Do you think Raptors will do better with Mike James?

by **hipn** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:09 am

Topic.

by **Doobie** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:09 am

Mike who??

by **Malfa** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:16 am

Alston is a better player. He may cause problems..but he's a better player.

by **Its_asdf** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 4:24 am

The Rockets skill-wise may have gotten better, but the trade benefitted the Raptors way more.

Alston is an above average point guard and when he plays under control he can be a real dangerous offensive threat when he drives to the lane. I think that his personal problems were really blown out of porprotion and he really showed a humble personality before he was traded.

Mike James' contract is 2 years or so less than Alston, so financially it gives the Raptors even more freedom. In 2 years Rose's and Eric Williams' contracts will also expire as well, so we'll have a lot of money to re-sign Bosh and perhaps chase after a free agent or two.

Also, Mike James is supposedly a better defender. I remember one game Alston let Tyronn Lue walk all over him in crunch time and lost us the game. Lue finished with around 20 points and probably scored more than half of his points in final minutes of the game. Tyronn Mother fucking Lue. What kind of defence lets that happen?

James is also a better locker room presence. I did say that Alston's run-ins with the coach and everything were a little overblown, but that doesn't mean that it was right to say those things. I've heard only positive things about the leadership he can bring to this team.

by **Riot** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:07 am

Mike James has a shorter contract, a better attitude and is just an overall better player. Raptors got away with a steal, IMO.

by **BOSS** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:09 am

DoobieKnicks wrote:Mike who??

MIKE JONES !

Ye but to stick on to the topic, I think James can really help the Raptors. He really polished his game this off-season. Like Its_asdf said, Alston has a hefty contract while James his 1-2 years left. He is a genuine guy and his locker spirit will help this team.

by **j.23** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:22 am

even if they didn't get mike james the fact that rafer alston is gone is a big plus. that guy was a big fucking tool.

Bluesky · by **Andrew** on Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:42 pm

Even though I think James will be a better fit, it's not as though Alston's presence was the only thing holding the Raptors back last season. Toronto is a typical young team in rebuilding mode; a couple of capable veterans but most of the talent is in the youth of the team with words such as "potential" and "upside" becoming popular buzzwords. The Alston for James swap is a move that I think will likely be more beneficial down the road, when the Raptors address other problems (such as the talent pool at centre) and make further improvements.

by **jesusfrancosiles** on Sun Oct 16, 2005 8:31 am

Mmm...no one of you knows Calderon? I think (and hope) this trade is trying to make more room in minutes for Calderon. He is a great GREAT guard!

by **fgrep15** on Sun Oct 16, 2005 9:07 am

Alston's a better player, but Mike will help defensively, and he's a more under control player. At best I say it's a lateral move, he's not really someone that makes teamamtes better, but he can provide some things for the team.

by **BOSS** on Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:00 pm

James did pretty good in last night's preseason game. Although he it was a preseason game he posted up nice stats. 20 Points, 4 Assists, 2 Steals, and 2 Rebounds.

by **nbalive744** on Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:13 pm

Those are some pretty nice stats! In my opinion, I think that both teams will improve from this trade (Y)