Quote: Originally Posted by Clutch As McGrady was leaving, I caught him for a question of my own for use in an article soon about the Rockets three-point shooting, if that could be a team weakness compared to two seasons ago, despite all this new talent. He was a little taken back by that, not feeling it would be at all. What surprised me though was while he was quick to point out that he doesn't want to overhype a rookie, he told me that so far he seems like "the best shooter he's ever played with". In poking around after the media session, it turns out that McGrady has been singing Novak's praises the past couple of weeks, since he first played him in a scrimmage game. He has been extremely impressed with him. It's early, but that's a glowing endorsement. Where is Novak getting floor time, 3 or 4...or both? Did he muscle-up at all over the summer?
That's quite a thing for T-Mac to say Re: Novak. I went back and looked at TMac's old rosters, and here are some of the shooters he's been with in addition to Wesley, Padgett, and Barry (and the great Boston Snackbar): Dee Brown Dell Curry Walt Williams Mike Miller Pat Garrity I would be ecstatic if Novak is as effective as a healthy Garrity. In a 3 year stretch playing with TMac in Orlando, Garrity shot 41.6% from downtown (including years of 43.3% and 42.7%!), averaging 142 makes a year. That last awful Magic year TMac played, Garrity was hurt for the year. A pure shooter like that next to Tmac can be REALLY efficient.
Yes, Novak previously mentioned that he spent all summer on a weight program with the Rockets trainer. Would find you the link to the chron article, but a downtown fire has caused an large power outage in Houston, and the Houston Chronicle is one of the buildings w/o power, so their website went to a simplified format.
Yeah, in the East, seems like all Tmac needed to make the playoffs was a single pure shooter. We saw the chemistry he had with Padge. Can't wait to see what he does with Novak.
Obviously this info is all a luxury and I'm grateful to have it, but wasn't there supposed to be some more content either late last night or this morning? I need my fix man
610 just said Spanoulis isn't playing very well according to JVG. Evidently, he's making a lot of turnovers in practice.
Considering all the new players it wouldn't surprise me to see that early on. That's why they have training camp. I am sure Vspan will settle down once he gets a feel for where the players need the ball.
That's interesting, following JVG's 7-am drive-time quotes this morning on 610, essentially saying that V-Span has great energy, is very strong, is aggressive, and that the only thing he lacks right now is a consistent outside shot (I take this to mean the NBA 3-pt shot, since he apparently already has a decent mid-range), and that he does not know whether his shot will develop early this season, late this year, or even next year, but that 'he's going to be a very good player in this league'. And now to call him out on the heels of that? Something tells me V_Span is going to be JVG's new whipping boy. I just hope V-SPan takes it for what it is - an indication that JVG truly likes him and sees real potential, and as an effort to bring out his best.
KillBill strikes me as someone who will thrive on that stuff. He'll take it as a personal challenge to prove he belongs on the floor. If we're lucky, he'll earn some minutes this season. Besides, Van Gundy needs to raise hell with someone, and I'm sure he is spreading it around.
They would be great pick and roll partners, and that leaves Yao under the basket where he should be instead at the top of the key.
minor correction. It wasn't on the "heels" of any 7am quote. The Chronicle article said the same thing, so it must have been is standard line from practice yesterday. Basically said VSpan is a turnover machine right now, doing passes "that quite frankly, others just aren't ready to catch this early in camp." or something to that effect. I'd post a link, but the Chronicle site is in disarray right now due to a power outage in their building.
i never understood all the hype about VSpan myself. if he even makes a significant part of the rotation, he would have far exceeded my expectations of him.
Hmm... That actually sounds promising to me. Like he's playing maybe one gear ahead of everyone else and they're not quite ready for that yet. There's definitely a difference between throwing people passes they aren't ready for, and throwing people passes that don't get to them at all.
That's the thought I had when I read that, too. I just hope his outside shot can evolve into something decent...nothing spectacular, just enough to hit a shot from time to time (I'd be happy with about .342)
Sounds logical. He did just get through playing a summer of basketball and helping to win the championship for Greece. His timing is probably ahead of the rest of the team, except maybe Battier.
