Spanoulis and Novk will play, whether it's sooner or later depends on their own readiness. Tony Parker earned his minutes as a rookie, averaging 9 pts, 4 assists and only 2 TOs per 29 minutes. You think Spanoulis can hold his TOs down to 2 per every 29 minutes? What was he averaging in preseason? Novak was the first man off the bench in Utah, IIRC, and he struggled big time. I doubt his understanding level jumped over 2 weeks. He'll have to just put in some work.
How can one earn his minutes if he is not allowed to play in the first place? Preseason? Novak didn't do too shabby, did he? Oh wait, it's that first game performance again. Different yard sticks for different players. Talking about having both ways, LOL Did you see VSpan's Roland rating? Isn't that the source you often cited?
I am afraid Novak's performance in Utah disappointed JVG a lot. If we won that game, maybe he would get another chance, but we lost by 10. Even though, he also get some PT in next two games.
No. You are missing the point. The theory of dumping it into the post with standstill spotup shooters has been signed off by everyone from Les Alexander on down. That's why Morey pursued Battier, that's why CD and Les didn't offer Mike James a trade kicker, it's why the Rockets wouldn't even have a player like Wells on the roster if he hadn't fallen into their laps... It's not just the coach...it's the entire organization that's bought into the concept.
if the rockets had the spurs bench, they would play. they are more talented and more deserving of PT.
JVG only benched novak for last 5 games, vspan for 6 of 8 games (though garbage playing time). it is not a long stretch. He didn't never play them. we can't judge him in such a short time. things change, people change. even JVG changes. anyone ever thought he will start Hayes? see. Be optimistic a little bit.
I am with Gater on this one. JVG is still looking for 94 and 95 Hakeem's team success but he has a number of things working against him. He is forcing a system on the wrong kind of players in the wrong era. The biggest drawback with the dump it to Yao offense that JVG is using is that times have changed. With the new rules and zones, it has become increasingly hard to isolate big men in post, especially late in games. This offense is so ******* predictable that all 5 players on the opposite team know exactly where Yao and all his teammates are gonna be. Everyone is in a standstill and defense gets pletny of time to set up and harass Yao. Quiet frankly, during closing minutes, I am usually more worried about Yao turning the ball over in those situations. I know if he gets a shot off, it will be a decent look BUT most of the time it will be a turnover because he will be completely hounded!! In order to divert attention from Yao, he needs consistent scoring threats. Not scoring threats created BY Yao. But scoring threats as Gater alluded to, ones that can create their own shots. If they can keep the defense honest and keep them thinking, that will help Yao and Tmac. Tmac is the only one on this team who is a dependable creator on a nightly basis btw. Even Yao right now, if he is not hitting his shots, team will just play him one on one like last night. Or athletic teams and good defensive teams will rotate quickly and reset the Rockets offense. Since it takes 15 seconds for them to set up their offense in the first place, God help them. Gundy had 2 chances to help Yao and Tmac with this issue and he wasted both opportunities. 1) Mike James. He was the 3rd scoring option. Him being on the floor with Yao and Tmac kept at least 3 defenders honest if not more. Gundy had it, and he threw it away for a Swiss cheese PG. 2) Lottery pick. The lottery pick should have been used on a player who could create on offense for himself or others on a consistent basis. If lottery pick was not an option for a rookie, then the trade should have been used. This team needs a DEPENDABLE PENETRATOR so ******* bad. Even Tmac is hesistant to constantly drive and attack. Why is it that whenever Rockets play other teams, it seems that everyone on the other team can get in the lane against them and do something, but when it comes to Rockets guards, it is usually a sure turnover? Disgusting tear drops that never go in, bad decisions leading to turnovers, or just fear to go in the lane in the first place. When Tim Dunan is bricking it, he knows Tony Parker and Ginobili can get in the lane at will and create havoc. I never felt comfortable in last night's game, even when Rockets had the 20 point lead because, I knew it, Spurs knew it, and even the Rocket players and coaches knew it.....Parker and Manu can get in the lane all they want late in the game and there is no one on the Rockets team that can do anything about it. It sure would be nice to have that feeling as a Rockets. This team either needs more creators or needs a motion offense.
when alston was fresh and focused, he defened parker and terry pretty well, battier should be able to guard manu, and we also have vspan/snyder/wells/tmac.. we have ebough talents, but ...
Zboy, this thread has been doing OK without SamFisher. Please don't bring MJ into the discussion, will you? We need to, and can only, make something to happen with what we have. MJ is history. Simple as that.
Basically this thread is just another gripe at JVG for not playing Novak and V-Span. Time to jump off a bridge and write the season off. Once our starters gel as a group, our bench will be developed. Just face the fact we have a lot of new players and it's going to take a while for our offense to work the kinks out. I knew the preseason record would get expectations too high and the Heat win pushed them into the stratosphere. But as long as they play very good defense, the Rockets should win enough games early on to have a decent record. At some point in the future, the offense will click and I think people here will be happy. Novak and V-Span will also get playing time. We have only played 8 games. IMO, it's way too early for the strong reactions now. If our offense is still sputtering 20-30 games for now, JVG needs to go. GATER, you have a very valid point but the situation isn't nearly as dire as you say.
So basically Pop Adjusted and JVG did not counter punch? I would not worry about it too much I am waiting . . .2nd round or bust but honestly we should win be trying to win a championship this year Rocket River oh yea. . .play Bonzi
While I agree that more time playing together will increase chemistry and they will become better, I am trying to look at the bigger picture. What is their ceiling in terms of crunch time production? Say the Rockets are in playoffs and its a tough series. Say they are in a close game with 5-10 minutes left. In that situation it basically comes to Tmac creating for everyone. Yao becomes a liability, IMO, at that point because of turnovers. Good teams will double him right away beyond the 3 point line, off of a pick and roll and make someone else create something. That was quiet clear in last nights game against the Spurs. And onsidering that Tmac settles for jumpers far to often, and this team has no other versatile option, it doesnt look too good.
LOL - We don't need anything to beat the Spurs other than toughness. The same team that built a NINETEEN point lead....gave it up. It was not for a lack of penetrators...it was a lack of mental toughness. DD
****, i can't find my freakin violin to play a sad song for you babies. We just beat the snot out of Dallas and Miami, ran up a huge lead on San Antonio and ran into the same problem we had two years ago with getting complacent. We have plenty more time in the season to go, more players coming back from injuries and time to mesh and you guys are acting like the wheels are coming off. Gater, go play your guitar while you cry of things the Rockets did when you knew a better way. In fact, why don't you become a fan of the Spurs because you've already doomed the Rockets in your mind. And those of you wanting to play rookies when you haven't seen more than thirty minutes of play against real competition, get a life. I will side with the coach that is watching them play in practice and deeming their level of play to be too poor currently.
How the heck do you know what goes on in practice? Are you apart of the team? You don't know what happens during practice so you can't even speak on it. V-SPAN isn't going to get any playing time soon. What makes you think an unproven rookie can do better against the Spurs defense? Same with Novak. The outcome wouldn't have changed if those two played. Everybody saw what skills he had in the preseason and we also saw that he was a turnover machine. If JVG couldn't stand Steve Franchise turning the ball over, what makes you think hes ok with a rookie? Now, I'm as big as a V-SPAN fan as the next person, but blaming JVG for losing because he didn't put in him or Novak is ridiculous. JVG didn't lose that game for us, our players did. I want to see the rookies get some time also but JVG knows what he is doing. Both players have a lot of time to develop, they need to bust their asses and pay their dues before cracking the rotation. It's stupid to compare the coaching styles of the Spurs and Rockets when both teams have different players and personnel. Ok, so the Spurs used most of their bench. Exactly, how many rookies played for them? None. They used one more player than us and its obvious they have a deeper bench. Finely, Horry,Barry and Udrih are their main powers off then bench. While we had Snyder, Head, Deke and Padgett. I rather see Novak in place of Padgett, but besides a little better shooting, what else does he bring that Padgett doesn't?
Well since you asked....I used to be a Sportscaster, and followed the Spurs during the Larry Brown era, and got to attend a bunch of Rockets practices during Rudy's era. And, that is common practice that they don't scrimmage HARD during the season....they want to keep the players fresh. Heck, look at JVG's quotes from last year about the same thing. And, the point is that I DON'T KNOW that V-span or Novak would have made a difference, BUT, I do know that you will never find out if you don't at least try. Ala, Rudy, and Popovich...they use the regular season to find out what they have. DD
