How long do you think it will take JVG to put Luther Head in the 4th to help close some games? Our guards can't seem to close or hit those clutch shots. I know Head is a rookie but he looks like he has more confidence than Anderson and Wesley combined.
This kid deserves more playing time. Did you see that play when he put back that missed FT in the Miami game. JVG wake up, this kid should be groomed for the playoff push and the eventual successor to DW, he ain't going to get better watching from the bench.
Man, I agree, I really like this guy. I hate hearing on radio/tv that JVG just doesn't like to trust rookies. But hey, he's gettin to play. As long as he makes his minutes count, he'll continue to hopefully. I'd love for him to find a place in the rotation with T-Mac back.
Yep, some of our woes come from coaching mistakes. JVG is being loyal to his vets, which is understandable, but he'll have to change his rigid stance as he did last year with T-Mac. If Wesley doesn't improve, trade him as the expiring contract that he is; get Head in the game more. The kid is fearless and makes his damned shots.
The fact that he's getting any playing time at all in a JVG rotation is a testmament to one of two things: 1. Either the guard situation is so desperate that his hand has been forced (TMac and Sura out definitely sucks), or 2. He has actually impressed enough to warrant playing time as a rookie... something Van Gundy players aren't exactly known for My guess is that it's a little bit of both, but the idea that it could be a little bit of the second one is really good news.
This is a myth. Van Gundy rarely has had rookies to work with. Head is the first draft pick Van Gundy has had on the roster since he's been with the Rockets. Looking back through his New York years, he didn't have many rookie draft picks then.
I adminre the rookie's hustle play last night. Especially when he tipped that missed free throw of Yao converting it to a 2point shot. The kid is not bad, he should have been in teh last minutes of the quarter. But then if we bench the veterans that would make them feel incompetent and might create some problem. That's one reason I guess why JVG utilizes the vets in the closing minutes. The game against magic, our defense collapsed in the ending minutes allowing their guards to make open shots. Last night against the Heat, our offense collapse. As I have said in the threads, JVG completely relied on Yao and when Zo denied the ball for Yao , the rest was just passing the ball like kids and forced the last guy with the ball to take a bad shot.
Is it just me, or does our defensive rotation off of pick and rolls, double teams, etc. lacking a lot compared to previous seasons. I remember marveling at how well the Rockets would cover for each other on D. I guess this is due to new players in the system that. I hope they pick up fast.
It absolutely drives me crazy the way Yao seems to be the one guarding every single pick and roll. Every time he gets stuck defending the other team's guard, and more often than not, this is how he ends up wearing himself out and getting into foul trouble. (not to mention the pick and slip resulting in a quick layup by the other team) It's just one of the things that gets me about our defensive rotations.
According to Stve Kerr, #2 is more like it. Steve said JVG told him that Luther is a special player and will be a great pro for a long time if he contyinues on this path. Like NikeStrad rightly pointed out, this JVGnot liking rookies is a myth propagated by laziness of fans and pressmen who fail to do their home work. Heck JVG gave Boki more time in a month than Rudi gave him after taking him very high in the draft (though Rudy only had Boki for his rookie year). One thing I have learnt from JVG is that although he is loyal to his vets and hardworkers, he is also fair to young players who "show-him-something". So by that token, Head's minutes and responsiblity will increase on this team ala Sammy Cassell but it is going to happen gradually.
I like JVG, but I wonder if he'll ever lead the Rockets to a title. He's just to rigid of a coach. A coach should go with whatever works and what gets the team a win. JVG does not make good in game adjustments and he stubbornly sticks with the vets even when they aren't playing well. He wears Ming down having him run around the court like a guard when he should be running from low block to low block.
Luther Head - Drafted #24 (13.7 minutes a game so far) Other Van Gundy Rookies: Vassilis Spanoulis - Drafted #55 (actually traded for, but still in Europe) Michael Wright - Drafted #39 (cut in training camp) Eric Chenowith - Drafted #43 (cut in summer camp) Donnell Harvey - Drafted #22 (traded for Erick Strickland) LaVor Postell - Drafted #39 (success story with 26 games, 6.5 minutes a game) Frederic Weis - Drafted #15 (cut in training camp) J.R. Koch - Drafted #46 (cut in training camp) DeMarco Johnson - Drafted #38 (5 games, 6.1 minutes per) Sean Marks - Drafted #44 (traded to Toronto as change in the Oakley trade) John Thomas - Drafted #25 (traded with 3 other players for Chris Mills) At best, I'll give you that the verdict is still out on Van Gundy since he hasn't had any highly drafted rookies to this point. But the facts don't lie. Luther Head is by far the most favored rookie in the history of Jeff Van Gundy's career as an NBA head coach. Sorry to perpetuate the "myth".
I remember during the magic game Luther drove the baseline and passed out to the perimeter from under the basket but stepped out of bounds. The camera then showed JVG and he was yelling encouragement to Luther immediately after the turnover. That impressed me.
This is laziness I am talking about. First, V-Span's jury is still out - he will get his opportunity. Now tell me, who among those listed deserve to even be mentioned as notable NBA players (save for maybe John Thomas)? If they were any good Why have they not sicked or made marginal impact? A similar of wastepipes could be made for notable coaches with reputation for gooming young players including P. Riley, Adelman, Rudy T., etc..
Read what I wrote a little closer: How can you say that Van Gundy does or does not like playing rookies. Anything that tries to interpret what's going on inside Van Gundy's head is pure speculation. But what's clear is that we're in uncharted waters with a rookie getting playing time under Van Gundy.
DarkHorse, I am very sorry about that {Fridaylitis is the cause} For that silliness, I hereby give myself an Thanks for helping me make my point
