there are also players on the bench that could lack focus, or flat out not have the ability to get the job done. passion doesnt always get the job done.
I said "and even" if you remember the last time they played against each other you'll see what I mean, Payton jumped on Rafer like crazy, he knows Rafer can't sustain a lot of body contact
Agreed, so wouldn't you like to find out which one it is BEFORE they are needed in the playoffs, or in a crucial game because of injury? DD
I wish Van Gundy had just played Bonzi earlier on in the season. Yes he was out of shape and he wouldn't play well for a few games, but sooner or later he'd fit in. Bonzi would have gotten more comfortable with the team and would still probably be a contributor with the team to this day. Now the end result is that a major source of firepower off the bench heading into this season is now no longer contributing.
Let us agree- if Tmac and Yao (together) are health for half the games- we will have a shot at the no.8 spot in the playoffs. If the practices were open I have no problem in making a call on what J L3 or V Span brings to the table. You prefer to take the official line- that the coach is right. There were games we had 20 and 30 Point leads in the 4th- and still JVG did not use the bench. At best- you have to say we dont know. Maybe Rafer is the best we have. But to talk in definite terms is not altogether logical. If you want to use the same logic- Rybo was the best PF we had. The knock against V-span is that he has too many turnovers- everytime Rafer Takes a floater- that is practically a high percentage turnover. I am not suggesting V SPAN should displace Rafer- but we should have given him a shot.
i think an educated decision can be made without having to take the chance in a game that counts. plus, lets not forget that these players did get opportunities early in the season
I vehemetly disagree with this point. I think they got a little look but both out of position. How would you like to see Rafer at the SG position? Thought so !! DD
they dont care. JVG has a cushy analyst job waiting for him. but i would venture to say that jvg doesnt care what they think at this time of the year
come one dude. you saw them play. billy looked lost(although i admit he did look good last time he was in.) and novak was completely outmatched in every aspect of the game and whats even worse was that he was tenative with his shot. the great white hopes will have to wait til next year
yeah and then they'd run into a set shane or into the swat power of yao and deke. we have not lost to either of those teams this year. also for those games, i'd encourage you to look at the minutes and production of the two point guards you brought up. just saying.
I see it as more of a problem of trying too hard, and think that if they both got some consistent minutes they would grow as players and make the team stronger. Yep...next year ! DD
I think there is a consistancy with fans of all teams to fall inlove with young unproven players at the bottom of rosters. I see on Texans board all this love for players on the practice squad etc. The reality is they are there for a reason, Van Gundy had to have some ability to scout talent to make it as far as he had. I think they will see more minutes next year but you know its tough to take minutes from a vetran. if Juwon sees a bulked up Novak on his tail he has experience and knows how to work harder I'd love to see us develop some young players, but i'd like the young guys we get to be more talented. Remember all these players are either undrafted or 2nd round picks. Lets get a lottery pick first, then b**** about how JVG nevre plays him during our 50 win playoff season.
The western conference finals are the finals for all intensive purposes unless something crazy like last year happens again, Seeing this year just reminds me how special that heat team was and how lucky they were to get hot literally at the last possible opportunity.
well i will agree with you to a certain point about billy. i would like to see him in certain situations, especially when teams are beating up luther or rather with a bigger guard. but novak. i have to hold my stance. Its just not there for him yet, i think it can be, but it will take more than 1 season.
You mean like how Popovich put a 19 year old Tony Parker in as his starting PG? Or how he played a turnover prone Manu Ginobli 20 minutes a game his rookie year? The point is that there are 2 sides to a coin. IMHO, the team is not really a championship contender as structured, too many weaknesses....it is a good team but not an elite team. In order to reach the level of Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix....the team needs to develop some younger players. Anyway....old argument.... DD
Everything JVG said about Rafer is true. Same for what was said about Bonzi, and all the guys at the end of our bench. All arguments counter have been very unfounded (comparing V-Span and JLIII to SAM!?! Are you kidding me!?!). If this isn't clear by now, it will never be. Great interview.
You know, just once, as an experiment, I would like to see a major sports league such as the NBA implement a grand experiment. I would like the league to set up a temporary team to compete in the league, maybe for 2 to 3 years only, and allow the brilliant fans to run the team somehow, through the internet perhaps, since everyone on the internet is a sports genius and all. I would love to see all personnel decisions, rotations, play-styles and strategies, allocation of minutes, and how much time/minutes to devote to 'developing' young players, I would love to see all of that determined by an internet vote of the fans. (Since everyone on the internet is a sports genius, then allowing all those decisions to be done through a vote of thousands of sports geniuses could not possibly go wrong - it could only be better because of all the accumulated geniusness, right? [btw, LOYALNESS?? WTF? please tell me that English is not your native tongue. No excuse for that otherwise. Try 'Loyalty'.]) *** I listened to that entire JVG interview this morning on the way to work, and it honestly was like a breath of fresh air to hear someone talk about basketball and the Rockets who actually IS a genius at this stuff, as opposed to all of us 'internet geniuses'. While I understand that the guy is not perfect (who is?), it is clear that he knows a hell of a lot more about it than anyone here.
