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[CHRON] Gaines aiming to prove worth in second season

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Hasher, Oct 6, 2004.

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  1. Hasher

    Hasher Member

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    http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2834821

    Van Gundy says Rockets guard needs confidence

    By MEGAN MANFULL
    Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

    College stardom means nothing. The coach isn't criticizing; he's teaching. "Walk-through" really means "run-through"— especially when you're a rookie.

    There were so many lessons and few rewards.

    "I learned how to battle through adversity," said Gaines, who played in only 38 games last season with the Magic. "I learned how to keep working when things aren't necessarily going your way. You don't know why things aren't going your way, and it seems not fair to you."

    Gaines, part of the seven-player deal that landed Tracy McGrady in Houston, is carrying those lessons into his first year with the Rockets. As the youngest member of the team at 23, Gaines doesn't expect to stand out like he did at Louisville, but he does hope for an opportunity.

    He arrived in Houston soon after the June 29 trade and spent a lot of time working out with his new teammates and the coaches. He has already listened to coach Jeff Van Gundy's frequent talks about defense and other aspects of the game.

    "I'm just using this as an opportunity to learn as much as I can from a guy who has made the playoffs (nearly) every year and who is highly respected in the league," said Gaines. "He's a teacher. I'm just looking at it as I have a couple of years to learn the game from a guy who knows it and has a lot of knowledge about it."

    Gaines has been the quietest addition in the trade that brought McGrady, Juwan Howard and Tyronn Lue to Houston. Gaines barely said anything at the news conference when the Rockets introduced the new players, and he has remained in the shadows.

    Despite being the only reserve who is a true shooting guard, Gaines has hardly been mentioned as a replacement for Bob Sura, who is out with a back injury. Gaines spent a little time at point guard last year, but that experiment didn't pan out.

    In 38 games, Gaines averaged only 1.8 points, 1.1 assists and one rebound in 9.6 minutes per game.

    In addition to helping improve Gaines' game, Van Gundy hopes to raise his confidence.

    "He only got to play in 38 games, and of those 38 he played in, they won four," Van Gundy said. "That's a tough year when you're coming from Louisville, who won. So he probably lost some confidence, and we're trying to figure out what his formula for success is."

    Gaines has worked hard during the offseason on his all-around game, and his progress has been obvious to Howard.

    "It's tough when you're a rookie and you come into the league," Howard said. "The game is totally different. It's faster, more physical, and there are adjustments you have to make within yourself and looking yourself in the mirror. And he has surely done that. He has the potential to be a very good player in this league."

    Gaines, who has two seasons left on his contract, hopes the strides in his game become obvious throughout the season. Van Gundy, who has been impressed with Gaines' work ethic, hopes to help the young guard finally start to reap the rewards of his efforts.

    "They don't have that luxury of a long contract," Van Gundy said. "He's been through one year; he's heading into year two. At the end of year three, it could be over. It goes quickly. And we have to try to give him a plan that can make him successful. And hopefully as we evaluate more and more, we can. But I really was impressed with what he did this summer. He spends a lot of time in here. He's really, really a good kid."
     
    #1 Hasher, Oct 6, 2004
  2. wizkid83

    wizkid83 Member

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    So instead of EG, we have a youth with potential that's willing to work hard. But if his head's in the right place, then his skills or athletecism is what's lacking. Will be interesting to see how he pans out. Hopefully, he'll be good enough in year 3 for us to give him a new contract around 4 - 5 million a year and then really break out the subsequent season like Cassell did and get locked into a cheap contract.
     
    #2 wizkid83, Oct 6, 2004
  3. thacabbage

    thacabbage Contributing Member

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    Damn, Jeff's been dishing out the compliments this time around.
     
    #3 thacabbage, Oct 6, 2004
  4. Tyler Durden

    Tyler Durden Contributing Member

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    Instead of EG? Eddie?

    We didn't trade Eddie for him, we lost Eddie for nothing.


    :confused:
     
    #4 Tyler Durden, Oct 6, 2004
  5. DarkHorse

    DarkHorse Member

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    Yeah, for better or for worse, you definitely get the impression that Van Gundy is happy with this team he's put together.

    Now we'll just have to see if he can keep the ship afloat with Charlie Ward at the helm.
     
    #5 DarkHorse, Oct 6, 2004
  6. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    I'm sure a lot of this is because this is his team - the majority of them being people he either selected or wants to be here.
     
    #6 Dr of Dunk, Oct 6, 2004
  7. DavidS

    DavidS Member

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    Here's some more from that same article...

    [​IMG]
    The lessons were thrown at Reece Gaines, left guarding Charlie Ward
    at training camp, in bulk last season in Orlando, and they hit him hard.

    THE GAINES FILE

    • Name: Clifton Reece Gaines.
    • Age: 23.
    • Height: 6-6.
    • Position: Guard.
    • Rookie highs: 14 points (April 10 vs. Detroit); six rebounds (April 12 vs. Chicago); four assists (twice).
    • College: Louisville.
    • Drafted: First round (15th overall) by Orlando in 2003.
    • College highlight: Second all-time for the Cardinals in 3-pointers with 225.
    • Did you know? Gaines' father, Clyde, was the point guard and leading scorer for Wisconsin in 1977-78.



    Rockets Summary

    Early breather
    In hopes of preventing injuries, coach Jeff Van Gundy gave the Rockets a day off Wednesday. He wanted the players to rest after the first four days of training camp.

    The NBA doesn't mandate an off day, but Van Gundy said the league should look at instituting such a policy.

    "Injury prevention in training camp is critical," he said. "There's going to be some injuries you just take that are not avoidable. But I would like to see them extend training camp back a few days and then every fourth day, for the first 12 to 16 days, have a mandatory day off."

    The Van Gundy method
    Tracy McGrady is getting used to his new surroundings and his new team. Even though coach Jeff Van Gundy brings a different coaching style and terminology than McGrady is used to, the transition is going smoothly.

    The All-Star guard looks forward to seeing how all the changes will translate on the court.

    "It's all different," McGrady said. "It's basketball, but the terminology is just different. Coach goes about it in a different way. And it's very demanding and very precise, as far as guys and their spots on the court. Setting screens right, setting up defenders that come off screens. He's a great teacher. And he's helped me make the game a lot easier on myself."


    -- MEGAN MANFULL
     
    #7 DavidS, Oct 6, 2004
    Last edited: Oct 6, 2004
  8. m_cable

    m_cable Member

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    I hope the work he was putting in included 1,000 jumpers a day. Because that's the kind of improvement that he needs to get in order to see PT. He's got good size and decent athleticism. If he can develop an outside shot, then he can be a contributor on this team.
     
    #8 m_cable, Oct 6, 2004
  9. Fegwu

    Fegwu Member

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    There is not enough minutes to go round for the fringe players on this team. So it is going to be survival of the strongest, luckiest and smartest all over again.
     
    #9 Fegwu, Oct 7, 2004
  10. Tyler Durden

    Tyler Durden Contributing Member

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    Ward, Lue
    Tmac, GAINES
    Jackson, Boki
    Howard, Taylor
    Yao, Deke


    Seems to be enough minutes, atleast for SG. Manfull brought up a good point, Gaines is the only real SG we have now, besides Tmac. So unless you were planning on playing Ward at SG, or JJ playing 40 mins, Gaines has some minutes now.

    The same goes for Boki. As long as Sura is out, these 2 young guns will have a chance to prove themselves.
     
    #10 Tyler Durden, Oct 7, 2004
  11. Stack24

    Stack24 Member

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    I wonder if all these black jerseys we see them wearing in practice is getting us ready for some kind of alternate black jersey in the future.
     
    #11 Stack24, Oct 7, 2004
  12. JamesC

    JamesC Member

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    I was thinking the same thing. I wish somebody could photoshop a player in a black jersey with the red stripes.
     
    #12 JamesC, Oct 7, 2004
  13. Stack24

    Stack24 Member

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    I would rather it be a matte black rather than that shiny black like the mavericks and Spurs did that looked so horrible....looked like a bunch of tin men running around about to get struck by the first sign of lightning.
     
    #13 Stack24, Oct 7, 2004
  14. BigM

    BigM Member

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    i don't why but i thought that was pretty funny.
     
    #14 BigM, Oct 7, 2004
  15. Stack24

    Stack24 Member

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    The fact that he is used to winning while he was at Louisville and now he came to a team that just lost and lost and lost some more.
     
    #15 Stack24, Oct 7, 2004
  16. wizkid83

    wizkid83 Member

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    Just a comment that this time, we have a youngster with with potential and work ethic instead of EG.
     
    #16 wizkid83, Oct 7, 2004
  17. r-fan-since-81

    r-fan-since-81 Member

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    Tim(Rockets) told me that the alternate will probable be the Light Silver as the main color. He emphasized that it will not be anything like the putred alt. jersey the Mavs wore last year. They will not introduce the jersey till after the All Star game is played here.

    On a seperate note, we will have 6 retro nights this year. Some of them at TC and some on the other courts.
     
    #17 r-fan-since-81, Oct 7, 2004
  18. thumbs

    thumbs Member

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    Looks like I was wrong. I believed JVG got Reece Gaines in the trade to train him as a point guard, not a shooting guard. He excelled as a point guard at Louisville.
     
    #18 thumbs, Oct 7, 2004
  19. Dr of Dunk

    Dr of Dunk Clutch Crew

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    Their summer league teams have worn black in the past.
     
    #19 Dr of Dunk, Oct 7, 2004
  20. kaleidosky

    kaleidosky Member

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    everyone seems to be forgetting that Bowen will replace Sura in backing up TMac and JJ/Boki some. Gaines still has to work if he has any hope for minutes
     
    #20 kaleidosky, Oct 7, 2004
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