Oh, one more thing, I want to make it clear that I believe it is TOO late to play V-Span in this series. DD
HA! Vspan gets 2 minutes and did everything no other rocket could do for the rest of the entire game. SLASH! SCORE! PASS! ATTACK THE BASKET! T-Mac laughed on the bench at how possessed he was.
Wow, such mixed feelings in this thread! It's probably my fault for posting such a thread right after such a dissapointing loss. Like I said in my original post, I haven't been on the VSpan bandwagon at all this season. He hasn't proven at all that he deserves to be getting serious playing time throughout the season and he didn't help himself out by bit**ing about not getting on the court. This wasn't an overreaction based on be being pissed off at the team and/or evaluating the 2 minutes he played last night. My only thought was that, in his style of play, it might give some sort of spark and might help match a little of what the Jazz are doing. We've all seen that none of the role-players are hitting any shots. It's has gotten to a point in the series that it's a major concern and a point that we have to start wondering if they will not show up at all. So, what does one do about it? Do you keep throwing the same rotation out there and hope the light switch comes on or do you try to find a spark somewhere? Obviously, JVG has decided to do the ladder based on him giving Lucas spot minutes last night. He obviously thought Lucas could speed the game up a little bit and help give them a litle bit of an offensive spark. So, why not throw VSpan out there a few minutes and see what he can do? He is the ONLY other guy who can create off the dribble and attack the paint. You're telling me that would not help? The Jazz know they can defend Yao and TMac closer because they know the other guys around them are just going to stand in one spot on the perimeter and jack up 3's. Defensively, we've all seen that he competes, he is aggressive and he plays bigger than his size. You don't think that COULD have an affect on Deron's play and penetration in the paint? Yes, using the word "x-factor" was stupid and irresponisble. No, I don't really believe he is the "x-factor" in the playoffs. It was just used for a lack of a better word. Calling me and this thread stupid, well, I'm sorry you feel like that and I've certainly been called worse in my life. It was just an idea for which I thought this board was created for - a system where good basketball minds and fans can share ideas. I'm not calling Spanoulis our savior, he clearly is not, nor am I saying giving him time will win this series. But, trying him out in spot minutes MIGHT give this team a MUCH NEEDED spark and could give the Jazz something else to think about outside of Yao & TMac a bunch of jump-shooters. That's all.
Play vspan? Surely you jest? Afterall that is thinking outside of the box and something JVG is incapable of.
Spanoulis provided what amounted to be a spark, because everyone else SUCKED SO BAD. ZERO POINTS from the entire bench in a game can make someone look like a godsend that way. Though they've truly all earned a demotion, I think percentages are greater of the regular bench rotation coming around playing adequate to par-level, than Spanoulis being the x-force that wins the series. Its too late now to figure Spanoulis into the plans. We've already forgotten how ugly he played after he got some time in a game, a little while after his comments about lack of PT. He's shown "spark" and "flashes" several times during the season. And thats been pretty much it. When given significant time in key parts of games he's unfortunately been more a liability more than a plus-type player...Doesnt matter if JVG caused it or not, as of now that's what he is on this current team. He's shown (if he stays patient and with it), what he can lend for next year after he plays in the summer league, and plays a lot more against NBA talent.
I agree... I have by no means been one of those who call for V-Span every game, but I have harbored thoughts of doing so against the Jazz. He matches up very favorably to Fisher. But at this point, it is just too late. He doesn't have any chemistry with any of our rotation players, and there is only three games remaining in the series. Not the time to conduct such an experiment.
Just for the record...what I said was that I am as frustrated with the team's play as any Rockets fan, but anyone who has a rational thought that Bonzi Wells or Spanoulis would be making a difference at this point is ludicrous. The 12th man does not come in and contribute to playoff victories. This team will advance or fail with the same 8 players who have contributed all season. Let them finish the series before we overreact either way.
While I concur with your main point, it doesn't mean that I agree with the 8 players that are in the rotation. But, you are correct, these are the ones paddling the good ship JVG, he will either discover new territory (the 2nd round) or go down with the ship and the same 8 players. DD
Fact: Spanoulis has the highest 1 player Lenovo +/- rating for the Rockets in the postseason. Yao and Mcgrado are not even in the the top 5. We might lower Spanoulis and Tsakalidis by 2 pts, because he played against scrubs. He still has a higher lenovo rating than Yao and McGrady. Lenovo 1 player http://www.nba.com/statistics/lenovo/lenovo_sort.jsp?pcomb=1&season=42006&split=9&team=Rockets Spanoulis 10 Tsakalidis 10 Hayes 7 Alston 3 JLIII 2 Battier -1 Mutumbo -11 McGrady -12 Howard -13 Yao -14 Snyder -14 Head -17 Lenovo 5 players http://www.nba.com/statistics/lenovo/lenovo_sort.jsp?pcomb=5&season=42006&split=9&team=Rockets Our most effective 5 man rotation in the playoffs. J. Howard J. Tsakalidis V. Spanoulis L. Head J. Lucas 10 Our current starting lineup T. McGrady R. Alston S. Battier M. Yao C. Hayes 1 LOL Spanoulis lineup is 10 times more effective than Yao and McGrady lineup.
Saw something that made me sick today on ABC during the Lakers game. Boki is #2 in the NBA in scoring when not starting this playoffs. (most from the bench, with 16pts. ) Ugh. If you're curious, Barbosa is #1.
We couldn't use him in Houston....what would we do with about 15 points a game and good 3pt shooting? DD
I've always said give Span and Novak each five minutes a game. It's a shame we have a dead eye marksman, a penetrator, and a scorer who don't get to play, oh, I forgot about Snyder. That's four guys who could help us, more or less, in the playoffs if they had a chance to develop. Maybe Boki agrees with me too.
I agree with posters that we can't expect much from him beause he hasn't played for very long time. I still believe the Rox will advance to the next round though...
did anyone hear Kenny just say "Baron lives in the paint" and "any player who lives in the paint will make it in the NBA"
I don't get it. What is the deal with what McGrady did after the between the legs pass for the bucket? Did he snarl or did somebody read his lips and he said VSpan was stupid or what? Frankly, I think some of you are extremely overreacting if you think McGrady was negative about that pass. Why would mcgrady even care? VSpan made a play for an easy bucket. And McGrady is sitting on the bench. And if he was negative about it, then he would be flat wrong. McGrady is too smart for all that stuff. I think some of you are really stretching trying things by trying to surmise what McGrady thought about the whole thing. Bottom line: When you get to the playoffs, defenses close out shooters a whole lot faster, so you'd better be able to put it on the floor and finish at the rim.
He couldn't give us 15 pts and good three point shooting in Houston. At least not at a consistent clip. He got better with time. The potential was there, he just didn't develop it far enough while in houston. I was a big Boki supporter (Karl Malone, 'nuff said) and it still makes me happy to see him succeed, but he couldn't crack the rotation in Houston for a reason. You don't give people serious playing time just to develop them when you are competing for the playoffs. Boki didn't improve or get PT till he went to inferior teams that utilized him due to lack of depth or injuries. He proved himself in NJ this year. He didn't prove himself in New Orleans or Houston. He was a spotty scorer who brought little else to the table. He improved his game. Spanoulis had his chance to play that sort of role early in the season and didn't produce at all. He sucked. I personally don't remember what kind of chances Boki had while he was here, but he clearly didn't make the best of them because it didn't reflect in more playing time. Do team philosophies make a difference? Of course, but the good players will adjust with where they are or hope to move on. Spanoulis will get his chance again. Let's hope he is ready this time.
