[Chron] Spanoulis getting chance in Rockets' rotation

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Nov. 22, 2006, 12:20AM
Spanoulis getting chance in Rockets' rotation
Snyder's injury opens the door to opportunity



By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

WASHINGTON - The confidence was as healthy as ever, in no way shaken by several weeks trapped on the Steve Novak-John Lucas end of the Rockets' bench.

Vassilis Spanoulis got a chance when Kirk Snyder's right hand was broken Monday night, then made enough of it to extend his playing time well into the fourth quarter of a 97-90 victory over the Knicks.

With that, coach Jeff Van Gundy said, Spanoulis will move into the Rockets' rotation, with his stay there naturally dependent on what he does with his chance.

Spanoulis, however, showed no signs of doubt he is ready — in ways he would not have been had he not suffered through a few, uncomfortable weeks of waiting.

"That's why I'm working had every day. So when the time comes, I'll be ready," Spanoulis said. "I knew this time would come.

"I'm ready to play. I have a chance. I have played a lot of games with a lot of pressure. I'm ready. I waited my time. I worked hard. I want to go and try and help my team."


Progress in a short time

Asked if he was more "ready" than when the season began, Spanoulis did not seem to consider it a close call.

"Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes," he said. "From the first time I came here, I came here to help the team win. It doesn't matter if I make 20 points or zero points. I want to help my team win."

He managed the zero points but still helped the Rockets win against the Knicks by providing a spark of energy and quickness, especially on defense. He drew a charge against Stephon Marbury and got loose on a drive that, despite his missed shot, still led to a Yao Ming offensive rebound and dunk. More than anything, Spanoulis played 13 minutes without the waves of turnovers or defensive gambles that filled his preseason minutes.

Van Gundy said Spanoulis is guaranteed increased playing time "as long as he can keep his turnovers to a minimum. He had the one jump-in-the-air pass that got stolen, (but) he was turning it over, like, once every four minutes in the preseason.

"There's that fine line between aggression — and he needs to play aggressively on offense — and being careful with the ball, especially as we struggle through this turnover period we're going through."

Defensively, Spanoulis might need to find a similar balance between his high-risk, high-reward aggression and becoming simply solid. But his quickness could help offset the trend toward playing two smaller, quick guards, a backcourt style that has given the Rockets trouble.

"Billy's got quick feet," Van Gundy said. "He's got a great level of tenacity to him. Now he needs to combine tenacity with discipline. If he can do that, he should be able to be a fine defender."

To help negate his turnover tendencies, the Rockets will likely keep Spanoulis at shooting guard, rather than the point guard position he played in the preseason. Spanoulis averaged 5.1 points and 3.4 assists but also 4.1 turnovers in the preseason.


Shy about shooting

With a shot that is a work in progress, especially from 3-point range, he looked hesitant to shoot against the Knicks but could provide much-needed penetration off the dribble.

"We're going to play him off the ball," Van Gundy said. "I think that's where he's played the majority of time in the past. He is more, to me, an attacking, undersized two than an organizing point guard."

But after playing six minutes in the Rockets' first 10 games, Spanoulis was not about to quibble about the details now that he is playing. Either way, he said again that he is ready.

"Maybe the coach needs me to play point guard. I'll play point guard," Spanoulis said. "(If) the coach needs me to play shooting guard, I'll play shooting guard. I have no problem with this.

"I have to understand my role. My role is different that I used to play. I need to do everything I can on the court to help my team win. Score more, maybe no, but this is my main goal for my job, especially for this year.

"No pressure, no pressure. I'm ready for this."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4353239.html

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ROCKETS NOTES
Nov. 22, 2006, 12:16AM


Snyder has surgery
Rockets guard Kirk Snyder had surgery on his broken right hand Tuesday to insert a screw to help heal the break. The Rockets estimated he would be out eight to 10 weeks.


Snyder was hit by Knicks center Jerome James in the second quarter Monday and sustained a spiral fracture of the second metacarpal bone in his right hand.

Snyder had been averaging 6.1 points on 41.9 percent shooting.


Hayes set for exam
Chuck Hayes is scheduled for an examination Wednesday that could clear him to play 10 days after hyperextending his right knee in a collision with Shaquille O'Neal.

Though the forward said he does not expect to be cleared to play tonight, he said he was surprised he had improved as much as he has.

"It's coming along good," Hayes said. "We've really pushed it, as far as my workout, as far as my conditioning to see if I can run, to see if I can jump, to see if I can stop on a dime on it. It's coming along really well, actually better than I thought it would. I thought it would be a mental thing, but I'm getting over it."

As surprised as Hayes was to be coming along so well, he was shocked the injury was not worse. After flying back to Houston after the game in Miami, he saw the late-night replay of the game and the play during which he was injured.

"I couldn't sleep at all that night," Hayes said. "I thought I was out for the year."

Hayes moved into the starting lineup in the second game and averages 6.1 points (on 61.3 percent shooting) and 6.6 rebounds.

At least initially, Hayes will have to play with a heavy brace to keep him from hyperextending the knee again.

"It's irritating," he said, "but I have to get used to it."


Turnovers up
Yao Ming mocked himself with his description of his play, good and bad, on Monday.

"Yeah, everything is up," he said. "My scoring, my rebounding, my turnovers."

He then had four more turnovers against the Knicks, matching his season average. But two of those turnovers were on offensive fouls, which could be a small improvement in that fouls don't lead directly to fast breaks the other way.

"You cannot live with consistently (committing) four turnovers," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "You really can't live with eight, which he had against the Knicks last time. What you're doing there is giving yourself no margin for winning. But he tries as hard as he can.

"Being so dominant in the paint, his opportunities are more, and his chances for turnovers are higher," Van Gundy said. "Teams that put quickness on him ... he has some advantages, but the disadvantage of trying to seal (positioning) against quicker guys is challenging."

The Rockets had 19 turnovers against the Knicks and are averaging 16.2 per game.

jonathan.feigen@chron.com

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4353241.html


Billy Smith II: Chronicle
Bonzi Wells' return could come soon.
ROCKETS UPDATE
When/where: 7:30 p.m.; Toyota Center.
TV/radio: FSNH; 610 AM and in Spanish on 920 AM.

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Rockets update: The Rockets' win in New York on Monday sent them home, where they are 3-1 this season, for a three-game homestand, their longest of the season's first two months. ... Kirk Snyder broke his right hand in New York and will be out eight to 10 weeks, but Bonzi Wells could be close to returning.

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