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H Chronicle: Nachbar tries to find his niche under Van Gundy

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by keep_rudy, Oct 18, 2003.

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  1. keep_rudy

    keep_rudy Member

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    After being lost in the shuffle last season, Nachbar tries to find his niche under Van Gundy
    By MICHAEL MURPHY
    Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle

    Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy leaped off the bench, the frustration obvious in his body language. Van Gundy had seen enough. Or hadn't seen enough, depending on your point of view.

    Bostjan Nachbar had passed up yet another open shot, instead opting for an ill-advised drive through the teeth of the Sacramento defense. Nachbar lost the ball on the drive, and Van Gundy appeared to be on the verge of losing his mind as the 6-9 Slovenian forward ran back on defense.

    "If you pass up another open shot," Van Gundy shouted, "I'm going to put you on the bench!"

    Over the course of his career, Van Gundy has proved he can handle most anything the NBA has to offer -- difficult personnel decisions, media scrutiny, even AWOL players -- and he handles it all with a dry manner that uses humor as an air bag to soften the blow of the criticism.

    But if there's one thing Van Gundy can't handle, it's bad basketball. Mistakes are one thing, but flat-out bad basketball drives him over the edge. And in Van Gundy's book, passing up wide-open shots constitutes bad basketball, and he was quick to let Nachbar know his displeasure.

    Nachbar nodded, but Van Gundy and the rest of his staff had to wonder if the message had truly sunk in.

    Nachbar spent the fourth quarter proving it did.

    After making only two of eight shots in the first three quarters, Nachbar hit four of five in the fourth period, scoring 11 of his 15 points in the final 12 minutes, knocking down three 3-pointers and throwing down a driving dunk.

    The immediate result was an 88-72 victory over the Kings, and it is hoped a residual benefit will be a dose of confidence for Nachbar, who has -- to put it mildly -- struggled in the preseason.

    Before Thursday's performance against the Kings, Nachbar had been shooting 31.1 percent from the floor, making only 14 of 45 shots. His shooting from the 3-point line was particularly brutal -- 2-of-15, or 13.3 percent.

    "He's going to have to make spot-up shots better. He's going to have to play to his strength better of running and slashing and cutting," Van Gundy said. "He's a great kid, a willing worker.

    "I think he wants to be a good player. He's got to leave that excuse behind that he's not shooting well because he doesn't have fresh legs. I don't know how you put that in Slovenia, but `no excuses.' "

    Nachbar isn't naive enough to think Thursday's game is a magical overnight recovery. He understands Van Gundy hasn't been happy, and Nachbar makes it clear he's not happy, either.

    "I'm still not satisfied with my game," Nachbar said after the Sacramento showing. "I'm just hoping that each game, as I get more opportunities, I get more adjusted so when the season comes I'll be ready for it."

    If it seems Nachbar is still feeling his way around the league, that's only because it's true. Indeed, while his nickname is "Boki," the second-year forward could easily answer to "Rookie" as well.

    His first tour with the Rockets, which began with summer surgery to repair a sports hernia, was pretty much a waste. Nachbar played only 77 minutes in 14 games, one of which he started.

    Even at the end of the season, when there was nothing left to play for, Nachbar, who was activated from the injured list April 15, inexplicably sat out the final two games against Memphis and Denver.

    "A lot of people said, `Yeah, you didn't play your first season, but you'll be ready next season because you got to see how it all looks and stuff.' But if you don't play, you're not going to grow as a player," Nachbar said. "That's what's happening to me. I still make a lot of errors. I come in, and I have no ideas of what's happening.

    "That's because it's a new experience for me. I haven't played in games like that. Not at all last year. So now I have to learn. I feel like a rookie again. Hopefully after a couple of games, I'm going to feel like a second-year player, but for now I'm still learning a lot."

    Like the difference between the NBA 3-pointer and the international arc, which is a foot closer to the basket. That distance can make all the difference in the world between being comfortable stroking treys and heaving them up.

    "It makes a lot of difference," Nachbar said. "(In the NBA) you have to make better preparations before you even get the ball. You have to start out wide and then kind of come into the shot, because otherwise you're not going to have enough strength to put it up. It's different.

    "The first couple of (preseason) games, you could probably see it -- I was just standing on the line when I caught the ball, and I was kind of leaning (into the shot). Now I'm trying to stay a couple of steps behind the line and come into the shot. I have to work on that."

    Indeed he does, because those shots are always going to be available, especially with Yao Ming passing the ball out of the post or Steve Francis kicking it out on penetration. Passing up those open looks can disrupt the efficiency of the offense, which is why Van Gundy is adamant that Nachbar -- and everyone else -- put up good shots when they're there.

    "The open shots that I get, I have to take them," Nachbar said. "If I make them, it's only going to help them (Yao and Francis). It's going to open up the court so (the defense) can't double-team and help on them. I realize that if I'm going to make those shots, it's going to open the court up for them, and that's going to help them be better."

    http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2164717

    Go Nachbar !!!!!:p
     
    #1 keep_rudy, Oct 18, 2003
  2. TECH

    TECH Member

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    Go Boki! :p And I'll raise ya an :D
     
    #2 TECH, Oct 18, 2003
  3. rezdawg

    rezdawg Member

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    The kids got a great attitude. I like that. Alot.
     
    #3 rezdawg, Oct 18, 2003
  4. Relativist

    Relativist Member

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    I'm fine with much of the article, but I think the example about the difference in the 3-pt. line is really stupid. How is a difference in the 3pt. line something you have to have game time to adjust to? You're telling me you can't learn to shoot one foot farther back after a year of practices? Get real, Murphy.

    I hope Boki pans out, but I suspect he will always be a streaky shooter, and I think this will significantly impact Boki's ability to contribute to the team. We'll see. We're rooting for you, Boki.
     
    #4 Relativist, Oct 18, 2003
  5. sweetie

    sweetie Member

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    Something I just dont get. Boki is talking like he has to re-learn how to shoot nba threes by stepping 2 feet back. BUt isnt the three point line at westside the same length as real games? Didnt he hit something like 30 out of 32 three pointers? Doesnt make sense.
     
    #5 sweetie, Oct 18, 2003
  6. iball

    iball Member

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    You finally said something that makes sense.
     
    #6 iball, Oct 18, 2003
  7. saleem

    saleem Member

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    I want Boki to pan out but I agree with Relativist that he is likely to be a streaky shooter.I see him being a 6th or 7th man at best if he does reach his potential.Even in Europe he wasn't known for his 3 point shooting.He is a better mid range shooter and can slash to the basket. He is also not used to having players defend him tightly because in Europe hardly anyone plays defense.
    The speed,physical strength, and duration of the NBA season is going to be hard for him to adjust to.
    At best I expect him to do as well as T-Mo did last year but I hope he can prove me wrong.
    I'm happy to see that he is working hard though.
     
    #7 saleem, Oct 18, 2003
  8. TIburon

    TIburon Member

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    Have you guys ever heard of the wore rhythm???

    Thats what he's getting at, if you get a ball and are just standing there and just go up without any rhythm... You just don't feel it...

    Guys like to have that rhythm in their shot...

    If a guy just gives me the ball and I go up without any thing just throw it up there I'll either airball or brick...

    When a guy gets the ball and can take that step into a shot(rhythm) he feels more comfortable...

    Its all about the rhythm... All players need it...

    The way he describes just standing at the 3pt line sounds like he's off balance when he shoots... But when he gets it behind the 3pt line with a step to take he gets to his rhythm and hits the open J...

    Every player has a specific way he takes a step into his shot whether its a quick step like Nowitzki or a rock like Horry(he rocks front wards and then releases on the way up)... Bird had a quick step... Matt Bullard had to step into his shot as well... All good shooters step into their shot...
     
    #8 TIburon, Oct 18, 2003
  9. RunninRaven

    RunninRaven Member
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    Yes, but why should his rhythm be any different with a 3 point line a foot farther back? What I got from his quote was that he was used to just shooting standing still in the past, but with the extra distance of the NBA 3 pointers, his flat footed, standing-still shooting style wasn't allowing him to muster the strength to get the ball to the basket with any kind of accuracy...so he had to change his form so that he is now stepping into the shot.

    Frankly, I don't see him ever becoming a good shooter in the NBA, and I think he won't ever have much of a role on this team as a result of that. We need a SF that can knock down the 3 pointers that Yao opens up for them.
     
    #9 RunninRaven, Oct 18, 2003
  10. DavidS

    DavidS Member

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    RL,

    What Boki is talking about is compensation. He's trying to force something but at the expense of bad form. The result? Clank? If he doesn't force, but instead tries (tries!) to use proper form, result? Air ball! So, he's saving face in the meantime.

    Proper form would require more practice in form and shooting drills. Muscle memory has a lot to do with it too.

    You should not "think" when you shoot. It should be second nature. Shoot, swish!

    Right now he's biding his time until he can gain more shooting strength/distance. The "catch father out, and come into the shot" is just temporary fix. He HAS to do that now. Later, he'll be able to shoot without the strain. That's, If he does the required training.
     
    #10 DavidS, Oct 18, 2003
  11. WinkFan

    WinkFan Member

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    What the heck is Murphy talking about. The international line is 20'6". The NBA line is 23'9", and 22 feet in the corners. That's a lot more than a foot.
     
    #11 WinkFan, Oct 18, 2003
  12. ragingFire

    ragingFire Contributing Member

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    Shooting the NBA 3 pt jump shot requires strength.
    If you don't have the strength to jump and stroke naturally, you have to push/ heave the ball with all your strength which results in misses.

    It sounds like Boki isn't used to shoot them ... after a year in the NBA ...!!! :( What a waste !!
     
    #12 ragingFire, Oct 18, 2003
  13. Old Man Rock

    Old Man Rock Contributing Member

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    No I can't say I have. Did you mean w**** rhythm?
     
    #13 Old Man Rock, Oct 18, 2003
  14. Fegwu

    Fegwu Member

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    This is my favorite part of that piece. This was one of the beafs I had with RudyT. Sitting a player on the bench who has seen pro action before is a utter waste of time. What is the point? He is your freaking first round pick - play him (it was not like Rice, and that Terp where playing lights out basketball).

    Boki will make it in the NBA and contribute immensely during our championship runs because HE IS THAT GOOD and he will DELIVER the goods. He has an assortment of "to-die-for-" tools you want in your small forward from height to defense to sweet stroke down to slashing, dishing and slarming. He is fearless and willing to grow and learn.

    Here is another thank you to RudyT (in spite of his previous sins) and CD for drafting Boki and Yao for us. I am really going to like being a rocket fan for a very loooong time. Hopefully Eddie turns it around or Malik blows up too.

    I see championship(s) ...... :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
     
    #14 Fegwu, Oct 18, 2003
  15. thegary

    thegary Member

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    you lack class, like me, good on you!
     
    #15 thegary, Oct 18, 2003
  16. droxford

    droxford Member

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    This statement says it all. JVG doesn't care about good or bad image. He cares about whether or not a player can put the ball in the hole.

    If a player doesn't take the open shot he's supposed to, or if he misses the open shots, he sits down. Period.

    And, his statement tells Boki, "You've been riding the pine. If you don't play like you're supposed to, you're going to continue to. But if you take and make the right shots, you'll play." And with JVG, you know that that rule applies to all of his players.

    JVG rocks.

    -- droxford
     
    #16 droxford, Oct 18, 2003
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