OK, what is wrong with contacting Spree? I don't get the hatred of him or the dislike of the possibility of him joining the team. Broken down, like many have said he is, he still averaged 13 pts, 3 rebs., 2 assists, & almost a steal game last season. You wouldn't take that right now from a legit SG on the Rockets right now? Are the numbers great? No, but they are productive and they come from a guy who will bring a competitive desire and attitude this team lacks. Plus, more than likely, he will come at a decent cost. About JVG bringing in ex-Knick players, not only is it loyalty but it's trust in players that have performed well for him, already know his system and what he wants from them, and will go out and meet those demands. I didn't hear JVG's comments this morning but, if he did come out publicly and say he was looking at those positions, then the wheels are turning for a trade or two IMO. I remember his comments the morning of last year's trade deadline (getting a PG & to improve their cap situation) and both happened that day.
Actually it is a factor, though not a big one. You're post makes it seem like they played under JVG and thats why they were brought here. And saying that they must have had a connection isn't necessarily true. Guys like Spoon, Baker, and Mooch were all financially incentive moves (in my opinion). They weren't brought here to play serious minutes, but were brought here to drop MoT's and Mooch's contract (even though we ended up getting him back). Was Ward/Ewing the best choices for coaches? Maybe, maybe not. But the truth is that these 2 players know JVG's system the best and could probably help out the current players better than some other assistants. Paying a player on the bench is something we can directly object about because we can see whether or not they are contributing. But coaching is entirely different, we don't get to see what goes on behind the scenes or whether or not they are having an impact. I don't like Ewing as a tutor for Yao and at time it seems like he is doing nothing, but the only person that knows this for sure is Yao.
Point, wingman and Big man. LOL, classic. So we have McGrady and Yao in the starting lineup, but we need the 3 other positions. Alston and Swift could be the Point and Big man already. But they just havent gotten it done yet. They may be the answer, they may not. But those positions are going to have to produce more to JVG's liking. As for the Wingman, we still need a sidekick to Tmac at that 2/3. We need a guy that has decent size, is atheltic and has nice quickness.
We need Spree, ex-Knick or not shouldn't make a damn difference. He's the most impactful player still available on the market and might agree to a 'JVG-discount', and he's NOT over the hill, the kid can still play with the best of them. If we can somehow manage to get him on a cheap rental for this season, then it would be unwise not to go for it. I will take Spree playing on the Rockets as a contributor any day of the week over DW and even DA; most importantly, he's someone who can relieve McGrady's load a bit and can be used as an insurance policy in case T-Mac has to miss more games due to injuries, and gives us more depth.
I don't even know what you're arguing in the first place. So I guess my argument is that you have no argument. You seem to be saying that Van Gundy favors players that have been a Knick at any point in their career. Can you really think this is true? Let's look at some of the players you've talked about. I'll start with your strongest evidence first, which comes to an end fairly quickly. Ward : I think you have a legit gripe here. Ward is an old turd. Jackson : Meh. Not his finest hour. Ewing : He's a coach! Doesn't affect the cap or suck up a roster spot. I don't think he's the best for Yao, but I don't see how this is relevant in the context of acquiring guys to play the game. Spoon : Played for JVG all of 19 games in the season that he quit the Knicks. Contract is suspect, but I think he provided value in his first season here. Baker : Never played for JVG in NY. Norris : Never played for JVG in NY. Oakley : 7 games?! But you're right, we definitely should have used our valuable 10-day contract on someone else. If memory serves, I wanted Oakley to come in and stir things up. Things didn't really work out and he didn't get signed. Sounds like a plan to me. Strickland : Never played for JVG in NY. Also, played for the Knicks like 50 years ago. Rice : Rice came to the Rockets (and left?) before JVG got here. Solid argument. Well, I guess you have me on a bit of a technicality there, but it's certainly not substantive.
I have to agree with Solid. JVG choices for this team should be based on who will help this team win. I watched Spree in his last year he played for the T-Pups and he looked like he had nothing left. He's to slow to play defenese and he couldn't make open shots just like a lot of the old players we have now. If he'll play on a 10 day contract or something that's the only way the Rockets should committ to him. If the Rockets tried out guys like Mo Baker and they could help the team more JVG is hurting the team with his loyalty to ex-players.
seems like JVG have a thing for older men If he didnt sign those old geeks, instead some yound talents, maybe they can become a force now
This is what I've been ranting about this "trade to fix" strategy. These are the players JVG brought in. Now he's saying that they are no good. So either he failed as a coach or he failed as a scout. Why doesn't he concentrate on coaching and stop constantly looking for the "right mix."
john and lance give this guy a free pass on this subject everytime and it pisses me off to no end. this is this dude's team. the only guys left from when he got here are Yao and Moochie, and Moochie has been shipped out before. He cannot change the team and say he doesn't have the right players and get a free pass on that. Rudy didn't get a walk on that.
You know, I bet Knicks fans are getting sick and tired of Isaiah bringing in all these ex-Rocket players too.
Uhh.. so if we make moves, and it doesn't work out -- JVG isn't allowed to try to make more trades? Sweet reasoning.
I don't think anyone has mentioned this, but I think Glen Rice was added and disbanded prior to JVG. I could be wrong, but we got him and shipped him to Utah for a pick and Specer Haywood.....thats all I remember. But I could be wrong. Correct me?
Anderson - yes Swift - maybe Alston - don't think so Alston has played 6 or 7 games with a brand new team with out T-Mac. You must have had very high expectations of him for you to think he is deserving of a dirrect shot through the media
That is what you get for arguing with me. I have lost track of our arguments, whatever they were. All I can recall is that I'm right.
I'm not saying that he "isn't allowed to try to make more trades." I'm saying that this is his third season here. He's been making significant personnel changes ever since he came and still whines about not getting the right mix. I mean, look at the roster in the last 3 seasons. Both the starting lineup and the bench have been significantly different EVERY year. And EVERY season, we have to say, "This is a new bunch of guys. Let's give JVG time to get them to gel." And come December and January, we have to make moves AGAIN. I don't know about you. This is getting old to me. I am getting impatient.
Why? It worked to perfection last year. JVG has a better handle on what this team needs more than anyone else here. I also wouldn't consider him as "whining." His players haven't produced, he's taken the blame, and if need be, will move them for players who WILL produce. I'm not saying JVG has a free pass -- I'm just saying that last year we almost got the four spot after struggling early. And when we do it again, people tend to think we won't even make the playoffs. That's absurd. I'm not worried. Go JVG!
