<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hey I don't mind some trashtalking, I just wanted throw it back at you. </div> That's cool : ) <div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> You were only down by 5 at the half, but the Lakers only had Odom for 3 minutes in this game. The Lakers play a similar style of slow downed halfcourt basketball, and I felt having a size advantage at every position would be impossible for Houston to match against.</div> Are you really going to play that card? Come on. Your posing in a Houston Rockets message board.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It demonstrates JVG doesn't have any creativity in rotations. He cannot expect Bonzi Wells to come out of halftime and start producing. You have to throw him in the game when he can find his rhythm and work his way into the flow.</div> If you can't expect him to start producing in the second half, how can you expect him to start producing in the first half? And what makes you think he'd be able to find his rhythm and start producing when he's not in shape and barely ever practiced with the team? The only reason JVG made the switch in the second half was because we ended the second quarter so poorly (remember we were leading the game for most of the first half). In retrospect, Bonzi probably shouldn't have played at all. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Instead JVG throws in the game at halftime, not playing a minute in the 1st half and puts him up against Kobe Bryant. JVG set him up for failure. A good coach puts his players in a position to succeed.</div> A good coach puts players on the court that gives his team the best chance to win. It's a matter of going with a player (Bonzi) who is unproven (in our system), out of shape, and unfamiliar with what the team is trying to do, or going with a known player (Luther Head) and try to play through the size mismatch.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Bonzi was off in the previous two games he played as well. Playing him both halves wouldn't have made a difference. He simply hasn't played enough basketball recently. It will take a while before he can really start contributing.</div> Heres what any intelligent coach would do: a)Play him periodically and let him get his ryhthm, maybe 5-10mins in the first half & 5-10mins in second half. b)Throw him in early so he can get accustomed to the speed of the game. c)Make sure he's in the game with either Yao or Tmac so he doesn't have to carry the offense on his back. That way he can focus on rebounding, defense, etc.... Instead of doin that, JVG just throws him the starting line up after benchin him the whole 1st half. Why? It seems to me he's purposley makin an example outta Bonzi. If ur a coach and have a player of Bonzi's caliber, why are playin silly mind games. Jus play the guy and let it be Despite a horrible coaching performance in which he was outcoached and didn't make the proper substitutions, I'm give JVG 5 more games to prove he can run an efficient offense. After that, I'm firing him (If I were CD) <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">A good coach puts players on the court that gives his team the best chance to win. It's a matter of going with a player (Bonzi) who is unproven (in our system), out of shape, and unfamiliar with what the team is trying to do, or going with a known player (Luther Head) and try to play through the size mismatch.</div> But ur missin a couple things. Soon as the Laker guards started posting up our smaller guards the momentum changed. Walton was simply shooting over Head and anybody else who guarded him. That's when we lost control of the game. Instead of bringing in Bonzi (at the end of the 2nd quarter) JVG goes even smaller and brings in John Lucas
I can't believe you're actually knockin on a player for playing 17:17 minutes and getting 5-6 from the floor, 1-2 from the arc, 2-2 from the FT line, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 13 points. Wells turned the ball over twice in 5:33 minutes, not even a third of the minutes Lucas III played. Oh, and John Lucas III wasn't a starter either and I think actually came in very late in the first quarter for some relieving minutes. It didn't look like he needed to get adjusted to the speed of the game at all, even though he was getting somewhat sporatic minutes.
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But ur missin a couple things. Soon as the Laker guards started posting up our smaller guards the momentum changed. Walton was simply shooting over Head and anybody else who guarded him. That's when we lost control of the game. Instead of bringing in Bonzi (at the end of the 2nd quarter) JVG goes even smaller and brings in John Lucas</div> Lucas entered the game with 2 minutes left in the first quarter, and left with about 7 minutes left in the half. In those 7 minutes, we actually outscored the Lakers by 4 points. That's not where we went wrong. We were up 48-41 with 2:30 left in the half. It was in those last few minutes that things got messed up. You think we should have subbed in Bonzi in those last few minutes of the half? Would he have really made that much of a difference, considering what he did to start the second half?
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We were up 48-41 with 2:30 left in the half. It was in those last few minutes that things got messed up. You think we should have subbed in Bonzi in those last few minutes of the half? Would he have really made that much of a difference, considering what he did to start the second half?</div> It's a game of match ups. If Luke Walton is posting ur little guards, u go with bigger ones. Not difficult. Bonzi can contain Luke Walton better than any of our other guards. How many times was JVG gonna let Walton score before making a sub? We were coasting along and then Walton goes off. Stop downplayin Bonzi. Ur not understanding how good this guy is, but u did the same thing with Howard too. So go figure
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">It's a game of match ups. If Luke Walton is posting ur little guards, u go with bigger ones. Not difficult. Bonzi can contain Luke Walton better than any of our other guards. How many times was JVG gonna let Walton score before making a sub? We were coasting along and then Walton goes off. Stop downplayin Bonzi. Ur not understanding how good this guy is, but u did the same thing with Howard too. So go figure</div> Don't bring Juwan into this conversation -- I could say the same thing about you and Chuck (you said he should be cut). Let's not go there. We were coasting (leading) until 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half (up 8). Up to that point, what we did worked. Lakers then went on a 13-3 run to close out the half. You ask how many times JVG was going to let him score. In that run, Walton scored twice. That in itself hardly warrants making a defensive substitution for a player who hasn't played in a month in the closing minutes of the half. I'm not downplaying Bonzi. I'm realistic. If you think he should get some playing time just to get his feet wet, that's fine. I agree. But don't expect him to be a real difference-maker at this point. While Bonzi gives you some size, his lack of an outside jumper screws up our spacing, and he's slow on making the correct rotations since he's not used to our defensive system and isn't in game shape. All those weaknesses were on full display in the second half.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If you can't expect him to start producing in the second half, how can you expect him to start producing in the first half? And what makes you think he'd be able to find his rhythm and start producing when he's not in shape and barely ever practiced with the team? The only reason JVG made the switch in the second half was because we ended the second quarter so poorly (remember we were leading the game for most of the first half). In retrospect, Bonzi probably shouldn't have played at all. A good coach puts players on the court that gives his team the best chance to win. It's a matter of going with a player (Bonzi) who is unproven (in our system), out of shape, and unfamiliar with what the team is trying to do, or going with a known player (Luther Head) and try to play through the size mismatch.</div> Bonzi gives you the best chance to win if you use him properly. I understand he's behind in the system and out of shape, but when TMac is out and you're undersized against the Lakers, you have to take an early gamble. Inserting Bonzi in the starting lineup gives him a chance to get in the game while everyone else is still cold and trying to figure things out. It would give Bonzi some much needed confidence and maybe, just maybe, it motivates him to work a little harder. If he's not producing, yank him and put him back on the bench. PJax picked up the mismatch on Luke right away, and the Lakers picked the Rockets defense a part. Luke might have only scored twice in, but he was finding wide open players and moving the ball around within the Triangle. There's a serious problem with your defense when you have to double team Luke Walton in the post. On a side note, some are speculating the Rockets were auditioning Bonzi to the Lakers. Mitch Kupchak travelled with the team to scout (very rare).
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">We were coasting (leading) until 2 1/2 minutes left in the first half (up 8). Up to that point, what we did worked. Lakers then went on a 13-3 run to close out the half. You ask how many times JVG was going to let him score. In that run, Walton scored twice. That in itself hardly warrants making a defensive substitution for a player who hasn't played in a month in the closing minutes of the half.</div> Twice in a row in a two minute span in which we lost control of the game. Not to mention we were forced to double Luke Walton ( ) because our guard were undersized. That ultimaltey lead to open baskets. Van Gundy did NOT make the proper adjustments at the right time. Phil Jackson on the other hand made the precise subs and took advantage of the stubborness of JVG. Why he's great and JVG is mediocore. <div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm not downplaying Bonzi. I'm realistic. If you think he should get some playing time just to get his feet wet, that's fine. I agree. But don't expect him to be a real difference-maker at this point. While Bonzi gives you some size, his lack of an outside jumper screws up our spacing, and he's slow on making the correct rotations since he's not used to our defensive system and isn't in game shape. All those weaknesses were on full display in the second half.</div> Sounds like somebody we all know, doesn't it Anyhow, Bonzi can contribute in other ways other than scoring. Defense, rebounding, passing are things he can do. Like I've been sayin, JVG refuses to take adavantage of Bonzi's strengths choosing to sit him on the bench. With Tmac out, this is hurting our team. JVG IS VERY STUBBORN! He sees things one way and it's why he'll prolly never go deep in the playoffs. Basketball is a game of adjustments, and if u can't adjust on the fly then you prolly shouldn't be coaching. His defense is good, but he lacks the offensive creativity to put us over the edge. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Bonzi gives you the best chance to win if you use him properly. I understand he's behind in the system and out of shape, but when TMac is out and you're undersized against the Lakers, you have to take an early gamble. Inserting Bonzi in the starting lineup gives him a chance to get in the game while everyone else is still cold and trying to figure things out. It would give Bonzi some much needed confidence and maybe, just maybe, it motivates him to work a little harder. If he's not producing, yank him and put him back on the bench PJax picked up the mismatch on Luke right away, and the Lakers picked the Rockets defense a part. Luke might have only scored twice in, but he was finding wide open players and moving the ball around within the Triangle. There's a serious problem with your defense when you have to double team Luke Walton in the post. On a side note, some are speculating the Rockets were auditioning Bonzi to the Lakers. Mitch Kupchak travelled with the team to scout (very rare). </div> ^^^^^What I've been sayin all along
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Inserting Bonzi in the starting lineup gives him a chance to get in the game while everyone else is still cold and trying to figure things out. </div> Perhaps you don't appreciate just what a headcase Bonzi has been since he's gotten here. The guy needs to earn his playing time. He can't act like a jerk and just be given a start in his first game while barely practicing. It's unfair to guys who've actually been busting their ass all season to contribute to the team (Head, Spanoulis). If we're playing right, we can overcome a size mismatch with Luke Walton. We showed that through most of the first half. And Dallas demonstrated it the following night with a Terry/Harris backcourt.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Perhaps you don't appreciate just what a headcase Bonzi has been since he's gotten here. The guy needs to earn his playing time. He can't act like a jerk and just be given a start in his first game while barely practicing. It's unfair to guys who've actually been busting their ass all season to contribute to the team (Head, Spanoulis). If we're playing right, we can overcome a size mismatch with Luke Walton. We showed that through most of the first half. And Dallas demonstrated it the following night with a Terry/Harris backcourt.</div> Josh Howard was guarding Walton for a majority of the game, not the Dallas guards. Dallas is also a larger team so they match up better against the Lakers. I understand Bonzi has been a headcase and you don't want to appear unfair. However, you're confusing starting with playing starter minutes. Trying Bonzi out as a token starter could prove beneficial for his relationship with the team, without any risk. You put him out there with the starting lineup on a short leash and if he's not producing then yank him and put him back in the doghouse.
