If you are talking about a healthy McGrady, then you are saying Span is one of the top 5 players in Euroleague. McGrady is not just a main star of a team, we are not talking about Joe Johnson of the Hawks. Anyway, wasn't Span a bench player in his former club? And he didn't even have a guranteed starting job in the Greek national team? JVG should probably play Span more, but Span needs to change his attitude. Rockets has low error margin, it's understandable JVG wants to minimize the risk. Span's foul and TO prone play is definately not helping his case.
Spanoulis keeps complaing that JVG is making him into a spot- up shooter and that JVG told him that others would create for him. Sorry, V-Span, but a spot-up shooter who takes advantage of Yao's and T-Mac's playmaking is exactly what we need. We don't need a guard to be dribbling around, we need him to get the ball to our best players and hit open shots.
I find it interesting that Stateside he keeps his mouth shut. why do you think that is? What does it say about State Side Media/readers? Is it possible that other players don't speak their true mind in the american media? At the end of the day . . I would rather a guy chomping at the bit to play than some guy collecting a check Rocket River
I think what really set him off was the fact that JVG wants him to change his game. And we're not talking about little adjustments to the NBA rules here - complete overhaul. He feels conned somehow considering he was brought here because of his game, not his potential. He's a Greek product and I'm sure he wants to let the world see what kind of products Greece produces. What I don't understand from JVG is, considering he said himself that he just coaches the team and that management picks the players, why can't he adapt his system to his players? I liked the idea of putting him at SG too, just to give him touches and to let him feel the system; but I certainly don't agree about putting him at 2-guard period.
I think you are misunderstanding JVG Mentally tough means. . he can sh*t on you and you say nothing If you say something .. you are a whiner Rocket RIver
I don't even understand how he can improve if there are no games to play. He can improve through practice, but they practice only once or twice in the last 3 weeks. How can he improve by practicing so little? He can't practice on other days, because they are traveling for games. They only have a shootaround on gamedays.
Sure, if chomping at the bit means he's constantly working to get better, not sitting around pouting about how he's not getting a fair shake.
That would be me. As far as this whole situation goes, it seems like you have 2 like minded stubborn people in JVG and V-Span going at it in the media, which is bad for the Rockets. JVG has had issues with lots of players, and plays favorites to others as well, he has multiple standards, but for rookies....... Billy should realize that he is on a good team, and he will have to improve his game before he gets a chance on this team. If JVG was not the coach, Billy would probably be playing more and developing, but JVG is the coach and to play for him you have to follow a certain criteria. 1. Play JVG's defensive system 2. Protect the ball You don't have to shoot particularly well, but as long as you don't turn it over and play within the system you will probably play some. Thy irony is that by going to the media, Billy is setting himself back, I think he is closer to playing than he thinks...the way that Rafer and JL3 are struggling...but he has to GET WITH IT, first. It looks like JVG is trying to break a young colt. Hopefully V-Span will get that, in Houston. I think his attitude and fire will make him a very good player, I just hope he matures sooner rather than later. DD
One of the reasons Billy has so much sucess in Greece was the fact that he knew who he was playing with and had played with them for so long. As far as his game is concerned the only downside, or atleast his main downside is turnovers. We did not see this high of a number in turnovers in the WC's because he was adjusted to the system and the players. He just needs a little more time, we know what he has in him, he just needs to adjust. I do feel that he should be getting 5-7 mins a game at PG just to start to get the feel for the team.
actually, a slasher is the only thing we are missing from this team. with no hand-checking he could get into the paint at wil. we need someone who can pressure the defense by getting into the paint and getting to the line. i wouldn't mind tony parker on this team. would you? now billy may never be as good, but they have a similar game.
Vspan needs to stop complaining and just practice hard and extra hours. Second, during games he just needs to watch and follow carefully what the coach wants, says, players do etc. If he does theres a good chance his time will come. He could have been the star in greece but right now he is in the nba and is nothing! You need to prove yourself in practice and when you get those couple of minutes you have to preform. Third, how the hell can you think that you would have an immediate impact on a team that is close (or same level) to the top teams in the nba when healthy. In the past it has been proved that the best euro league players need a couple of years to fit in ( like the article mentioned ). Honestly even if he was drafted by a .300 team he wouldnt play much. Maybe more than he is now, but he wouldnt be a starter or 6th man. And as last never compare yourself to the likes of mcgrady, kobe, garnett, shaq, nash, duncan etc. Because if you are part of that elite group time will tell ( he just needed to say in greece he was the superstar on the team, i would still have found that a stupid line ).
You think like JVG does, another spotup shooter? We've got Head, Battier, hell, even Novak to cover the 3s, and JHo for 2s, why we need another SG? Do we have ONE SINGLE PG? Sorry, but Alston is not exactly a spotup shooter either. And he can dribble, and he can teardrop, and he can't finish, and he can't pass. We need a penetrator other than Tmac. The rigid thinking like VG's is becoming annoying.
Well he needs to play Halo and learn to pull the trigger. At least send him to the D-League so he can get some run. If he can't crack a D-League rotation, send him back. Hasn't he heard about Carlos Arroyo, Pepe Sanchez, and Marko(not Darko) Milicic!!?? They looked like superstars in the olympics/world championships. Vspan needs to come better than that. They're many players right here in the US with better skills that try just as hard if not harder to make it to the league and only make it overseas or to the D-League. Anyone who watched "Through the Fire" with Sebastian Telfair knows that his brother once led the Big East(a no joke conference) in scoring and is now playing overseas, not even drafted. Vspan needs to consider himself lucky to be where he is and continue to try to improve his game so he can at least give himself a chance to crack the rotation. He better stop looking on this board reading posts by DaDakota who's boosting him up and snap back to reality.
