How good of a PG is Rafer Alston for you?

[Baseline Runner]

I've seen a lot of Rockets fans complaining about Rafer but everytime I watch him he's knocking down shots, making some good passes and playing solid defense. He's obviously not a great playmaker but I've see PGs a lot worse than him.

[MaxRider]

I got use to it. They are picking on the weakest player on the rotation. If we have Chris Paul instead they will start pointing finger at someone else, probably T-Mac. They will not be satisfy unless the Rockets win 105 games in a season (included pre and post season games).

[TMU]

I don't have a lot of complaints about Rafer. To me Rafer is a good PG who understands how to run the offense under both fast and slow tempo. He rarely turns the ball over, has great handles, plays tough defense, and shows a lot of heart on both ends of the court. He draws a lot of criticism from our fans because he can't finish around the basket, and shoots at a low FG%. However, when you consider all the positive attributes he has, he's definitely not a bad player to have on your team.

[Baller 24]

Meh, I've already expressed who I like more.

[moofs]

A few years ago, I shot this down, but trade you Alston for Delonte West - if only to not hear any more Alston complaints.

[T-Wack]

He's decent. When he shoots like he has been recently, we have a solid point guard rotation. It's the 3-16 nights that have brought criticism his way.

[MaxRider]

We added two former Rockets (Francis and James) in 2007 to replace him...
Turnout we traded those two former Rockets again just to keep Alston

[yaomac11-1]

he aight, but Brooks is my boy, so rather have him start.

[A.J.]

He is the type of PG we need. The kind who makes plays and limit his mistakes. He's a decent player IMO. The only thing I am worried about is that he shoots too much when not needed.

[spolgar]

These are generally the criteria that I evaluate a player:

Costs versus stat output:
Skip sits in a particular income bracket where his individual skillset comes at a bargain price. 3-4 mill a year for 10 and 4 for a career guy that has been playing at 13.5 and 5.5 for his time in Houston is cheap. For that money it would be very hard to get a player who can give you those numbers.

Style of play and fit with other players:
Skip has always excelled as a fast break orientated point guard. He played that way in Cardozo. He played that way in Fresno State. He played that way in every park in the five boroughs. He tried to play that way when he got to the Bucks, and then when he finally got his moment to shine in Miami, he ran with it and had his break out year. The Houston half court orientated offense is not what Alston should be good at, but he can do the entry pass, he does move in and out of the perimeter well. The biggest knock against Alston in Adelman's system is that he lacks the facilities to be a hard cutter (got the speed, got the quickness, isn't that bulky and strong) and his streaky catch and shoot in the mid range (has anyone noticed that Skip is not very elevated in his shot? He can't jump very high). Skip made his bills running the ball, and even at his age of 32, his quickness in the open court, his prolific handles and his ability to see the floor whilst running remains his best assets. When he gets to do that, he's really really good. When he doesn't, his threat value to draw people away from other offensive weapons of the rockets rest specifically on the state of his streaky outside shot. Skip is also an above average on the ball defender, and as a help defender he is quick enough to move to and away from the double team assignment. He's not the best fit to play Houston Rockets basketball, but he reliably gets "wow nice" nights once every 4-5 games when his shot is falling, and even when his shot doesn't fall, he can still do everything else.

Upside and other intangibles:
Skip did not have any semblance of an outside shot during the bucks, said Ray Allen. His shooting has always been his greatest knock, and now it's at least streaky rather than horrific. At 32, it's a stretch to say that he would improve much, but considering that he didn't begin playing in the NBA at all until he was 24, and didn't really begin earning miles on his wheels, so to speak, until he was 27, I think the normal development cycle of players and veterans apply only in the most general frame of reference to Rafer Alston. He is still far from the 40k minute mark and he's been reliably injury free. He also shows a propensity to play through injury when Keith lets him. Skip is a mentally tough guy that does not back down from anyone, sometimes with ensuing hilarity (Sasha Vuijic (sp?)), sometimes leaving the fans shaking their heads wondering what the hell is going wrong with that kid (Chris Paul, David Wesley where Skip tapped him in the nuts in the first round of the 2003-2004 playoffs, the Sam Mitchell Fiasco). His consistent legal issues in the off season is not that troubling considering his acquittal rate.

Overall Conclusion:

Good player, solid team mate, we know what he is good at, what he is not, and we're not overpaying for his services.

[King Roosk]

He's a good PG, but I think his best fit on this team would be coming off of the bench. Even on nights where his shot is falling (which is about 38% of the time), he doesn't put any pressure on opposing defenders. He makes good passes, takes care of the ball, and plays heady defense, but Aaron Brooks does all these things as well...and some more.

Brooks is much better at driving, finishing, and moving without the ball. Our offense really clicks with Brooks in the lineup whereas when Alston plays our offense is more stagnant. Also, Rafer on the fastbreak isn't Skip to my Lou anymore. I think it's pretty evident that Brooks is better on the break, and against NJ we got a good look at how much better we play when Brooks unexpectedly pushes past 4 defenders and finishes.

The bottom line is that our team plays much better offensively (and pretty much the same defensively) with Aaron Brooks starting.

[spolgar]

His fast breaking ability so far this season has been mediocre, but he was fun to watch during the streak. When McGrady broke down he had a few good games thus far, and his scoring ability can increase, albeit not consistently.

I don't think you get a huge drop off from speed in the course of six months, and he's just came off of recovery from Utah and he's had a few days rest over a strained hamstring. I think his speed's gonna be fine.

However, Mr. Roosk your comment about Skip's movement away from the ball is definitely valid. As I said before Skip's not the best cutter in the world. He doesn't seem to finish well around the basket unless he's got a couple of steps to pick up the speed where he hits his top gear right around 4-5 feet in front of the basket.

[King Roosk]

Alston basically brings the ball up and either feeds it to Yao or gives it to Mac to run the offense, then he spots up. When Brooks brings the ball up our offense is different. Brooks being on the court allows Mac to be more of a scorer then the guy running our offense. I also like how Brooks can get his points in a variety of ways (driving, drawing contact and going to the line, draining 3s from deep) whereas Rafer only scores when his 3 ball is falling. Rafer's a good passer, but he doesn't really maximize that strength by driving and dishing. He'd be a lot more effective if he could break down the defense, but he just isn't good at it. That's why I think Rafer should come on with Artest and the 2nd unit; I think it'd be a nice balance.

[spolgar]

Yeah, agreed. Skip doesn't drive and dish when in a rockets uniform, but the paint is exceptionally packed when Yao is there, so I can understand why his role is to stretch the defense by camping on the 3 point line in a half court game. Driving and dishing is an art form that is mitigated by the ability of one to draw the defense away from the basket, i.e. by posing as a threat when penetrating. Skip's ability to score in the paint is hampered by his inability to jump very high. Scouts know this, and instruct the forwards and centers to let him shoot his tear drop, which is as hit or miss as his three, or to hold off from fronting Yao until the very last moment because Skip loves the backboard for lay ups.

When in Toronto or Miami, Skip had no problems going to the drive and dish game because the lack of a franchise traditional center on his roster actually cleared out enough room for him to accelerate. He did not play with a back to the basket big man until he got to Houston. When Yao was out and Mutumbo wasn't under the basket, he was driving quite a bit during the 22 game streak, until his ankle/hamstring broke down towards the end of the season.

[smapor]

When you need a thread to defend a Starting PG, thats when you know he isn't the best. Especially if you have to defend why he is a benefit.

Like Roosk says AB brings better offense chemistry to the team and give back very little on the defense side.

If Rafer can shoot like this everygame, no reason he can't be on the 2nd unit, since most folks thinks he can score.

Against Cleveland our starting unit's offense was stagnant, hence why Rafer had to shoot and score more. (blame it on T-mac's fatigue or the fouls, I just blame it on poor offensive chemistry). You look at our starting lineup

T-mac
Yao
Shane
Scola


T-mac is no longer an offensive threat like before, he is more than happy to pass the ball (also has little lift). Shane has never been known as a scorer. Scola is a streaky score, who misses alot of layups.

With Rafer in, the rockets effectively have 2 offensive threats (1 who is injured), 1 streaky scorer, and 2 not known for their offensive skills.

With AB in, the rockets have 3 offensive threats (1 who is injured), 1 streak scorer, and 1 not known for his offensive skills.

Both starting units are defensively the same (sorry Rafer is getting older, so he is a step slower, but he is taller)

If we had the old T-mac, than yes Rafer should probably start, as you want T-mac and Yao to take the majority of the shots for the 1st unit, however with Rafer in, we see alot more double teams on our 2 superstars. Like Roosk says, teams know Rafer is a spot up shooter.

The only other factor, i seen people talk about is our 2nd unit being weaker. Well if your starting unit is kicking ass, your 2nd unit just needs to provide energy. 1st unit is the team that sets the pace for the rest of the game.

[TMU]

Here's something to think about...

Alston: 55% Min, +3.2 Net +/- per 48 min, clutch eFG%: 64.3%
Alston-McGrady-Battier-Scola-Yao: +12, 73 mins, 100% Win% (3 - 0)

Brooks: 47% Min, -6.8 Net +/- per 48 min, clutch eFG%: 20.0%
Brooks-McGrady-Battier-Scola-Yao: +48, 207 mins, 100% Win% (5 - 0)

Based on the numbers above, it doesn't really matter who starts for this team. As indicated by the perfect win %, both players have good chemistry with the rest of the starters; although Brooks has seen more minutes with McGrady, Battier, Scola, and Yao than Alston has.

But there are two things that I'm certain with:
- Alston should close out.
- Alston should get more overall minutes than Brooks.

[spolgar]

Setting: Obnoxious Skip to My Lou Anonymous Meeting.

Hi, my name is Bertrand, and I'm a Rafer Alston Homer.

(Cheers heard around the table... One such participant calls out "That's the first step baybee")

[smapor]

Time to revive this thread.

[T-Wack]

Worst. Point. Guard. In. The. League.

[smapor]

Worst. Point. Guard. In. The. League.

Har Har, i disagree. He is way better than Luther Head....o wait you said point guard