How bad does Rafer and JLIII have to play before you think VSpan deserves a shot?

Apparently a lot worse.



DD

 

JVG is too stubborn to change his plan. He has demonstrated through the years that no matter how bad a player is doing he will stick with them no mather what. Just remember Rybo.

 

I don't think it will just take Rafer's bad shooting. If he continues to suck from the field and the Rockets as a team struggle while he's on the court, then eventually JVG might bite the bullet and look elsewhere.

But, really, can we expect Spanoulis to shoot any better than Rafer? Spanoulis is 31% from the field on the season, and 20% from three. I don't recall his preseason numbers, but I don't think it was much better. We know that his turnovers will be very high. He can be a good defender at times, but he also fouls a lot.

I'd love to see what Spanoulis can do, but if we want to be pragmatic about it I don't know if playing him just to give him a look is the smartest decision right now. As fans, I think we tend to be somewhat reactionary. If the team struggles in some area, we want to seek out an instant, homerun solution. That's natural. But an actual coach doesn't have the luxury to think like that. Just arbitrarily mixing players together and hoping it all of sudden clicks isn't good coaching.

I think we probably have to look at our PG situation and resign ourselves to the fact that we don't really have any good options anywhere. We just have to go with what will hurt us the least (or, as JVG puts it, "gives us the best chance to win").

Unless he doesn't, in which case he's blamed for not giving players enough of a chance to succeed.

 

After VSpan's crying I'm surprised he is even allowed to sit on the bench. They wouldn't want to have to change his diaper in the middle of the game.

 

I would like to see VSpan get a chance to play at his position for 10 min for at least 5 games. I am not totally sold on what JVG tried to prove the times he let him play as shooting guard. That is not his position.
After that, we could have a better idea what he can do for the team.

 

What V-Span should do is start by busting Rafer in practice, just outplay him, make it obvious....

If he can do that...he will play.

DD

 

I second this. Please add this choice to the poll:

"VSpan should not be allowed to sit on the bench"

 

I would see V-span on the court anytime rather than JL3

 

If he could, shouldn't he be doing that since he got here?

 

Perhaps, but I think it depends on how practices are run. I think the only chance you have to really do that is in preseason, once the season starts, there are very few full practices, as it is more about the next opponent etc.

DD

 

V-Span need to learn how to control the ball, too much tournover will not make him play much on the court.

 

Just remember VSpan.

 

Maybe he should say ...VETERAN player.

JVG has stuck with some stinkers......especially at PG.


Someone brought up an interesting point, they said that JVG has never coached a creative PG, but has always prefered the safer ones.....

Is that true?

DD

 

Define creative. He coached Steve Francis, the quintessential "unsafe" PG.

I don't think there's any doubt, JVG likes PGs who are safe with the ball and know how to run a team effectively. That's the number one criteria. Defense is probably number two. Then shot selection. Then shooting%.

 

For this season, a trade is the answer, not V-Span. I don't mind him getting some of Rafer's minutes but if we intend to make a run, we need to bring another PG in.

 

That's a great post. And I think that's precisely what a lot of teams are doing late in games. Rafer is getting all those "good shots" because teams want him to take them. I think Rafer should continue to take the open 3-pointers. If he shoots 35% on them, that's still the equivalent of over 50% on 2-point shots. But, more importantly, if they give him the drive, he needs to penetrate deep and look to pass, then look to draw a foul, and only as a very last option attempt those stinky floaters. For a guy who gets decent penetration fairly frequently during games, it's stunning how seldom he gets himself to the line. That's one way he could greatly improve his efficiency.