What have you seen so far in a Rockets uniform that shows you VSpan can shoot? Maybe he got by in the Euroleague with less defense and a much shorter 3 point line, but his jumper is painful to watch at the NBA level. Also, Luther Head has been a good 3pt shooter from day one. He hit the wall last year and his average dipped. New ball came in and he was on fire, but has again cooled off mid-season.
Why does anyone think he's gonna be close to a Tony Parker, a Ginobli, a semi- All-Star? Parker has incredible speed, a good midrange jumper, and is almost impossible at times to stick with one on one. Ginobli can hit the 3, has great body control, and can weave in and out of players and is extremely athletic. V-Span has a bad outside shot, average handle, average speed/athletic ability, and turns the ball over a lot. He is average on d. He plays hard but isn't as good a defensive player as everyone makes him out to be. He's okay going to the hoop at times but is out've control. Is an average passer. What will make him an all-star or a really good player? He's decent driving to the hoop, but he isn't quick enough off the dribble or athletic enough to be like a Parker or Ginobli who would need a double team or a lot of defensive shifting to stop from penetrating. He can't elevate over anyone or just blow by people. He might be decent taking it to the hoop but he's never gonna be someone that a defense needs to change the way they play to stop him. Regardless of that if his jumper stays the way it is no one will respect his jumper and just stay off of him. I don't see his jumper improving much, because at 24 players usually don't change how they can shoot. If he couldn't find his jumper before then, playing in Europe, why will he be able to now? What does he do great as a point guard? Nothing really. He gets out've control because in Europe he could penetrate and I don't think he's adjusted to that. He's not a great passer or a confident enough ball handler to really make plays. I see him as a decent backup at best. He's not terrible at any one thing except for his outside jay but he isn't good at anything. Things He's Bad At: Shooting- Might be too late to really change that much. Decision Making- Could change Confident Ball Handling- Could maybe change when he adapts to the pressure of NBA ball. Things He's Average At: Quickness, speed, overall athleticism. Too late for that. Defense- Is aggressive which helps but he's not a lock down defender. Penetration- He's okay when he tries to drive but isn't a finisher yet. He could change some of the bad and average but become a Ginobli or a Parker? Now that's being redicoulous. He doesn't have one thing going for him that could turn into a huge asset. Parker has is incredible quickness and Ginobli has his great body control and reliable jumper. If V-Span became the next Carlos Arroyo I'd be very happy.
he already has the tools to be in a rotation on a less talented team. he can get to the basket and he can really play defense. he needs to improve in his shooting. guys will play him for his dribble, he ahs to make them pay. he will only go as far as his jumper will take him. with experience and maturity, he will learn how to keep his TO's down. he is fearless with a great work ethic and genuin love for the game. he is very competitive to boot. there is no reason why he shouldn't improve. i think he will at least be a spark off the bench / 6th man type. at best, full time starter.
I think if he could play and contribute right now, he would. For a older player, i would think he would be further along. We see it all the time that some guys play different in international ball than the nba. Luther Head played last yr and is playing now. We know head isn't a pg, so why cant V-Span get some of the pg minutes?
I had said from the summer when I was analysing his strengths and weaknessess that people should lower their expectations a bit and shouldn't expect a new Parker or a new Ginobili, Spanoulis isn't that kind of player. He doesn't need to be at Parker or Ginobili level, he's on his own level and that's enough. And I mean enough for the NBA because I'm seeing players like Calderon, Nachbar, Udrih, Giricek etc get enough playing time and doing well in the NBA and I can guarantee that Spanoulis is a better player than any one of them. He isn't better than Parker or Ginobili and he'll never be but he is better than any other Euro guard playing in the NBA right now and I know that because I've seen him dominating them time and again and not just in the WC championship. I've even seen him dominating Smush Parker when the latter was playing in Greece and if he's a starting PG for a contending NBA team I don't see why Span can't be one. Of course all this doesn't mean that he will succeed in the NBA, there are many factors to take into account, like luck. Span was unlucky because out of all the NBA teams the Rockets are the one that probably needs him the least right now (too many guards, can't afford to experiment with players because they want immediate results). I can't predict what will happen in the future, maybe he'll get his chance to shine in the NBA (with the Rockets or with some other team if a trade happens) or he'll be back to Europe when his contract ends, but whatever the outcome I'm adamant that he does have what it takes to succeed. Probably not at All-Star level, but enough to be considered a helpful player.
Spanoulis will be our starting PG one day. Unfortunately with JVG handling him it's going to take longer than expected. VSpan is better when he's flowing out there,not having to think so much.He needs time on the floor to adjust to the NBA game as he's shown flashes of bigtime talent....He needs more latitude to develop naturally.
LMAO Occasional all star Then I say 4 people vote for superstar. Can't contain my laughter 2nd round superstars happen all the time. Especially if they can't shoot the ball
He's a SECOND ROUND DRAFT PICK!!! He was a second round draft pick for a reason. Why do people expect him to become Nash or even SF3 for that matter? I feel he will become a good rotation player. Not for us. It will take too long and his contract will be over by the time he is capable.
Couldn't agree more, this post summarizes my viewpoint as well. We just can't say what he will become for sure since it depends strongly on the team and good a fit he is for them.
The reason is that he was already playing professional basketball and had already a contract overseas. So it was highly unlikely to play right away in the nba regardless of his capabilities. In this case nba teams are not sure the player will actually end up with them so they don't consider those guys seriously. Similar cases are those of Radja, Danilovic, Sabonis and co who were also drafted in later rounds. That excludes players in minor leagues and smaller teams like Nowitzki, Petro, Thebolosha, Sene who come randomly to my mind.
All good points. I dont think I could add anything to that. It's just too bad that Vspan doesn't get the looks Tmac gets at that high pick and roll. It's too bad that when our offense is stagnating with Tmac off the floor, we dont have someone like Vspan to drive and kick OR perhaps more importantly, drive and finish or get to the FT line. It's amazing to me that JL3 is getting the back up minutes over Vspan. But I think it's obvious why, JVG just trusts JL3's jumper more. Because JL3 doesn't play defense better (than Vspan) in my opinion, and he is only 5'11. So the only thing I can guess from JVG's perspective is that JL3 can hit the 3pt shot on occassion.
Wasn't Sabonis broken by the time he was drafted? I think he could have been great in the NBA in his prime. He was an afterthought by Portland(it was Portland right?) when they drafted his rights. I know it's a totally different situation but Yao was playing with a contract overseas and he didn't last quite until the second round. Oh well...I'm just bored.
Sabonis? How long ago was that? It's different today because more players are making the switch from Europe to the pros. It's a lot different then it was years ago. If there is a player that people think will be a star they'll find a way to get them and if they are positive that they'll be allowed or willing to come to the states wouldn't it at least be worth using a late first or early second round pick for someone that should be a star? Dallas took him with the 50th pick and traded him for the 55th pick Luis Flores and cash. I doubt that Dallas thought he was going to be anything special.
yeah he could've. And he was from the Soviet Union so you've gotta remember that the Cold War was going on when he was starting his career. Sabonis was drafted first when he was 20 in the 4th round but it was thrown out because he was under 21. In 86 he was the Blazers first round pick but wasn't allowed to come to the US because the Soviets wouldn't let him due to the Cold War. Sabonis was dominant in europe. v-span was not. he was very good there though.
I think if V-Span started the season as the backup PG, that by the end of it he would be finishing games. Players need to get comfortable and their confidence will come through. V-Span is a good player, but he needs on the court time to adjust....and AT HIS NATURAL position...which is PG. Asking him to stand at the 3 point line is not going to work, also, he needs the ball in his hands to be effective. JVG has said he is a high risk, high reward player......I think the risks get minimized as he gets comfortable. Popovich showed faith in a 19 year old PG out of France.....and look how it paid off for him.....JVG could learn a lot from Popovich......but without an extension he won't take any risk. And PROOF of my point below.....goodbye JVG.....your ego is larger than your skillset. DD
DD Just out of curiosity...does everything you post always come back to your vemomous hatred for JVG?
This is a horribly phrased question there is no answer for it. It is like if I asked you if you are always a moron or just sometimes a moron? I don't hate JVG, but it is clear from articles like these that he has some major ego issues. He simply is a very detailed coach who is poor at adjustments, and poor at developing players. IMHO, he is not right for the Rockets. I don't hate him, but I certainly don't like him. DD
I definately don't hate you or your posts. I've been around here since the pre-99 days too. I'm not trying to dog you in any way. It just seems that everything you have typed this last year has had something to do with that. I miss your posts from before this JVG dark cloud that has dominated your Rox thoughts. Take care man. Oh yea...like you....I really only care about the Rockets being succesful. If that means getting rid of ANYONE I would be all for it. I do so miss 1994.
