Chron: Rockets reach turning point

[Rockets34Legend]

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/2962313

Players' desire to save season is in question
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle

If the Rockets could muster the passion, they might be offended — angry, even.

But to this point, they really have not seemed to mind Jeff Van Gundy's charge that they have lacked passion.

Perhaps they accept it, as they have so much in their dreary season thus far. They might be dutifully mimicking his observations or desperately clinging to his proposed solution.

But as the Rockets face the indignity of their disappointing season taking on two losses in five days to the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, they don't argue, or really seem to mind, as if it is better to have lacked intensity than ability.

At least if intensity has been the problem, that theoretically can be corrected.

The problem with that logic, however, is that this is not a sudden revelation. They have cited this problem throughout the season. If it has not been solved yet, the Rockets really have not offered a reason to assume it will be.

"We will be changed," Yao Ming said. "We will be changed from practice because that's the only way you can change."

Practice, however, is not a new idea either.

Tracy McGrady said the Rockets can change because it's time. But it might have been time long before the latest bit of Rockets' soul-searching.

"I don't have the answer for that," McGrady said when asked why the Rockets can change now if they could not before. "I am (worried). I think we have the talent to get it done, to turn it around, to be a better ballclub than what we're showing right now.

"It's that time. We can't say it's the beginning of the season. This is the turning point. It's time for us to turn it around. I think we're better than we're showing. We have to hold each other accountable. Coach is doing a great job to get us ready. As a team, we have to police ourselves. If a guy's not giving that effort, if he's a superstar or the last guy on the bench, we have to get on their butts.

"We can turn this around. We need to be out there with a swagger on the basketball court, let other teams feel our presence on the basketball court. Right now, I don't think anybody respects us or feels us on the basketball court."

But the notion of these Rockets learning to play with ferocity might be as unlikely as thinking they will be just fine — as soon as they make Charlie Ward as quick as Tony Parker and Juwan Howard as explosive as Amare Stoudemire.

Those might be good ideas, but teaching grit might be as unlikely as creating quickness or leaping ability.

"I would just say you don't win without it. I know that," Van Gundy said when asked if intensity can be instilled.

"This is different for me having to spend so much time trying to coax effort and (consider) sensitivities of not being as diligent to the cause.

"It's my first time with a team who on a consistent basis doesn't play with a grit or a determination. I'm not comfortable with that."

Asked about Van Gundy's contention that the team has lacked intensity, forward Maurice Taylor said on Wednesday, "That's his opinion."

A day later, it still did not sound as if it is an opinion Taylor shares.

"We feel like we just played the game and we just came up short," Taylor said. "We just didn't play well enough to win. They played better than us down the stretch. That's what happens in ballgames. One team plays better than the oth-er."

Taylor insisted that the Rockets can fix the problems that have repeatedly allowed other teams to play better. But he also seemed to be discounting theories about why the Rockets have come up short.

"Regardless of what people may say or what people may think," Taylor said, "it's up to us in the locker room, nobody else."

But they have not changed their pattern thus far. As the NBA's oldest and most experienced team, such problems, or any others, should not seem new to the Rockets. That, however, might not be a good thing to a team that increasingly seems to accept its fate.

"What's puzzling to me about our team and our players is we've been through many, many ugly seasons, and why they would choose to go there again instead of pay the price to win makes no sense to me," Van Gundy said. "It's not like we've had many super-successful seasons and they've sort of become satisfied with success like Detroit trying to muster up that energy to do it again. We're different.

"We've had very few successful seasons. (Dikembe) Mutombo's had some. (Charlie) Ward's had some, (Jim) Jackson one in Sacramento, Juwan (Howard) one in Dallas. On the whole, why they would choose to keep doing what loses is puzzling to me. I can't figure out a good reason why you'd want to go down that path again.

"We're 12-14, 56 games left. To have a chance to make the playoffs, we probably need to win 32 of those. That will be very difficult. It will be impossible without change, major change in how we go about our business.

"It could get ugly because I'm not the type of personality to let go of the rope and (accept) this is how it's going to be. I will fight with every fiber of my body the mediocrity and the lack of intensity."

If nothing else, he might have found something the Rockets would be willing to fight.

------------------------------------

Interesting words from Yao, T-Mac, MoT and JVG. Now will it turn the season around?

[darkwarrior]

YEAHHHHH I"M PUMPED LETS DO THIS

I will fight with every fiber of my body the mediocrity and the lack of intensity."

damn that quote is so intense.

[MrRolo]

One player could give our team that intensity and desire the team so desperately needs. CD... find that person please thanks.

[calurker]

Originally posted by nWo34Life "We've had very few successful seasons. (Dikembe) Mutombo's had some. (Charlie) Ward's had some, (Jim) Jackson one in Sacramento, Juwan (Howard) one in Dallas. On the whole, why they would choose to keep doing what loses is puzzling to me. I can't figure out a good reason why you'd want to go down that path again.

I'm surprised to be seeing some of the names mentioned above. Think what JVG says is true, or are they just easy scapegoat?

[Rocket River]

yea yea yea

*YAWN*

Rocket River
show it on the court people. . .

[smoothie]

barry will help us in the heart and desire area. oh yeah, he can shoot too.

maybe we can move howard for snow for some defensive intensity.

[gucci888]

As RocketRiver put it, just show us on the court.

[Rokkit]

Originally posted by Rocket River yea yea yea *YAWN* Rocket River show it on the court people. . .

I think that's the point.

They aren't. And some guys (like Taylor) think that they are.

So is it...Several of these players having no ability to get that kind of intensity on the court (losing attitude).

or

The coach's system not working and causing the players not to care.

Or a little of both?

McGrady makes the comment that 'coach gets us ready'; yet is this just a guy sticking up for his coach in the media and trying to not create a problem? Or is he simply one of the few guys in the locker room that believes that?

The problems on this team are incredibly far-reaching.

[franchise23]

Originally posted by gucci888 As RocketRiver put it, just show us on the court.

agree

[BigM]

"We feel like we just played the game and we just came up short," Taylor said. "We just didn't play well enough to win. They played better than us down the stretch. That's what happens in ballgames. One team plays better than the oth-er."

Imo, that's a crap quote and indicative of the lack of desire that we're seeing. i liked mo alot last year and he was actually a spark off the bench. this year he lacks energy and confidence and unbelievably has gotten softer. right now maurice taylor defines rocket's basketball and that is a freaking scary thought.

as much as people blasted steve and cat, they were intense and high energy on the court and made sure the team got pumped(for the most part). t-mac is not that kind of leader and nobody on this team really is. i still think the trade will benefit us in the long run but our 2 young guys are gonna need alot more help.

[JoeBarelyCares]

I know we had a different group of players then, but do you think the players generally played harder for Rudy than they have for JVG? I'm just guessing that Rudy was the better motivator.

[blazer_ben]

Finally JVG is calling people out. IT'S TIME TO SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT. great Article.

[T_Man]

Yeah JVG is calling people out..

The only problem is, he needs to call himself out.

Everything starts from the top.

[richirich]

Problems besides intensity that JVG doesn't mention:

Talent or lack thereof.

Speed or in our case, slowness.

Size and strength in our PPF's (Powder Puff Forwards) and the ability to box out and rebound and shoot over taller opponents.

Athleticism.....

Ability to dribble.

Ability to pass into the post.

JVG's system, and the drawbacks it creates by allowing the opponent's defense to setup.

JVG's setting of the rotation and sitting people who have performed well: AB and Boki sitting, playing Bowen, Ward and Lue. JVG's 3rd & 4th quarter substitutions.

Many of these no-one can solve short of a trade or the next draft. Others are JVG's own blind spots.

We will see if Mr. Barry can help and how long he can stay out of JVG's doghouse.

[Little O]

Originally posted by BigM "We feel like we just played the game and we just came up short," Taylor said. "We just didn't play well enough to win. They played better than us down the stretch. That's what happens in ballgames. One team plays better than the oth-er." Imo, that's a crap quote and indicative of the lack of desire that we're seeing. i liked mo alot last year and he was actually a spark off the bench. this year he lacks energy and confidence and unbelievably has gotten softer. right now maurice taylor defines rocket's basketball and that is a freaking scary thought. as much as people blasted steve and cat, they were intense and high energy on the court and made sure the team got pumped(for the most part). t-mac is not that kind of leader and nobody on this team really is. i still think the trade will benefit us in the long run but our 2 young guys are gonna need alot more help.

You know what I am beginning to think that Mo Taylor hates JVG the most. I probably don't remember correctly but I think this is the second anti-JVG quote that he has had. He is one of the flower forwards that thinks he should start.

Mo Taylor is becoming a cancer. The sooner he is gone the better. The sooner he is gone the sooner things will turn around.

[mbiker]

This is the reason why MoT has to go. He thinks that he is showing intensity, but it is very apparent that he is not. What is the one thing that the Rockets need the most? Rebounding! The guy has the physical attributes to be a very good rebounder, but has never shown the intensity or desire to be a good rebounder. The guy weighs 255lbs and is extremely quick on the offensive end once he has the ball. There is a huge difference in the intensity that he displays when faking or driving to the basket offensively, than when he tries to rebound or play defense.

While he shows intensity on the offensive end, he does not play smart at all. Defenses have figured him out. Once he gets the ball in the post he is usually swarmed by defenders because they know that he isn’t going to kick the ball out. They know that he is the black hole of the universe. Not only does he not kick the ball out, but he shows the same moves time after time.

[ikfit]

I have to feelings:

1. The main problem is Yao, I'm not blame yao, he is trying very hard. What I want to say is: He still a 23 years old kid and ether Tmac. Yao's ability to handle the ball and get along with his teammates is need more time then other players like shaq, cato...So we need give his teammates more time to let them know eachother. And the most important thing is, the teammates need trust him and no matter how many TOs he made, still trust him. Last season, everyone blame sf , cat not pass to him, I think just because all the players worry about his TO.


2. JVG need make up his mind about the start line right now.
even it is not perfect, still keep it, just adjust the PT of individual players. In this way, all our rosters know their role in the team and don't worry and think too much about it. So they can concentrite on the Game.

Go Rockets, I still belive.

[DaDakota]

I think the team has given up on JVG, they don't care what he says, they have no respect for him.

DD

[NIKEstrad]

Originally posted by T_Man Yeah JVG is calling people out.. The only problem is, he needs to call himself out. Everything starts from the top.

Yep, JVG never blames himself for problems.

[HillBoy]

Originally posted by T_Man Yeah JVG is calling people out.. The only problem is, he needs to call himself out. Everything starts from the top.

If everything does indeed start at the top, then JVG should start by calling out CD & Uncle Les...

Also I found it amusing the Mo Taylor of all people had the nerve to get miffed at having his coach question the effort that's coming from this team. He's just upset because his coach doesn't place the same value on making excuses as himself.