Bonzi came into camp hurt, he got hurt again in January, and then took a very nasty fall in late February. Yes, he was healthy in November and in April, and JVG did decide to leave him on the injured reserve, but that's because we were rolling past opponents when Yao got back and also because SNYDER clearly deserved more court time than Bonzi.
The 2006 version of Bonzi wouldn't have helped, he even admitted it when he quit on the Rox at end of the season. He was fat, out of shape and injury prone. I have to give him props this year though, out of Scola, Francis and James he deserves the most credit for the Rox for the Rox being 5-1. Stevie is this years Bonzi and I hope Adelman is not as obstinate as JVG and doesn't wait until April to decide that he wants to play him. Stevie needs some minutes come the next injury to someone in our backcourt.
Part of the blame is on JVG, but I don't think any coach, even Adelman, could have motivated Bonzi to perform last year, at least as well as he is now. Other factors were involved, like his numerous injuries, like his sulking from losing the multi-million dollar contract, his love for the Houston night-life, his love for Shipley's, that one time when he just HAD to have that root canal, etc. etc. In other words, Bonzi plays when Bonzi wants, and last year ain't no one was gonna make him play no games (as Vince would say).
If Bonzi had been in the rotation last year, he might have been like this by the end of the year, but he and JVG fought, and Bonzi sulked and it is what it is... At the end of the day sometimes you have to take a step back to take a couple steps forward..... At least Bonzi realized that he was partially at fault by not being in shape....and took responsibility for it. Too bad Steve Francis hasn't done that yet. DD
Bonzi had all last season to do his sulking and Stevie only had 6 games so far. Comon now, where is the fairness is that
This is an age old argument with players like Bonzi and coaches like our ex little general. No doubt Bonzi is in shape now and was fat last year but if JVG had let him play his way into shape he would have been ready for the playoffs and we would probably beat the Jazz. Recently when a reporter asked Bonzi about last years injuries he flat out said they were false and were pretty much created to cover his personal issues with JVG. Look at the history of other problem child types like Dennis Rodman for example. The Spurs traded him away to the Bulls because the coaching staff in SA couldn't handle him. Phil Jackson on the other hand laughed at Rodman's wedding dresses on his way to three more NBA titles. Phil put winning 1st and did not let the Worm's antics get in the way of the success of the team that is all I wanted from Mr. JVG but he would not or could not do it.
Didn't we try working Bonzi back into the rotation at the end of the year, only for him to disappear, not answer any phone calls from anybody, and then tell us that he thought he wasn't comfortable with his game and was just being a distraction to the team?
does this really warrant a separate thread? also, its been 6 games and bonzi has played great in like 2 games... calm down.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4395436.html this reminds me of a lot. i dont think rick adelman would let things get so bad with a player that he tells them to just stay away from the toyota center. jvg, as brilliant as he was on the defensive end, socially, he was the antithesis of a "player's coach" a player should never be not allowed to come to practice. that sort of negates the whole "get back in shape" thing.... bonzi isn't the mental-case everyone works him up to be, but dealing with people's emotions, ego's, and resentments can be handled better by rick adelman i think because he's the father of 6 children. just look at how adelman handles himself courtside versus van gundy. van gundy would preach "poise, poise, poise" but he would constantly flip-out and throw these "youre the stupidest person in the world" faces to our players that i always thoght was a bit instigating and below-the-belt. coach or not, we're all grown adult human beings here, yknow? anyways, someone please drag me away from this dead horse water under the bridge....Thank God
I've said it before and I'll say it again. We'll never get out of the 1st round with JVG. Fire JVG!!!
Say what? How about an "I have enough discipline and respect to listen to the coach" kind of game? He may not have to be a super athlete to play his style, but he does have to be in shape to effectively play in the NBA, especially at 6'4. I'm always willing to eat crow when appropriate. But please, let's look forward. JVG RULES!
guys bonzi was NEVER injured last season. he stated in an interview that it was just that "van gundy stuff".
