Bonzi: "I've been healthy for 10 days, it's up to coach when I play"

Bonzi: "I've been healthy for 10 days, it's up to coach when I play"

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports...kn/4632960.html

JVG doesn't like Bonzi. Bonzi's approached him, talked to him, and even tried to make peace with him. JVG just refuses to meet Bonzi halfway. Without Bonzi, we're strictly a jump shooting team. That style ain't gonna cut it in the playoffs, we're gonna NEED Bonzi.

The playoffs are nearing, shouldn't we be tryin to get everybody back healthy? Isn't that what all the elite teams are doing? Bonzi can be a key contributor offensivley as well as defensivley. Each game we won against San Antonio he's played well in. He played well in the first half of that Dallas game before being canned by JVG. Should JVG expand our 8man rotation? Obcourse that'll cut into Battier's and Luther/ Rafer's minutes with Snyder emerging. But I think it'll keep everybody healthy and fresh. The fact he's been healthy for almost 2 weeks and hasn't been activated let's me know that our coach is holding silly grudges. Why not play the guy?

 

I am hatin JVG right now. Why isn't he playing Bonzi? He screws with Snyder and now Bonzi? We will need everyone for the playoffs. Bonzi hasn't really gotten in shape but we know he can still be a major threat in the playoffs. Why don't JVG play him and give him about 20-25 minutes for the next 15 games so he can get back in some sort of shape for the playoffs. We will definetly need both Snyder and Bonzi at the top of their game. We will need everyone playing good.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">JVG doesn't like Bonzi. Bonzi's approached him, talked to him, and even tried to make peace with him. JVG just refuses to meet Bonzi halfway. Without Bonzi, we're strictly a jump shooting team. That style ain't gonna cut it in the playoffs, we're gonna NEED Bonzi.

The playoffs are nearing, shouldn't we be tryin to get everybody back healthy? Isn't that what all the elite teams are doing? Bonzi can be a key contributor offensivley as well as defensivley. Each game we won against San Antonio he's played well in. He played well in the first half of that Dallas game before being canned by JVG. Should JVG expand our 8man rotation? Obcourse that'll cut into Battier's and Luther/ Rafer's minutes with Snyder emerging. But I think it'll keep everybody healthy and fresh. The fact he's been healthy for almost 2 weeks and hasn't been activated let's me know that our coach is holding silly grudges. Why not play the guy?</div>

Can you name a successful playoff team in recent memory that went with a 10-man rotation in the playoffs? This isn't about grudges. JVG just doesn't like to play more than 9 players regular minutes (other than Hubie Brown, who does?). Deke and Tsakalidis are cloes to interchangeable and have very limited roles on offense, so they may split backup center. Trying to work in Bonzi into the rotation would be much more disruptive. Oh, and it probably doesn't give the coach extra incentive to put him back in the rotation considering we are 12-14 on the season when he plays, and 28-11 when he doesn't play.

That said, I expect when all is said and done Bonzi will be in the rotation, and Snyder will be squeezed out. I don't know if it would be the right decision, but I would expect that will happen. Maybe Snyder will come in for a defensive possession at the end of quarters or something. But you aren't going to see Luther, and Bonzi, and Snyder all in the regular rotation at once. Just won't happen.

Feigen said he'll write more about this tonight. Hopefully we'll have a better understanding of the situation then.

 

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Can you name a successful playoff team in recent memory that went with a 10-man rotation in the playoffs? This isn't about grudges. JVG just doesn't like to play more than 9 players regular minutes (other than Hubie Brown, who does?). Deke and Tsakalidis are cloes to interchangeable and have very limited roles on offense, so they may split backup center. Trying to work in Bonzi into the rotation would be much more disruptive. Oh, and it probably doesn't give the coach extra incentive to put him back in the rotation considering we are 12-14 on the season when he plays, and 28-11 when he doesn't play. </div>
Phoenix, Dallas & San Antonio might have a 8man rotation, but they do more interchanging than we do. They make more adjustments during the game than we do. JVG usually subs one player at at a time, while the other teams sub 3 or 4 players. We're gonna have to cut down our minutes on our starters or little naggin injuries are gonna hold us back (Battier's head got split open last night for example). I'd like to see JVG put more trust in our bench like Avery does his bench.

Luther & Snyder are interchangable and Tmac (and Battier) can use some rest in the 1st & 3rd quarters (opening sometime up for Bonzi). JVG should play Bonzi/Snyder at the same time, even tho he said he'll NEVER do thatThere are cracks in his rotations, he just doesn't acknowledge it. He's put a little too much confidence in Luther. I think Snyder/Luther should split minutes depending on the match up.

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That said, I expect when all is said and done Bonzi will be in the rotation, and Snyder will be squeezed out. Maybe Snyder will come for a defensive possession at the end of quarters or something. But you aren't going to see Luther, and Bonzi, and Snyder all in the regular rotation at once. Just won't happen.</div>
I'm not sayin throw out Head or Alston. But depending on the match up, like Phoenix or Dallas, we need to have Bonzi and Snyder play. He flatout didn't play Snyder against Phoenix and benched Bonzi against Dallas. Snyder's a lockdown defender & slasher, and Bonzi's a post player who gets steals and rebounds. Theres absolutley no excuse settling for 3's every night. The truth is not playin either is gonna eventually hurt our team.

NOTE:Watching Phoenix & Dallas last nite made me realize that we're gonna need energy from our more athletic players. Those guys are gonna KILL our current 8man rotation in the playoffs.

 

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2007/03/the_bonzi_question.html

Jonothan Feigen, the Rockets beat writer, clarifies what's going on with Bonzi Wells. It is what I said it was. JVG doesn't feel there's room for him in the rotation. While I thought Bonzi would eventually return, Feigen is saying that he might actually turn out to be the odd man out. JVG is looking to somehow fit Snyder into the regular rotation, and Tsakalidis will also share backup center duties with Dikembe. That's a 9 or 10 man rotation. Trying to also plug in Bonzi who'd demand a significant offensive role while on the court would be a challenge. It would require other players to have significant reduced minutes/roles on the team, and JVG doesn't want to do that.

 

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2007/03/the_bonzi_question.html
Jonothan Feigen, the Rockets beat writer, clarifies what's going on with Bonzi Wells. It is what I said it was. JVG doesn't feel there's room for him in the rotation. While I thought Bonzi would eventually return, Feigen is saying that he might actually turn out to be the odd man out. JVG is looking to somehow fit Snyder into the regular rotation, and Tsakalidis will also share backup center duties with Dikembe. That's a 9 or 10 man rotation. Trying to also plug in Bonzi who'd demand a significant offensive role while on the court would be a challenge. It would require other players to have significant reduced minutes/roles on the team, and JVG doesn't want to do that.</div>
This is a damn shame


Winning a championship starts with the coach. You have to know ur players and their strengths. You also have to realize ur teams strengths and weakness. Our strengths are defense, defense, defense. Our weakness is offensive creativity. Our offense becomes stagnant and we often look like robots out there. Bonzi helps that automatically, and so does Snyder.

This is the reason we aquired both this offseason. The playoffs are approaching fast and you'd atleast THINK we'd be celebrating gettin our main core of players back. But not JVG. He believes in his head that we don't need Bonzi for the playoffs. After gettin demolished by Phoenix, he STILL believes we can beat teams without a 3rd option and creator. Refusing to play Bonzi will be the WORST mistake JVG has made since comin to Houston. Bonzi can be a HUGE difference maker in the playoffs. Imagine Popovich not makin space for Micheal Finley headin into the playoffs, or Avery leaving Stackhouse off the roster. This will be TRAGIC to the Rockets championship hopes. But what else can we expect from a coach who hasn't ever reached greatness in his career. Good job JVG

NOTE:Expect JVG to be FIRED after this season's playoffs!

 

JVG might just be saving him for when they get closer to or in the playoffs considering the guy cant stay healthy.

 

I can already see it now. Even if the Rockets make it to the second round, if we lose to a vastly superior team like Dallas in 6 or 7 games, Rock4life will blame it on not playing Bonzi. He only sees the potential benefits of playing Bonzi and not the drawbacks.

 

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I can already see it now. Even if the Rockets make it to the second round, if we lose to a vastly superior team like Dallas in 6 or 7 games, Rock4life will blame it on not playing Bonzi. He only sees the potential benefits of playing Bonzi and not the drawbacks.</div>
UR DAMN RIGHT! Not playin a healthy Bonzi Wells is a GIFT to teams like Dallas. If they had it their way, they'd be PRAYIN that JVG doesn't play Bonzi. The only "drawback" is we're benchin a player with more playoff experience than any of our superstars. U have absolutley no idea what this teams needs to win a championship in this league.

NOTE:I'm hopin that JVG gets fired this offseason in favor of a coach who plays their best players.

 

^What he said.





except for the fired part. So far, he's done a nice job with the Rockets.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">UR DAMN RIGHT! Not playin a healthy Bonzi Wells is a GIFT to teams like Dallas. If they had it their way, they'd be PRAYIN that JVG doesn't play Bonzi. The only "drawback" is we're benchin a player with more playoff experience than any of our superstars. U have absolutley no idea what this teams needs to win a championship in this league.

NOTE:I'm hopin that JVG gets fired this offseason in favor of a coach who plays their best players.</div>

Can you suggest a good coach thats on the market right now? JVG is the best available coach. You fire him, its only going to go downhill.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">UR DAMN RIGHT! Not playin a healthy Bonzi Wells is a GIFT to teams like Dallas. If they had it their way, they'd be PRAYIN that JVG doesn't play Bonzi. The only "drawback" is we're benchin a player with more playoff experience than any of our superstars. U have absolutley no idea what this teams needs to win a championship in this league.
</div>

That's not a drawback. As I said, you don't recognize any of the actual drawbacks. Just because you add a talented offensive player to a team, that doesn't automatically mean the team will play better with him.

 

Wouldn't a line-up of Alston, McGrady, Wells, Howard, and Yao be a pretty good lineup? i don't see why he isn't playing? Wells could be the backup for either McGrady or Battier. His inside play could be huge for the rockets.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Answer_AI03 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wouldn't a line-up of Alston, McGrady, Wells, Howard, and Yao be a pretty good lineup? i don't see why he isn't playing? Wells could be the backup for either McGrady or Battier. His inside play could be huge for the rockets.</div>

That's a lineup I'm sure Rock4life would LOVE to see. I don't think it would be particularly effective. Lack of quickness defensively, and lack of outside shooting.

 

<div class="quote_poster">foo82 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Can you suggest a good coach thats on the market right now? JVG is the best available coach. You fire him, its only going to go downhill.</div>
Do ur research son.......... Larry Brown, Paul Silas, Rick Adelman ect.....U have to be CRAZY if you don't think EVERY DAMN coach in the league wouldn't want to coach us right now. We're literally a team on the verge of greatness! JVG is LIGHT YEARS away from bein the best available coach. That comment is the most inaccurate statement I've heard.


<div class="quote_poster">Answer_AI03 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wouldn't a line-up of Alston, McGrady, Wells, Howard, and Yao be a pretty good lineup? i don't see why he isn't playing? Wells could be the backup for either McGrady or Battier. His inside play could be huge for the rockets.</div>
That lineup would be very effective . But Durvasa's strictly a stat guy who bases 95% of his conclusions from +/- stats. That line up could be our most dangerous lineup.


<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That's not a drawback. As I said, you don't recognize any of the actual drawbacks. Just because you add a talented offensive player to a team, that doesn't automatically mean the team will play better with him.</div>
Bonzi's a instant offensive guy who rebounds and defends. In other words, a DIFFERENCE MAKER.

So....What are these hidden "drawbacks"? Explain in great DETAIL how bringing back a healthy Bonzi Wells can hurt the Rockets. This outta be interesting

 

<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So....What are these hidden "drawbacks"? Explain in great DETAIL how bringing back a healthy Bonzi Wells can hurt the Rockets. This outta be interesting</div>

Feigen explains the difficulties with integrating Bonzi into our system.

 

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Feigen explains the difficulties with integrating Bonzi into our system.</div>
I didn't ask you that. I said give me the "drawbacks" of having a healthy Bonzi Wells for the playoffs. Can you do that?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't ask you that. I said give me the "drawbacks" of having a healthy Bonzi Wells for the playoffs. Can you do that?</div>

First of all, these are his strengths: experienced, has a good post-up game and midrange game, can create off the dribble, very good rebounder, good in transition, has quick hands/anticipation and will usually get one or two steals a game.

I've gone over his weaknesses many times in the past: turnover-prone, injury-prone, doesn't shoot well from the outside, subpar perimeter defender. That makes him a less than ideal fit on our team, in my view. If you can come up with a rotation that you think would work well in the playoffs that includes Bonzi, maybe you can convince me otherwise. We obviously disagree on the Alston-McGrady-Wells-Howard-Yao lineup.

 

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">First of all, these are his strengths: experienced, has a good post-up game and midrange game, can create off the dribble, very good rebounder, good in transition, has quick hands/anticipation and will usually get one or two steals a game.</div>
I already knew this. I didn't ask you what his strengths were

<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I've gone over his weaknesses many times in the past: turnover-prone, injury-prone, doesn't shoot well from the outside, subpar perimeter defender. That makes him a less than ideal fit on our team, in my view. If you can come up with a rotation that you think would work well in the playoffs that includes Bonzi, maybe you can convince me otherwise. We obviously disagree on the Alston-McGrady-Wells-Howard-Yao lineup.</div>
Ur tellin me that you wouldn't be IRRATE if Bonzi didn't play in the playoffs? Ur cherrypickin ur criticism on a player who's already proven he can be a force in the playoffs. So let's give you the benefit of the doubt, and say he really has "drawbacks" . Then we'll compare him to Stackhouse, who's playin a similar role off the bench for Dallas.

<div align="center">Playoff Averages</div>

Bonzi Wells: 13.2pts/46.6%fg/ 5.1rebs/ 1.1stls /0.2blks/2.11 T.O.
Last year: 23.2pts/ 60%fg / 12rebs /0.8stls/0.3Blks/3.O T.O


Jerry Stackhouse 15.3pts/ 38%fg/3.4rebs/0.6stls/0.3blks/2.06 T.O
Last year: 13.7pts/ 40.2%/ 2.8rebs/ 0.6stls/ 0.3blks/1.68 T.O.

Considering the fact Stackhouse was CRUCIAL to the Mav's success last playoffs, it's difficult to me how you (Durvasa) can sit here makin excuses why JVG would NOT play Bonzi. Is Stackhouse's shooting a "drawback" for the Mavs Durvasa? Should Avery consider not playin Stackhouse? The fact is Bonzi's numbers are BETTER than Stackhouse's and yet JVG (and you) have questioned whether we even need Bonzi. The answer is YES!

NOTE TO JVG:IF YOU HAVE A BRAIN, UR GONNA PLAY BONZI. SIMPLE AS THAT!

 

eventhough I doubt Bonzi will contribute like he once could, it's still worth a shot to be playing him.....