<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Reece Gaines met his new boss last week. He is not the same as his old boss. Jeff Van Gundy, coach of the Rockets, welcomed Gaines to Houston and then told him the one thing he needed to hear. Van Gundy didn't promise a starting position or guarantee Gaines even a third of the minutes he played at the University of Louisville. This is what he told Gaines: Forget last year. "That really made me feel good," Gaines said. "He said it a couple of times. I've been trying to put last season behind, but it's easier when you get traded and your new coach promises a fresh start." </div> Link This is an excellent move by Van Gundy. He has instilled hope and confidence into Gaines and that is what Gaines needs to have a fresh start. It will be nice to see him play an integral part at the point guard spot next season.
Well thats good news for Gaines, hopefully he will regain some confidence. After last season he looked nothing short of a bust, but maybe if he puts the past behind him he could play without turning the ball over and shooting bricks. I wish him the best of luck in Houston.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">After last season he looked nothing short of a bust, but maybe if he puts the past behind him he could play without turning the ball over and shooting bricks.</div> I've never seen him play with Orlando, but from what I've read and seen of him with Louisville, he is not really bust material. It's just that the Magic organization never looked at him with a positive eye and didn't give him a chance. Gaines could be a hidden talent just like Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Murray.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">I've never seen him play with Orlando, but from what I've read and seen of him with Louisville, he is not really bust material. It's just that the Magic organization never looked at him with a positive eye and didn't give him a chance. </div> He often played like he didn't even want to be out there - he looked bored half the time. He shot just under 30% from the field and needs to work on finishing what he starts. However, if he improves his game he could be a Jim Jackson type player - capable of doing a little bit of everything. I think his main problem was lack of definite positioning. Orlando was trying to turn him into a PG, but he makes a stronger SG. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Gaines could be a hidden talent just like Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Murray. </div> That would suck for Orlando fans.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ice:</div><div class="quote_post">He often played like he didn't even want to be out there - he looked bored half the time. He shot just under 30% from the field and needs to work on finishing what he starts. However, if he improves his game he could be a Jim Jackson type player - capable of doing a little bit of everything.</div> Generally, I'd attribute that to the lack of support from the Magic organization. Think about it, when you are diminished to a garbage player when you know that you are not supposed to be one, you start to doubt yourself and think everything you do makes you look bad. If that was his case, it's no wonder Gaines struggled with the little time he had. Van Gundy promised him a chance, and that might spark a fire within Gaines. He might start to play like the player he was at Louisville, since he knows that the coach believes in him. He will not be thinking about every bad pass he makes, and every shot he takes that misses. That is what great players need to succeed: the self-confidence. Van Gundy definitely got off the right foot with Gaines after this conversation they had.
I was really happy when this trade went down I knew Gaines would get the minutes he deserved or atleast more minutes than he did in orlando. Orlando has really messed up some of there first round draft picks, Sasser, Gaines. Hopefully they dont do the same with Jameer and Dwight. Reece Gaines will have a decent season and if he gets around 20 minutes a game here in houston than I think he could possibly be a candidate for Most Improved player(MIP).
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Reece Gaines will have a decent season and if he gets around 20 minutes a game here in houston than I think he could possibly be a candidate for Most Improved player(MIP).</div> I don't really think he'd get 20 minutes, and not the MIP too. Now that we've got Barry and possibly Lue ahead of Gaines on the roster, minutes would be hard to find. Besides, 20 minutes won't likely get you MIP, considering the number of players poised for breakout seasons next year.
I hope Gaines gets the opportunity to prove himself. If he truly is a point guard, he has great size for the position and is supposed to be a real nice defender. He'd be a great asset coming off the bench.
In my opinion , Gaines is a very good talent. He knows how to play the game. There is no way u do the things he did at Louisville and become a bust in the NBA. I remember him outplaying Dwayne Wade and hitting a crucial three. Gaines just needs to work on his handling and watch tapes on how to bring the ball up against smaller players.
Flip Murray was a throw-in for Seattle, and he was leading the league in scoring in the first few weeks of the season. Most of the guys in the NBA have the ability, but not a lot of them get the opportunity to showcase their talent... The ones that don't either lose confidence in themselves, or end up trying too hard when they get the chance. I think the best thing Gaines can do is to work on his defense and make it hard for JVG to keep him on the bench.
