Will the point guard spot be the Rockets’ downfall?
Rafer Alston (photo. Jack Thompson)In today’s Smack we touched on the Rockets’ point guard situation and wondered if they’d be interested in trading for Jamaal Tinsley. Houston GM Daryl Morey recently did an interview with Jason Friedman for the team’s website where he addressed the PG spot:
JF: What about Damon Stoudamire?
DM: I think both Damon Stoudamire and Darrell Armstrong are talking about coming in to camp. Whether or not we bring them is still to be determined.
And later on…
JF: On paper at least, there’s an awful lot to like about this roster. But when critics start looking for flaws, they typically point the finger at the point guard spot. Is it fair to say that position is the biggest area of concern heading into the new season?
DM: Well, I’d say what I always say; I think relative to our competition in the West — while we feel like we’ve got good players at the position — it is the position where there’s the biggest gap between a Chris Paul and where we are. I would say it’s no more or less a concern than it was last year. In fact, we probably feel a little bit better about it this year than last. We feel good about Rafer as a starter. With Aaron (Brooks) going into his second year, we see him stepping up. We see Brent (Barry) playing some minutes there as well. So we actually feel better about it this year than we did last year.
Do you think Houston should go after someone like Stephon Marbury or Tinsley who can start at PG, or a reserve like Stoudamire or Armstrong to add depth?
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September 24th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Ace says:
1st
September 24th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
memememe says:
First
and pg is not a huge concern as it was in previous years….i think rafer has stepped up especially since last year. during that run the rockets had he was one of the main reasons why the rockets kept it up. i actually thing PF is the position we need help at. too many undersized PF’s like scola hayes and landry. altho i gotta say they got lots of heart.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
isotope says:
Nah We’re good. We dont have enough roster spots anyways. Tinsley or Mighty Mouse would be good but they are not upgrades to Rafer in my book. Chris Paul wouldnt be Chris Paul if he had TMac and Yao (and now Artest). I mean the Celts won with Rondo as their starting PG and the Lakers went to the finals with Derek Fisher. Rafer is not THAT bad.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Prof. TX says:
They need a PG who is a passer and a defender. The guy needs some kind of shot to keep defenses honest, but doesn’t have to be great at it. McGrady, Yao, and Artest will all be able to score, they just need someone to steer the offense and get them the ball in the right spots.
Alston has the skills to do this, but needs the desire. He needs to be a determined defender (take some pointers from Artest and Battier) and find the other shooters before launching his own 3′s.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Mo says:
Houston Rocket fans will try to play it off like it’s all good but they know Skip sucks.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
Big V says:
Tinsley is definitely a better playmaker than either Stoudamire or Alston. That said, it depends largely on whether they end up needing scoring (due to injuries to Yao or Mac) or playmaking out of the point. Don’t forget, T-Mac can also pretty handily bring the ball up and initiate the offense.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Homeless J says:
Aaron Brooks did an interview at halftime of the last Oregon football game and he was talking like they’re gonna give him more minutes this year. Obviously because of my huge hometown bias I hope Aaron becomes the starter so our last point guard to be drafted in the first round and become a starter won’t be Luke Ridnour anymore.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Ryan says:
Skip had a good year last year and before this year even starts he gets hated on…Rockets get no love, they do look good on paper this year…they are going to go deep into the playoff dispite all the hate…DO WORK T-MAC
September 24th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Austin Burton says:
@Homeless J — Tajuan Porter will be a pro starter and drop massive buckets … in Poland.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
hahns says:
if anyone, get armstrong in there- no need for shoot first pgs when you got yao, rafer, mac, and ronron who can all get buckets
September 24th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Homeless J says:
I bet Tajuan Porter’s favorite song is that “I WISH I WAS A LITTLE BIT TALLER, A SHOT CALLER, BALLER…” If dude was just a couple inches taller he’d be the millenium Mighty Mouse. I wonder what it’s like to have so much talent yet at the same time know that no NBA GM is going to draft you because you’re barely taller than Muggsy Bogues.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
justice says:
Skip was solid last year, he set guys up well ran the offense, and was a knock down jump shooter that’s all they need, tmac and ro ron like the ball in their hands so u need guy like skip to get spacing…i know he must be tripping like i had the best year of my career and im still going into camp with doubts from upper management and the fans? wtf
September 24th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Jah says:
Am I the only one rooting for Steve Francis?
September 24th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Homeless J says:
Steve Francis won’t start in the league again until he can afford robotic knee replacements. If he keeps going like this, he’ll have to have the remote controlled leg brace like Matthew McConaughey in that Texas Chainsaw Massacre sequel with Renee Zellwegger.
September 24th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
memememe says:
almost everyyyyyyyone in houston loves steve francis…i hope he does get PT this year maybe even at 2 but it would be nice to see him back in there
September 24th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
akash says:
Wow what a coincidence because almost everyyyyyyyone in Vanvouver loves steve francis too…lol
September 24th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Celts Fan says:
@Jah, umm, yes
@everyone, between Rafer (he DID start for a team that won 23 straight, just saying…) and TMac coming in to play a scoring point in spurts (he said he likes being a playmaker, and playing him at the 1, w/ Artest and Skin-Rows Battier playing the 2 and 3, that’s a HUGE lineup with tons of defensive mismatches/offensive potential that should be able to put up tons of buckets and lock up other teams. Throw in Dorsey or Scola next to Yao and youhave a unit that should be pretty tough to outscore/score on while they’re out there.)
September 24th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Celts Fan says:
*meant to start with “they should be fine”
they’re ok.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:02 pm
isotope says:
Everyone in Houseon loveD Steve before Orlando and NY ruined his career. The Steve on the Rockets right now couldnt touch that man.
I’m just glad Rockets management dont listen to dumb fans. Last year Rafer WON the starting position against Mike James, Aaron Brooks, and Steve Francis. He played well enough to keep his job. He was better than at least 10 starting PGs in the L.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Joe says:
hoopsworld is reporting that the Blazers have signed shaun livingston
September 24th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
Joe says:
also…the bobcats signed carl landry to a 3yr 9mil offer sheet
September 24th, 2008 at 5:22 pm
isotope says:
its true:
http://www.nba.com/bobcats/release_landry_080924.html
September 24th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Jah says:
Consider this lineup:
PG – ???
SG – Tracy McGrady
SF – Ron Artest
PF – Luis Scola
C – Yao Ming
At the wing positions you have two All-Star Caliber players who can create their own shot. In the frontcourt there are two offensively talented players who can put up dependable numbers.
This is fact. That said, whoever starts at PG should know that they’re needed to just pass, defend, and hit the open shot from the double-team kickout.
I’m still rooting for Steve Francis but…I’d go with Rafer Alston.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:40 pm
dapro says:
No way Steph or Tinsley can manage the game and egos of the Rockets players
Armstrong would be a good bet because he is a respected vet but he wouldn’t play enough
Rafer seems to have a good feel for the team. When Skip is his game then they are a top 5 team, when he’s off then they drop significantly.
He has to continue to get the ball to the right people and hit the occasional shot
September 24th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Joe says:
hoopsworld was wrong about livingston, he will NOT be a Blazer
September 24th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Jeffrey says:
UUUUHHHHH, You Think????
September 24th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
Dave says:
The Rockets are fine at the point.
They have the squad, they have the offense, they have the defense, they have the rebounding, they have the passer, they have the role players, they have the coach. They’re ready to go.
If they don’t win it’s almost definitely going to be because their stars (Yao, Tracy, Artest) didn’t do enough. Their stars have everything they need to win a title, they have to lead them there now.
September 24th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
added says:
tinsley cant shoot…skip might not be all that, but he can knock down the open 3 so that the D dont collapse on yao and tmac
September 24th, 2008 at 10:22 pm
steven says:
Wow some of you guys most have forgotten that Skip was solid last year. I expect him to build upon that and be even better this year. Skip’s definitely the Rockets starting PG. He just has to stay healthy. After Skip, there’s a glaring hole and I’m not sure Brooks is ready to step up yet, but I wouldn’t pick up Mighty Mouse (I hate the way he walks the ball up court)or take a risk with Tinsley.
September 24th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
Big Sia says:
LOL PG BRENT
September 24th, 2008 at 11:06 pm
kowtz says:
haha…
I thought DM stood for dime magazine… made no sense for Dime to be answering the interview…
anyway PG sopt has been HOU’s downfall since Stevie was shipped to ORL…
September 24th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
kowtz says:
added says:
tinsley cant shoot…skip might not be all that, but he can knock down the open 3 so that the D dont collapse on yao and tmac
I say:
I would rather let skip shoot rather than let Yao and TMac score…
That was like saying Fish has to shoot so that the defense dn’t collapse to Shaq and Kobe…
September 25th, 2008 at 3:29 am
knoc says:
i expect francis to steal 3rd pg minutes and then as he gets back in to shape…hoping…become rafers back up.
francis wont start coz he gona take time to know the plays like alston does.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:11 am
ctkennedy says:
rando
parker
williams after the kings days
billiups before the all star love
fisher
armstrong
k.smith/s.cassell before the bucks
r.harper after his knees were shot
these r the last point guards to win the title over the last 15 yrs so how good do rafer really gots to be?
September 25th, 2008 at 10:11 am
karizmatic says:
I think the Rockets should definitely look to upgrade at the point, they should really look into trying to get Jamal Tinsley, but if they want to take a huge gamble on a headcase they could probably get Marbury from the Knicks for next to nothing. I am also rooting for Steve Francis but at this point I think it’s safe to say he’s done.
September 25th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
E$ says:
Jamal Tinsley??? You smoking, I’ll stick with Skip!
September 25th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Rev. Paul Revere says:
When push comes to shove, the point guard is Houston’s weakest position, but they shouldn’t disrupt things with Marbury or Tinsley. Rafer emerged last year and Brent Barry will provide solid minutes, especially come playoff time. But for the most part, in 4th quarters, you have to imagine their 5 (provided they are healthy) will be T-Mac running a point-forward spot, Artest, Battier, Landry and Yao, no?
September 25th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Haslem says:
Houston has to many subaverage guards on the roster, there almost to congested.
call me crazy but Francis can’t have become so terrible so fast, he’s gotta still have something
September 25th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
added says:
kowtz says:
I would rather let skip shoot rather than let Yao and TMac score…
That was like saying Fish has to shoot so that the defense dn’t collapse to Shaq and Kobe…
——–
hey i didnt say to let skip HAD to shoot intead of yao or tmac – what i meant was that if yao passes out of a double in the post, the wing players like battier or the guard up top ie; skip – has got to make that open 3 so that the D dont collapse on yao and tmac every possession….
and yea – D Fish DID hit his shots – he did his part in the lakers championships…