<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After talking to a panel of experts for a few days and getting their big-picture view of the keys to the Rockets' season, I have found myself thinking of the smaller item that could be crucial, or at least interesting. In no particular order, I wonder: 1. Can Rafer Alston shoot a better percentage, particularly on 3s. 2. Does he have to? Or maybe that should be, how important is his shooting? His job is to be a quarterback. If he does that well enough, maybe it won't matter too much if he cannot gun his way around defenses ganging up on Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. 3. Can Alston average 10 assists per game, assuming the scorers are healthy? 4. Is Shane Battier a four? He's not going to shut down the studs. They don't shut down each other. But can he make it tough enough to get the ball inside to make up for a lack of size once teams get it there? 5. Is Tracy McGrady a two? Barring Bonzi Wells signing with the Rockets, I would not be surprised at all if the Rockets finish games with McGrady in the backcourt and Battier and Juwan Howard both on the court. But can he play (which really means defend) guards full-time? 6. Who is the backup point? Unless Bob Sura comes back, which is a question in itself, I'm guessing Vassilis Spanoulis, but it's awfully tempting to put John Lucas' outstanding shot on the court. 7. Can Spanoulis play two (which really means can he defend two)? That would seem a way to get Lucas on the court. 8. Can Spanoulis and Lucas defend well enough to play much, much less together? 9. Is Kirk Snyder the answer at two? This is a key season for him and -- again, barring the addition of Wells -- he could be as big a key as any for the Rockets. 10. Will Steve Novak play? I'm thinking he plays very little. 11. Where does Chuck Hayes fit in? If Battier plays some four and Howard still plays big minutes, how do the Rockets get Hayes involved? 12. Does Dikembe Mutombo have another high-energy season left? 13. Who makes the team? Again, barring Bonzi Wells addition, it would seem Casey Jacobsen and Kelenna Azubuike are battling for the final roster spot. Azubuike is more athletic and was reliably productive in the D-League, but Jacobsen brings shooting range. 14. Is Tracy McGrady ready to reclaim a place among the top few players in the league? 15. Are the Rockets any better equipped to handle time without one of their stars? 16. How can I have gone so long without bringing Yao Ming into this? 17. Will Yao be the NBA's dominant center? 18. If he is, will he be recognized as the NBA's dominant center? 19. Do the Rockets need Yao to dominate or will a return to his post All Star form be sufficient? 20. If they remain healthy, if McGrady takes a place among the league's best, if Yao is as good as he was post toe surgery, if Snyder is solid, if Alston takes care of and effectively distributes the ball and if Sura comes back or Spanoulis or Lucas is a reliable backup, are the Rockets battling for a playoff spot, a solid playoff team, a contender or a champion?</div> Source
1. No he cant. 2. He doesn't have to especially with additions of Shane Battier and Kirk Snyder who can score. 3. NO he cant becuase he will be sharing PG time. 4. Battier is not a four he was in college but not here 5. Tmac is a 2 6. Vspan is the back up no questions asked. 7. Vspan won't play the two we have to many 2 gaurds to play. 8. Vspan can gaurd JL3 cant hieght difference. 9. Kirk snyder will break out. 10. he wished he saw court time. 11. Chuck Hayes will start at PF before enhd of season. 12. mutumbo is gone half way through season. 13. Jacobsen because we need shooters 14. Tmac is still amazing. 15. No we still need both. 16. lol 17. He allready is 18. yes 19. Dominate! 20. Contender
TmacGarnett I believe Rafer will increase his 3 point shooting percentage. Around 36% should be enough. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">19. Do the Rockets need Yao to dominate or will a return to his post All Star form be sufficient?</div> Umm, I believe his post All Star form was dominating games.
The reason I say he doesn't increase it is because I believe his shots taken will drop. He will be asked to distribute the ball more. I'm assuming JVG has realized that he needs to put different offensive threats out their when Tmac or Yao is taking a breather. These are the many combos I see that will occur. Starters: Yao Howard Battier Mcgrady Alston When Tmac is sitting Yao Howard Battier Head Vspan Vspan has more offensive flexability than Alston. I believe JVG will use Vspan to provide a spark off the bench in the scoring department. When Yao sits Mutumbo Battier mcgrady Snyder Alston With Yao out they can play a more fast paced game that will leave Mutumbo behind but we don't need him on fast break. When both sit which I doubt will ever happen Mutumbo Howard Battier Snyder Vspan Vspan will provide the penetration through the center. I'm saying it but the players have to do it so it will be difficult. I see JL3 getting limited time because I'm banking on Vspan to be an instant hit. Ill take as much flaming as you want, but I believe this guy will surprise more people than Battier will this year. After watching him destroy team USA, I believe he will win 6th man of the year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">The reason I say he doesn't increase it is because I believe his shots taken will drop. He will be asked to distribute the ball more. I'm assuming JVG has realized that he needs to put different offensive threats out their when Tmac or Yao is taking a breather. These are the many combos I see that will occur. </div> Ok. Less shots taken implies he will take better shots (open shots). That means his shooting percentage will go up. More shots you take = more bad shots taken. That would mean his shooting percentage would go down.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting igotask8board:</div><div class="quote_post">Ok. Less shots taken implies he will take better shots (open shots). That means his shooting percentage will go up. More shots you take = more bad shots taken. That would mean his shooting percentage would go down.</div> Not necesarrily...Alston was a primary option, but when Yao was being triple teamed, Alston missed many open threes. Less shots doesn't mean that they go in. All it means is hes attempting less shots. He has to make them for his percentage to actually go up. Rockets fans have been complaining about lack of a good PF and lack of the gaurds to make open shots. Well if your gonna argue the Alston can make those open shots then why be mad about it. Why are the majority of the fans not wanting to resign wesley. He was a great defender. He just couldn't make a shot. It wasn't just him. Alston was right there in the miss catorgory. Alston has to prove he can make those shots especially since he will be given more room to shoot this year. If he can't make the 3 ball...vspan might be starting sooner than we thought he would.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TmacGarnett:</div><div class="quote_post">Not necesarrily...Alston was a primary option, but when Yao was being triple teamed, Alston missed many open threes. Less shots doesn't mean that they go in. All it means is hes attempting less shots. He has to make them for his percentage to actually go up. Rockets fans have been complaining about lack of a good PF and lack of the gaurds to make open shots. Well if your gonna argue the Alston can make those open shots then why be mad about it. Why are the majority of the fans not wanting to resign wesley. He was a great defender. He just couldn't make a shot. It wasn't just him. Alston was right there in the miss catorgory. </div> This assumes all his shot attempt types will reduce by the same percentage. Alston's role as a primary option will be reduced. That means a greater percentage of his shot attempts will be wide open jumpers as opposed to him trying to force something on his own. So, his efficiency should increase. Or at least it makes sense to expect that.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">This assumes all his shot attempt types will reduce by the same percentage. Alston's role as a primary option will be reduced. That means a greater percentage of his shot attempts will be wide open jumpers as opposed to him trying to force something on his own. So, his efficiency should increase. Or at least it makes sense to expect that.</div>
Actually, I think Durvasa's reasoning makes perfect sense. Because Alston no longer will be the primary offensive option this season since Yao and McGrady should be (fingers crossed) healthy, Alston thus no longer will have to force shots up that he really shouldn't be taking or isn't comfortable with taking. Instead, he's going to be getting open shots coming off double teams from the dynamic duo.
