Does JVG need to throw away the playbook and play Phoenix ball?

I would love to play "Phoenix-style," but that is hard to do when your point guard's jersey reads A-L-S-T-O-N and not N-A-S-H.

 

That doesn't matter. Nash is masterful in the half court as well as in the open court.

 

I understand why you would suggest this. On offense, we need to run the ball to get the separation needed for open shots because our players aren't very athletic. Problem is we have little depth and increasing the number of possessions each game by playing Suns basketball would wear the team out.

To answer your question: The current playbook should definitely be thrown in the garbage can. Our players are going to have to move more without the ball and actually try to get open instead of just standing on the 3 point line.

 

Phoenix has Nash, that's why they play that way. No way Alston can do that. And no way Mutombo can run up and down the floor. We don't have the depth Phoenix has, at least not until TMac, Snyder, and Sura get back.

 

JVG's offense is done without T-Mac and Yao. Actually any coaches offense will be done without your No 1 and No 2.

He just need to keep his team stay competitive the rest of way and get a low draft pick.

I don't know his extension though. This might actually help him to get extension for another year because this team is soo f*cked up with injuries to its two main guy.

 

We need to play A-L-B-A-N-Y ball, as in CBA Albany Patroons, because that's our squad now guys.

 

Do the rockets know how to run a fast break? For the limited chances they had, they seem either got the shot blocked or missed a layup or pulled up a jumper and missed.

 

Deke, Juwan, Bonzi, Shane, Chuck, Rafer, Luther, JL3 cannot play Suns basketball. Too slow, can't shoot good enough and can't handle the ball well enough. Simple as that. We must become more freewheeling and players must go ahead and take makable shots instead of waiting on trying to get the ball into Yao. The preseason drill of an 18 second shot clock could help now. Still, shot selection will be key for us because our offense is destroyed.

 

Thank you for providing such a hearty laugh during this dark time in Rocket-land.

 

I think you are being too optimistic, which is OK by me. I don't think Chuck runs the floor that well and his inability to finish at the rim diminishes his value significantly. His tendency toward dumb fouls will limit his minutes too.

 

Considering that he's just about the best defensive coach in the NBA, hell no.

 

I think we definitely will speed up the tempo without Yao. But I think our emphasis will be on locking down teams defensively.

JVG will try to lower the number of possessions in the game for both teams. I am expected a lot of games in the 80 point range.

Bonzi should pretend he's Charles Barkley and go for 20-10 a night. He wants that contract right? Head must develop into a 20+ point scorer a night. As for our bigs...



Deke for 20/m a game and our PFs at backup center?

Padgett, Novak, Shane backup minutes at the power forward?


Unless we sign a rotation ready backup center, I guess we will see JHO's portrayal of a center. That's why I think we will have to run more, Howard and Hayes at the center position will be abused in the half court.

 

I completely agree with macfan, I was actually going to post something similar but u beat me to it.

first off, I am really really really pissed right now. I almost cried after the game, I am not kidding.

I dont agree with "tank the season" guys. I dont want to "tank the season" because this is the season we were supposed to compete and win a championship. y'all were talking about the Suns, last year's Suns played without Amare and still competed in the West and went all the way to the WCF. I understand they had Nash and everything, but I believe we can do it if we played smartly and put maximum effort. we have what it takes.

watching us blow the lead in the 3rd and eventually losing the game, I was screaming my head off on JVG to stop drawing plays, get Span and Novak in, and let the team play freely, that is, without restrains. I got really sick of all the individual players trying to do something by themselves. I understand that's how we usually play and the players aren't used to playing without Yao in the middle, but that's what practices are for. I think it's time to get some kind of a running game going and develop chemistry between players. watching the Rockets without Yao (and obviously Tmac) is very annoying because it seems like players are taking turns in jacking up shots. they just get the ball, dribble, dribble dribble, pass it out, get it back, jack up a three or drive and get blocked, get back on D. playing Phoenix Suns game is our best choice right now. tanking is NOT a good idea because next year, we will end up with the Same Tmac and Yao except older by ONE year plus a rookie who will get stuck on the bench whether he is good or not. we cant afford losing another year. we need to play Suns basketball; Rafer's biggest strength is running the break. he lives for that. Rafer's game is the running game, driving to the rim and dishing out no-looks. not playing a half-court game like we were doing before Yao went down.

I knew that we are gonna lose the Clippers game right before the second half started, when Bart reported that Tom-Tibs told him we are going to keep playing the "in-and-out" game even with Yao out of the game. that's when I called the loss. Bonzi couldn't do anything simply because defense was collapsing on him. the Clips eventually limited Shane because they found out that he is the only one killing them. when they took our "inside" game out of it, we were left with the perimeter game, which is a professional name for "jacking up shots underpressure".

IMHO, the most important key to wins is, believe it or not, Defense. we need to get a lot of steals, a lot of charges, a lot of 24 sec violations. we need to stop dribble penetration and most importantly, stop *fouling*. this morning, I was watching a documentary on NBA TV about the knicks run in the finals under JVG against the Spurs. they showed this part when Ewing was in foul trouble or whatever, their "post up game" was gone. but they still managed to play a great game and they almost pulled out a victory and the key was good D. they had Houston and Sprewell and they were running the break really well. I was like "damn, how the hell are they running under JVG?". my point is, JVG can do it. he can get us to play disciplined Defense and leave our players to do their thing on offense. the biggest challenge will be finding a balance between Defensive players and offensive players and knowing *when* to use certain players.

here's what it's gonna take us to win: give Span and *Novak* significant minutes. Span can kill us with his TOs, I know, but he will eventually learn and he can limit his TOs after a couple of 30+ minutes games. he is a very smart player and he can get it done. Novak has to get up at least 10 shots a game. the guy has a serious talent and it shouldn't be wasted. I want to see something Span and Rafer running the break and Novak rolling slowly behind them to get the spot-up three, kinda like what Sura-Wesly-Barry used to do. we need to have a lot of offensive weapons to get it done and we cant depend on only 1 or 2 players.

I understand that my post is kinda mixed up and it has so many random stuff in it, but that's what happens to a frustrated Rockets fan after losing a game to a mediocre team and most importantly, losing our last weapon. this is like freakin brain storming, but too bad my brain doesn't operate 100% after a shocking event like tonight's.

last word: SAY NO TO TANKING, GIVE IT ALL WE CAN, TRY TO STAY AROUND .500 UNTIL THE ALLSTAR BREAK, THEN GET ON A WILD RUN AND FINISH 7TH OR 8TH, THEN SHOW EVERYBODY WHO WE ARE IN THE PLAYOFFS.

 

I'm with RocketsMac, especially that last statement. No team is messing w/us in the playoffs, as long as our 2 guys are healthy.