i'd say so. I think a playmaking PG would help the team in the long-run. Most people say the rockets don't need a playmaking PG but i say they do because it would help. It's better if your PG is able to make 3's at times and able to create for others.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian)</div><div class='quotemain'>No, I don't think he is needed. Tracy McGrady is a point foward, so he can run the offense</div></p> wrong even though i know your baiting me. </p> </p>
Francis and James were brought in to fit with Adelman's system and push the ball up court. Clearly management doesn't bleieve that Alston will be very effective in RA's system. Don't forget Alston's little slip-ups through this Summer. At this piont the Rockets have enough PG depth, they should get rid of Rafer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GArenas)</div><div class='quotemain'>Francis and James were brought in to fit with Adelman's system and push the ball up court. Clearly management doesn't bleieve that Alston will be very effective in RA's system. Don't forget Alston's little slip-ups through this Summer. At this piont the Rockets have enough PG depth, they should get rid of Rafer.</div> i'm sorry i disagree, but i respect some of your thoughts. </p>
Rafer is no better at making plays than Mike James or Steve Francis. He looks to get others involved more than those two, but that doesn't by any stretch make him an adept playmaker. </p> I'll be shocked if he gets more minutes than those two this season as a Rocket. </p>
true, but rafer is a better player that can run the ofense and can set up others. james and francis can create on their own though.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tmacyaokobe01)</div><div class='quotemain'>true, but rafer is a better player that can run the ofense and can set up others. james and francis can create on their own though.</div></p> He's not a better player. He may be better at "running the offense", but I don't know how essential that role would be in Adelman's offense. For all of Francis's faults, he's pretty good at setting up players for open baskets with his penetration. We're talking about a guy who's just a couple years removed from all-star caliber play.</p>
francis is the third best given talent hands down.</p> all i know is alston is the best and creating for others and running th offense and that's what i'd like to see from him. francis and james to score a lot of points</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tmacyaokobe01)</div><div class='quotemain'> francis is the third best given talent hands down.</p> all i know is alston is the best and creating for others and running th offense and that's what i'd like to see from him. francis and james to score a lot of points</p> </div></p> I don't think Alston is better than Francis at creating for others. He might be better at it than Mike James, but James is a far superior spot up shooter and finisher and competant ball-handler (unlike Luther Head). I think Alston will just be squeezed out by two players who are simply better.</p> </p>
well i think head is an average handler for a guard. francis was a good player who could pass out of double teams but alston has a pass-first mind francis has a shoot-first one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tmacyaokobe01)</div><div class='quotemain'>well i think head is an average handler for a guard. francis was a good player who could pass out of double teams but alston has a pass-first mind francis has a shoot-first one.</div> </p> Now you're starting to make some sense. I'll agree that Alston has more of a "pass-first" mentality, but that doesn't mean he's better at creating for others. As for Luther Head, in my view he's a below-average ball handler for a combo guard. That shouldn't be as much of an issue for him next season, because he'll be playing a lot more off the ball (assuming he isn't traded away). </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (durvasa)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (tmacyaokobe01)</div><div class='quotemain'>well i think head is an average handler for a guard. francis was a good player who could pass out of double teams but alston has a pass-first mind francis has a shoot-first one.</div> </p> Now you're starting to make some sense. I'll agree that Alston has more of a "pass-first" mentality, but that doesn't mean he's better at creating for others. As for Luther Head, in my view he's a below-average ball handler for a combo guard. That shouldn't be as much of an issue for him next season, because he'll be playing a lot more off the ball (assuming he isn't traded away). </p></div> if he was running the offense as much as rafer it would def be below average.</p>
i'd like to see Rafer stay with this team, but i can't help but to think he needs a "new start" on another team. </p> i remember him in Miami, he was much better as a backup point guard/off the bench scorer.</p>
Head won't be running the team next season, especially with four point guards projected to be on the roster.</p> As for the question at hand, I don't think Alston should stay. His troubles off the court might plague us during the season and he's just not worth the drama, and getting rid of him could get us more PT for Aaron Brooks.</p>
Head's going to be back to playing a lot more shooting guard than point with the new signings. But I doubt that Rafer's going to get much burn playing behind Francis and James. Adelman's system values shooters, and scoring point guards over playmakers. Look at his teams: in Sacto Bibby often had less assists than bigs Webber, Divac and Miller. And in Portland, Drexler often controlled the ball as much or more than Terry Porter. </p> I think you're going to see TMac carry the ball a lot more, and we'll get to see a lot more of Yao's amazing passing skills. So a guard like Rafer would be wasted in the system. A great point guard, but he'd be much better as a backup in GState or maybe back to his hometown, where the Knicks need a distributor like Joakim Noah needs a haircut.</p>
Did tracyyaokobe get permenantly bannned? Hope not.</p> Well I think we should keep Rafer, that is unless a team isn't trying to low ball us in a trade for him, then yeah why not keep him? Francis' knees aren't exactly in the best of condition, and we all know Les wont buy him out.Last year we didn't have enough quality guards, this year we have plenty. I don't see anything wrong with that.</p> Rafer would be great if we could get him 10-15 mpg,he could run our second unit and limit turnovers. Remember, last seasonhe had one of the best A/T ratios in the NBA. Even if we can't get him any minutes, the last timeI checked NBA rotations were 9-10 men, so it's not like we're gona get anyone who will break in ourrotation out of Rafer.</p>
