things I noticed in the first couple of Pre-Season games

I'm amazed. Way too much positivity in this thread . I like the roster too but folks really, it's only been 2 pre-season games! Kind of like how folks were clamoring and getting all giddy about the Houston Texans pre-season performance only to have reality hit 'em like cold water standing underneath Niagra Falls.

 

I have said here several times that from games I had seen Spanoulis play in Europe he isn't really Ginobilli, who everyone wants to compare him to.

No the he's dare I say it, the closest thing to Steve Nash I have seen. The more I seem him play the more he looks like Nash.

He's bigger and stronger and more athletic than Nash and can also play the 2, and is a much better defender than Nash.

Of course Nash is a far superior shooter.


But I am telling everyone here right now, with given time, and if T-Mac, Yao, Battier stay healthy and if we can keep Bonzi, all this Spanoulis kid needs to do is develop that outside shot and he's going to be a superstar with that passing ability, motor, toughness, attitude, competitive drive and the way he runs that pic and roll.

This guy could easily lead the league in assists once he gets confortable running that pick and roll with Yao and T-Mac and even guys like Novak, Howard, Padgett.

 

so far i am optmisitc that the players are decent

but unless we can replicate the same performance against power houses

i will still hold back on my optimism

 

Is V-span more like Nash than Bob Sura? I only saw him for a minute in game 2.

 

V-Span reminds me of Scott Skiles...just without the shooting. I think if he ever develops a consistent outside jumper, he can be a player like Scott Skiles in his prime.

 

KillBill = Sarunas Marciulionis/John Stockton

 

i'd say there is just enough howard hate on the board. his play dictates the attitude towards him. he may have skills but none that can make a difference. his mid-range jumper is the only skill that is effective. and it was most effective when yao and mac were out with injuries. when 1 or both returned, his shooting pct. went to ****. so even that became less effective. conclusion: howard=useless. unless taking up space is considered an asset.

 

Yes, JH is way over the hill. But on this forum, his play DOES NOT dictate the attitude toward him for many posters. To them, he can do nothing right, period; end of story. He's even been called a cancer on the court. It's ridiculous.

 

I wouldn't say cancer, but I do hope his PF minutes are 12 or less this season. He does know his place on the court. He does a decent job of making his man work for points.

 

JVG knows what he brings to the table, and the team seems to be much better without him on the court....but as a backup, he is a decent option.

DD

 

a cancer on the court, you say? sounds like some people have been reading hoopsworld articles.

 

Someone made a list in another thread of about 30 something PF's supposedly better than Howard.

When I disagreed others were calling me out and made jokes about doubting anyone could even formulate an argument oppising that.


Bottom line, many fans here rate complete scrubs as infinitely superior to Howard.

I looked at players on these lists that about 80 percent of fans here rate as not only better but as superior to Howard and have to laugh.

The Howard hate here currently is analogous to the Yao hatred a couple of years ago, over the top, out of contril, biased, and irrational.

Soirry, but that's absolutely how it is.

 

i've been guilty of the Juhow bashing recently. i don't really know why. just a few years ago, i thought he was a quite solid player and not vastly overpaid for a big man. think MoT and Cato... it's just when i see him taking away minutes from more "deserving" players i.e. Hayes and possibly Novak, and that he's just not the best fit for the Rockets team (actually MoT and Cato probably fit better); then it's easy to throw the rotten tomatoes and eggs at him when there is no inherant personal flaw in him...sunglasses notwithstanding.

 

How has he taken minutes from "deserving" players like Hayes and Novak? Hayes is his own worst enemy (with silly fouls) and Novak's gotten plenty of floor time. If Hayes doesn't learn how NBA officials call the game, his stats per minute will remain high (including fouls/min) while his contribution to the team will remain low. It's on him, nobody else.

Just what is Juwan supposed to do when JVG puts him in? Refuse to play? JVG is the one who divides up playing time. By saying that, I run the risk of turning this thread into another anti-JVG flood. JH & JVG are two subjects that cannot be discussed intelligently around here. (V-Span is almost there. Initially, the pro-Vspan guys attacked anyone who dared to question how good he would be. Now, a few of the Vspan doubters are ready to throw him away after only 2 preseason games).

 

V Span looked more like Sasha Vujacic these 2 pre-season games.

 

except he was not so lady-like

 

i'm not saying that they are truly more deserving. especially Novak, as playing him outright over Juwan would be a slap in the face to a long-time veteran, and supposedly JVG-type guy. it's just the perception that Hayes gives much more for his production (PER for example) than Juwan and helps his team more, i.e. +/-. Juwan just doesn't give the rebounding and efficiency that Hayes does or the spacing and defense/shotblocking that Battier gives. in other words, he doesn't seem like the answer at PF alongside Yao. even Novak gives spacing, and while he provides virtually no protection for Yao defensively, he can help Yao and the Rockets for sure on at least one side of the court; nobody's going to dare him to shoot.

last season, there were quite a few Clutchfans that really wanted to see what Stro (and Hayes) could do, but he never seemed to get big minutes even when Yao was out and just couldn't get out of JVG's "doghouse" for whatever reason. again, this is in no way a fault against Juwan, who has been very professional throughout his time with the Rockets, but there were/are many Clutchfans that would have liked Juwan (and Bowen) to just fall off the earth, so that Gundy would have no choice, but to play someone else whether he were more "deserving" or not. now wheter JVG has some personal agenda on certain players that aren't his type/preference/size is a whole nuther can of worms that i'm not about to touch.

 

Who needs a hug?

 

Boy, if it ever comes to THAT, I just hope he'd be able to muster up enough resolve to pick up the pieces of his shattered life and be an NBA bench player...

 

pun intended?