Better question to ask is, does he remember his take on lambasting JVG for cutting EG, how great Langhi will be and of course how Busti Nachbust would be a solid starter on solid NBA team.
Isn't JVG the one that told McGrady to just go out there and have fun? Just forget about what he was and what he should be? Just go out there play ball and have fun? Since that game (Atlanta) T-Mac has not scored less than 30. In fact he's scored 31, 38, 31, and 44 in all WINS. Yes I give JVG some credit, in fact I give him a lot.
He's already giving Novak some minutes for 3 straight games now. And JL3 is playing now almost very regularly.
I will tell you someone who can not shoot 38 percent with wide open threes right now, and that is Vspan. I think you are definitely a little high on him. He does have potential, but bottom line is we are 21-12. If we were playing about or below .500 then yes he should get time. Right now we score more points then the opponents on most nights and that is with Rafer playing big minutes. Vspan has really only had one game when he did good. Other then that he looked uncomfortable, jumped in the air to make passes, turned the ball over, fouled too much, and missed jumpers. I agree he needs minutes to develop, but not at the risk of losing games when your team is 9 games over .500 but still a 6 seed. He was given a chance, and not just one or two games, but quite a few to take Snyder and Wells' minutes, and he didnt play well enough to stay in the rotation. Lucas comes in and plays helter skelter, but gets some quick points and puts pressure on the D. Vspan just didnt do that. Maybe he will be great one day, but right now that is not the case.
And I'm not even saying he'll be a bust... I do believe that V-Span has a chance to have a very solid future in this league (unlike Langhi or Boki). I just don't understand the OBSESSION with him not getting playing time right now... especially when this team is playing at as high of a level as it is (with Rafer cutting down the TO's, and playing good defense). Sure, would I like Rafer to hit more wide open 3's... yes... but do I have confidence that V-span would simply come in here and hit all of those 3's as well? No. He's an international rookie on a team that has other/more NBA-ready options at PG... on a team that can't afford to "experiment" constantly with the small margin for error that is the Western Conference.... on a team where the PG's role is vastly different than most other teams (thanks to T-mac).
LOL - How things get skewed. 1. We should not have CUT EG, we should have tried to trade him for something, cutting him when we still had to pay him was stupid...that was my point...I did not care that he was not going to play, but thought letting him go was a bad biz decision. 2. I loved Langhi in the summer league games, and thought he could be a good coming off screens shooter...sometimes players need to be on the right team to develop....Langhi never developed as well as I thought...but I also was being a bit over the top sarcastic on his future.....I truly believe that V-Span could become a star. 3. I NEVER said that Boki would be a great player only that at the top end he could develop into a 3rd or 4th scorer.....and definitly a role player, and watching him play for New Jersey, this is exactly what he is...10 points so far in tonight's game at the end of the 3rd quarter. 4. I agree V-Span should not shoot 3 pointers, he has been terrible at it....his skillset is drive and dish....which he does VERY well....Rafer should do more of it too.....especially when he is shooting so poorly.....an all year occurance. 5. Since when does playing a rookie with talent a few minutes a game mean you are going to automatically LOSE that game? If he plays well, he plays longer, if he plays badly he plays less....don't you wish JVG would do that with Rafer and J-Ho? 6. McGrady jumps in the air and passes, Nash jumps in the air and passes....lots of players do that.....it is a good play...done in the right fashion...V-Span does it right. V-Span is the PG of the future, I just think the future gets here more quickly if he gets some playing time, as in the NBA they have VERY VERY VERY few practices in the regular season....VERY few....lots of shoot arounds, and preperation for upcomming opponents but VERY few practices. So, if you agree that V-Span is the PG of the future, he should be getting some run in that spot today to make that future come as fast as possible. Anyway, it is much more fun to debate when the team is winning ! Otherwise we would be looking at Rafer and his horrible play as of late and wishing JVG would give some others a chance. DD
The obession with V-Span is like that of those with, NachBar, Swift, EG, Reece Gaines, Badiane & countless other young player who we have either not seen played, or have not played often. I call it "the grass is greener on the other side" sydrome and a large segment of most if not all fan forums have it. Those struck by this sydrome will ALWAYS clamor for the promise and potenetial of the new unknown player, regardless of facts, realitys and circumstances. Regarding V-span, I personally like his agressiveness and tenacity, but I dont think he will have a much better carreer than Nachbar... due to the simple fact, the man cannot shoot the ball. Unless he develops a consistent jumper, he wont be better than a backup. While other points like Tony Parker, Jason Kidd and Devin Harris had (in jKidd/Devin's cases still have) horribly inconsistent and unreliable outside shots, they compensated for it by being unguardable in penetrating, great finishers, good defensive perimeter play, great playmaking and ball control.
I am guessing that JVG's opinion of Vspan is based on ... 1) Studying hundreds of hours of tape study of Vspan playing 2) Watching him in practice and shoot around for about 100 hours 3) Actually talking to Vspan 4) Actually working on the court with Vspan 4) Utilizing the opinion of his staff What are you basing your opinion on?
Interesting take. But how does being copied by other teams help us? BTW, for the record, I too think that JVG is doing a great job so far this season.
I'm guessing you probably speak for about 1/4 of the bbs at most. The most important job for a point guard is to not turn the ball over. The data thus far does not back up the statement that V-Span is a better point guard than Rafer. I'm not even convinced V-Span is an NBA caliber point guard, he seems more of an undersized 2. I am confident he can develop into a point guard if he gets a better handle and midrange shot. But you can't throw him in right now and give away possessions. One or two possessions can determine the outcome of a game. For some reason I keep thinking back to when you were obsessed with us drafting Reddick, I wonder if you still feel we should have drafted him. It seems you get stuck on a certain player and give them attributes that they simply don't have...at least not yet. I could be wrong, but I'm not willing to give games away to develop V-Span's point guard skills. He's just not ready to play that position. Bottom line...he had the spot and he lost it by being outplayed by JL3. JL3 is a better point guard right now, we'll see what happens as they both develop. I agree it is much more fun to argue about these things when we are 21-12 instead of 12-21.
Kudos for JVG its typical that the first person the fans will turn on is the coach but rational fans will know better
personally I think JVG has done a great job in everygame so far. In terms of managing people and their times his done fine as well, Vspan hasn't done anything EXCEPTIONAL to prove that he deserve minutes, I mean Ginobilli showed he was special when he was on the court despite his mistakes, Vspan isn't really giving u that i'm a superstar. Heck even Rudy Gay is doing it better then he is at the moment.... but one thing about JVG is i'll give him credit if he works out how to beat Nash and his Suns. They run and gun and owned us that last game. No idea if our current team can even come close to beating them. Just their style eats ours
I know...it's like rock-paper-scissors. They are the worst matchup for us, Denver may be bad also once they are at full strength. I'm actually wanting San Antonio in the first round this year...weird.
BINGO! I've been trying to tell Coach DaDakota this in the "Rafer needs to be benched" thread numberous times, but he's too stubborn to listen to a "rookie" like me.
LOL - it has nothing to do with anyone's status of when they joined the board. I don't value rookies opinions any less than mine. There is NO way that JVG has watched 100s of hours of V-Span tapes...he has seen him in practice, and has said V-Span will be successful but that fans need to temper their expectations of him. The problem as I see it, is that JVG's contract is up this year, and he does not have a guaranteed extension, therefore, IMHO, he is going to take WAY less risks in his job and could care less if V-Span develops for next year and beyond...all he cares about is this year. So, I think a lot of what is going on is because of circumstance. And, I take serious umbrage with everyone saying that by playing V-Span 10-15 minutes a night at backup PG is going to be throwing games away.....that is just insane.... V-Span is the best perimeter defender on the Rockets, he would at least contribute defensively. I think JVG gave him a little peak, and saw some good and bad, but he is still refusing to play V-Span at the PG position which is hampering V-Span's ability to contribute. You can not take a guy who's skills are all WITH THE BALL in his hands and ask him to move to the 2 guard and be a spot up shooter....that is putting them in a position to fail. But whatever, I am convinced that the future PG of the Rockets is on the bench...... Let's all cheer for Rafer "Da-Brick" Alston..... As long as we are winning right????? Of course I think eventually Rafer will cost us in the playoffs, but whatever..... DD
Not throwing games away, but just a few more turnovers in any given game could cost you that game. Hardly "insane" imo. This team will live and die with TMAC and Yao, if they are playing together and clicking we can win against any team. How do you explain Span's low shooting percentage and high turnovers? Is that JVG's fault, how does Span deserve minutes if he is not playing better than the people in the rotation ahead of him? I don't follow that logic.
Alston fg% .370 (.354 from 3) Spanoulis fg% .311 (.200 from 3) Would that make him Vasillis "Da Euro-Brick" Spanoulis? C'mon, Rafer is at least hitting his 3's in the clutch, surely you can acknowlege that much.
