Vassilis Spanoulis agrees to 3-year deal with Rockets

I hope not. But I think John Lucas will still sign. Remember JVG stated that he wants 3 PGs.

 

The same web page lauds the play of Trajan Langdon and Luis Scola.

 

I think since we don't have a lock down post defender (except for Yao) the idea is to get forwards that can rebound and pull the defender away from Yao with shooting. We are going to be a lock down defensive team, that is going to be our identity until JVG is gone. So I like the idea of trying to add a more dynamic offense so we don't get bogged down when Yao is triple teamed or when T-mac is hurt. While its true that all those teams have superior PF's when can be comfortable with the fact that we're the only one's with a center that can score with his back to the basket. What's the bigger mismatch?

Nowitzki/ Battier-T-mac
Duncan/ Howard-Hayes
KG or Marion/ Howard-Hayes (biggest mismatch worst overall team)
Brand/ Battier-Howard

or
Yao/ Kaman- Whoever the hell
Yao/ Elson-Oberto
Yao/ Dampier-Diop
Yao/ Diaw and a Quadruple team (I think this is the one we're most worried about)

 

I'm not sure why all the excitement, except that we have so little to get pumped up this offseason.

It will probably take 3 years for him to adjust to the NBA and show his true value. That might be helpful as we become contenders. I am glad we're getting the process started, though ... but, I'd have rather had Mike James or been smarter in the trade for Battier by at least getting Memphis' pick and taken a PG.

If we'd have had Memphis' pick, I believe we could have traded with NY, giving them a future #2 pick, who could still easily have gotten Balkman at #24. With NY's pick, I would have taken Marcus Williams in a heart's beat. If that trade would not have been available, then I'd like to have taken Rodgriguez, Collins, Ager, Lowry or White. But, now we're stuck with Alston, V and L3 ... we'll see how that turns out.

 

I don't get the big deal about getting MEM's 24th pick. If the Rockets really wanted another 1st rounder, they probably would/could have made a cash offer to buy either the 21st or the 27th from PHX.

 

Good news. I think V-Span is going to be productive a lot sooner than most folks are thinking. Why? It's a hunch.

Now, I just want a starting PF, a backup center, and Lucas.

 

Exciting! In light of the current free agent market and losing the bid for Mike James this is a good move to give Spanoulis the chance to prove himself. If not now then when?

 

If he is a bust this would be a serious indictment on the Rox scouting abilities, the guy has been under the microscope for 3 years now. They should be absolutely confident what V-Span can do. I am pretty confident he'll contribute and be a pretty good backup PG/SG.

 

Thanks for that. Those were valid match-ups but do remember this.

Juwan Howard has no D at all
Chuck Hayes is a rebounder, not defender. plus he is only 6'6"
Battier is a shut down defender but playing him too much at PF takes away some of his affectiveness. He played the 3 in Memphis and there he accelled.

 

LOL. I've created Novak and Hayes in 2K6 too! Only one left? JL3!

 

Why are we so happy about getting V-Span ? Can someone please make an detailed introduction ? How can he contribute ? What is he good and bad at ?

 

What about JLIII and Sura....i talked to a guy with the rockets last week and he said eventhough Sura is startig to shoot and run, he doesn't feel optimistic and neither do the rockets about him returning. It will be up to him (sura) and the rockets if he is a Go or a NO GO but its not looking good of him ever returning to the player he was 2 years ago....Man, I'm hoping that is not true cause I love what Sura brings to the table....

 

Vspan reminds me of Ginobli in only 2 ways: (1) he is a white euro (actually Ginobli is from South America, no?), and (2) more importantly, he has a herky jerky, odd dribble drive that seeks contact. He seems to shift directions in between steps at varying, odd and unpredictable speeds and angles, most of the time getting into the body of the defender.

He's like that guy at the park that plays a slightly funky style of game, with knees and elbows all over the place, but the guy scores somehow and you can't figure out how. That could translate in 3 ways in the NBA.

1). He could get a lot of foul calls once/if he gets established.

2) He'll get stuffed a lot by better athletes, including both on the ball defenders and weakside help.

3.) If he doesn't get the calls, he'll get called for travelling, turn the ball over or otherwise be "out of control," which will result in bad shots or passes.

If #3 happens much early, Jeff's not going to let him off the pine. The refs are going to play a big role in this guys career.

Even with Ginobli, an All star, Coach Pop wrings his hands over this style of "out of control" play and accepts it as part of the package. I don't see Van Gundy being able to do that. I certainly don't mean to be a pessimist but this is how I see it from the video clip.

 

if rockets sign both V-Span and Lucas, who will be our 2nd PG, and who will be the 3rd?

 

I totally agree but I am more optomistic. His moves are very jerky and slow motion ..I guess you can call it a hesitation move except I don't think he does it on purpose...It has worked well for him over there...The reason Im optimistic is becuase many of the NBA players like to over committ and "jump on" any move, making his hesitation dribble a pretty effective move...You see it in Manu's game alot...If he has 1/2 the player Manu is, I think this was a great signing....the only thing I would like to see better from him, is his 3 pt %...he needs to improve that for him to make a big differnce as a guard on our team

We need better 3 pt shooting from our guards....I can still feel the pain of last year's wide open 3s missed over and over again by our guards...How come it seems the rockets aren't that concerned about hat (as much as I am)....We need guys who can shoot to open up the Block for Yao and the lane for Tracy to drive...if you hit those 3's, this team can go a long way

 

Who's good at Photoshop? In response to the above post, we need some kind of "m_cable" symbol, the need for a V-Span FAQ.

 

agree with all three assessments. hopefully it's the one that i cut out from your post above.

i'm not an optimist, but i can't help to have a good feeling about the guy with the vid and looking at his stats getting to the freethrow line.

 

I'm touched. And yes I was planning on doing a V-span signing FAQ. But just a mini one since I've only seen that one highlight video of him that everyone else has. So I can't say a whole lot in terms of X's and O's, without using complete guesswork, so it'll be on less tactical topics (how much we spent, how much money we have left, why he's called Killbill, what's next for the team etc.)

Look for it later tonight.

 

Money quote!