I distinctly recollect reading somewhere that the Spurs practiced together last summer with their coaches. I read this sometime after they had just won the championship.
Missing the playoffs 4 years in a row. It's easier to fire the coach than the players. I think this is JVG's way of reminding the players "That's been done! The ball's in your court now!!"
I was going to post this also, but I wasn't sure, but really, this is probably the rule, why else would everyone start at the same time. Its like that in every sport BTW.
I think the Pacer thing had something to do with the fact that there was a lockout going on. Maybe they couldn't have coaches around b/c there was no CBA agreed to yet...
George Karl is abrassive while Rudy is too soft. I bring this up because I see a few people questioning this sudden chage of "tradition" aka RudyBall/mentality which promotes babying players. It is very important to me that our players know that much has been given to them - much much more is expected from them. During Rudy's regime our players got away with murder thereby tarnishing RudyT's reputation a bit and repaying his mature and "body" type of approach with repeated embarassing showings. I strongly do not belive JVG said those things just for the heck of it because the the little I know of JVG - I know he is very economical with every word he utters. He has my benefit of doubt here. This is a new regime and many people will/could be uncomfortable with the ways things wil be from now on. I am sure JVG informed his player about an "unofficial voluntary camp" or something along that line otherwise he wouldn't have said "that". In all, I am confident that his wards WILL GET IT - i.e. get what he is all about and what is expected of them or BEND/BREAK.
How to get ahead in the world--by JuanValdez This is why I don't allow Miller products in my house. I know that all domestic beers are made by union workers, but only Miller has the audacity to stamp "union made" on the side of the bottle.
So its ok for Yao to go to China and play for his country and spend time at home, but its not ok for Steve, cat and others to spend time w/ their families in Washington or anywhere else in the offseason? Hey, as long as they work out and stay in shape and get to Houston in a couple of weeks, it should be cool
There is a difference between can't come (Yao's case) and won't come (others). And I hope you weren't serious JV...
JuanValdez...self-described "just enougher". if you want to be the best, you have to put in the extra work. period. HeyDude: dude! you make it sound like yao decided to go on a picnic or something! yao ming is contractually obligated to go to china and play. contractually obligated! no one's saying the players can't go see their family/friends in the offseason. what we're saying is that if these guys have the desire to be the best, they'll have to put in some extra work to beat the best. or did you think it just "happens"?
All those things you say about Euro players are true. Yes, they lack the muscular strength training that the Americans have. They lack the aggressiveness that the NCAA and even "trash-talking" play-ground ball teaches. But they have taken care of the fundaments of the game EARLY in their careers. Young. When they are impressionable. You don't wait until they are 26 years old when they have already learned bad habits (Francis is learning now, what he should have learned at 17 and 18). Don't believe me? See Garnett. See, LeBron James. Two of the best H.Ser's I've seen. Garnett was joined at the hip with Kevin McHale in this first 3 years (mentorship, big time). Now as far as defense. This is a two parter: 1). In Europe, defense is not a major importance if all players have good all-around offensive skills. Games just seem to have a nice flow to them. Outscore your opponent, they might say. Now, before someone jumps on me about advocating "no d." That's not what I'm saying. I'm just pointing out that Euros don't rely on defense like American ballers do. Is it important? Hell yes! Especially if they want to play in the NBA. Will Euro coachces start advocating defense? Yes. But it took European threats for American's to start taking team offense seriously. Else, American born players will start losing their NBA jobs. Oh, well. It's good for the game. That's all I care about. 2) Americans play defense because offensive skills on a team scale has suffered over the last 15 years. So here you have a bunch of young kids coming out of H.S. or college early, with raw athletic ability (Having delusions they are like Jordan because they can dunk like him). And if you have a whole league full of these type of players (90's) you have the situtation where the coach has no choice but to play a "If we can't score, we're not going to let you score" game plan. Uhmmm, sounds like a league of slow down, ugly, defensive ball. Sure, they can play D (and a whole lot of ISO). But they can't play a lick of team offensive. And why is the NBA ratings down? The residual? A lot of these players are so athletically gifted that they have enough raw strength for the coach to put them in a game and run around, play defense. Not necessarily, good defense, but enough to swat some balls in the front row, or steal a few; cause havoc. That catches scouts eyes and it might make some fans say, "Oooh, and Ahhh!" But hey, it's the best we have to offer (Jermain O'Neil type players). They draft him, and place him on the bench of 3 or 4 years to "learn the game." Sigh.... But put those same athletic American kids in a game, with seconds on the clock...one blown defensive assignment, and the coach pulls the young American kid. Did you see the look on Amare's face once San Antonio started taking over the games? Rookie? Yes. But with all his "gifts" he was unable to keep an eye on his defensive assignments. He was unable to run ACTUAL plays with execution. He was unable to make that crucial pass. Those are the small details that can make or break a player. Ginobili and Parker? They did the little things that mattered. That's why Yao will go farther than Amare. Learning the fundaments has already been taken care of with Yao. He learned it early. Amare has to learn it "on the job." By the time Amare "gets it," four to five years from now...Yao will have already buffed up 15 pounds of muscle and gained 3-5 inches on his vertical, and improved his lateral defense. Oh, and he's gotten so sick and tired of people pushing on him, Yao starts pushing back! Where is Amare? Still learning his A,B,C's. Let's see, "I'm supposed to run what play...? Huh? Coach, why don't you just give me the ball and I'll dunk on them." Ugh, ugh...
Report: Cuttino Mobley, Steve Francis, and Moochie Norris are seen working out at Westside together, BBS Response: "It's a consparicy to keep the ball away from Yao Ming" "They are practicing how to dribble for 20 seconds before starting a play" "Stupid athletes, what if they get injured, then they will be wasting Les's money" Seriously, this apparently isn't a big story, I haven't seen it in the Chronicle, or on any website. I did see the report last night, and I do wonder what he is referring to, but that's all that is apparently out.
No. They had better teams. But my point was that I just thought what Iverson said to be a little irresponsible. A lot of young kids are going to look at him as a role model, whether we like it or not. And what AI says, does have an influence on people...I DON'T think that teaching young kids to think that "practice is not important" is a good idea. That's all.
I agree what Allen said is irresponible, I won't defend those statements, I just don't think his team can get any farther in the playoffs than it alread has. But that's a completely different debate.
U r gonna blame them for working out away from Houston? If they dont work out here, they dont have the 'desire to be the best?' Since when have Steve or Cat came to camp out of shape? As far as i remember, Mo was having an incredible offseason before he tore his achilles. The only person i remember out of shape last year was Mooch, and even he's been seen working out w/ his new hairless look I dont mind JVG saying this, but some peeps are just blowing it out of proportion.
that says it all let's remember that Steve mouthed off when the Rudy firing was going on, and implied that he wouldn't want to play for a new coach, which seems to be the standard response of talented guys like Steve and Jermaine, who have skills but have never accomplished anything of significance in the league in the post season.
Out of proportion, true. But training on your own as opposed to with the team/coaches....ah, that just compounds mistakes you're already making. It shows commitment to show up early for work and leave late. At least in the eyes of NBA coaches.
Well, u see we can argue about this. Most of our core players are established, except maybe Eddie. Now can u fault them for working out on their own in their hometown? Can u really fault them for not working EXTRA hard in Houston instead? I mean, if they came to camp out of shape its one thing, but if u are already in shape and worked on things in the summer that u needed to work on (for ex, i'm sure cat's working on his spot up J), then is it really necessary to b**** about that? I dont think so. that being said, w/ a new head coach and system i do hope they make it to Houston soon though.
