http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/1992177 Nachbar's chance to shine at hand Focus on forward in summer play By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle LONG BEACH, Calif. -- The crowd that filled the old arena first buzzed and then built to a roar at the mere sight of Bostjan Nachbar's arrival. The game was stopped so he could be introduced and celebrated again, in a more suitable and official manner. Nachbar was back, back on the floor, back in Treviso, Italy, where he was remembered fondly a year after he had left to take his talents to the Rockets. As part of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program, he returned to the home of Benetton Treviso to help run a clinic a year after the Rockets made him a first-round pick and put him on the shelf for what amounted to a redshirt season. In Italy, fans knew why the Rockets considered Nachbar a valuable commodity. At the Summer Pro League, however, he returned to his NBA existence as another raw talent struggling to find a niche. Nachbar, the only former first-round pick on the Rockets' summer-league team, has gotten the sort of playing time and touches he never saw as a rookie. But in two games, he has made just four of 18 shots. On Saturday, he made just one of nine attempts with four first-quarter turnovers. He finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. But with their presumptive go-to scorer unable to lead them, the Rockets made just 25.6 percent of their shots and lost 86-79 to the Raptors. "I think it's just rotten shooting," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said, discounting long, two-a-day practices as impacting his team's shooting touch. "I could try to make an excuse. But it's rotten shooting." Van Gundy was similarly pointed in his assessment of Nachbar. Though he praised Nachbar's efforts, particularly defensively where the Rockets' new coaching staff has placed its greatest emphasis, he clearly expects more. "We are trying to have him get a chance to play a lot and to evaluate him," Van Gundy said. "But what he needs to do is to play well. That's what he needs to do. "I don't think in those terms as far as trying to figure out why (a player struggles). He has to find ways to be effective. He's fine defensively. He had eight rebounds. "When you play with a great post man and a penetrating point guard, you have to make people pay for double (-team defenses) and help (defenses) and be a knockdown shooter. And really, when you look at our team, that is one of the areas (where) we have to improve team-wide." The 6-9 Nachbar, 23, will be given every chance to improve in the Rockets' three remaining games. "Obviously in the summer league, the coaches are trying to get me more touches and put me under pressure a little bit," Nachbar said. "Our practices have been great. It's a learning process for all of us. And I sat out all of last year. Of course I feel it. When I was on the court, it was like a year since I was in a game with pressure on me, knowing I'm the scorer, I'm the go-to guy. "It's a new beginning for me. It's going to take time, but I'll get there." If a season spent waiting for a chance to play did not steal Nachbar's confidence, a few days of wayward shooting could not. "Mentally, it was very hard," Nachbar said of last season's apprenticeship. "I expected a lot more. But after the trade for James Posey, and when Glen Rice got healthy, and (with the Rockets) being close to the playoffs, coaches gave time to players with more experience who they trusted more. It was tough being quiet, staying on the bench. But that's what I had to do. "I was working hard all season. I didn't play in the games, but I had a chance to work hard in the practices because those were the games for me." Now, he has a chance to play in real games, or as close as summer-league games are to real games. He might be the only member of the Rockets' team in Long Beach likely to be with the team next season. Tito Maddox, last season's second-round pick, was more solid at the point in the second game and showed the defensive pressure Van Gundy demands. But he made just one of six shots. Maddox could earn an invitation to training camp. Malick Badiane, this season's second-round pick, was as quick and bouncy as advertised and had 11 points and five rebounds in 26 minutes. The Rockets were led by forward DeMarco Johnson, who had 17 points but was limited to 26 minutes by foul trouble. But the summer league is as much about improvement as results, especially for Nachbar. "He hasn't played a lot in a year so this is very important for him," Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said. "The feel of competition when you haven't played a lot is a shock when you first come back. I think as it goes along, it's going to get easier for him." But if Nachbar had forgotten what it feels like to be the star, he was reminded last month in Italy. "It was good to go back, see old friends, old teammates, coaches and everybody," Nachbar said. "I went to see a game and the whole gym stood up. Everyone was clapping. It was great. Fans started cheering my name. It gets kind of wild in Europe. It was great. "It's good when coaches and teammates trust you and know you'll be the guy with the ball in your hand and will make good decisions. It's a great feeling. But if you don't do it for a long, long time, you need time to adjust."
Faos with the scoop again. Coach sounds like coach wants to give Nachbar every chance to be successful, but doesn't sound too impressed. j
That closes the door on all those that speculated that Boki had no defensive capability. I say speculated cause until he plays some meanigful minutes, none of us really knew for sure how he would do. If he can just get his head on straight, maybe he will be worthy of all the faith and hopes that alot of us have put on the unknown Rocket's Euro.
10 pts and 8 board are consider a good game for the young Boki. White boy can really jump!I really think that Boki got a game, I mean you won't be 14 pick on the 1st round for nothing. He is gonna be good, let's just give him more time, besides he drill a hole on that bench last year.
Props to Feigen on getting some nice quotes. Man, JVG is pretty brutal on the guys for a summer league game...I kinda like it. Sounds like a Francis is a PG, unless Moochie has become our penetrating PG.
so Boki practiced hard all last season... must have been hard to keep himself sharp against that chair. Maybe it was one of those desk chairs w/ wheels on it. a ball boy could push it to chase boki, and then boki could use a stool to set the pick, then stop & pop... swish. btw, is it just me, or are we not going to have any nice fatherly coaching anymore? jvg, you little **** face, the guy hasn't played competitive ball in over a year. back off.
I don't know NIKE... I guess it's good to know that the new coach doesn't put up w/ stuff, but damn. This guy is going to have Cuttino and Steve demanding trades within the first month w/ barbs like this to the press.
Heh, I can see it now- Francis demands trade after Van Gundy rips team over dribbling...in practice No wonder that Philly and JVG mutually decided that it wasn't a good fit- can you imagine JVG and Iverson going at it? We talking about practice! PS- I've come to the conclusion that Boki is the anti-Langhi. Expect Langhi regular season performances from Boki in the summer, and expect him to put up numbers like summer league Langhi in the regular season. I see Yao and JVG getting along famously, though.
Could someone point out the JVG barbs to me...I read the article and I guess I missed them. I did see honest evaluation though.
Agreed, JVG is a bit harsh; not like good ol' Rudy (I miss you Rudy!), but maybe that is a good thing.
Agreed, he's just being honest. "We are trying to have him get a chance to play a lot and to evaluate him," Van Gundy said. "But what he needs to do is to play well. That's what he needs to do. "I don't think in those terms as far as trying to figure out why (a player struggles). He has to find ways to be effective. He's fine defensively. He had eight rebounds. " So what's wrong with that exactly? Should he say Boki is doing very well, but that they will use him like our 2004 #1 pick?
I would think that IS part of the coach's job: your player struggles, you try and help him not struggle.
Let me count the ways...Rudy, oh Rudy... 1997-1998, 41 wins (Hakeem, Drexler, Barkley) 1998-1999, 31 wins (Hakeem, Barkley, Pippen) 1999-2000, 34 wins (Rookie Francis, w/Mobley. Injured Hakeem and Barkley.) 2000-2001, 45 wins (Francis/Mobley, with Hakeem) 2001-2002 28 wins (No Francis; of course you'll get this result if you *depend* on the ISO. Offensive teamwork wasn't preached as a coaching philosophy). 2002-2003 42 wins (Healthy Team...but, hey. We are a "young team.") We don't need a "golly gee-wiz" coach anymore. Been there, done that. Boki needs to work hard, and prove that he wants to play for this team. If he thinks this is some free ticket to America, he can forget it. Once you are black-booked, you'll be traded team to team. He'll have trouble finding a job. Coaches do talk to each other. So, either he produces. Or he'll be waived/traded.
quote: This guy is going to have Cuttino and Steve demanding trades within the first month w/ barbs like this to the press. Steve and Cuttino need to realize that the only indispensible player on the team is Yao and adjust their games accordingly. Otherwise, they might find their trade demands met quicker than expected lol.
I watched the game and it's unfortunate he hasn't made the best of his opportunities. After watching him play I completely disagree with some folks assessment that he was/is better than Ginobili.
Van Gundy is honest, not brutal. Rudy said the same stuff. He just didn't say it to the media. Some of his rants were apparently legendary especially during the championship days. He was just savvy enough to keep the media from seeing it and to massage the egos he likely bruised after all was said and done. Van Gundy, from all reports, instills tremendous loyalty in his players but through discipline. He heaps praise on players who he feels deserve it and is critical of those who don't and he doesn't try to hide his feelings.
