Let's say T-mac's offense experiences a similar decline as Francis did last year under JVG, say a light dip in ppg with an accompanying decrease in FG%. Who do you blame? Not saying this will happen based on exit polls, this is just a hypothetical.
All JVG needs to do is play a running game we have a young team with freash legs BUT hey what do i know im just a fan
JVG can't run an offense, period. Yes, it was the first game and we were playing against the best D in the league, but... I truly believe JVG isn't the right coach for this team. Bash me for jumping the gun all you want. But this team will struggle to score 80 points a night, just like last year. JVG has never ran a prolific offense and most likely never will. Our offense would open a lot more if we played a more up-tempo game. We don't have to be a running team, but a team that runs when it can, and tries to set up an offense before dribbling the clock down to 4 seconds.
As much as I don't trust JVG is capable of running a good offensive system, I'd refrain from making any judgment until the end of the year, or middle next season. We have a new team, let them play together for a while before jumping into any conclusion. I'll vote for Nader. Wait, I just did yesterday!
How can anyone figure this out w/o watching all the games? Wouldn't this be like asking yesterday why Bush won before the votes were in? It would just be a blind guess.
We're talking about Tracy McGrady here, I'm betting nights like last night quickly become the exception, when's our next game
A good team in transition must have good defensive rebounding, players that can make a good outlet pass, and players to get out on the break. A good point guard is essential also. Teams that can run the break have rebounders, runners and good PG's. We are average to below average rebounding. We do not have a good PG TMac can definately get out and run. I think Boki would be good also. JJ is too slow. I like the way San Antonio and Detroit play in transition. They have good rebounders and a PG that can push the ball. Van Gundy is not a coach who looks to run, but our team is not put together to be a great transition team. I would like to see us push the tempo and get more transition baskets, but our PG's do not look like they play with enough authority and energy. They aren't even as good as C. Billups, much less J. Williams, Bibby, T. Parker, S. Nash, J. Kidd etc. I like the idea of Yao running also, he would be a very good trailer on the break. But truth be told the defense we get from Van Gundy will keep us in most games and we should get enough offense to win us a good playoff seed. With our current personnel I would like to see gritty hard nosed defense and alot of execution in the half court through TMac and Yao, in that order.
Ah cheer up man, it's down to 25% now As for the T-Mac question, it would be JVG's fault. Now not by ANY standards am I a T-Mac fan, but I can't deny that the guy's great. If his offense suffers like Steve's did, then no doubt should JVG take the blame. That would be two insanely talented guards that he brought down within just two years. He's a big man's coach, and the guards suffer because of it.
Translation: The ugliest of the ugly-ball. The numbers last night flipped faster on the electoral college count than they did on the Rockets scoreboard.
You know thats the same thing the commentators we're saying last night. They would show clips of T-Mac in a "home run trot" bringing the ball up the court, and Dike busted is chops to get below the basket and was waiting for an easy two, but no, can't do it cause the Rocket's play a slow, methodical half-court offense. We got the legs, we got the youth, we got the players to run. Y not do it?
To run this team would have to run Lue at the point, and he gets killed on the defensive end. We also dont have a dominant rebounder who can board and throw the outlet pass quickly. And JJ isnt exactly a gazelle. Wed probably have to play Boki at the 3 and JVG just isnt willing to suffer his defense and shooting to let them run the break. Besides, in Van Gundys defensive scheme, its all about forcing the other team to take contested shots, not playing the passing lanes and generating steals and quick shots. Van Gundys defense slows down the game as much as his offense does. Rudy running the Lakers up and down the floor last night made me sick. I cant imagine them being able to play that well all season. Mihm looked like an allstar. I think the answer to Van Gundy lies in LA. If the Lakers stay in the race, and finish with a better record than we do there will be a ton of questions about what Van Gundy is doing here. And if Kobe continues to share the basketball and help his team get high percentage shots then that has a good possibility of happening. We can only hope that he reverts to the real Kobe and starts jacking up 35 shots a night and ignoring teammates.
Its not about who can run. But the fact that we have a young team with a young C that runs the court real well. We don't have to be a running team, we just need to run when we can-it leads to easy baskets. But above all, we need to just play a more up-tempo game. Don't drag the ball up court, take forever to set things up, and then jack up a shot. Set things up faster, make the defense react.
I beg to differ here. As much as I hate to admit it, the TNT guys were dead on point here. The Rockets are an old slow team even with T-Mac & Yao (who's not all that swift himself). This is a team that will struggle to score and rebound against it's peers in the Southwest Division. I watched both Houston and Dallas last night and the difference is striking. Dallas has far more speed and much better shooters than does Houston. They were even rebounding which had me shaking my head in disbelief. Once they work in Dampier, they'll have a far more balanced team that is better suited for the playoff wars than Houston's. I'm certain that they'll play much better as a team as time goes on but the big question is just how competative that team will be given it's physical and athletic liabilities at the 1 & 4 spots.
Its a combination of fitting in toa new team and playing under JVG. Someone like T-Mac would thrive under Rudy.
Its kinda funney now seeing our team i really do wish in the back of my mind our coach was still Rudy... BUT JVG made this team and i kno Rudy would stay loyal to Steve and T-Mac would never be in town
