The Rockets need a good kick in the ass. It's nice to see that Van Gundy isn't pussyfooting around like Rudy. Brutal honesty can sometimes be effective. Let's face it, the Rockets are one of the worst teams in the league, and there's no excuse for that.
I had been saying for a while now that Van Gundy is too negative about his team to be an effective coach. It's obvious now that his players are not listening to him and not responding to all of his criticisms, fair or unfair. This kind of b****ing to the media simply isn't going to get this team to listen. He had toned down his b****iing during our recent mini winning streaks. If you remember though, before that streak, he had b****ed after a loss and b****ed all the same after a win. Three losses in a row, and the b**** is back in full force. I have no problem with him trying to motivate the team, but do that in private during practice or in the locker room, not to the media. You don't get any respect from the players or the fans running like a little girl to the press as soon as the team starts losing.
Another disappointing loss. We have been playing like sh*t the last three games and it's time for JVG to give thess guys a wakeup call.
I suppose it's a harsh comment, but who really cares? I hate, hate, HATE watching the Rockets games. And yet as a lifelong fan I'm stuck in this marriage. Let JVG call them out. I don't care. He's right. Maybe "heart" isn't the correct word, but there is something that the team definitely lacks. The drive to win. The will. The brains and the guts. They came out in the 2nd half sleepwalking. Careless. Every time they get a decent lead they squander it. Against the crappy teams it doesn't matter as much (Knicks). Against most teams? It comes back to bite them. Are the players angry? Good. Maybe they'll be angry enough to care about playing for this team. Otherwise, our "leader" (Francis) can be sent packing to a Leastern Conference team that'll have him (albeit right after the All Star break because the public relations nightmare of trading away Steve's chance to start in the All Star game...)
JVG told it like it was. If the players can't handle it, tough. After 3 straight pathetic performances those comments were warranted. Let's see how they respond in phoenix
Once the heart of a champion and now a bunch of tin mens. How sad. JVG is a different coach that is for sure. And for all his basketball knowledge. sometimes he is stupid.
I think that calling your players out in the media is pretty unprofessional and could backfire on Van Gundy. I get the feeling that we have gone from a family atmosphere with Rudy (especially after reading the Chronicle's article) to JVG basically conducting things more professionally. Each way can work, but I am not sure how we'll respond to this approach. Watching the game I would have to say that this comment might have been directed at Yao.
im glad he made the comments, i dont see why peopple are getting mad. These people get paid millions of dolloars and they should get criticism when needed. The rockets just need to grow up.
A football coach whose name I can't remember said that you can either be the team that applies the pressure, or you can be the team that the pressure is applied to. More often that not, the Rockets have been the team the pressure has been applied to, and the reaction to the pressure has been bad.
I remember when Van Gundy was the coach of the Knicks, and he would say some stuff about Michael Jordan trying to make Mike out to be a bad guy who was befriending young players only to beat them badly on the court. It backfired bigtime. Hubie Brown said that it is part of a coach's duty to alleviate the pressure to drawing up the Xs and Os to give the players less uncertainty on the court. Most of the recent failings under pressure is probably due to the players, but some of it should be falling upon the shoulders of the coach. His words may indeed be true, but the guy should attribute some of the loss to himself too. Maybe if he blames himself a little, Steve will eventually put the blame on himself also when a game is lost. That in turn may let this team go forward a bit. I think Yao is actually pretty self-critical. He knows his errors and recognizes them.
From LA times'ranking 8 HOUSTON (26-20) Oops: Francis, Mobley, Coach Ewing seen out at 3 a.m. before loss in Miami. (6)
so that's been Ewing's contribution, huh?...showing our guys how to really behave at strip clubs. Unbelievable!!
Kenyon Martin was having his way with us, as JVG is quoted as saying. Neither Cato nor Maurice Taylor were able to contain him. Martin went off for 15 points in the 3rd quarter, more than our total points for the quarter.
I think JVG is a superb coach, with a strong record of success. Personally, I'm glad that he's calling out the Rox. Someone needs to. People may not like his style, but it's really hard to argue with a proven track record of playoff success. I think he knows what it takes to win, and I’m glad he’s our coach. Yes, JVG tends to focus on all the negatives of the team, sometimes to the point of being overcritical, but that is exactly what this team needs. This Rox team is young, without seasoned, driven veterans to motivate the rest of the players. We don't have a Hakeem or Clyde to call out the rest of the team and set a good example. All we have are SF and Cat, and they're the problem. JVG is completely justified in his comments, even if the players don't agree. Sometimes the truth hurts...
Agree. It's a coach's responsibility to inspire and coach each player to be as good as he is capable of being. People basically want to do a good job. I have never heard any player walk out of the court and say, "man, I feel great! I did a lousy job today." How to inspire people to superior performance? The best way to do it is to convince them by everything you do, everything you say and your everyday attitude that you are wholeheartly supporting them... -------------------------- for thought------------------------- "Maybe the media won't know who I am, if I don't wear a name badge," Flip Saunders who will coach in the NBA All-Star Game said. "I don't try to carry a high profile. I'm one of those guys who, when I walk into a room, people say, 'I thought you were taller.' ...... "Flip's stayed consistent," Garnett said. "From Day 1, he's always instilled confidence in players , and (shown) appreciation to players. He's never shown a player up. ". . . He's still feisty and fiery, but he's not out to embarrass you . He wants to try to pull the best out of you. He understands everybody's potential, and he's trying to get you to see it."
Byron Scott showed up Kenyon Martin pretty bad in the media in his rookie year, and now Martin is dropping 27 on us. It depends.
JVG is right. The truth hurts! Everytime I see the Rockets get down, epsecially late in the game they just wilt. They never follow the game plan and they always panic. They dont have a "coolness under fire." I never have confidence that the team can put a run on and just take command of the game. As a Rockets fan, I always hope the Rockets can get a lead and just protect it because I know they wont come from behind to win! Unfortunately the only way you get that is to succeed in those situations. It is the chicken and the egg theory. Bottom line. It is up to the ROCKETS PLAYERS to prove JVG wrong. Let's see how they react now that their heart has been questioned! At Pho, Mil, Chi, At Atl. Those are 4 VERY winnable games. No excusses! If this team does not come out fighting the next few games, you have to expect changes (if not before the deadline, in the offseason).
