<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Vassilis Spanoulis left Athens and his hometown fans with Panathinaikos to make the step up to the NBA, figuring his emotion, his energy, his overwhelming confidence would carry him straight to the top on the game's biggest stage. Spanoulis came to Houston to join Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady and, in his mind, put the Rockets over the top. Now Yao is sidelined with a broken leg, and the rookie guard feels like he's hit bottom. "I came here to help my team, to put my talent on it and do many things," Spanoulis said. "I am a patient person. But I don't want to stay on the bench for the season. I came here to work hard and to play in the games." Spanoulis says he is puzzled why the Rockets drafted him and worked so hard to sign him to a three-year contract in the first place. He believes coach Jeff Van Gundy is trying to change him from a penetrating creator into a spot shooter. "It is like asking a doctor to be a lawyer," Spanoulis said, smiling and shaking his head at his own analogy. "Maybe they don't know what my strength is. Because every time I play, I don't play to my strength. I was used to playing good defense, pressing all over the court, running on offense, playing a lot of pick-and-rolls and creating. Now they want me to be a spot shooter, and this is a different experience. " He was quoted over the weekend in a Greek newspaper as saying: "There's always the possibility that I might leave. It doesn't depend on me, but they can't keep me a prisoner either."</div> Source
JVG is only receptive to one type player, that's the Battier's, Hayes's, and obcourse the superstars like Yao & Tmac. However, he doesn't respond well to strong personalities like Spanoulis, Bonzi etc...He can't bring the best outta those players like say a Larry Brown or Phil Jackson. Maybe because he's never played real basketball game in his life, he doesn't know how to deal with players who question his coaching style. Billy did the right thing, but he's prolly NEVER gonna get a chance in JVG's system after this comments
<div class="quote_poster">Rock4life Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">JVG is only receptive to one type player, that's the Battier's, Hayes's, and obcourse the superstars like Yao & Tmac. However, he doesn't respond well to strong personalities like Spanoulis, Bonzi etc...He can't bring the best outta those players like say a Larry Brown or Phil Jackson. Maybe because he's never played real basketball game in his life, he doesn't know how to deal with players who question his coaching style. Billy did the right thing, but he's prolly NEVER gonna get a chance in JVG's system after this comments</div> If by "strong personalities" you mean whiners/mopers, I agree.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If by "strong personalities" you mean whiners/mopers, I agree.</div> Strong personalities: Kobe Bryant, Randy Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Terrell Owens, Scottie Pippen, Roger Clemens, Payton Manning etc...I wouldn't qualify any of these guys "whiners" or "mopers".
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Strong personalities: Kobe Bryant, Randy Johnson, Dennis Rodman, Terrell Owens, Scottie Pippen, Roger Clemens, Payton Manning etc...I wouldn't qualify any of these guys "whiners" or "mopers".</div> Terrell Owens is definitely not a "strong" personality. He's a crazy man. Besides, how would you know he doesn't respond well to players like Bryant, Pippen, Clemens, or Manning? He's never coached them before, so bringing up doesn't really make sense.
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If by "strong personalities" you mean whiners/mopers, I agree.</div> What?? The guy left his country,family and team where he was the man on a promise that he would get playing time, he has every right to be upset! What if someone offered you all these benefits in a regular job then backed out on them after you got there? He just happens to b vocal about how he feels and I don't blame him. He wants to play ball, I would rather him be vocal about it than to sit at the end of the pine, break down mentally and never amount to anything. Wow! because a guy has passion and wants to be on the court he's a whiner/moper?
<div class="quote_poster">Blurr#7 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Wow! because a guy has passion and wants to be on the court he's a whiner/moper?</div> No, because he whines and mopes he's a whiner/moper. Competitiveness and passion is great. Those are things the coach loves. Him complaining about being a "prisoner", talking about wanting to leave the team, and acting like he's entitled to minutes just for agreeing to sign with us is something very different. That's destructive, and it will only dampen his ability to improve on his weaknesses and break into the rotation.
<div class="quote_poster">Blurr#7 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What?? The guy left his country,family and team where he was the man on a promise that he would get playing time, he has every right to be upset! What if someone offered you all these benefits in a regular job then backed out on them after you got there? He just happens to b vocal about how he feels and I don't blame him. He wants to play ball, I would rather him be vocal about it than to sit at the end of the pine, break down mentally and never amount to anything. Wow! because a guy has passion and wants to be on the court he's a whiner/moper?</div> Exactly....excellent point. Spanoulis isn't a "whiner" or "moper", he just has pride and wants to play. It seems every player who JVG doesn't play ends up being labeled something ridiculous. Same thing happened to Juwan Howard early in the season. He was labeled "lazy" and "washed up" and he ended up havin a great season. Just goes to show with some playin time good players will produce, and I think Spanoulis is a good player. I'd hate for him to go to a different team and become a star. <div class="quote_poster">AznxBaller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Terrell Owens is definitely not a "strong" personality. He's a crazy man. Besides, how would you know he doesn't respond well to players like Bryant, Pippen, Clemens, or Manning? He's never coached them before, so bringing up doesn't really make sense.</div> T.O. is a strong personality. Don't confuse his personal life with what he does on the field. He has a personality that you have to learn to love. Not all coaches can coach T.O. Phil Jackson is great at dealing with personalities, JVG isn't even in the same class. My overrall point was players who have these "strong personalities" aren't in JVG's realm of coaching. That's why players like Battier who rarely show any emotion are JVG favorites. Nothin against Battier, but he doesn't really get mad or angry. But players like Spanoulis or Bonzi have personalities that you have to groom. I truly believe most coaches who haven't ever played in the NBA can't relate to a disgruntled player like one who has. JVG's response to Spanoulis basically proves my point.
yeah they were talking about this on 610 yesterday afternoon....complaining about playing time (especially when you're a bench player from overseas) probably won't fit into well with Dawson and JVG.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">T.O. is a strong personality. Don't confuse his personal life with what he does on the field. He has a personality that you have to learn to love. Not all coaches can coach T.O. Phil Jackson is great at dealing with personalities, JVG isn't even in the same class. My overrall point was players who have these "strong personalities" aren't in JVG's realm of coaching. That's why players like Battier who rarely show any emotion are JVG favorites. Nothin against Battier, but he doesn't really get mad or angry. But players like Spanoulis or Bonzi have personalities that you have to groom. I truly believe most coaches who haven't ever played in the NBA can't relate to a disgruntled player like one who has. JVG's response to Spanoulis basically proves my point. </div> Jeff coached Spreewell into the finals...if that ain't a strong personality then I don't know what is.
Man, if V-Span leaves because of this ****, I will be pissed. Why can't JVG give him 10 minutes against the Blazers so he can turn it over 5 times and prove why he still needs time and practice to be a good NBA contributer and player.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Jeff coached Spreewell into the finals...if that ain't a strong personality then I don't know what is.</div> True...That's the only real strong personality I can think of besides Steve Francis. Spree was a superstar and fan favorite back then, so JVG had to play him. But in Bonzi's case he's a solid role player who's comin on to a new team learning a new system. JVG needs to give him leeway......
