Yeah JVG was lying about there being too much blame on Steve and Cat. Yao was lying when he said mostly the same thing on his website. People who try and rationalize the statements by Jeff and Ming baffle me. I don't want to sound like I think Cat and Steve can do no wrong, becuase they've done plenty of wrong, and their decisions and play have played a fair share in some Rocekts losses. But I do think that maybe the amount and severity of the attacks aimed those two aren't proportionate to their culpability in Rockets losses.
Well, Mo has been out, there is a new system, lack of practice time.... ....and we can individually blame Steve's tendency to panic when he's exposed on D (often), which wrecks his offense; ....Cat seldom acknowledging Yao; ....Mo's panicking, rather than letting the game come to him, which thus takes away his passing game because he, like his teammates, thinks that "I've got to score, I've got to get my game going"; ....Mooch's stupidity in general; ....Jim Jackson playing too many minutes while Pike and A-Griff have been out; ....Cato's slide, albeit not a precipitous one (and yet, how many potential dunks can you send to the ceiling because you clanked it off the back rim?). I don't know. A lot of these losses have begun with those point swings, that is, Cat jacking up a bad shot (I'll heap blame on him all day, so sorry) and the other team racing down for an uncontested three-pointer or layup. That's always in the 2nd quarter. The 10 point lead evaporates and the mental midgets called the Rocks lose again. Hope it changes real quick. One way or the other, Cat won't be a Rocket by the trading deadline. JVG just can't say so.
I agree . .. i think the rumors of trade is what started Eddie's downslide. JVG sounded very guarded and uncooperative getting him to talk was like pulling teeth I think he thinks Rich and Charlies are every bit the *ssClowns we do JVG is winning me over. . . . though I still think he overrated Rocket River BUT HE IS MY OVERRATED COACH DAMMIT!!1
I'm still adjusting to JVG and I don't know what to think yet. If stupid play drives the guy nuts, he took a very interesting job. I think he's thrown down the gauntlet (in his own way). Winning alone will not preclude moves if we don't learn how to play smarter. Even if Rudy were still around I think the team as it is (even with our good off-season acquisitions) would have been at a breaking-point by midseason unless we see just gradual improvement. I think tonight is one of those early improtant games for this team. If we lose, I think it willl get interesting.
The (core of the) team was kept together, IMO due to the arrogance of the owner and his opinion of the talent on the squad (and therefore coaching change). At some point, February or June, JVG's stamp on personnel is destined to be effected.
Geez, guys, lighten up! You don't trash talk someone you are going to trade. That's GM 101. Saying someone is getting too much of the blame means that you are thinking about trading them, and want to maintain their value. If he had said that it was mostly Cat's fault, what other team would wnat him??? JVG may not be the greatest coach to ever live, but he isn't stupid either......
