I will give him all the credit after he's won the championship. yeah, sure we won some games and beat some good teams. But we aren't anything until we get the trophy. People only remember championship teams, not good teams. nobody remember the kings, the pacers, even though they were good back then. But everybody remembers the spurs, lakers because they win championships.
playoff position. if JVG and staff expose a weakness, other teams will beat our opponents. I'm not saying that is JVG and staff's strategy, i'm saying that is a result of their strategy...vs an offensive coach. That is why they say d e f e n s e. we have the preparation...here it is...do it...play hard! mark Easy down, too.
If we had Monta Ellis, or Chris Paul, or Deron Williams, or Randy Foye, or even Jarrett Jack on the bench... I'd say we have a future PG sitting on the bench. But we have Vasilis Spanoulis, who REALLY hasn't shown the kind of potential starting PG I named in the above, or proved anything at all. How the hell can anyone label Vasilis as the future starting PG of the Rockets this early in the game? I think this guy is just suffering from overhyped rookie syndrome. I bet next year if we draft a C, he'd even say "Yeah that's our future C of the Rockets, no doubt about it."
I'm really interested when you mentioned Ellis. To me, all rookies have potential to be a very good role player, or even starter to All-Star. Some coaches are forced to use their rookies when the starters are injured or for some other reason out. Last year is a prime example, with Luther Head now a reliable three pointer threat for us, and Chuck Hayes a rebounding machine. Now, GSW are suffering from injuries to J-Rich, Troy Murphy and for a short while, Mike Dunleavy (I think). It's only because of these injuries that Monta Ellis, Matt Barnes, Andris Biedrins and Mickeal Pietris flourish + Don Nelson's system of play. Vspan definitely has the potential, and I have no doubt he showed it in greece, or else he would not be on the national team, and his TOs can, with time, be corrected sufficently enough to be a starter. Same goes for Steve Novak and John Lucas III, they just need the chance. However, with the Rockets doing so well and a heartening win over the Jazz, I doubt JVG will give minutes to anybody but the starters and verterans. Personally I agree with him, he needs to make the rookies get their talent out as soon as possible, no point in Vspan exploding for 20 points and 10 assists at the end of the season with the playoffs looming. He gives them 1 and a half minutes at the end of each blowout win or loss and lets the rookies play. But recently, he's been letting Novak on the court in the middle of the game (early third quarter), so I'm guessing Novak is showing some defensive talent during practices.
Personally I think its ridiculous that people still call for rookies. Lets take the Utah game in point. I honestly think Spanoulis would have gotton owned by Utah. He would have been up against Williams and I really don't think his that great of a defender to take on Williams. If he turns it over he might even trigger a change of momentum. JVG plays vets cause they don't panic. They know what to do. If I've seen Vspan so far he seems to run with his emotions alot........which isn't exactly brilliant for a clutch situation
I was just reading this, and I was thinking, DAMN thats harsh, what about all the Utah teams to never win a ring.......
In a forum like this, don't try to use logic and consistency. That blows away a lot of the debate, especially when it comes to JVG.
No doubt he was burning out the starters which is why the Rockets were running out of gas and losing leads. At least he is playing some of his bench...which is better than nothing. DD
How can you possibly think that Vspan is the Rockets best perimeter defender. Have you forgotten about Battier. Plus Vspan was getting blown by on a regular basis when he was in. And your arguement that Nash and Tmac jump to make passes doesnt fly cuz Vspan right now is not even close to either of those guys. Yes they do jump to make passes, but big difference is their passes go to teammates, not defenders. Yes Rafer struggles with the jump shot but at least teams have to somewhat respect it cuz he has hit some big threes. With Vspan there is no concern about giving him the outside shot cuz he has never shown he could hit the NBA three, albeit in limited playing time. Vspans potential minutes are going to JL3 right now cuz flat out, JL3 was more productive, and less destructive with the minutes then Vspan was.
Yes, kudos where they are due. I'd say this about JVG: - He has learned from his mistakes: - is now less grumpy: He used to scream, belittle his players, making them so afraid to do anything that they practically couldn't function. He seems a bit more relaxed now, especially with Tmac, whom he trusts to make the game happen. - is now less controlling. It doesn't look like he is calling every play now, which he did just early this season, as well as the last few years. Remember that Rafer used to have to look over to the coach everytime he brought the ball down? Not seeing that anymore. - is more willing to use a different style of play, such as willingness to try small ball when appropriate. - His other strengths are well-known: defense and game preparation. That said, JVG's weaknesses are: - Lack of creativity in offense. The fluidity now is mostly due to Tmac, as Tmac is super smart, has awesome vision, and makes great decisions. When Tmac is out, offense turns to **** as it becomes the monotonous & predictable grind-it-out offense. That's why the team is so dependent on Tmac to do well in offense, whether Tmac is shooting well or not. - Lack of creativity to make in-game adjustments. I have never seen JVG's team (admittedly didn't see a lot of his Knicks' games) made a great adjustment half-time to overcome really bad 1st half. I have seen the reverse quite often, however, where opponents' coaches made great half-time adjustments to take over Rox. The two coaches well-known for that are Phil Jackson and Popovich, and they both had done that to JVG this year.
he has better players now, remember the undersized Wesley last season, he was almost bricking every shot from the 3 point line, it was pretty much the Rafer Alston shot! there were few others, not even worth to mention them
Billy, shouldn't you be practicing instead of fighting with board members about how you deserve to play? Anyways, please stop talking out of your butt. What the hell makes you think hes our best perimeter player? Do you get access to V-SPAN during practice or something? Honestly, unless you are an actual rockets coach, I don't think you've seen enough of V-SPAN to say hes our best perimeter defender and can contribute right away. I ain't saying his defense is bad, but saying hes our best perimeter player is a long shot. If V-SPan was this damn good, he'd be playing instead of JL3. Since you seem to know everything, can you explain why JL3 is getting minutes and VSPAN is not? I'll tell you, JL3 has produced with the minutes given, VSPAN did not. Hate on Alston all you want, but right now, he's the better shooter and he doesn't turnover the ball as much as VSPAN. You say Alston is going to cost us in the playoffs, well, VSPAN probably would have cost us games in the regular season. It obviously isn't hurting us because we are 21-12. VSPAN will get his chance. His game is not going to disappear off the world because of one season on the bench. You think it will because you are mentally weak and think VSPAN can't handle it. VSPAN doesn't have the mental weakness like you do so he will be just fine.
Ok, I will say this really really slowly so people can understand. JL3 has been getting backup PG minutes which is great....and yes, I wish V-Span would get those minutes because he has much greater upside then John John. V-Span has NEVER...I repeat...NEVER gotten a chance to play backup PG, he has always been thrust in as a backup 2 guard....not his natural position, and not one he is going to play regularly in the NBA. So.....yes, I understand that JL3 has been productive at the backup PG position, and I wish he would play a little more for Rafer....but V-Span has never gotten that chance. Now, back to your regular speed broadcast...remedial lesson over. DD
I will turn off the bold for you to teach you a lesson in civility. Let me clarify V-Span is our best perimeter defender at the PG position...he is better than Alston, better then Haed and better than JL3...you can dispute it all you want, it is just my opinion, nothing more. And, it is based upon watching the games that all of them play...even the world championsihps. I have never said that V-span should start, only that it is short sighted for the team to not be developing their PG of the future. V-Span is a PG, why play him out of position? JVG would try to tone down Steve Nash if given the chance, sometimes creativity is needed, and V-Span has it and the team needs it...sometimes. JL3 has produced at the PG postion,.YES !!! I love it !!! But, V-Span has never gotten the same chance......he had been playing the 2 guard....which is clearly NOT his strong suit. Which ironically, JL3 is...an undersized 2 guard just like Calvin Murphy. (well not quite as good). How can a guy who is the backup PG cost you games in the regular season? Put him in, and if he sucks, yank him...if he plays well, then you are winning that game, right? As for his game not disappearing, you are somewhat correct, but during the NBA season there are very few practices, mostly shoot arounds and such...just look at the latest link by JVG....no practice until January 15th...maybe you can do the math... Practice, during the regular season - not so much If you guys can't see the potential of V-Span and how our team breaks down when Rafer plays long minutes, then I can't help you. We desperatly need a 2nd player that can create for themselves and others late in the games when the BETTER teams are shutting down Yao and Tmac......but whatever, we can lose in the first round again and I will open up one big old can of TOLD YA SO !! DD
First of all, you can't talk slowly on a message board. It shouldn't take you 25k posts to learn that one. Next, V-Span hasn't gotten a chance at PG because the team would completely self destruct with him there. On this team, PG is effectively a SG who brings the ball up the court. Span's numbers would surely not be better with minutes at PG, and probobly would be much worse. Why do you hate on JL3? He has shown much more "upside" on the court this year. Plus he's a hometown guy with Rockets roots. Yet you still suck on Billy's gyro in nearly every post. You sound like a typical fairweather fan, just like all the YOFs, and a troll. Don't act like you know something about V-Span that others don't, because you don't. You probobly have never dribbled a basketball before in your life. Maybe you should post a little less and read a little more, and try to learn something about the game instead of blocking out everybody else's insight because of your delusional idea that you know everything about basketball. You don't.
No matter what happens, you won't be able to tell anybody you told them anything. Your posts have no substance whatsoever. JL3 an undersized SG? What?!? And for the love of god, STOP COMPARING VSPAN TO STEVE NASH!