DD, Your line of logic is killing me here. Nevermind what's already happened. If you are seriously suggesting V-Span should be playing RIGHT NOW over Rafer while we are attempting to win homecourt advantage, I don't know what to say. Sure, Rafer has his faults but there is no rational argument to make that he doesn't give us the best chance to win at the point based on who we have on the roster. There simply aren't any minutes right now for a project like V-Span. I agree that we're a player or two away from being where we need to be but that still doesn't mean this current group isn't capable of great things. I've been scratching my head ever since the trade deadline passed trying to figure out why exactly we didn't make a play for another PG when the need for one was so blatently obvious but that still doesn't mean i'm going to suggest we needlessly shake up the roster and force feed players into the rotation so deep into the season. I also don't think there is such a thing as a wasted rookie year for rookies like Novak and V-Span. Any experience on the pro level is experience. Snyder was obviously hindered physically by the hand injury and by inconsistency since then. The only player I think had a "wasted" year was our beloved friend Bonzi. He's the only player mentioned that is actually proven on the NBA level and clearly could become a difference maker on this team in a perfect world. Why that hasn't happened is an entirely different argument.
No we are in agreement on this point, it is far too late now to get him in the lineup. I just think he should have been there from day one this year, to allow him to get comfortable with the NBA game and his teamates. Now it is a wasted year for both Novak and V-Span as they still have to go through an adjustment to NBA game speed. They could have gotten that THIS year, but now, if they both stay, we have basically a couple of rookies again next year. DD
JVG developed Yao in a way to mimic his team in New York. A powerful true center down the low post. It is too early to say this benefits Yao/Rockets, unless Rockets get a NBA champion (Dirk is a jump shooter; Amare is developing jump shooting) But one thing for sure is that JVG tries to develop an player in the way he wants not in the way the player was good at, e.g. Head at PG, JLIII at PG, VSpan at SG. Well, you gave examples of the great coaches being tough with young players. It is hard to learn from the examples without all of us knowing them well. But we know Rockets well as we watch nearly every game. What do the Rockets need most at this moment? A second PG to share minutes with Rafer, reduce T-Mac's PG role, and reduce Yao's minutes on offense end. And we have one on the bench. Develop him. Put him in rotation if Rockets can not find another one. Our short rotation with very intense defense is killing us in the 4th quarter. Again and again. There are still 8 games left. JVG, be more open-minded.
Spanoulis would be playing significant minutes, if he could hold on to the ball. He is eratic. Plays out of control. That's what he did when he got a chance early in the season. Part of the enticement by the fans is that he can do some spectacular things. But, likewise, he does a lot of bone headed plays. Spanoulis might say that the coaches should let him work it out while he is playing. But, then we'd be here arguing who'd finish with a better record "The Lakers or the Rockets". Van Gundy is running his team quite well this season. Even with all of the injuries. And even though a lot of people think that Spanoulis might have been the difference maker, let's not forget that TURNOVERS lead to opposing teams scoring, especially when your point guard is the one loosing the ball. Spanoulis just hold on to the BALL!!! And then you will be allowed to play with the big boys and a big time coach! I want all Rocket Players to do well. But once they leave town, to the Heck with my support. Except for those players who bleed Rocket Red (they get my support as long as they aren't playing the Rockets), Go Franchise ;-) !!!
No. He should not have. Luther, JL3, and VSpan had, for all intents and purposes, an open tryout for the backup PG slot in the preseason. You could even argue that Rafer's was up for grabs. Of the 3, only Luther showed an appreciable NBA skill while Spanoulis and Lucas played like trash, and thus Luther got the job (which morphed into backup wing minutes due to injuries and obesity). Spanoulis (and Lucas) sucked it up in preseason, and in the few regular season minutes. As best we know from Van Gundy, it hasn't been much prettier in practice. That doesn't get you in the lineup EVER, let alone day 1.
Once the season starts there are very few practices....only game plans etc. If the team believed in V-Span or JL3 as the future PG or backup, they should have been playing. What if Rudy T did not believe in Sam Cassell? DD
As far as our chemistry goes, it's been barely there since after that Miami game right after the All-star game. The team just hasn't been as fluid since. Everything appears to be tougher now for whatever reason and chemistry has really taken a backseat to Tracey and Yao's brilliance. Overall, reality dictates and you're correct. What I'm saying most likely isn’t going to happen but I think it wouldn't be a bad move to appease the fans. I can't imagine how badly JVG will look if we fall in the first round without giving these guys a look.
You treated Vspan like he's a property of Rox, or a slave. Sorry that's not the case. He gets same money and enough playing time back in his own country. He certainly can change his mind if things are not going well here, as long as he doesn't break the contract. Vspan offers a different dimension which Rox needs, penetrating and dish out. And PG is Rox's weakest spot right now. For that reason alone he should be granted some minutes to develop other parts of his game. His style doesn't fit JVG's system too well, and it's almost too late to completely redo his skillset. Nothing wrong with him change his mind, just like nothing wrong if Rox decides to trade him.
Yes, he can certainly change his mind, but if he reacts the wrong way like he did he's not going to get any PT. Nobody gives a sh*t what he can do in Europe, this is the NBA, the king of all basketball leagues, where the best players in the world play. As I said NO ONE DESERVES MINUTES A PRIORI. Even the #1 pick is forced to earn his minutes. If you remember Yao started his career off the bench behind Kelvin Cato. If he offers a different dimension, he didn't show it in his court appearances. All I saw a scrub who couldn't shoot and who turned it over too much and tried to make passes that were too fancy. He probably doesn't show it in practice either.
The irony is that VSpans fate will be directly related to how well the Rox do in the playoffs. If the Rox get swept, the poor shooting and play of Rafer will no doubt be a factor and we will be looking for a new PG. If we don't make it out of the first round, JVGs head will be on the block and a new coach will probably be positive for VSpan to get playing time. So if the VSpan lovers want VSpan around next year, root for a Rox first round exit. I personally want JVG to get through the first round and play a competitive second round. He has set the expectation that the team isn't good enough to get out of the second round so I expect him to get his extension if he gets out of the first round.
I think Vspan looked pretty good in preseason.He has very good PG skills.He just needs to lower his TO.He should have a future in this league. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cEpqq6I3WB4"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cEpqq6I3WB4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
More and more Alston is directing the offense. Pay attention to what he does, and you will see him 'traffic cop', and we often end up with an easy 2 whe he does. I'll bet you missed it. Does anyone honestly believe that VSpan is there, or would be expected to be there in less than 1 season in the NBA? JVG is probably one of the most demanding coaches in the league. One would think that if he sees something worthwhile in a player, you would think twice about calling the player 'horse crap' since it will likely just reflect back on you. I get the distinct impression that you reduce basketball down individual offense skills. More specifically, shooting and dribble penetration.
I remember Yao got more than 10 minutes in each game when he scored 0 points TWICE in his first 4 games at the beginnning of that season. He didn't even know how to block out at that time, and he routinely missed his defensive assignment. Yao once said: Without Rudy, he wouldn't be the same player like he is now. For the brief time Vspan played on the court, he did show his ability to pass the ball to the right spots at times. But he didn't get enough change to show more, even in a blown-out situation. That's not entirely his fault I believe. Also please don't sound like you see him in practice or Rafer knows how to shoot. JVG has the reputation of playing short rotation only.
Yeah he got 10 minutes a game in the first 10 games of his career. He obviously deserves far more than that. Yao earned his minutes by displaying his potential. Spanoulis is a far worse shooter than Rafer, it's not even close. You haven't seen him in practice either, so how do you know that he's doing anything there? All we can see is what he does on the court and his attitude, and we can extrapolate from there. The only extrapolation we can get is that he doesn't work hard in practice.
VSpan needs to give us another chance. You can't expect to play as a rookie, especially when you are as turnover-prone as he is.
From what I can gather from reading interviews is anyone not in the playing rotation are more like glorified ballboys during practice.
Based on the first week of Yao's career, he didn't deserve his 10 minutes of playing time. Nor did he showed his potential. That's why Barkley was brave enough to make that infamous prediction. Guess you didn't watch those games. I haven't see Vspan in practice, so I didn't make any assumption like "he doesn't work hard in practice" or "he worked hard in practice", did I ? You are the one who made the assumption, which is baseless. Ryan Bowen used to shoot even worse, but that didn't mean he doesn't work hard.
