hey do u guys know about JLIII's younger brother..my friend works out with him(not making up things) and his dad....and she said that hes better than JLIII....btw my friends plays for high school varsity team..shes like #2 in the nation
I have no idea what you are talking about. Clearly you don't know the stats. TMac's mpg over the last 3yrs, to include this year: 04-05 = 40.9 05-06 = 37.1 06-07 = 35.7 No Spurs star player has dropped in mpg like that in the last 3 yrs. Now you will site Duncan's mpg, since he is the only true superstar of that team, and you will site his 33-34 mpg this year...which you do know will only fuel Dan DAkota's "ripe stud"-ness. But what I say to that is: tell me how many mpg Popovich had Duncan play at similar age to superstars like TMac and Yao. I'm done with Desert Scar here: who's got next!
5think if when we play phoniex agian jl3 should play on nash...I think he slows him down alittle, because i notice jl3 feet is quicker and he didn't let amare and nash run that pick n roll play was easy that they do with th bounce pass...Now we have to figure out barbosa and marion.
We have had a lot of discussions about this. One can argue JVG has good reasons for using his core players more than the most accomplished coaches, but one cannot make a reasonable argument he doesn't play his core more. Hades, Alston plays more than Parker and Battier plays (a lot) more than Manu despite the Spurs having a much bigger drop-off in team performance without their duo than the Rocket counterparts. It is a clear difference in coaching approach/philosophy. If you actually want to debate it feel free.... http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=126470&highlight=riley
One thing for sure. Lucas has played himself onto the playoff rotation. Looks like VSpan will definitely be the odd man out.
Umm... Was I the only one who saw the game againse N/OK when Rafer got ejected? I wasn't? So I wasn't the only one who saw JLIII suck for a whole game? What's that you say? There's a REASON he comes off the bench! Ohhh! I THOUGHT so!
Then why did Duncan play 39 mpg for the first 2 championships at similar age to TMac and Yao....because Popovich n e e d e d him to. who's got next!
I am not taking as much issue with Yao and Tmac's PT (though TMac, unlike TD in his prime, has a chronic back problem, one you have to be extra carefull with and every extra minute in the regular season puts extra risk/burden on it). Most of the elite coaches do really ride their superstars hard (Popovich of late is the exception keeping all players below 35MPG). However none of the most accomplished and defensive minded coaches (PJ, Riley, Popv) are playing Alston/Battier type role players as high minutes as JVG does. Unless you are a star, the minutes are spread around to keep the role players at optimum energy. That is the big difference, JVG distribution to his core (totally trusted) players is much higher. The others do use the bench when they sense their team is low in energy or needs a change of pace much more frequently than JVG does--JVG has a much narrow comfort zone.
I wouldn't call Larry Brown a "defensive minded" coach or anything in particular other than a Hall of Famer who I don't like. that said, he went defensive on large minutes from his starters in his last chance to win the title after trying futily with David Robinson and, later, Reggie Miller to play offense. seriously, who's got next.
I don't care what anyone says... JLIII looks like Carlton Banks. Which is appropriate, because compared to the Fresh Prince look alike that once played for the Rockets, he's equally as diminutive.
LB's championship team had only one guy playing at Tmac, Alston or Battier's level, and a guy who didn't have to play offense, Ben Wellace. Billips, Hamilton, Sheed and Prince actually played less than Alston and Battier do now. And the two subsequent teams where PT was increased (one team by LB, one by Flip where PT was further increased on the core) ended up burning out in the playoffs. Besides, every player in that starting 5 was an all-star or near all-star, Rafer and Battier are not. Here is something for you to chew on...The list of players Phil Jackson has played at Rafer or Battier PT levels on his championship teams include Jordan, Shaq, Pippen, and Kobe. That's it. He didn't play Grant (in his prime), Rodman, Fisher, Horry, Fox, Rice at the levels we play Battier and Alston. Look at Riley's teams last year (only Wade at or above Tmac, Battier or Alston's level). Even go back to his 80s champions. Magic, Worth, Byran Scott (1 time), those are the only guys ever playing over 35MPG for him. Joe Dumars nor no other Piston outside of Thomas in that played over that level for Det's other titles. Even look at Rudy. The only two guys to average 37 or more on our champ teams were Hakeem and Clyde. (Though OT was not far off the year before). So guys like Horry, Sammy, Maxwell, Elie, Smith were not playing the kind of loads Alston and Battier were. These are facts. Either you argue 1) our bench totally sucks and that is why our core role players play such high minutes, or 2) JVG has a different approach to using his core players and the bench--much heavier distribution towards his trusted core players and stingy with minutes to guys he is the least bit uncomfortable with (Mike DA and Flip are other guys doing it now, but let's see if their teams as well can peak deep in the playoffs). In short JVG doesn't use the bench near the level used by the most accomplished coaches in the modern era have. Given 1) Alston and Battier are right at the top of their career averages (coaches favorites IMO); 2) Deke went to his max for his age (another coach fav, and now burned out); 3) Wells and Snyder were at their career lows even when they did play (not coaches favorites even though their performance was not bad by objective performance criteria when givent he chance); 4) JVG public comments in effect suggesting he believes role get very difficult for the 8th or later man off the bench--there is a lot of evidence pointing to the explanation behind the difference in minute distribution being his coaching philosphy. But don't let facts get in the way, again.
You don't know how big a favor you done for me. Every time I see him I always wonder who he looks like and spend hours thinking of it.
No no no! Sure he hit some shots last game, but he looks to shoot first everytime! The offense doesn't functionwhen he's in and he is constantly getting posted up. 10 minutes per game is generous for this guy.
There was a play in the Clipper game where he was on the left wing, and McGrady comes from the other side to the corner area. McGrady was looking to receive the ball, and Yao was posted up on the low block as well. John waved off McGrady and then didn't throw it in to Yao but instead dribbled to the right side of the lane for the little pull up jump shot. Fortunately, he made it, but I don't think McGrady was happy that he went away from both he and Yao. Pretty stupid on Lucas' part. Can't believe JVG was giving him props. Can't help but think that if VSpan had pulled something like that he would be at the end of the bench an inactive the next game.
Who do we have coming off the bench to replace Battier, Tmac, or Alston for any significant amount of time. Luther Head is a defensive liability and his offensive consistency is on the downturn. Kirk Snyder - he's usually just kind of there, but sure he deserves some minutes. Other than those two guys...Bonzi = doghouse, JLIII = terrible, Vspan = not ready, who else is there? Nobody. So I would go with the "our bench totally sucks theory". If JVG had someone like Sam Cassell, or Lindsey Hunter to bring off the bench I guarantee starters minutes would decrease. As it is though, our backcourt has no depth, so using the 8 man rotation with the starting backcourt pulling a heavy load makes perfect sense to me. It would be nice if we were in a position to rest them more often, but the Rockets need to catch Utah before the season ends. Maybe these guys(Snyder, Head, JLIII) have more talent than JVG gives them credit for, but they haven't shown much this year at all. He sticks with what works, can't blame him for that.
Well Danbury you have a reasonable explanation. Personally I believe strongly Wells and Snyder have been underutlized in appearences and MPG (to the detriment of Battier and Tmac's cumulative physical load), to a lesser degree more of Alston's minutes (keep him more around 32) should be to Head or JL3, but I recognize that is my opinion. Also it should be noted Popovich, Riley/Heat, and Jackson have all played their scrubs and younger guys more than we have--though only 1 team at this point has been more successful.
