Why do you want a torrent. So you can watch part of the first half get bored and then guarantee he will suck on offense. I know I am being critical of you but I find it annoying when you proclaim a guarantee about a players inability and don't even take the time to watch the full game. You can no more guarantee he's inability to be a scorer than I can claim he wiil be. But what I will say (and this is from watching 4 full games and more highlights than most) is that he has this uncanny ability to drive the lane and create space between his man at will. It is this ability more than anything that IMO will allow him to score in any league. I would even go as far as saying only a handfull of NBA players have that ability. He doesn't show it much because he is a consummate team player. He is not about making Kill Bill look good but he is about winning. Just an example was he scored 17 the last game but ten of those points came towards the end of the game when qatar was trying to close the gap under 10 points. KillBill stepped up and scored 10 4th quarter points and put the Dagger in them. He wasn't showboating. He just did what the team needed him to do. By the way I watched the whole game that you got bored of watching and the only time I got bored was when Vspan sat down. The reason why I didn't get bored was because I was watching VSpan and not the teams. I could care less about Greece but Vspan is a Rocket now and I want to see what we got. Try it, instead of watching the game watch Vspan, you may be surprised. What you will see is a player who is in constant motion always looking for the right position the right pass the right defensive spot, the right path to the lane.
Guy, you need a time out. I admitted watching only one game and clearly stated my opinion was based on one game plus short highlights. I never claimed to know much about V-Span which is why I asked for the torrent. I never "guaranteed" anything about his success or failure in the NBA. What YOU need to do is tolerate opinions that differ from yours. Are you related to V-Span? What is the deal? Criticize opinions all you want. It would help to offer specific reasons why you disagree. Just please cut the personal stuff. Stay above board so we avoid wasting time talking about each other instead of the players. I'm gonna post my opinion just like anyone else so get used to it or ignore me. On the subject matter, V-Span wasn't in "constant motion" on offense against Germany. Some of that probably had to do with them being up by 15, 20, 30 points most of the time. Everyone's intesity level was pretty low. And, DUH, of course I zeroed in on V-Span when he was in the game. He was the only reason I watched it in the first place. If I get to watch a torrent of the Qatar game, I'm hoping the level of play and intensity are higher so I can see him in a more competitive environment.
Sounds like a guarantee to me. And yes I should be more tolerant of others opinions. It is one of my weak points but comeon the guy that you are so negative about is a Rocket for chrissakes! Can you at least give him the benefit of the doubt. And watching only half a game and some highlights leaves lots of room for doubts. As for discussing the player I am all for that. And I'll start with the fact KillBill is a winner. He has been a winner at every level he has played at. Read some of his acomplishments... "Won the 2005-06 Greek National Championship with Panathinaikos Athens...won the 2006 Greek National Cup with Panathinaikos Athens...played the 2005 Greek All Star Game…named to the 2005-06 All-Euroleague 2nd Team...has been member of the Greek Junior National Team…won the bronze medal at the 2000 European Junior Championship…has been member of the Greek Under-20 National Team…won the gold medal at the 2002 European Under-20 Championship…member of the Greek National Team…played at the 2004 Olympic Games…won the gold medal at the 2005 European Championship." Now that's Michael Jordan'ish. Of course he is no MJ but I believe while obviously lacking the physical athleticism of MJ he has what truly made MJ what he was, and that is the never say die attitude. Of course you can argue that Vspan's success is just coincidence but not very convincingly IMO after watching him play. The guy plays smart, he shoots at a hgh percentage (he shot over 60% for one of the top euro teams this past season) and most importantly he leaves it on the floor. Listen to how he describes himself as a player... "First of all, when I hit the court, whether it is a one-one-one game or a real game, I never think that I can lose. I never want to lose and I never think the other teams is going to beat us. I'm very competitive, I have a lot confidence, I play hard and I always play aggressive." WOW... It's hard to feel negative about that. Everyone talks about Shane Battier doesn't do anything great but does alot of things good. I think eventually you'll be able to say that same thing about Vasilis but maybe on a higher level. In the end Vspan's passing will never be confused with Magics' or his shooting with Birds', he will never fill up Espn with highlight reels, but what he may do, given the opportunity, is help lead the Rockets to the promise land and isn't what we all want. So let's give the kid the benefit of the doubt and a chance to prove himself before we write him off.
Last comment on this tired subject (i.e, me): I have not written anyone off, V-Span included. My guarantee was not on his success as a Rocket but on the "instant offense" concept. I think he will be instant energy and instant effort, sort of like a skilled, talented version of Rybo. If he becomes "instant offense" that would be great, but unlikely IMO. I predicted Stro would be a bust. I'm not saying that with V-Span. Let's agree from now on to direct all comments towards the team, the players and coaches. If you think I'm negative about V-Span, how do you feel about the JVG & JH haters? (and, yes, I mean haters). I rarely use that term.
If you agree not to make anymore idiotic negative comments about Rocket players you have only watched for a few minutes than I agree to your request. My last comment on the subject. Peace out.
Greece beats Lithuania 81-76 Spanoulis has 15 pt on 2/3 2p 1/5 3p 8/11 ft along with 1 ass 2 rb and I think, 2 st. Spanoulis makes some clutch free throws in OT to keep Lithuania from forcing another OT.
Yeah he drove it to the hoop and forced a foul and made the free throws and then made two more to seal the win. Looks like he didn't play much in the 1st half and only had 4 points, but after trailing by 7 points at the half the coach decides to start Vspan the second half and play him the rest of the half. Nothing spectacular stats wise but Greece is 2-0 in tournament play. Also in the end of regulation with the scored tied 69 all and 25 seconds left in the game Lithuania takes the ball down court to try and win the game and Vspan steals the ball. Unfortunately Greece doesn't convert but clutch play.
I like the fact that V-Span can drive to the hoop and get fouled, and MAKES HIS FREETHROWS. If he can drive to the basket reguarly for us, that'll create so many openings on so many different levels. It'll make defenders come to him and he can then create: Keep driving & lay-up, stop & shoot, or pass into the open man down low or up high. If he gets fouled, he creates above 80% surely-made free throws for us, and get the opposing team in foul trouble. Also, this stoppage of play can create more rest for Yao throughout the game. It might not matter for 1 game, but the rest during the games throughout a 82-game season can amount to something significant. Finally, if he developes a reputation as a driver, this added dimension for our team will make opposing teams think twice in their game plan about trying to blanket Yao.
Not sure if I'm liking what I'm hearing about Span. We don't need slashers on this team would need shooters and solid defenders. From the posts I've read he seems to be an average shooter and possibly guy who can bring some energy off the bench. He seems to play with a lot of heart, but I'm suspect on how he'll fit in with our team. Either way signing him was the right decision, if only to see what he can do at the NBA level.
He sounds a lot like a Bobby Sura type of player. Bobby Sura has been an average outside shooter at best through out his career but his average sure seemed to go up when he started getting wide open looks thanks to Yao and Tracy. What Sura really brought to the team could not be seen on the stat line or in shooting percentages. I sounds to me that VSpan has some of that in his game. He seems to just change the game in a positive way for his team when he is on the floor...both defensively and offensively. I guess to be more to the point...I am absolutely loving what V-Span is doing and am only getting more excited about him in a Rockets uniform.
Does Vspan seem like he can only go to his left? I've only seen him play one full game and some clips, so I have a small sample size, but he seemed like he had problems to going to his right.
I thought so myself, he takes the ball left so much I thought he was left handed. He does have a tendency to drive left but he's a right handed player that has tendencies to drive left, shows an ability to handle the ball with either hand. I don't think he has a problem going right, there was that one thread "V-Span can finish" that showed a YouTube clip of him crossing the lane going right and finishing with a little jumper.
He'll be slashing from the PG slot most of the time. It's called penetrate and dish. You know, guys like Nash do it a lot.
