In the game I've seen, Rafer is often signalling other players where to go at the start of plays. He literally motions and points to certain players with his non-dribbling hand to get them into the right positions. As far as I can tell, no other point guard does this with such frequency. However, as the season progresses and players get more used to the offense, I can see Rafer getting fewer minutes.
I actually think Steve's back was sore which is why he didn't get sniff in the second half. I was screaming at the TV for Rafer to benched. He played the entire second half.
I'm more concerned with chemistry than W's. Rafer is a holdover from last year, and while Steve Francis is clearly a better option, working him into the lineup is going to affect my entire gameplan. We started the season 6-1!!!
As much as I don't like Wafer in our starting lineup, I am not going to disagree with your analysis here about his ability to understand Rick's offense and tell players where to go on the court. Im sure that this is probably one big reason why Rick has him starting and playing most of the minutes so far this year. With that said, I would still much rather see Steve starting and playing the majority of the minutes at that position. I would rather take my chances with Steve's natural instincts and basketball ability than to have Wafer that is better at pointing out how everyone should clear the court for Tmac and Yao; which is essentially all he is doing. Defenses will never respect Wafer as a threat, so he hurts the offensive intent more than helping it by knowing where everyone else should be. JVG and RA obviously have fallen for this falacy. One has proven it won't work. Another is on his way to accomplishing this same incredible feat of ignorance as well!
You are absolutely right here. It's what RA thinks. Which is why I call him an idiot! Hence my signature!
Well if "proving it won't work" is based on not having advanced in the play offs, you would have to put the same stamp on both our stars, who as of this moment have "proven it won't work" with various rosters both with and without Rafer. The reality is that if two different winning coaches with completely different styles both come to the same conclusion on who should start, there is probably a good reason for that. Obviously if "anyone" could do what Rafer is doing plus shoot better, then some one else would be doing it. That certainly doesn't mean that Rafer is the ideal player for us. It doesn't even mean that Francis won't beat him out later, or we shouldn't try and trade for an upgrade. It just means that up to this point Rafer has been the best of several flawed options. Not because Rafer is so great, but because our other options have yet to beat him out.
All this +/- talk. I don't have any stats, so I wonder what that +/- is during the games T-mac was hurt. Cuz from what I've seen over the last couple of years, Rafer is useless when T-Mac is not on the court.
Morpheus, which pill did you take, the blue or the red one? Which ever one it was, you should have taken the other one. Seems that you, RA and JVG all took the same pill. Rick gave his reasons why he think Wafer beat out Steve. Most of what I feel and what I have read here, most don't agree with that assessment. Jeff didn't have Steve as an option last year, so the comparison is not exactly the same in that sense. But Jeff proved to us that Wafer is not the point guard to lead this team to success in the playoffs. Because Yao and Tmac have not been out of the first round of the playoffs, you can't compare their numbers and efforts to Wafers. Steve is clearly our best option for point guard on the team right now. The longer Rick takes to make the starting lineup change, with Steve and others, the less time we will spend building all the necessary chemistry for the playoffs.
i love how RA and JVG, two very good coaches with a lot of success are both not as smart as a poster here.
Steve might end up being the best option. He has played well in very limited minutes so far. That being said his 20% 3pt shooting is considerably worse than even Rafer's horrible 3pt shooting. Adelman rates him as the worst defender in comparision to James and Rafer. He is averaging 7 fouls per 48 minutes, and had 2 in 10 minutes last game. If he can improve on those areas he probably will start, or at least play the majority of the minutes. His decision making has been exceptional so far, which was my biggest problem with him in the past. Let's hope it can continue.
I think overall rafer works better with Tmac and Yao in the lineup. at least until now SF hasn't really connected with Tmac's game. SF works better with Yao than Rafer, but Rafer is better with Tmac than SF.
Right now as the season progresses, Rafer gets more minutes. That shows you how bad James and Head have played. Too much Rafer hating. Rafer would be one of the top guards in NBA if he can shoot and play tough defense, and Rockets won't have a chance to get him at this price. He is what he is, a PG who take cares of the ball and pass well but can't shoot, still a bargain compare to Mike James's contract. Rafer fits the stars better than any other PGs on Rockets so far. When other PGs can't shoot and play solid defense,the two areas they are supposed to be much better than Rafer, Rafer is entitled to get all the minutes.
Don't blame Rafer and Adlmen for Rafer's minutes. After all Rafer was on the trading block and his minutes was heavily cut at start of the season. If you really want to blame, blame other guards who are supposed to perfome better than Rafer but didn't do so.
blastaway is the typical francis fan that shouts "WE WANT FRANCIS" in the nosebleeds while having a beer in his hand
Was that warranted?? You make some nice observations but alot of it gets lost in the bickering that goes on with some of the more blinded Francis fans. Rafer gets more play because of defense, running of the show, ball handling, and chemistry with T-Mac and Yao. When Francis starts to beat Rafer in these areas(in addition to the less important for the starting position in THIS offense of scoring and penetration) he will take over. Now, remember that the scoring and penetration make Francis a must have off the bench so this isnt saying Francis should get the DNP-CD.
SORRY BUDDY, I DON'T DRINK, AND DON'T SIT IN NOSEBLEEDS! ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH WAFER BTW? YOU WANNA STEAL HIM AWAY FROM RICKY ADDY? (just kidding...relax)
