I dont know why you guys give Rafer so much heat. I mean he shoots the ball bad on most nights, but hes a solid PG. He is fairly smart, scrappy on ball defender, knows how to control the team (he tells people who are in the wrong place to get to the right place), probally one of the best dribblers in the NBA and hes fast(but I dont think JVG wants him to push the ball that much). Just because he shoots bad, doesnt mean he is a bad player. On those rare fast breaks, he tells people (who dont know for some reason) to get to the right side. He hits big shots most of the time and usually hits those big FT in the 4th. He knows what to do and shows passion for the game. I think he is a good floor general. Plus, if you compare him to the other PGs in the league, i think ours look pretty solid. I mean hes no all-star but if you see what he does on the court, I think we can say he is very soild contirbutor. Hes not an super star, but he is an above average PG. Give him credit for the work he has done thus far.
Alston's a serviceable guard and no one should really blame him for what he isn't. I would prefer it if he would come off the bench though; he's much more efficient that way, but with the roster we have he needs to start.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Alston's a serviceable guard and no one should really blame him for what he isn't. I would prefer it if he would come off the bench though; he's much more efficient that way, but with the roster we have he needs to start.</div> I agree about this. Rafer would be a great come off the bench type of guard. Solid guy with few mistakes with the ball. That said, despite what JVG says, Rafer gets owned by taller point guards. Poking the ball out of someone's hand only works so much. Also, we need a guard that can move around at will with great finishing ability that can also dish the ball. If rafer could finish at the basket, he would be great. Guess I'm asking for too much. The guards that can do what I said are generally superstars...
[quote name='foo82;809657']I agree about this. Rafer would be a great come off the bench type of guard. Solid guy with few mistakes with the ball. That said, despite what JVG says, Rafer gets owned by taller point guards. Poking the ball out of someone's hand only works so much. Also, we need a guard that can move around at will with great finishing ability that can also dish the ball. If rafer could finish at the basket, he would be great. Guess I'm asking for too much. The guards that can do what I said are generally superstars...[/QUOTE] Thats what Im saying. Alston isnt a superstar, but hes a solid PG.
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I agree about this. Rafer would be a great come off the bench type of guard. Solid guy with few mistakes with the ball. That said, despite what JVG says, Rafer gets owned by taller point guards. Poking the ball out of someone's hand only works so much. Also, we need a guard that can move around at will with great finishing ability that can also dish the ball. If rafer could finish at the basket, he would be great. Guess I'm asking for too much. The guards that can do what I said are generally superstars...</div> Thats what Im saying. Alston isnt a superstar, but hes a solid PG.
<div class="quote_poster">igotask8board Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Because everyone that hates him thinks our starting 5 should all be stars (at the very least).</div> Have you seen his defense on Williams? Daron Williams has lived in the lane this series and KILLED us in almost every game. Rafer has played decent at best. His post entry has been below average, and his shot selection can drive Rocket fans crazy. For example, we're up in the 4th quarter with a slight lead. Rafer takes the ball and HEAVES it down the other end of the floor up leading into a Rocket turnover. Ultimatley that could've cost us game 5. You can't look past things like that just because we won. Rafer can play be either really good, or really bad.
Rafer isn't a great player, but he's definitely the most capable PG on our team. Our offense generally falls apart when he's on the bench, because neither Luther or Lucas can effectively run an offense. If Rafer ever got injured, we'd really struggle to beat even the average teams.
THe problem is most Rockets fans see him as our third scorer and when he doesn't show up some nights...it hurts. The fact that he misses WIDE OPEN shots is pretty bad since most NBA players make wide open shots. If we had consistent production from a third party (Bob Sura in 2005) we wouldn't be having this debate. Shane Battier has been consistent defensively but not on offense Alston has dished it out the way he should but on offense on his own nothing big.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Have you seen his defense on Williams? Daron Williams has lived in the lane this series and KILLED us in almost every game. Rafer has played decent at best. His post entry has been below average, and his shot selection can drive Rocket fans crazy. For example, we're up in the 4th quarter with a slight lead. Rafer takes the ball and HEAVES it down the other end of the floor up leading into a Rocket turnover. Ultimatley that could've cost us game 5. You can't look past things like that just because we won. Rafer can play be either really good, or really bad.</div> Deron Williams makes anyone's defense look bad. Shot selection? His 2 three pointers kept us in the game early on. He hit some big ones down the line. Face it, he has to shoot what the defense gives him.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Have you seen his defense on Williams? Daron Williams has lived in the lane this series and KILLED us in almost every game. Rafer has played decent at best. His post entry has been below average, and his shot selection can drive Rocket fans crazy. For example, we're up in the 4th quarter with a slight lead. Rafer takes the ball and HEAVES it down the other end of the floor up leading into a Rocket turnover. Ultimatley that could've cost us game 5. You can't look past things like that just because we won. Rafer can play be either really good, or really bad.</div> Most of the time Deron Williams gets a pick from Yaos man and Yao doesnt step up to hedge Williams back. And for Rafer's minutes (usually a majority of the game) I think his TOs are acceptable.
<div class="quote_poster">igotask8board Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Deron Williams makes anyone's defense look bad. Shot selection? His 2 three pointers kept us in the game early on. He hit some big ones down the line. Face it, he has to shoot what the defense gives him.</div> We're talkin about Deron Williams, not Steve Nash. The guy has beat Skip off the dribble in every game. Skip has done a pretty bad job stayin in front of him. That's not even mentioning his consistent fouling on a jumpshots Skips played average this series. His biggest problem is knowing when to shoot & NOT shoot.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We're talkin about Deron Williams, not Steve Nash. The guy has beat Skip off the dribble in every game. Skip has done a pretty bad job stayin in front of him. That's not even mentioning his consistent fouling on a jumpshots Skips played average this series. His biggest problem is knowing when to shoot & NOT shoot.</div> A lot of that still has to do with the pick and roll.
<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">A lot of that still has to do with the pick and roll.</div> That's a cop out. He's been beat off the dribble multiple times in every game. Keep in mind, this is William's first playoff series and he's abusing Skip. Not only has his shot selection been erratic at times, he's fouling jumpshooters and throwing ill-advised passes. The ONLY reason you guys don't mention it is because we won last game. But his last second turnover could've cost us game 5.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That's a cop out. He's been beat off the dribble multiple times in every game. Keep in mind, this is William's first playoff series and he's abusing Skip. Not only has his shot selection been erratic at times, he's fouling jumpshooters and throwing ill-advised passes. The ONLY reason you guys don't mention it is because we won last game. But his last second turnover could've cost us game 5.</div> What, Williams shouldn't be outplaying Alston? Either you're underestimating Deron, or you're overestimating Rafer. Williams is a top five point guard in the league and Alston, while serviceable, is nowhere near Williams' level.
<div class="quote_poster">mansunz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Luther head + Rafaer alston for Deron William?</div> sure trade #2 Derrik Martin and Uros Slowcar for that tall asian guy you have starting at center?
Deron Williams's offense is way down in the playoffs compared to the regular season. We can fault Rafer for many things, but he's done a pretty good job defensively on his counterpart.
<div class="quote_poster">Locke Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What, Williams shouldn't be outplaying Alston? Either you're underestimating Deron, or you're overestimating Rafer. Williams is a top five point guard in the league and Alston, while serviceable, is nowhere near Williams' level.</div> 1)Steve Nash 2)Jason Kidd 3)Chris Paul 4)Baron Davis 5)Chauncey Billups Um, no he's not
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">1)Steve Nash 2)Jason Kidd 3)Chris Paul 4)Baron Davis 5)Chauncey Billups Um, no he's not</div> Take a look at the stats between Williams and Paul. Pretty indistinguishable eh? Paul had a better rookie year but Williams has definitely caught up this season. Williams can be overshadowed by Boozer and Okur on the Jazz but fact is he's one of the keys to their success this year. What's so good about Paul last season that makes him the third-best?
