DD, I really cannot grasp your man-crush on V-Spanny. The guy showed zero glimpses of being able to play at the NBA level then took his ball and went home because "Euro T-Mac" wasn't getting a chance to play. That f'n baby is not what the Rockets need.
I don't think there is a line of NBA teams ready to go for him. I can't think of any GMs that were pursuing him, besides RC Buford. If you have heard otherwise, I would be interested to find out who they are. It's fun to think if we could have gotten more than Scola for him.
Because I don't think what he did was any different than Steve Francis whining his way out of Vancouver, John Elway whining his way out of Batimore etc..etc..etc.... And I think he got caught in a bad situation with JVG in a contract year. Also, I don't judge a player on his rookie year, but what I look for is glimpses of ability, something unique that I think will develop and make them successful. V-Span has some qualities that would make him successful in the NBA. The guy can play, was he completely ready to be a rotational player, or to step right in and start....NO.....but IMHO, the team should have been developing him to find out if he WAS going to be ready, so they could plan for the future. V-Span can play, and I am happy we got Scola for him, but if he came back, or announced he wanted to come back to the NBA, there would be teams after him. Not last year, I mean if he opted out of his current contract and wanted to try the NBA again. No doubt, he could have stayed and proved himself, but I guess he felt that he got a raw deal while in Houston, and decided to go home....FOR MORE MONEY....I might add. The guy certainly whined, my point is that there is a long proud history of players whining their way out of a situation they don't like or agree with...and I don't hold it against any of them...including V-Span. He was a rookie, who was playing in a new country and for a coach that was completely wrong for his style of play (which I happen to like a lot, a PG that attacks the basket and actually PASSES to the cutter on the PnR).... I think V-Span could be a rotational player in the right type of system...today....especially the one that Rick Adelman runs....but, I am not holding out hope...just commenting. Just because he left does not believe that my opinion about him being a player that could develop has changed..... DD
Where did you hear that? I had read somewhere that he has a zero buyout, but I doubt that is true.. DD
What he doesn't have are the committment and desire to add skills that are neccesary to become a good NBA player. He had an easy out and took it. Can't really blame him if he was a free agent. The fact that he was still under contract is what pissed off a lot of people. Will he want to come back? If he does, will he be committed to working out the kinks in his game or will he sulk again if the team doesn't give him playing time before he is ready? He may have the physical tools, but does he have the mental ones?
I watched the first half of that game last night and I knew I would be able to find a thread here today. He was just cutting to the basket left and right. But he certainly didn't look like the same guy as we had in Houston. His handles were much better. Also, I remember the announcers saying that the Greeks just didn't like playing anywhere else because they only had like a 24 game season. Wusses! I fell asleep so I didn't get to see the end of the game, but I hear that the Gasol boys did well.
It will... if you take out DD. Listen to the voices in your head, Smeg. You know what has to be done.
Oh come on, let me have a little fun with the Olympics. LOL - I like the guy, what can I say. The best part is that if Battier and Tmac were not hurt the Rockets could have had 5 players in the Olympics if we somehow got Scola without V-Span leaving. Tmac, Battier - USA Scola - Argentina Yao - China VSpan - Greece That is a pretty good collection of talent right there......that has played for our Rockets. You guys can argue all you want, but I believe that VSpan could be an NBA contributor..... Carl, You nailed it though, his whining out of Houston certainly calls his committment into question. Though many American players have whined their ways out of situations and been ok. The only difference I noticed was that he was not afraid of being yanked out if he made a mistake. This is what I think he could have been doing for Houston, attacking the basket..oh well.....probably ain't gonna happen, but a man can dream. DD
Brad Newley is playing for the Australia team. Even with Tmac at 100% i doubt he could join the team, same goes for battier. Players like wade, LBJ and carmelo have already joined for the past few years. Kobe is the current MVP, redd is the 3p specialist, and prince who will be the lock down defender (that will never see minutes). Bout Vspan, the ability to bring the ball to the rim and pass the ball is a skill that rox really needs last season. But his assist to turnover ratio is still pretty bad. http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/INF/BK/C73/BKM400B02.shtml#BKM400B02
V-Span made the right decision. He tried the NBA and failed. He is back where he belongs, where his talent level can succeed and he can be happy.
If everyone that had a rough rookie year was called a failure very few would ever succeed. He can play, but I guess he is choosing to make more money and play less games in his home country, can't fault that. DD
Not every NBA rookie was a quitter, like Vaginas Spandex. And yes you can fault him for that, sports is about taking on and overcoming challenges, Vagisil chose to chicken out rather then take on the challenge. Just because you're called a failure in your rookie year, doesn't mean you can't come back and prove naysayers wrong, but Venereal chose to tuck his tail inbetween his legs and meekly go away. Nevermind the message that it sends to young kids getting into sports, When the going gets tough take the money and run... Money always softens the inevitable quitter label...
It's possible that he wasn't afraid of making mistakes, it's also possible that he has permission to do whatever he wants on that team. How many assists did he have? Not many I would guess. On the Rockets do you honestly think he would have ever had the green light to do whatever he felt necessary? Not likely. He's one of those players that needs the ball in his hands to be effective and with the system we ran under JVG he wasn't supposed to have the ball in his hands very often.
IMO JVG never gave this guy a fair shake, he practically banished this kidd to the locker room. To tell you guys the truth, the guy that I'm glad is gone is: JVG! See ya buddy, Your time here was way to long!
Best post in this thread by a mile. And yep, V-Span quit, he took his ball and went home. Very childish of him, but I don't blame him one bit. Steve Francis quit on Vancouver, John Elway quit on the Colts, so many many other players have done similar things...IMO, a player should always do what is best for their own careers......they are independent contractors.....and have a short career, so do whatever is best. V-Span did....what he thought was right for himself...... And the Rockets actually did ok by getting Scola......I am convinced that V-Span would have been playing in Houston last year if we didn't have the Scola trade...no way Morey would have let him walk..... DD
