FAO Mike Barnes "Skip-to-my-Loo"!

[d.j. earon]

"What do you think about "skip-to-my-loo (rafer alston)" to the Nets?

[Mike Barnes]

Dj Earon, I feel it's a very good move for Rafer, Hopefully, Lawrence Franks(Nets Head coach), Will not jerk Rafer with playing time(Like, Stan Van Gundy did with the Orlando Magic), Rafer, Playing behind Devin Harris(Who is drug nice with his), Is a very good move For Rafer too, Because, Rafer's a more productive player, Coming off the bench(Though,

Rafer was playing vey well as a starter, For the last 6 years of his career, Rafer adds Another element to a crews potential to win, In regards to Rafer, Playing X amount of minutes on a regular basis, Opposed, To, Rafer looking over his shoulder, To see if he's

Coming out of the game/LOL, Also, Rafer knows his role with the Nets(Devin Harris is the Starter, Rafer, Comes off the bench), Also, Rafer will most definitely make Devin Harris much better, By Rafer, Going hard at Devin Harris, Everyday in practice(Money knows, That, If he does not play well, Rafer has that spot/LOL).

Much Respect
Mike Barnes

[d.j. earon]

Thanks bro. Speaking of getting jerked. Hopefully they will hold on to him and not deal him. Dude really wants to play at home (i.e. close to the city).

"This could be a first:

A New Jersey Net who knows the team's heritage and its successes.

A guy who knew they had a history -- such as it was -- long before Jason Kidd showed up.

A player who "can't wait to put that uniform on," as Rafer Alston proclaimed.

Some kind of joke?

"Some of my favorite players played for this organization," the Queens native said Wednesday, after passing a physical that officially made him a member of the Nets. "You had Pearl Washington, Kenny Anderson. You name it -- Albert King, Darwin Cook. I was born in '76, so I watched all that stuff -- I was seven, eight, and they were rocking and rolling. I still remember when they beat the Sixers" in 1984.

Okay, so he named three New York guys, like himself.

But Alston also evoked Darwin Cook -- ol' No. 12, the former franchise leader in steals and assists, who left New Jersey 23 years ago -- and that's a giveaway that this guy is serious.

"It's funny, because when the season ended in Orlando, the writers asked if I expect to be traded," the 32-year-old point guard said. "And I said everyone should expect to be traded at some point, because it does happen. I thought if they were going to trade me, let me finish my career close to home. And, voilà , it happened."

There's no guarantee that Alston will actually remain with the Nets when the 2009-10 season begins. He was included in the Vince Carter deal primarily because his salary made the deal work, but once October rolls around, there is likely to be a lot of interest in a starting-quality, veteran point in the last year of his contract.

Especially one like Alston, whose prestige soared this past season because he accomplished one of the most difficult of all NBA tasks for a point guard: taking over a team in the midseason, and getting it all the way to June.

"The trade for Rafer saved Orlando's season," said TV analyst Jeff Van Gundy, who coached Alston for three years in Houston. "Although he obviously can't shoot as well as Jameer Nelson, Rafer pushes the ball hard, plays with passion, understands team defense, and had already played with a dominant big man in Yao, so he knew how to get the ball into the post. That was the most overlooked great personnel move of the season."

"Otis and Stan and the organization, they thanked me, I think, after each round," said Alston, referring to GM Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy. "But it was a team thing, with the understanding that you're bringing in a point guard to help stabilize your team."

So when Nelson returned for the NBA Finals, Alston -- for lack of a better term -- was cast aside, particularly in the fourth quarter of Game 4.

He harbors no grudge. He admits that he wishes Stan Van Gundy could have better communicated his decision to bench him for long periods against the Lakers ("The thing is, we wanted to adjust to it"), but he left on good terms. And Alston left for a place he wants to be, mindful that he could be a third-stringer behind Devin Harris and Keyon Dooling, once the latter heals from hip surgery.

"Although you grow up a Knick fan, you're definitely a Nets fan because they're on your television just as much," Alston said. "So to me, it's definitely a dream come true. I'm excited not only to be with the Nets but to be able to play in front of family and friends, and also the opportunity to help a franchise turn things around."

[Mike Barnes]

Earon, Rafer is very knowledgeable of the game of basketball, For a very young cat, My man/LOL, For Rafer to even remember Darwin Cook, Is a testament of Rafer's history of the game of basketball, My man/LOL, Rafer's a very nice cat personally(I had the opportunity

To meet Rafer a few times at IS8 in Jamaica,Queens, Though, Rafer and myself, Come from Around the way/Southside/Jamaica,Queens, There's a very big difference in age, Between Rafer and myself, So, We never had the opportunity to meet, Before the early 90's(I was

Resting in New Jersey, When, Rafer was developing into the cat, That he turned out to be During the 90's/2000's(Skip/LOL) Earon, Rafer comes from a very long line of cats in the

Backcourt from the Southside/Jamaica,Queens, My man, Here's short list of the notable cats who have played in the NBA and the Division I, College basketball circuit, From the Southside(Which is more well-known for cats movin weight/LOL).

1.Rafer Alston
2.Derrick Chievious(Houston Rockets)
3.Royal Ivey(Atlanta Hawks/ Sacremento Kings)
4.Kenny Anderson(Nets, Portland Trailblazers)
5.Boo Harvey(St.John's)

6.Shaheen Holloway(Seton Hall)
7.Dwayne Woodward(Boston College)
8.Brian Woodward(Rhode Island)
9.Darryl(Showtime)Hill(St.John's)
10.Dave Edwards(Georgetown/Texas A&M)


Much respect
Mike Barnes

[84KingStreet]

I thought y'all was talking about the Finis Henderson Classic Cut. )FIYAH(