weather the storm, but they should also have some decent success while doing so.

If the players buy into the system without letting their ego’s get the best of them, then the Rockets’ depth will be a significant strength. Rafer Alston was overworked last season and should now be able to catch a 30 minute breather every game. McGrady will get to rest a bit more without watching his team fall apart at the seams and Shane Battier won’t have to fulfill a scoring role, but rather take on his full-time job as the team’s glue-guy.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

The Rockets biggest weakness is…ummmm, the Power Forward position? I have got so used to saying it in the past that it just pours out naturally. The Rockets are completely stacked elsewhere, but their Power Forwards are untested in the NBA.

Nonetheless, this is no longer the worry that is has been in the past. The Rockets made a strong move to erase this glaring hole with the addition of Luis Scola.

Chuck Hayes will still see playing time as an energy player, but Scola gives the gift of scoring. He isn’t a needy player who demands the ball, but he has great range and an uncanny ability to finish around the hoop, which is why he was named the MVP of the FIBA Americas tournament this summer.

While their power forwards aren’t NBA-proven, my biggest concern for the Rockets is the point guard spot.

If I were Daryl Morey, I would do everything in my power to trade Mike James and Rafer Alston for a player like Jose Calderon.

They no longer need to worry about scoring with Yao Ming, Tracy McGrady, Steve Francis, Bonzi Wells, Shane Battier, Luis Scola, and Luther Head all able to do the job; but they do need a proven distributor. Steve Nash or Jason Kidd would cost too much. While Calderon is also likely off the market, a player with his abilities would complete this team.

4. What are the goals for this team?

Build chemistry, make the playoffs, enter the postseason as a healthy team, and make a championship run.

The Rockets can no longer be put on the backburners as the Mavericks, Spurs, and Suns dominate the West. This team has been built to win and many important ingredients have finally been added to the mix. One of the Rockets four point guards (Francis, James, Alston, and Brooks) should be able to step into the distributing role that the Rockets need for them to reach the ultimate level of success.

With all the pieces in place come playoff time, I don’t see how they can fall short again like they have for the last few years. While they may not win it all, they are built to do so. With that in mind, the only goal this team has is to win the championship - anything else would be a disappointment.

5. Aaron Brooks or Luis Scola: Which Rookie Will Have the Bigger Impact?

The Rockets are entering the season with two very promising rookies: Luis Scola and Aaron Brooks.

Luis Scola earned a lot of attention this offseason for carrying Argentina to second-place at the FIBA Americas tournament without the team’s usual core (Ginobili, Oberto, Nocioni, and Herrmann). He was able to win MVP honors while putting up 19.5 ppg and 7.5 rpg. He even managed to impress while playing against USA in two games, scoring over 20 points in each contest.

Aaron Brooks also managed to have a pretty good summer. He was named the Outstanding Rookie of the Vegas NBA Summer League while also being considered an MVP candidate. He scored 21.4 points per contest and dished out 5.2 assists per match while demonstrating his three-point range and lightning fast quickness that every team would love to have.

Scola is entering the season as a starter while Brooks is deep in the Rockets’ depth chart. Nonetheless, he’ll be able to earn some minutes depending on what he does with his limited playing time early on.

In the end, however, Brooks seems to be a long-term project due to the team’s backcourt depth while Scola will come in firing. Adelman is not known to use or develop rookies all that much, but Scola is an advanced rookie due to his years of experience in Europe where he has been among the best for the past few seasons.

Predicted Record: 58-24

Injuries to Yao and T-Mac are the only two things that could hold this team back during the season. Last season the duo combined for 45 missed games, this year a healthy Houston squad is able to beat any team in the league. They might take a while to learn Adelman’s system and develop chemistry, but they are definitely capable of improving on last season’s totals.

Special thanks to Jeff at Celticsblog.com for organizing this series NBA blog previews - We have our own list of previews being released later on this month and are still looking for seven teams to be filled.

 

I don't want people to get me wrong. I'm a rockets fan and a luther fan. But just cuz steve hasn't got much playin time in the preseason does not mean he doesn't play in the regular season.. I'm against hating of any kind for any of our players. But to say luther head is better than steve francis is just silly. MAYBE he will be. The point of me showin his playoffs stats is not that he didn't play well it's that he didn't play well in the PLAYOFFS, at all. He got punked that whole series and so did rafer. We keep head in they will exploit him every chance they get. He can't play pg and he will always be outmatched at the 2 guard. I'm not sayin trade him, i'm just sayin he's not better than steve.

 

Alright guys here it is.


I have never really liked blogs or even felt the need to contribute to them. But with recent post that I have read from you all I feel the need to enlighten you.

Yes the Rockets are having very heated practices and players are at each others throats (on the court) but I challenge you to look past what you hear from the media.

Rafer Alston is not a starting point guard for a championship basketball team...Point blank...If the Rockets thought he was they would have never made the off-season moves that they did.

The main point of this off-season was to fix all of the weak links that the management a.k.a. "highly respected basketball talent evaluators" thought existed.

Point guard and power forward (which most people believe the Rockets aren't done searching for) where two glaring wholes that the Rockets saw they had.

Keep in mind that yes the system is new and it takes some time getting used to, but the fact that Rafer is looking so good right now is more of a testament to him being "USED TOO" playing with the starting five than his ability to pick up a new offense. Meaning he isn't necessarily better than Steve or Mike. He just looks better because he has the upper hand that he knows the other starters game.

With that being said it is with that same familiarity that the Rockets got bounced by Utah exposing the Rockets flaws Rafer Alston and Chuck Hayes.
Yes style of play will be different this year, but the game is still about putting the ball in the bucket and playing defense. And this unit couldn't get that done last year. Mainly because the point guard and power forward weren't good. And not just bad in that series (UTAH), but bad as in basketball ability.

Now, with that in mind the Rockets would be stupid not to start Rafer because they are currently shopping him!

The Rockets coaches would be stupid to not say good things about Rafer because they are currently shopping him!


They Rockets would be stupid not to spin the media's perception of him because they are currently shopping him!

Why?

Because his...lets say... summer of fun would make him less appealing to GM's .

Get my drift?

And you people are just eating what the media is doing...aiding the Rockets plot...

You all probably are the ones that still believe Bush is fighting "TERRORIST" and looking for "WMD's" ....lol...that's rich...

The Rockets are still looking for a power forward and wanted to use their glut at guard as a deal maker.

Small problem.

All GM's know that eventually those players are going to fall of the roster, and the need for a trade doesn't exist right now.

They are sitting back waiting to see what the Rockets will do come roster trimming time.

And the Rockets are playing spin doctor hyping up Rafer when his ticket out of town was bought months ago (fares are cheaper when you buy tickets in advance of your travel date... that was so deep I don't think most of you will comprehend that statement)

It's cute too. They even let him dress up as a Real Rockets Starting point guard.

But sorry Rafer... Halloween is on Oct. 31.

And the Rockets have a game that day.

And you dressed as a Rockets starting point guard will only happen if you are going trick or treating...

Who knows maybe for Christmas Santa will give you a starting job with a non-contending basketball team...

And then maybe Santa will give Chuck Hayes a new laptop so he can write blogs on Rockets.com, or send you emails from them Rockets bench.

It probably read like this:

Dear Rafer,

Hey dude. Things suck now that you've been traded and the Rockets got a legit starting Power forward. Man can that guy rebound. Which is good because you know I was never quite good at that. Or scoring either for that matter!!!lol It's cool though because now that I'm not starting and the rest of the power forward minutes are giving to Scola. I have found more time to concentrate on my blogging. I'm doing it courtside as I speak. Steve and TMAC are finally getting along and are playing together now. The team has really taken to Steve and his big heart that Yoa spoke so fondly of in television interviews. It seems to me that's what this team was missing. I still love Tracey but we kinda needed a guy with some grit who doesn't fold in the clutch. What's funny is Tracey and I were having a talk on the bus on the way to the game, and he told me he admired Steve's passion for the game. He said he never really owned that type of passion for basketball because he really never wanted to be a basketball player. He was just always freakishly good at it, and people where willing to pay him millions to do it. So he was like screw it. I'll go to the NBA. Who doesn't want a million dollars??? Crazy huh? What was funny is I youtubed and interview he had with espn about his life and progress and he reiterated the same thing...He is still playing lights out this year. But Steve is the guy people rally around, and he even defers to Yao and Tracey now. Steve's play this year makes you think. Was he tanking it in Orlando and New York just to get back to Houston. But what I came to realize that Steve is so passionate about the game that he couldn't play well at these places because he used that passion to fuel his play. And when he left Houston he lost his passion, and eventually his game.

But man is the kid hot right now.

Well gotta go the game is over and I gotta blog to do. GO KENTUCKEY!!!


Your friend and fellow culprit to the Rockets 06 playoff debacle,

Chuck Hayes

That's exactly how that letter would go. Rockets fans this is going to be an exciting season. We made changes and there are more to come. But please...please... Don't subscribe to the B.S. being pumped out by the media saying that the starting five will be the same, Rafer is John Stockton, Chuck Hayes is Moses Malone. And so forth... It's just the Rockets trying to send the message that in light of recent changes. Things are still the same, because we really didn't need to improve to win......a.k.a We wanna trade but we don't wanna look desperate to do so... That's how you get screwed into making bad moves



Good Day,

Rockets Fan who is highly logical, and sometimes forgets where the period or comma should go...But his message makes so much sense.

 

What a well thought out post. Now gently move your hand to the right of your computer and turn off the caps lock. Thanks

 

almost stopped reading after that snafu ...

i haven't seen a lot of Calderon but his 3 pt. stats aren't terribly impressing. although he's sure money shooting elsewhere, giving up James + Rafter isn't appealing.

seems like this was written awhile ago, Alston's value increased considerably since Oct. 6th. + James looks solid as a rock

decrease the hate,
try to appreciate,
Franchise brings an added dimension,
increasing our chances of ascension.

if Adelman isn't able to include Steve's talent within our quest for ultimate glory, he's not the anti JVG coach we need. the minutes are immaterial, great coaches design situations to maximize available players. aka, USE THE TOOLS YAH GOT, place every player in situations for excellence.

'course the pedestrian Gundy route insists, system is absolute, so discard any talent that won't fit exactly within the boxes of a limited imagination.

 

I won't say anything about this post until I know if this guy is claiming insider knowledge or not. If it's his opinion then he's entitled to it. If he's claiming this as the truth he's flat out lying.

1) I'll arrange any bet you want rafer is our starting pg. We can send the money to clutch to hold before the season starts as you believe Rafer weill be gone by the 31st (lol) or we can do a sig bet.

2) We haven't talked to anyone since Miami about a month or so ago.

3) We aren't shopping or looking for any players right now. Mike Harris is likely to be our third PF

4) If we didn't like Chuck Hayes why did we resign him? Ask anyone in or arround the Rockets organization and they would tell you they love him except the fouls