Chron Rocket Update: Aftermath, Scarred & Francis Update

What a coincidence that the team started to play selfishly right after Yao had couple good games and a monster game in Orlando. The players are being criticized for selfish play by the coach in public. I think the coach is right on his assessment of the team (losers). It is not rocket science to see what is happening on the court, as a lot of fans do here. There is no flow, no smooth pass, but a lot of dribbling, ugly playing.

Now the thing that worries me most is that the coach and the players(SF, CAT, Mo) start to disagree with each other in public. I could not imagine how bad it is behind closed door. Sooner or later, door is going to be evolving. Either the coach or certain players will GO if it is getting ugly in locker room. Like the coach said, changing rotation is an option, not a solution. My take is that player changing their attitudes OR trade is the solution.

One thing I do not really understand is why Mo would come out saying those unnecessary things. He seems doing pretty well with his scoring. This is not going to do him any good. Or maybe he thinks the coach is going to go, not SF/CAT.

 

The Rockets are in free fall.

I'm bumping the odds of a deadline trade up to 70%.

Raven

 

If Mo Taylor want's to know "offended." He'll understand that once he gets into the play-offs. The opponents will show no mercy. Then Mo Taylor can pull out the hanky for his tears....when his team is sent packing.

If JVG says the players are playing with no heart, then they are playing with no heart. He knows, the players don't.


JVG = Coach that has been through in trenches during the play-off battles.
Team = Spoiled babies than think the world owes them; easily offended.

 

These players are the biggest wusses I have ever heard of in sports. Mo Taylor is a disgrace.

 

Yeah, it seems like Rudy laid out a bad precedence during his reign. Players with bad practice habits and "leaders" with lacking fundamentals. Then, to make matters worse, he babied them! It's no wonder why EG said there were "cliques." Seem like the "buddy-buddy groups" are more important than winning for a few players.

 

Mine is higher at 85% now. Hope we are getting a good trade.

 

True. But like you said, "I could only blame Rudy T for not getting rid of such selfish players..."

I think that JVG is trying to weed-out those players. That's what I meant.

Rudy allowed it. JVG does not.

 

Exactly! The "loyalty thing."

I think loyalty is a good thing. But when it DIVIDES a team, then that team can never be a united team.

That's what EG was talking about when he said "cliques."

It's been proven in past championship teams. The players don't have to like each other, they just have to be on the same page. ALL OF THEM! Team first, regardless of who has the most talent.

 

Dont know if its been posted yet, but in the LA times power rankings today the description under the Rockets went something like this (paraphrasing):
Oops, before Miami loss Francis, Mobley and assistant coach Ewing seen out at 3 am.

WHAT IN THE HELL!?!?!
wow ewing what a great teacher and influence

 

Look at who got quoted. It was Steve, Mobley, and Mo. JJ and Yao probably gave their input too, but they might have said something that basically agreed with the coach. Of all the guys on the team, I think JJ may be the guy who is the most frustrated because he's had a taste of winning basketball with the Kings. He knows how tough the Kings have practiced to get to where they are basically like a machine on the court. One part fails, another part takes up the slack. JJ hasn't been on the team long enough to be throwing his weight around though. There are weed-out courses in college. This is the weed-out year for the players. Expect a 50% dropout rate.

 

You're right. This is a weed-out year. I think Van Gundy admires Bill Parcells a lot. Look at how he uses similar verbal tactics with the media when talking about his players. The 1st year with Bill Parcells as coach of a football team is always a weed-out year. He assesses who he is able to play for him in the future. He cuts the rest.

 

I'm trying to remember the last time I saw an article about the Rockets quoting their coach that was quite as damning as this one. Van Gundy let them have it. The jury is out about how they (the players) respond on the court, but it's pretty clear that something will be done by the deadline if they don't react the way Van Gundy wants. The odds are really increasing towards a move. There has been plenty of speculation, of course, but this makes that speculation more legitimate, in my opinion.

He questions their attitude and intensity, not their talent. If the guys don't react to the fire coming from this guy, they may discover a conflagration along with that ticket out of town.

 

Mo Taylor should just shut the hell up.

 

There is no way in hell that YM, SF, CM, MT, and KC are still together by the start of next years training camp.

I predict that Cato will be the first to go.

Raven

 

We have reached a point of simmering rebellion, but:

JVG > Inmates

As Jack once said "the truth, you can't deal with the truth."
Me thinks we might get some new inmates soon, sending a few of ours to other facilities

D R

 

I find it refreshing that JVG has the stones to say publicly what EVERYONE here is thinking privately. I, for one, have been questioning the attitude and intensity of this cast of characters for 2 years now. It's not talent that they lack but the will and determination to do what it takes to improve the level of their play on the court - to take the proverbial next step toward being champions. JVG has been preaching this from day one to deaf ears.

I mean look at what has just transpired here: the Rockets pissed away 2 high profile games during Super Bowl week - games that should have been statements to the NBA and the rest of the sporting world that the Rockets were ready for "prime time". Instead they go out and get punked. It's been four straight years of this crap and if players such as "crybaby" MoT don't extract their heads from their behinds, it will become five years. They have talked a good game for 4 years now. The time has come for these jokers to put up or shut up or in MoT's case, leave town.

 

While I definitely appreciate Van Gundy's approach, I believe he is too analytical and calculating to make a deal before the trade deadline. JVG probably knew from watching old tapes that Moochie wasn't going to cut it but he still laid out what he wanted from Moochie (early camp, weight reduction, style of play, etc.) and let Norris sink or swim on his own merit.

Realistically, we've seen the "heart" before (TWolves and Pacers). Van Gundy doesn't strike me as one with a knee-jerk reaction to the game. IMO, even the staunchest Van Gundy haters on this board don't feel Van Gundy has a "hair trigger" when it comes to trades. But this summer...all bets are off!