We Finally Have Enough Talent

[Ballings7]

Damn Ron's going to look good in the Rockets unis

I'm so hyped to see him playing for you guys - especially now with a notable defensive team around him again. Where, his impact will be greater, and his responsibility easier, on a consistent basis, than it was with for his Kings tenure (sans post-Peja-trade in 2006 of 05-06, to a definite respectable degree).

I'd love to see him make the all-defensive team again

[timdunkit]

You guys have an awesome team with Ron, Mcgrady, Yao and Battier. 3 Point shooting shouldn't from the pg spot shouldn't be too much concern. If teams start leaving Rafer open and he is clanking off the rim, just insert Barry whose been 40% 3pt shooter his career.

[Transistor]

I can't wait until the nights Rafer IS feelin it..
WATCH OUT!!

[JordansBulls]

Nah man, the Rockets organization never did good at getting the Mac/Yao combo a legitimate 3rd option. Artest is a person that you can look at and say, yes this guy is the 3rd guy. Francis wasn't it last year, same with James, they were more or so just role players.

When you say 3rd option are you referring to scoring? If so, how many ppg do you think a 3rd option needs to average?

Last season, Rafer averaged around 13 ppg in the season and Scola 10 ppg
In 2006-2007, Rafer averaged around 13 ppg in the season and Battier 10 ppg

In retrospect in 2001-2002 Fisher was the 3rd scoring option on the Lakers and he averaged 11.2 ppg.
In the 2000-2001 season, Fisher was the 3rd scoring option on the Lakers and he averaged 11.5 ppg and Fox was at 10 ppg.

In 1997-1998, Kukoc was the 3rd scoring option on the Bulls and he averaged 13.3 ppg and Longley was next with 11.2 ppg and this with only one player averaging over 20+ ppg.

In 1996-1997, Kukoc was the 3rd scoring option on the Bulls and he averaged 13.2 ppg and the next player was under 10 ppg.

So realistically, two champions with star players just like the Rockets had no 3rd scoring option averaging more than what the Rockets had with Rafer averaged the past few years.

[Baller 24]

Nah man, the Rockets organization never did good at getting the Mac/Yao combo a legitimate 3rd option. Artest is a person that you can look at and say, yes this guy is the 3rd guy. Francis wasn't it last year, same with James, they were more or so just role players.

When you say 3rd option are you referring to scoring? If so, how many ppg do you think a 3rd option needs to average?

Last season, Rafer averaged around 13 ppg in the season and Scola 10 ppg
In 2006-2007, Rafer averaged around 13 ppg in the season and Battier 10 ppg

In retrospect in 2001-2002 Fisher was the 3rd scoring option on the Lakers and he averaged 11.2 ppg.
In the 2000-2001 season, Fisher was the 3rd scoring option on the Lakers and he averaged 11.5 ppg and Fox was at 10 ppg.

In 1997-1998, Kukoc was the 3rd scoring option on the Bulls and he averaged 13.3 ppg and Longley was next with 11.2 ppg and this with only one player averaging over 20+ ppg.

In 1996-1997, Kukoc was the 3rd scoring option on the Bulls and he averaged 13.2 ppg and the next player was under 10 ppg.

So realistically, two champions with star players just like the Rockets had no 3rd scoring option averaging more than what the Rockets had with Rafer averaged the past few years.

Not generally just scoring, but handling the ball, causing double teams/mismatches for other teams. With Artest and McGrady on the wing positions the opposing team is going to have to put their best defender on either player, you put a weak defender on the other, they are going to pay a price with that weak defender, who is going to need double teams, its just going to disorganize defenses, and the Rockets have never had that.

Alston isn't that guy for us, IMO I don't think he causes mismatches, while his shooting percentage and shot selection is sometimes considered poor or below average. Same with Battier, he is just a guy that comes in for that spot up 3, or is at times generally good with fast breaks, but no where near a 3rd option.

Those Laker teams just need solid role players, they had two players at the prime of their game, generally speaking I'd say McGrady is out of his prime, and Yao has just been injury prone, and I don't think he is or was anywhere efficient to what Shaq was. Shaq's impact on that team was HUGE, way bigger than Kobe's, while statistics prove that McGrady's impact on the Rockets is much higher then Yao's (.23 winning percentage without McGrady), while without Yao, McGrady has done a great job I'd say. The Bulls? well I don't think I need an explanation for the great one

[moofs]

Alston's shot selection isn't that bad, he just can't hit them. Now if his shot selection is considered bad strictly because of that inability, well then... that's hard to argue against. If it's bad because of how he's defended, etc, etc, it's another story. In that sense his shot selection is decent enough. I don't often see him take groan-inducing shots, understandably aside from the fact that he's the one taking them.

[tha_rock220]

Alston's shot selection isn't that bad, he just can't hit them. Now if his shot selection is considered bad strictly because of that inability, well then... that's hard to argue against. If it's bad because of how he's defended, etc, etc, it's another story. In that sense his shot selection is decent enough. I don't often see him take groan-inducing shots, understandably aside from the fact that he's the one taking them.

I would agree and say his shot selection isn't horrible, but generally when he shoots I'm groaning unless it's a wide open 3 pointer or a layup. When he tries go pull up from 3 or go all Tony Parker on cats I can't help but brace myself.

[CuttingEdge]

It's like the original poster doesn't consider Brent Barry or Shane Battier. WTF are you on dude. There's a couple 3-point shooters on this team. Maybe one too many.

[NBA4All]

I love you guys team! I really like Ron Artest and Tmac is one of my favorite players plus you guys have a dominate Center that's crazy. I just did a video on Ron Artest on You Tube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e2oBNqPpog