That's the thing we really don't know. Around the all-star break last year some journalists were saying that Sura was the real mvp on this team, and I saw where they were coming from then and do even moreso now. T-Mac and Yao really gelled really late in the year, and I think all of the key members of our rotation were still tring to figure out exactly what to do with Yao and TMac on the court, including Sura. In terms of ranking Alston the only thing I can say is that he looks like a legit starting NBA pg. As well as Sura and MJ played I never believed that about them. But they did get us into our offense more quickly than we'd seen in many years and that was obvious to all, and huge for us. It's the playmaking that still left me wanting more. Sura was "splashy" with his rebounding and the occasional great pass, but I was never happy with the way he threw the ball to Yao. James kept showing signs of being able to do it all, but his playmaking could completely disappear for a week. I think many journalists and people here will say we were better off with Sura and James, but my hope is that Alston's play will be in the eye of the beholder. Rafer's stats. won't necessarily mean that much to me, I just want to see where he gets the ball and how quickly he does it. I still say he has a better than 50-50 chance of being our best offseason acquisition, even though he's clearly a "lower tier" pg.
I agree, but this is a completely different team with Swift, Anderson and Alston in the rotation....much quicker and better passers. Sura should be a backup on this years team....his rebounding was huge last year but Swift should help out more than Sura..... DD
I didn't say that Raefer Alston would not get up there on that list but as of right now I see those pg's as better. He probably would be a nice fit to us but so far I have yet to see him play a single game for us and from what I've seen there is no way we can put him up on that list "as of yet". Both Brevin Knight and Raefer Alston were on crappy teams. Both had the job of distributing the ball. Raefer may have four more points per game but Brevin has more assists and is either second or first in the league in assists to turnover ratio. Would I take him over RA. Maybe not. Can RA prove to be better with more open shots this year and more people to pass to this season? Yes. But from last years games I won't put RA anywhere on the list of top 15 pg's just yet. He has to prove it first just like how Mcgrady had to prove that he was a top 5 player in the league when he moved to Orlando. Was he the best we probably could have gotten with what we had to trade without messing too much with our Chemsitry? Yes probably so. I am hoping this season RA's stats do improve and earn him a spot up on that list but I guess all we can do is wait and see.
Yup, that and hit open jumpers and play defense. Not sure why even JVG thinks we need a "playmaker" - we have two, they are numbers 1 and 11.
we saw last year how dull and predictable the offense was until sura joined the team. even then it had points where is became hard to watch. barry and wesley helped out a lot because they are decent play-makers. having a guy like rafer with a team like this is going to make the defense guess. we can run the break, we can post up, we can score from the perimeter, we can attack the basket and the defense will never know what's coming.
We could run the break and post up before. Sura and Barry and Wesley helped out because it meant that McGrady didn't have to play guard. Alston's job once he gets the ball past half court is to give it up if 1 or 11 are willing and able to get it. So's Sura's.
Hinrich, Ridnour and Tinsley(to a lesser degree) are all true PG's that aren't getting near the appreciation they deserve. I haven't seen Rafer play much so I can't judge on how good he is, but his numbers are about what I'm looking for (maybe a tad less scoring and more assists).
I think the days of having only 1 or 2 superstar playmakers surrounded by a bunch of role players that just park out on the perimeter (ie. the championship Rockets and Lakers teams) are over. That's just not going to cut it any more. It's easier to neutralize star players than it has been in the past with the zone rules. Teams are going to need one or two more playmakers to make teams pay. That's why you'll see a team like Miami add playmakers like Walker and J-Will.
i know we were able to post up before. my point was we have a complete offensive game now that we added a passer/playpaker. i dissagree a little with what you believe alstons job is. of course he MUST get the ball to tmac and yao if they are in good position to recieve it. however i don't think that that will be the end of his responsibilities. unlike ward, lue, and sura, alston is able to do more than just bring up the ball and pass it. because he has great scoring and penetrating ability he can actually be the one to start a play sometimes. let him dribble past his man and when help comes he can find the open teamate.
"I concur" - Dr. Richard Robert Richardson III With the gift, you can make the magic. What a wonderful dance of off season acquisitions and potential. Now let's go play some round ball.
Unlikely, unless someone like George Steinbrenner comes along, and is willing to take serious hits in the luxury tax. Superstars usually command superstar salaries after all. Unless you're the Knicks.
My rankings: 1. Alcohol 2. Weed 3. Blow 4. Meth 5. Crack 6. Oxyco-- Oh, sorry about that. I thought the question was "Where would you rank reefer?"
after yesaterdays game i want to ask where people would rank head. i know it's too early for that, but rafer will definitely get a lot of assists this year and we already saw how many times he passes the ball to yao. now just yao either, he passes the ball anytime someone is open. even wesley who went like 1/5 i think rafer got him all 5 shots. what rafer did for the team last night was more than just passing. the entire teams ball movement increased and became faster. last year tmac, wesley, and barry were the only guys who were fast at moving the ball. now with rafer and DA there are allways 3 guys on the court who can PASS AND HIT THE 3.
What people, other than those in this thread? Again, I think he'll work out really well for us. So did Jon Barry, Bobby Sura, and David Wesley. But I don't rank them in the top half of the league for their positions, either. Evan
i see your point, but i also believe rafer will have a larger impact on the team than wesley or barry will this year. his ability to pass, dribble, and score have to make him at least top 15 IMO. if you consider how many times he will be the favorite in his matchup against the other teams PG it places him around there as well. he will probably win the PG matchup against: ATL, BOS, CHA, CLE, LAC, LAL, MIL, MIN, NOH, POR, TOR, UTA. that would place him as low as 18. he also has the ability to win matchups against: DAL, MEM, MIA, SEA. that would place him as high as 14. and so thats where i rank him. 14-18. his impact will be greater than that considering how well having an actuall pass first PG will help. lets no forget that most of the best PG's in the league are not pass first anymore.
