As I have said all along, Bonzi is a one year rental, and all things being equal, I would rather play the guy who is going to be part of the team for the next few years. DD
Our biggest weakness is in perimeter foot speed, and Bonzi brings a post game to the table, something MANY of our players already possess...we need speed.... DD
I've been lurking on this forum for some while now, and I must say that you seem to be one of the more insightful Rocket fans around here. I don't know why you get so much flack, but IMO you are definitely one of the better posters here. JVG replacing Snyder with a redundant Wells was something you said had to be done a LONG time ago. Props!
It's all about this year. Snyder is locked up for next season and Bonzi will probably leave. I couldn't care less about developing Snyder for the future while we are (hopefully) making a run for the championship. If we were 22-36 heading for the lottery instead of 36-22 and awaiting Yao's return, you would have a good point. But it's all about this season's playoff and championship run, not developing a reserve player who may, or may not, be a starter some day. The more I see him, the more Bonzi looks like a square peg on our team. I want him to find his legs, timing and comfort zone, but he just continues to have problems. With Yao coming back and occupying the low block, Bonzi's presence on offense isn't needed as much. I'm not saying we should give up on Bonzi, just that JVG shouldn't be completely locked into him to the exclusion of Snyder. Ideally, both guys will be tuned up and ready to contribute come playoff time.
Thanks for the compliments. You should post more often ! It is just fairly clear to me that the team has holes this year and IMHO, they should be playing the group that will be here NEXT year too, rarely do you win the championship the first year you have your team together.... Again, thanks for the compliments - sometimes opinions of mine are not popular, but they are just opinions as are those that think I am nuts.... The one thing you can count on though is that they are all fans !! While I agree, I just think Bonzi's skillset is matched by several other players on our team, and Snyder's aren't. We get beat primarily by guys with good & quick guard play. Bonzi has a decent post game (can't say good, because his shooting % has been just OK), and he is a good rebounder. But his defense is pretty bad due to him being out of shape, he is one of those player who COULD have been REALLY good if he didn't get satisfied with his career and quit improving. Bonzi has rested on his laurels all season long, I just don't think he fits on this team. What ever happened to JVG's "No knucklehead" policy? I guess he was being hypicritical..again....but that is an argument for another day. DD
omg If you think Dak is "one of the most insightful posters" than IM not real sure what to say to you. Dotn get me wrong, when it comes to anything other than the ROckets, I get a kick out of reading his stuff, but when it comes to basketball and more specifically the ROckets, he has been b****slapped on several occasions by MUCH more "insighful" members.
Woah, R2K.....I don't know what you are talking about, but most of the time we are arguing with people about what is best for the team, and they are just opinions......as are the people I am arguing with.... And, IMHO, my arguments are right on the money. Just cause you don't agree with them does not make them wrong. By they way, how is Boki doing these days? Or what about that Battier for Gay trade I loved? Or perhaps Bonzi being redundant and too slow? The only two biggies I have left are: V-Span should be playing backup PG..and that will be proven over time....and that I think JVG is not a championship coach - (which I hope I am wrong about). It has been a BANNER year for the Dak's takes !!! DD
Some of your opinions are unpopular because you latch on to them and never let them go despite what happens on the basketbal court. Snyder is clearly a few steps below Bonzi as an overall basketball player. Snyder is the superior athlete, but last time I checked, the Rockets are a basketball team. I understand wanting to develop Kirk Snyder, but we are legitimate championship contenders THIS YEAR. We must put the players on the floor who will help us win games now. Snyder can contribute, but he doesn't have Bonzi's offensive skills, rebounding skills, and overall game awareness... What Bonzi lacks in quickness on the defensive end he makes up for it with anticipation. The guy can make plays on the defensive end. Do I even have to talk about him beinjg a superior player on offense. He's a better passer, ball handler, decision maker, and scorer than Snyder is. If you can't see that, I really don't know what you're watching.
sorry for being offtopic but.. DD, is the game being shown in austin? its blacked out on nbatv and fsnsw isnt showing it. i have time warner cable. edit: thanks...cant wait to see it in HD
Because I am basing my opinions by what I see ON the basketball court, nothing more. I base them on years of playing and coaching basketball, I like a particular style of ball which causes bias on my opinion. My guess is that if you like a game with a lot of PNR's, back cuts, double screens, and setting up teamates through motion you are going to agree with me. I agree with this, but Bonzi is too slow to cover the one area we have problems with on our main competition in the Western Conference. Outside of San Antonio Bonzi is too slow, and unathletic to make a difference. If Bonzi was a professional, and took care of his body and played hard night in and night out, you would be right, but the bottom line is....he isn't. See, this is where we vear off base, I think with Yao on the court you need to surround him with QUICKER perimeter players to stop the penetration at the point of attack. Yao is too slow to actually cover the basket, and now with his knee in a brace he will be even slower. Since we are a team, as you correctly pointed out, we need players that compliment our 2 studs....Synder does...Bonzi does not. Again, we agree, but what Snyder does well is attack the basket from the perimeter and has the size and speed to match up with larger guards, thus taking pressure off of Tmac and Battier..... I just think Synder fits the team better than the Bonz....and the Bonz is gone after this year.....and truthfully, outside of one good scoring game, Bonzi has been less than advertised. And even in that Boston game his man scored 4 late points because he left them wide open...and it cost them the game. And you should be here longer than 6 months to make a judgement about me. I do admit to being reactionary after loses.....NO DOUBT about that. DD
Bonzi is a good fit in Houston. He hasn't really had a chance to put it all together yet. He is just starting to show flashes of what he can do for us, and then he goes down again with injury. Bonzi has a lot of potential to be very productive for us coming off the bench. He knows how to score and he has a toughness and an aggressiveness that this team needs... BTW, if you think that Wells cost us the Celtics' game, you are sadly mistaken. Alston, Head, and Battier all had miserable shooting nights and that is why we lost. You can't blame the defense when they only give up 70-some points. Our shooting was unacceptable. Bonzi was the only player to show up for that game. Blaming him for the loss is ver short-sided.
No doubt the rest of the team sucked, but it was Bonzi's man scoring on wide open shots late in that game because the Bonz was gassed. And not even contesting that layup that gave the Celtics the lead? Inexcusable. Bonzi, if he ever got in shape, could be a good addition, but the fact is...he HASN'T gotten in shape in over 6 months of being here. And ironically, he is blowing up any chance he has of getting a good contract after this year, which is just amazingly stupid. Bonzi does have a toughness, and I wish he fit in here, but he just didn't...he is a player who sort of....ALMOST fit in...but not quite. DD
Certainly....That's your problem. If you're going to lose control and cry after every loss, it's going to get annoying to your fellow clutchfan members. It's a long season....You're going to lose games. It really gets old when after every loss the whole board goes into an uproar about JVG, Alston, Bonzi, and Vspan...Take the losses like a man and admit to yourself that Rafer > Vspan, Bonzi > Snyder, JVG's defense is amongst the top in the league when it comes toFG %, defensive rebounding and giving up fewest points in the paint, and he's a legitimate coach of the year candidate. Rafer, Bonzi, and JVG are not perfect, but it's what we got, and they're all capable.
But I don't agree with all facets of your premise. I think Rafer is horrible, and IMHO, if V-Span had been playing PG all year as the backup, he would probably be a better player than Rafer at this point. And, I think Snyder fits better than Bonzi..... I agree that JVG is a great defensive coach, and a candidate for coach of the year as I have said MANY MANY TIMES ! So, take it for what it is worth.....I get upset at loses, and vent on a BBS...SHOCKING !!! [sarcasm]OMG !! A VENTING FAN ON A BBS???? STOP THE PRESSES [/sarcasm] I never understand why people get upset that passionate fans come on here to talk about their team in a constructive manner....criticism is part of that process. DD
The key thing from the article in my opinion is that Van Gundy is talking about how Snyder would fit in with Yao playing. I think they should carve out some minutes for Bonzi when Yao is not on the floor so the team can take advantage of his post-up skills. I don't think having a third scoring option is important if Yao and Tracy are playing at the same time, though. Getting Yao back will only help Head, Battier and Alston get better shots, so players creating their own shots isn't as necessary. Snyder playing with Yao gives the Rockets a faster guy on the break, more hustle points and energy on defense. That's probably the same reason Chuck Hayes will get more minutes with Yao out there. They mesh better together. I think the Rockets have more depth than they are given credit for. Juwan Howard, Mutombo, Bonzi, Snyder and Head coming off the bench is pretty sweet.
When you say that Bonzi gave up the final 4 points of the game, it becomes clear to me that you're reaching and just looking for Bonzi to screw up during games. I also think it's funny how you refer to Bonzi as if his time in Houston is over. The guy still has about 30 games(hopfully more) to fit in and prove himself...Just sit back and watch it unfold instead of jumping to rash conclusions. It's great to have opinions, but it's annoying when you rub them in everyone's face.
