http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1639556 Associated Press HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy suspended forward Eddie Griffin indefinitely after Griffin failed to show up for practice prior to Thursday night's preseason game against the Sacramento Kings. The suspension comes a day after Van Gundy met with Griffin to discuss another no-show. The third-year player missed the team's flight to Sacramento on Monday night. "I met with him [Wednesday] night and I told him he was suspended two additional games," Van Gundy said. "We talked through it and we had a good talk and he understood where I was coming from." Van Gundy thought Griffin would rejoin the team for Thursday's drill. "He didn't show up again today, so we suspended him for conduct detrimental to the team," Van Gundy said. "Hopefully, he'll get himself together and get back and rejoin us soon. "He's an integral part of what we're trying to do and yet what's going on is totally unacceptable." Griffin told the Houston Chronicle on Wednesday that he missed the trip because of personal reasons. Griffin skipped a home game last season too and gave the same reason when he returned. Griffin also has an unresolved mar1juana possession charge against him stemming from an arrest in April. "We see this as a very short-term, hopefully, blip in the radar and [want to] get Eddie back as soon as he's able to conform to what we need him to do, which means showing up to work every day, on time and ready to play and play well," Van Gundy said. Van Gundy said he knows the source of Griffin's problem but would not discuss it. He said Griffin would remain away from the team until the issue was resolved. "When I talked [Wednesday] it was our intention that he would practice with us and be at games, do extra, " Van Gundy said. "But I think today what's happened, we're going to let him be away from the team until he can get himself together and is able to do everything that a professional basketball player is supposed to do, which means showing up for work on time." Griffin's absence came at a particularly bad time for the Rockets, whose injury list is long. Cuttino Mobley, Maurice Taylor, Eric Piatkowski and Adrian Griffin already were sidelined. Griffin was the seventh overall pick of the New Jersey Nets in 2001 and was traded to the Rockets for three first-round draft choices. He has averaged 8.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in two seasons with the Rockets.
What an idiot this kid is...I can't believe now that this is a "family" issue if the Rockets are taking this kind of stand on the thing. Sounds like drugs to me - can you say Mitchell Wiggins, Lewis Lloyd, and John Lucas?
Let's get rid of him. I was never a big Griffin fan because he was overhyped and now after these incidents I'm really ready for Mo to get back in the lineup.
I wanted to wait until Griffin spoke... then I could see what he tells the public about this. I figure since JVG can't mention why, it's pretty bad. He's not an idiot... he's just growing up in the NBA... Add Vernon Maxwell and Mo Taylor to that list, alj
The kid is definitely going through some problems. I hope for his and the team's sake he can resolve them. If not, it's time to get rid of him. This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated.
It doesn't matter now what the reason is. All that matters is what the Rockets are going to do now. With a player suspended indefinitely, can the Rox add another player to the roster? Signs point to Pig Miller, but I have no clue as to how this works. Does anybody? Hopefully this will give Eddie a chance to get his life under control. Basketball is one thing, but saving your own life is much more important than any profession or game.
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/2161542 Rockets' Griffin goes AWOL again today By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle A day after Rockets forward Eddie Griffin met with Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy to explain skipping the Rockets' road trip this week, Griffin went AWOL again today, failing to attend this morning's practice at Toyota Center. Van Gundy said he had told Griffin he would be suspended for two games for missing Tuesday's game and failing to contact the team or return calls. His suspension was made indefinite today. The suspension would cost Griffin $25,697 for every game he misses. "When I met with him last night, I told him you're suspended for two additional games," Van Gundy said. "We talked through it and had a good talk. He didn't show up against today so we suspended him indefinitely for conduct detrimental to the team. Hopefully, he'll get himself together and get back and rejoin us soon because he is an integral part of what we're trying to do." Van Gundy said he did expect Griffin to attend practice and that Griffin clearly understood that he was expected at the practice. Griffin had said on Wednesday that the suspension did not include practice. Van Gundy would not comment about the reason that Griffin skipped the team's trip to Sacramento or Thursday's practice. Griffin said Wednesday that he had to attend to attend to "personal, family problems." "We're going to see this as a very short-term blip on the radar and get Eddie back when he's ready to conform with what he is expected to do, which starts with showing up to work every day, on time, ready to work and perform well," Van Gundy said. "When I talked to him yesterday it was our intention that he would practice with us, be at games, do extra. But I think today, with what happened, we're going to let him be away from the team until he can get himself together and do everything professional basketball players are expected to do, which starts with show up on time." With Griffin going into his third season, the Rockets have until the end of the month to exercise their option to extend Griffin's contract for a fourth season. Griffin said Wednesday that he hoped the team would pick up the option, a move that the Rockets have typically made before training camp, and that he still wanted to play for the Rockets. Griffin similarly missed a game last season for personal reasons, but did contact the team that evening and was not suspended. He was charged with mar1juana possession last April. A hearing is scheduled for later this month. The Rockets traded three first-round picks to acquire Griffin from the Nets during the 2001 NBA Draft. "Professionalism is a huge factor in winning and losing games," Van Gundy said. "Every team is pretty talented. The differences between teams are attitude, chemistry and professionalism. We have to get that right. Eddie understands why we have to get that right."
I disagree. Let the punishment fit the crime. He's already out two games, so that's cool for a punishment. Let the thing develop, and see how he responds. Was JVG always this STRICT? One game is cool, but two? Hurts the chemistry of the team. It's just ONE PRACTICE he missed, so he should not be able to play ONE GAME, at least.
The thing that frustrates me the most is the Rockets' blind loyalty to this kind of player over the 6 years. The young athletic, no character, high potential, high risk rids they have spent MILLIONS of dollars on, and in return have gotten a mediocre product. Did they forget the treacherous 1986 Drug Draft with Bias, Bedford, Washburn, et al and fail to remember that 99.99999999999% of the time, these risks do not work out. In fact, I challenge any of you to name a kid who was known as a drug user or who had run-ins with the law who has been successful with his team. The only example I can think of is Iverson, and I'm not even sure he is worth the trouble, in terms of winning a championship, if that is your goal...
I hope he is alright. But...what's sad is that we will now be unable to unload him for someone of value.
looks like it may be time to gut some of that depth at shooting guard(mobley) and center(cato) and trade for a reliable starting caliber power forward.
Question: JVG says that he is aware of the problem, but not going to discuss it. IF the problem is drugs, doesn't the team have an obligation to report this to the league?
Who are you talking about. Did the Rockets know about Griffin and Taylor before they drafted Griffin and signed Taylor? Your post seems to be an incoherrent rant. 1986 was 17 years ago btw.
