^^^^ My point is he is not significantly worse than Rafer. As long as Rafer is shooting this poorly, then VSpan should be given the opportunity to improve himself with a few extra minutes on the court.
I think this is the more relevant comparison at this point. Because whatever minutes V-Span will be getting this season he'll be taking from Lucas and not Alston.
I like John John's offense off the bench when Yao is not in the game. But his defense is horrible, even worse than Rafer's. He gave up everything he gave us the other night against Chucky Atkins. Just a total sieve out there. JLIII is not capable of ever being a starter in this league, unless his defense takes a quantum leap, which is not likely given his size. I'll take him as a backup instant offense off the bench however and I'd like to see him get a few more minutes as long as Rafer's shooting is so poor.
So who should get the backup minutes at PG then? At this point, I think Lucas III seems more comfortable out there but V-Span has much more upside. Of course it depends on who we're playing and the matchups of the day, but in general do you think we should give more playing time to V-Span or Lucas III? Or should we split the measly minutes available?
Rafer should start for the time being but if he misses shots, he should be pulled for VSpan. Then you bring Luther off the bench for McGrady or Battier. Then JLIII gets minutes after that. JLIII is a scorer so it would be best for him to be in the game when McGrady isn't or when McGrady is the primary distributor on the floor. And I think it would be best for McGrady to play with either a shooter (Luther or JLIII) or a penetrator/distributor that can finish (VSpan). When McGrady is out, if JL3 is playing, he should be surrounded by spot up shooter types...Head, Battier, Juwan. The problem with both JLIII and VSpan is they are both best with the ball in their hands. They are both have limited effectiveness off the ball although JLIII is obviously the better shooter. So, in my opinion, if we want McGrady and Luther to be scorers, we need VSpan and Rafer at the point. IF we are going to make McGrady a facilitator, then no need for VSpan or Rafer really. Play Head and JLIII in that role. Of course, defensive matchups skew everything too. To me, as long as Rafer is shooting poorly, there is not a whole lot of difference with these guys. So, if Rafer is shooting poor, and the opposing point is lighting him up, I would have a tendacy to want to see VSpan in there. By the same token, if he is shooting poor, but the opposing point is a poor defender and McGrady is being doubled, then get Head or JLIII in there. None of these guys are any worse than Rafer when Rafer isn't shooting well because Rafer's defense is weak and his finishing ability is mediocre to poor. So, the bottom line is if he isn't hitting, get him out and bring in somebody else. And if JLIII comes in and he ain't hitting or he is getting toasted, then bring in VSpan. And if he turns it over a bunch, then forget all of them and play with McGrady and Head or keep going to somebody else until they get it. VSpan out there committing turnovers ain't any worse than Rafer out there blowing wide open shots, missing FT's, and missing little bunnies in the lane. It ain't any worse.
Things are not going very well now for VSpan... IMO he needs to be trusted more by the JVG to show his real potential... Right now he seems out of place, he rarely plays as a 2 guard although he's a pg... He needs more support, his abilities were questioned since day coming as a second round draft pick. This is a league of first impressions and how well you market your name before coming in... He started as an underdog and his first games weren't that good either... Sadly I don't see much hope this year..
For all those who said that V-Span will get his chance in practice, check out this quote from JVG about Synder. When you've been out weeks and you can't practice and we don't have any practices until the 15th scheduled — there's some shootarounds — but it's going to be difficult for him See....just like I said...hundreds of times.....during the regular season there are VERY FEW practices.......VERY FEW !!! So, when exactly is V-Span going to prove himself in practice again? SHEESH !!! DD
gotta make your shots man........wait thats only true if you name is not rafer, he is allowed to miss for some reason!
There's talk in a major Greek newspaper today about Spanoulis being in touch with Panathinaikos for a possible return to Europe even now in mid-season. http://ta-nea.dolnet.gr/print_article.php?e=A&f=18733&m=O19&aa=1 Just a quick translation because I have to leave for work, someone else might make a better job with it. "He doesn't have a direct or indirect offer yet and he has a 2 year contract with the Rockets. He knows though that if he can find a way to break his contract, Panathinaikos will be more than willing to meet his demands with the added incentive that he will get the chance to win the Euroleague title in his home court. An indirect ally for Panathinaikos is... Jeff Van Gundy who is clearly negative towards Spanoulis. Spanoulis has demonstrated that he is a fighter and he never gives up, but when it's evident that you're out of your coach's plans it's hard to find the courage to keep going. Spanoulis might request a meeting with Van Gundy in order to hear what his intentions are. It's probable that Van Gundy might propose him to play in the NBDL or explain to him that he's not in his plans at all for this year at least. In that case, anything could happen." The whole article is full with "might", "probably" etc so I don't know how much of this is true and how much exists just in the journalist's imagination. Still, where there's smoke, there's fire as we say here in Greece. Whatever happens, I don't agree with many people here who are Spanoulis fans but say that he should go to NBDL. I think it's demeaning for a European Champion and World Finalist to have to prove his value playing against youngsters and NBA dropouts. Spanoulis has proven his value. Whether it's enough for the NBA or not is an entirely different matter but I don't think he's going to suddenly improve and start making 3s (which I see now from stats that is has become very important in the NBA and most teams would rather have a 3-point shooter than a good passer and cutter like Spanoulis is) just by playing in the NBDL. His shot was never his strong point, he obviously has other qualities. So if you don't want him sent him back to Greece instead of letting him rot on the bench
No kidding. And and exactly WHY IS IT that it has to be so DIFFICULT everytime for these players? Roadblocks and obstacles to climb. Its like everyone has to go through levels of rigorous testing, pass each stage and convince the people around them they are the "one" to handle the duties like they're about to face the Matrix. As though basketball doesnt come as second nature to professional players already. I learned to keep the enthusiasm curbed when it comes to additions of young players. True if they're not immediately ready to contribute gotta be truthful instead of forcing it. And yes there's already rotation spots set for guys that have 'been there'. But no need to make them disappear and think twice-3 times about how faulty a player they are and wonder if they belong in the first place. JVG admitted he doesn't believe in coddling players but he should not forget what it is to be a young man feeling his way around. Spanoulis as a fun player to watch I'd like to see succeed. Spanoulis the man, I could not blame him one bit for looking at other offers and getting into a better spot for himself. Thing is though, in my opinion, if he indeed wants to play in the top league and is mentally tough like they say, he should wait it out be patient since he's already here. Then try on another NBA team, if he's really that good a player to contribute in the league. Spanoulis is gonna get that kinda offer from Greece next year and 2 years from now just the same, no need to bolt so early.
Practice won't do any good to his game... He can only develop through games... During the regular season there's almst no time for practice all players wait for summer break to work on their game... NBDL is not the solution either, it's more like a step back for a guy who schooled last year's ROY and Kirk Kinrich last summer...
It is time for Billy to say good bye! If I was in his place and had to see JL playing for 15-20 minutes, Rafer shooting 20% from behind the arc while warming the bench without playing one single minute, I would have asked JVG as well as the general manager to finish the contract and return back to Europe.
There is NO way he gets released from his contract, he signed it, he is STUCK here for 3 years. He will get his chance, sooner or later....I prefer sooner...but when he becomes the starting PG, he will forget all this frustration. DD
Perhaps in any one of the hundreds of practices that have occurred between september and now, the 7-8 preseason games, or the three weeks in which he was a part of the rotation and stunk it up. Jeez, for somebody who you claim is NBA ready you sure make a lot of excuses for him.
Or perhaps as the coach has said he is high risk high reward and JVG is too much of a wuss to gamble when his job is on the line? DD
Ahhhh, great points. Rafer has been in the league now for 8 years. With 8 x hundreds of practices that have occurred between 1999 and now, the 60-70 preseason games, or the 420 games he has played and stunk it up shooting a career horrid 38% from the field. What excuses can be made for that? Dood can't shoot. Dood can't finish. Dood can't shoot. Dood can't finish. Dood can't shoot. Dood can't finish. Should I give you one for each 8 seasons???
why everybody love v-span so much. van gundy is doing the right thing by not playing him because he sucks ass. if anything they should bench him until he learns to handle the ball and shoot. they need to play john lucas more instead of v-span. at least JL3 brings energy, passing, and offense off the bench. hes like our version of earl boykins.
LOL, why are you prescribing a cure that is worse than the disease? Listen, I don't like Rafer either - I think he flat sucks. But to say that "rafer can't shoot" and think that's an argument for Spanoulis is like saying "now that I have lung cancer I might as well take up smoking!" Spanouis has never been a good outside shooter at any level. Rafer's Mid 30's shooting from range is somethign that Spanouis has never been able to replicate - the guy is in the 20's now, and was in the 20's in the olympics, and in Europe, etc. He's just not a good shooter. Maybe he will become one with practice, but he's not one now and never has been. Lucas III is a much better option for that reason alone; mentioning "shooting" and "Spanoulis" in the same sentence just doesn't work.
and your proof is his limited minutes and turnovers that someone who understands basketball just a little bit would understand (adjustments in the NBA over to european basketball) lol everyone who knows basketball would state this Rafer - is a horrible shooter, tiny body for a PG, is playing way too many minutes and needs to make place for Span and Lucas Span - just came into this league, is a proven great passer, has a great body for a PG, has a bad shot for now (not like rafer for 7 or 8 years) and is much younger than rafer there are other things the only thing that I could give Rafer is that Span probably sucked in practice, did not follow coaches words, or can't understand JVG plays fiyah!
