Reply With Quote
I woudl have been suprised to see Van Exel complacent. The fact that he doesn't feel satisfied is a good thing.
Mike Monroe
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b....21c7070a.html
Nick Van Exel goes into Saturday's Game3 against the Dallas Mavericks knowing the NBA doesn't assign the same officials to two consecutive games in one series.
If only the Spurs could be as certain Van Exel won't take himself out of Saturday's game with another poor shooting performance.
Through the first eight playoff games, Van Exel has made 4 of 23 shots. He made three in the second quarter of the first-round opener against the Sacramento Kings but did not play in Game4 of that series. He logged fewer than six minutes Tuesday in Game2 against the Mavericks before referee Steve Javie called two technical fouls and ejected him.
"That's ridiculous to be in the league this long and get that kind of technical," Van Exel said. "I don't even know what I said. I don't think I said that many words. I know I wasn't cussing."
Van Exel had only enough court time to get up one shot, a missed 3-pointer. His 17.4 percent shooting in the playoffs leads to concerns about his left elbow, which contains debris from old injuries and occasionally was painful enough to land him on the inactive list.
"Everything's fine," Van Exel said. "I'm not worried about stuff like that. With me, to be effective, I need to be playing. It's hard for me to justify anything I'm doing playing spot minutes.
"Four for 23? Man, that's one game for me."
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich insists Van Exel remains his choice to back up point guard Tony Parker, no matter how poorly he has shot.
"Nick's a playoff player, and I'm going to stick with him," Popovich said. "That's all I'm going to say."
One reason the Spurs signed Van Exel last summer was the memory of his clutch shooting against the Spurs in the 2003 Western Conference finals. Van Exel averaged 19.5 points in the Mavericks' 20 playoff games that season, seven points above his regular-season average.
Van Exel said a lack of aggression offensively is most responsible for his poor shooting this playoff season.
"I just need to take the shots that are good shots," he said. "I'm not being aggressive enough. I'm passing first and attacking second. I've got to get my mind frame right going into the game, and that (shooting) will take care of itself.
"Four for 23? I'm not concerned about that. I haven't had good looks, so I'm not really concerned about that at all."
Van Exel says it has been difficult adjusting to sporadic playing time with the Spurs. Too often, he said, he has played "like a robot."
"I'm going out there and being aggressive when I'm out there, no matter how much time it is," he said. "I say that very easily, but most nights, I don't do that. I just go out there and play like a robot.
"On Saturday I'm going to go out there and just play."
It will be easier knowing he won't have to look over his shoulder for Javie, whom Van Exel contends once called him a "miserable person" while ejecting him from a game in 2001.
I woudl have been suprised to see Van Exel complacent. The fact that he doesn't feel satisfied is a good thing.
adios.Nick's a playoff player, and I'm going to stick with him," Popovich said. "That's all I'm going to say."
I've never been that much of a NVE fan.
He's never seen a shot that he doesn't like. If he gets the ball, you're almost 99.9% sure he'll shoot it, because he NEVER PASSES.
So, if you're that kind of player, and you don't hit shots, you're pretty much useless.
I did think it was funny when he threw towels at Jalen Rose.
By the way, Nick, the 1970's called and they want their socks back.
Couldn't have said it better."Four for 23? Man, that's one game for me."
I don't really get from the article that he's complaining that much about playing time. . .maybe he his and just knows better that to come out and state it directly.
He's certainly using it as an excuse for his poor shooting.
I just look at 4 for 23 as a sign that he's due.
If I were Pop, he wouldn't be on the playoff roster.
I would not use the word sporadic to describe NVE's playing time. When healthy, he has been the back-up and has played the minutes a back-up would play, and sometimes even more. Pop has used a two PG line-up at times even to get Nick more minutes. As for sporadic minutes, ask Beno. His role has been infinitely more sporadic and he has looked pretty ready just about every time his number has been called.
I like that he is not satisfied. However, I don't want his disatisfaction to turn into a distraction like he's been in the past with other teams. we got a glimpce of how his at ude can hurt a team in game 2.
Maybe if he plays like he has something to prove he'll get more minutes, until then he needs to stop being completely passive on defense and stop making dumb tos.
So which PG would you have on the roster to replace him? Don't get me wrong, I can't stand the Cincy "Huggins" Thug but who would replace him as a backup PG on the roster?
Or does Tony/Beno and a combo of Manu/Brent do it for you?
God forbid a point guard would look for the pass.
why the did you guys sign this idiot? because of what he did 3 years ago? i hope that wasnt the reason. i think they should let him go after this year and let beno develop. maybe even sign speedy claxton again. bobby jackson is probably coming back to sacto anyway.
Um...why the did the Kings get you?
I like Nick's at ude but his defense was atrocious in game two. Before he was ejected, he was letting Harris, Terry, and Howard blow right by him.
That being said, I love veteran players that still has something to prove. Nick definitely has something to prove.
so TiMVP what happened to your boy?
I thought this was when he was going to show up and be big?
4-23 that pretty big....if you are talking about busts, but at least he's pretty slow on defense
because they knew i would make there defense much better and i would become a great leader on the floor. not to mention it was the best way to get rid of that pussy ass player who makes me sick to the ing stomach. peja chokeacovic. but anyway dont be mad at me because your spurs made the WRONG choice in signing a washed up player who plays no defense.
Pretty misleading thread le.
It doesn't sound like complaining to me. It just sounds like he's saying that he doesn't play enough minutes that the stats mean much.
I never expected Nick to be a high percentage shooter or anything. I just expected him to a game like Game 2 against the Kings every once in a while, and to relieve Tony in the backcourt for 5-10mpg.
Ok, I'm not sure I agree that he's doing that.
But I agree with EHJ, 4-23 just makes me think he's due for a HUGE game and Timvp is due for a thread proclaiming he was right about NVE this whole time.
anyone.
That does it for me, Brent can play PG as well.
What about him? If you haven't heard already they're 0-3 when lamo plays.
Beno has been pretty bad in the playoffs. For as much as people complain about NVE, he has been a lot better than Beno. And to say that NVE doesnt pass is stupid. Anyone watching the first two games of this series can not say that NVE hasnt been passing.
Wasn't he complaining about minutes in the Sacramento series, something to the effect of, "well i didn't tell pop i was hurting, so i don't know why he isn't playing me". So yeah whether or not he's complaining here, he has been complaining about it.
You put in Nick and you might as well just give Duncan two fouls trying to cover Terry or Harris blowing by NeVEr.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
