Aparently JVG did. He traded lots of what the team needed off for a bunch of scrubs and players he has to lambaste in the media everyday
Have I forgotten being a lower half playoff seed and then getting knocked out in the first round? No I haven't. If you read closely I said:
Last year was the first year that JVG had Yao and T-Mac together. And it's been THE ONLY YEAR he's had both Yao and T-Mac. Just in case you forgot I wanted to remind you of that.
Anyone can win a lot of games with a healthy T-Mac and Yao. The test of a good coach is how competitive his team is, how well he adapts, when one of his stars goes down. In the Lakers' 2002-03 season, Shaq missed 15 games. The team went 7-8 during that stretch, which is much better than JVG has been able to achieve this year when T-Mac or Yao was out. Even more revealing, the Shaq-less Lakers had a 3-4 record against winning teams, unlike our zero-for-whatever. Kobe carried the team? Nope, no more than Yao. Kobe averaged 28.4 points per game without Shaq, which is basically what Yao has been doing lately. Now it could be argued that the Lakers had better role players, and that is certainly true. But JVG has always maintained that the difference in talent between teams is minimal. In addition, JVG has hugely influenced the hiring of our role players. So if we take him at his word about talent, our dismal record without T-Mac can be the fault of only one person: JVG himself. Conclusion: Phil Jackson is good, JVG isn't.
The hell with struggle, the hell with working for what you want, the hell with going through tough times... for one season... lets get the coach who already has six rings on his fingers. Very convenient. That's the ticket. Enjoy the rest of your miserable Rocket season. You know what though, it's the pits for you, because JVG's not going anywhere and Phil will be in LA for a long time. So you may want to let that one go.
I have lost confidence in his appraisal of personnel. He has assembled a very poor group of role players. Hopefully they have off season plans, because a healthy TMac and Ming will not be able to drag this group into the playoffs next season. The Rockets need at least two more bonified NBA level starters, who are both shooters. The organization has little "wiggle" room financially, so we need a very good draft positon, a very good draft selection, and a miracle trade. Or, we will be having the same conversation at the same time next year.
Go ahead, keep sweating because you can't bear to part with your favorite two-handed shovel. I'm looking for a bulldozer. (Also, you realize that Phil was just an example?)
So if phil jackson is only an example, what exactly is he an example of? If its of a coach with six rings, then can you name another coach in the league that fits this example of yours?
We'll just keep digging with our eyes peeled for the sun over here. Meantime you keep looking for that bulldozer and around this time next year when the Rockets and Jeff Van Gundy are back on top, I want you to get on that bulldozer of yours and bulldoze your ass on to L.A where you can admire the Lakers and Phil from up close.
I agree with most of your points whole heartly. You stated exactly what I wanted to say. Judging what he has accomplished for the 3 years as Rockets coach, I would say he (along with CD) did great job helping to build this team with a great potential. Ever since he took over, most of the personnel moves have been great, with some of them not so great, but not so bad either. Comparing all the mistakes that Rudy (and CD of Rudy's time), no wonder JVG deserves a lot more praise. For Rudy, as much as I respected for those championship years, I would have to admit that, he really messed up the Rockets for many years. I am glad, this year we are just coming out of the bad effects. I would a litte dis-agree with you in that, he is not doing terrific job this year in coaching. As bad as the team is playing right now, he has his fair share of the blame. It is a fair argument that the team could have been playing better when one (of both) of our big guns are injured. How much better should it be, nobody can answer. At least in his hands, we lost virtually all of the games when both of them were out. Judging from this perspective, some coaches could have done somewhat better job if they were in his shoes. For example, Pacer's current coach could do better job on this aspect. But different good coach are different in different ways. The fact JVG is weak on some aspects should not necessarily make him a bad coach. Lets face it, without Yao or Magrady, we are screwed and we can go nowhere. I could have been more optimistic had it not been the T-Mac's back that causes so much uncertainty. So if JVG needs to survive, he needs to find a way to handle such uncertainty. If T-Mac's back is not a problem, then we will be in a great shape in the coming years. Now he (along with Dawson) needs to be prepared if T-Mac's back indeed could be a lingering problems. He needs to be able adjust in next season better than this season.
I did not support his hiring, but you have to give JVG some credit. He did have several bad contracts hanging over the team. I wish we could have gotten more for Taylor, but he is off the books now- as the Vin Bamer cost is over after this year, and Moochie is gone now. I'm not confident of JVG offense "system", but the injuries and previous bad contracts are not his fault. I recommend a free pass for the man. Give him a chance with healthy players-only fair. His odds of picking up a little help in the off season are improving I think. He has less albatross obligations hanging over him. I should not have suggested hiring Adelman. He will be likely unavailable after his season ending run. I'm truly afraid we will not improve the team by firing Van Gundy.
Free pass? While he blames the playes for this mess of a team at the same time? Are they responsible for the teams fiscal problems as well? How about he DESERVES some if not alot of the blame for not being able to motivate any of his players or and win some games. Every coach on a losing team gets some of the credit for it, and JVG is no exception. This has nothing to do with loyalty. This has everything to do with making things the best they could be. All you get right now is harsh criticism, and depressing quotes in the media (which doesnt help anyone on this team) and an abysmal record without one player who the team managed to ignore needed a real backup for 2 years. Noone gets a free pass.
100 dollar tip jar bet good enough for you? If the Rockets aren't one of the top 5 winning teams by this time next year, 100 goes in from me. If they are, 100 goes in from you. edit: I shouldn't put you on the spot like that. I apologize. You don't gotta bet.
I'm lost here. Yao was here before JVG arrived, then TMac just fall on the lap. Now enlight me how "he (along with CD) did great job helping to build this team with a great potential"? Outside Yao and TMac, we have an Alston without much defense, a Wesley with old legs, a Head who wouldn't get off the bench much had he played for any other teams. Who else do we have for this "great potential?" I must missed something here.
I would give JVG one more year to see what he is capable of doing. If everything goes normal, T-Mac will be healthy next season; Yao has reached Shaq's level (probably passed current Shaq) and getting better; they have chance to redo the roster this summer.
I was wondering the same thing. The personnel moves have been questionable at best, atrocious at worst. Swift, bust; Anderson, bust; Alston for James, huge mistake; Bogans, had one good game; Brunson, why?; retaining Bowen and shipping Padgett, crazy; where is the core to build on? The loss of Sura and Barry, a killer. Head is a decent rookie, but where does this team go from here? Is Wesley the starter of the future? Would Howard be a starter on any other NBA team? TMac and Ming need help not a burden to carry. I see a team in deep trouble facing nothing short of a miracle off season to recover to playoff status.
Be my guest. Keep sweating, see if your two-handed shovel could have dug the Panama Canal. I know that bulldozers exist, so I'm getting one.
