[Chronic]Spanoulis says he won't return to Rockets

The pick of Brooks still makes no sense. How much did we rely on VSpan last year? It wasn't like we need Brooks to replace VSpan - at least I hope they didn't draft brooks to ride the bench and turn it over when he got some PT.

Pick the best player. ALWAYS. Time will tell if the Rockets did.

Oh and on VSpan - Another 2nd rounder did pan out. What's new? He always was a "never will be" in my book. I just hope we can use his contract if possible to help the Rockets stay under the LT to pick up a better player in the FA or to use it in a trade.

 

have more respect for Quitten (which ain't much), at least he had already proven something in the NBA by the time he had gotten here.

 

At this point, I hope the guy NEVER plays for the Rockets again -- not that he ever really played the first time. Let's release him from his contract, get back any money he may owe the team, and move on. Close the Spanclueless chapter and not waste anymore time thinking about it. He was never good enough to crack the rotation and evidently thought he was.

Then kick his ass if the U.S. ever plays Greece again in intl. competition.

 

I blame George Bush.

 

The man has spoken.

 

Spanoulis has the right to remain silent, anything he says can and will be used against him in the court of BBS .
Even though some of the posts are a little dramatic the truth is the guy is a disappointment to all his fans. Sure he may feel homesick or he can jump of a building if he pleases he's a free human being but HE DOES HAVE A CONTRACT AND HE'S A MAN NOT A KID. If he let that loser jvg get to him than he doesn't have what it takes. Today jvg sure feels good about himself after a long time ,that alone should be a reason for spanoulis to return to the Rockets and give it the best he had. I read in a post from an angry ex-fan HE'S DEAD TO US all i have to add is MAY HE REST IN PEACE

 

You aren't the only one. He's the most talented point guard on the roster, and no one will convince me otherwise. This is exactly why Van Gundy had to go. He kept sabotaging the future for "win now" first round exits.

 

LOL, B-ball Alchemist strikes again.

 

Yep, all JVG's fault for Vspans lack of drive to be better and not just expect to be handed a large glut of mins without earning them....

 

I have always been a supporter for this guy but I am totally disappointed. First of all, you never amount to anything if you can not step out your comfort zone, esp. in this competitive NBA business. Secondly, I get the happyness is more important than the money you make thing but you have a commitment. If you want to break your contract, fine, at least come forward and admit that you made a mistake by signing the contract and own every Rockets team member and fan who supported him an apology. Vspan even does not have the gut flying to Houston and talk with the management, instead he hides behind the agent and resorting to public sympathy. Huge let down.

 

I don't know what is worse, an army of 5 million surrendering or this. I'm in complete denial.

 

Wow ... very one sided view, with no verification of facts you claim. This would be very innapropriate to put in wikipedia. By putting up something so biased, you will draw others who will put up opposing viewpoints, which will embarrass VSpan, and your re-writing of history will backfire.

1) You have to state where you get your "facts," such as contract figures, offers, CD's promises, which he publicly claimed he didn't make, and were certainly not in any contract, or you JVG "citing" which was never published here in the US, or anywhere else to my knowledge.

2) What JVG publicly stated in the press, which is very easy to validate, was that VSpan needed to adjust to the NBA game, just as Yao did, but because well meaning fans were filling his head that he was the TMac of Greece and did so well against the USA in the World Championships, he focused on excuses instead of improvement, developing a bad attitude, resulting in less playing time. If his play in practice or in games would have improved, JVG stated he would give him more playing time if he improved, but he had to put his best players on the floor. If VSpan would have improved in areas that are normal for foreign players to work on, especially his turnovers, and played like he did in the World Championships, he probably would have gotten his 20 minutes of playing time, and even much more, since Houston desperately needed improved guard play. Rockets fans never got to see that player. JVG never stated the things you claim.

3) The Rockets have always publicly stated their desire for VSpan to be in the future of this team, and valued his talent. The problem was due to attitude and getting discouraged, not talent. The fact he was homesick certainly fits into understanding his discouragement, but it doesn't justify his breaking his contract, nor having a bad attitude.

 

Wiki logs are interesting.

I found this on a deleted Wiki (someone deleted it).

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vasileios_Spanoulis&oldid=141760426

"NBA Scouting Report From San Antonio Spurs October 2006

While most competition in European basketball is considered to be either at the NCAA division one College basketball level or lower, competition in the Spanish league Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto, Italian league Serie A (basketball), and Greek league A1_Ethniki is considered to be one step above the college level, even one step above the NBDL level. The Greek league is more recently considered the top competitive level of European basketball. Spanoulis' success at that level, combined with his success in the 2006 World Basketball Championship and the 2004 Olympics, which are considered to be near to NBA level competition, shows that he has legitimate NBA talent.

This was highlighted by Spanoulis leading the Greek National team to a victory over the United States National team team during the 2006 World championship final four round. Spanoulis scored 22 points in that game and regularly abused NBA point guards Chris Paul, Kirk Hinrich, and Dwyane Wade on both ends of the floor, offensively one on one, as well as in the pick-and-roll, and also on the defensive end in one on one assignments.

Spanoulis is a lightning-quick play-maker guard that can play either position in the back court due to his size at 6'4 3/4" in shoes (1.95m) and at a training camp weight of 203 pounds (92kg). Generally considered to have been a more talented prospect coming out of the European level to the NBA than Manu Ginobili was. Can get into the lane and penetrate at will. Incredibly dept at running the pick-and-roll offense. Will pick up fouls at an amazing rate, even better than Dwyane Wade will. Excellent finisher around the basket and excellent free throw shooter. Tremendous open court and half court abilities on offense. Can create open layups/dunks and open 3 point shots for teammates at will. Breaks down the opposing defense whenever he wants to.

Outstanding one on one defender at either guard spot. Can swipe it from any guard when he wants to. Even though his wingspan is only 6'5" (1.96m) he more than holds his own in the post on defense against bigger and stronger guards. A lock down defender against point guards even on the NBA level. Not a great team defender at the NBA level yet, but has all of the tools to be one and should learn this under Jeff Van Gundy's tutelage in Houston as he has amazing lateral quickness with his feet, great hand speed, and a good solid NBA body, as well as a high basketball IQ on the defensive end of the floor.

Not a good shooter from NBA 3 point range, but has an excellent jump shot from 18-21 feet and has the ability to shoot 37% to 41% from that range. Needs to add about 5 feet of range to his jump shot in order to succeed on a team that features both Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Unbelievable court vision and passing ability. A highlight reel assist waiting to happen. Very reminiscent of Steve Nash in his passing and play-making abilities. Like Nash, basketball IQ is off the charts with the rare ability to connect on passes that no other players besides them would even dare to attempt. Should take some time for his teammates to learn to play with him because of this. A drawback of this is that he will always have a high number of turnovers.

Very turnover prone much like Manu Ginobili. Tends to play out of control and helter skelter in a fashion similar to Ginobili at times and like Ginobili also has this defect in his game. However, also extremely competitive and willful in game situations much like Ginobili. Also excels in big-game moments and in the highest levels of competition like Ginobili. Also similar penetration and finishing ability to Tony Parker, although not as good of a ball-handler as Parker. Superior point guard instincts and court vision to Parker. Like Parker not much NBA 3 point range, but is a better shooter than Parker is from 15-21 feet.

Not a great athlete by NBA standards, but a solid one. More than athletic enough to lock down defensively on the perimeter and get into the lane and finish or dish off at the NBA level. Incredible first step, even Leandro Barbosa like. Won't dunk on anyone but will finish in the paint like Parker. Very intriguing point guard prospect with a huge upside."

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Vasileios_Spanoulis&oldid=141760426

 

Feigen's latest blog on Billy:
http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2007/07/one_and_done_billy_bolts_too_s.html

 

He said he wouldn't be the starting PG of San Antonio? That's some dumbass statement to make. We should let him get his chance, we can take SA's starting PG off their hands and give them Span. I would love to see his reaction if we traded him for Tony Parker. I wouldn't mind that trade for the Rockets either.

Git'r done Morey...

btw does anyone still have that V-Span clip on click2houston or whatever it was? The one where he imitates Borat?

 

OK, in Greece on vacation and glanced today at the Panathinaikos sports rag "The Green" and see two quotes on the front page (not attributed to Vspan):

1.) "Forget me, I'm not going back."

2.) "Let them digest it in Houston: for "Kill Bill" there is only PANATHINAIKOS."

Fine. F Panathinaikos and F Vspan.

The guy is not having "family issues" that one would think would be career debilitating normally. As Alex said, his mom is whining & misses him - she couldn't adjust to the US, and his girl is in Greece & he misses her.

He is a b****.

The NBA represents the peak of professional basketball. This guy realized he couldn't cut it & runs...

Ugh.

As a Greek, I say that Vspan is no Spartan, no warrior. Rather he is a b**** & traitor.

The Rockets invested time and money in him and he repays us by pussing out on our team and his contract.

Those who defend him boggle my mind. As a Greek and as a Rockets fan, he is dead to me.

 

Ahh, and for those defending Vspan, I hope you maintained consistency and defended Bonzi as fervently when he quit.

Because that is EXACTLY what both did - quit.

Quit on our Houston Rockets.

 

We are losing out on imagined potential with VSpan not returning, but nothing more. It isn't like he was a contributor and his attitude here shows that he probably wasn't ready to be one on the NBA level.

Personally if he wants to go home that is fine, but I don't really see what that has to do with releasing him from his contract. I mean he isn't really a slave. he can go home and retire from basketball all together and still be fine financially compared to pretty much everyone who posts on these forums.

The real objective is to get him released from his contract, which the rockets have no real motivation to do. In fact releasing him could provide a precedent for future Euro players to copy his behavior if they aren't happy.

Let him go back to Greece and deal with his "family issues". Letting him play pro basketball back home isn't required to do that.

 

Good luck in Greece, KillBill.

 

He is the least talented PG on the Rockets, even Lucas has more talent than he does. Not only does he not have NBA skill, he is mentally weak and has a bad attitude.

I have no idea how you can still defend him now and blame JVG in the same sentence. Unbelieveable. I suppose people have the right to be utterly irrational.