We all know the way JVG likes to play his games: 1. Play defense. 2. Slow the ball down. 3. Use as much clock as you can. JVG is a genius at defense, no one can argue that. But the guy is a moron when it comes to offense. The success on this season will depend on whether or not JVG can run a consistent offense along with the JVG defense. I personally feel that JVG can't make the proper adjustments to balance out the offense/defense. He seems real stubborn on the way he wants to play his games. While it worked somwhat for the Knicks, this Rocket team has more potential than any other team I can remember. I just hope we don't waste it. Before ya'll start bashing me on jumping the gun. I'm not basing this on the 2 games this season, I'm basing it on the history of JVG teams. What we saw last season and the 1st two games of this season is JVG basketball, don't expect too much to change.
JVG also expects his teams to make good passes and not make silly TO's. That's not being a "offense genius", that's basic basketball. If this team can't grasp that, how in the hell are they gonna master an offensive which utilizes a bunch of motion and picks and crisp passes... Bottom line... if this team looked this bad in January, I would already be calling for his resignation... however, its been 2 games. I'm as frustrated as anybody, but I also understand its a looooong season, and this team was bound to have some growing pains. Give it time.
I seriously doubt whether using more clock and lessening the number of possessions can truly help you on defense. It is just equal to play for 40 minutes instead of 48 minutes, or play a five game series instead of 7 game series. At most, this will give the weaker team a better chance to upset the opponent.
"Everybody says it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. When I've watched the marathons, they sprint for 26 miles. That's what the good NBA teams do. They sprint the entire marathon. Those guys from Kenya, they ain't trotting. They're flying." -- Jeff Van Gundy
Good post Nick. But do you see things changing that much under JVG? Like I said, he has a distinct way of playing basketball and he doesn't tolerate not playing it that way. I am basically seeing the exact same problems we had last season, just with another team. I will give this team more time, no doubt. I do agree there were bound to be growing pains. But I hope Les/CD don't wait til January if things don't improve.
Perfectly said. This team, as constructed last year, was bad at making the basic play. We all know how hard it was for them to even run a 3-1 fast break let alone a half-court set without turning the ball over. Right now, the team has not gelled together on the defensive end and is having trouble playing with each other's talents on the offensive end. It will come the more these guys play with each other. I think the China trip has set this team (as well as Sacremento) back more than alot of people think. Like you said, I think we will see the real team by January.
Great post. Same here. Frustrated but want to give more time to this team. 30 games at least. To the orignial poster, please dont call Gundy a moron. That "moron" still holds winning record and makes to playoff every year while he was head coach.
I refered to JVG as a moron on the offensive side, a genius on the defensive side, but a moron when it comes to putting points on the board. Every championship team has a balance between offense and defense, I don't think we will be a champioship team if we don't do the same. But as ya'll are saying, we need to give it some time, and I am down for that. But I still am a hardcore Rox fan and it pains me to see a team so filled with potential struggle to make baskets.
" I am basically seeing the exact same problems we had last season, just with another team." I'm not seeing the *same problems.* See different ones. gucci888, you just don't pull a "team" off a shelve like it's some type of appliance. Teams take time to build! They are made up of players. It's not a TEAM APPLIANCE that you can just push the "on" button and let it operate on the court with a remote control. I mean, you just called JVG a "defensive genius (superfluous; blowing his intelligence out of proportion) and then managed to insult him in the same sentence, "But the guy is a moron when it comes to offense." A genius and a moron? Don't you even understand what he's trying to do? Teach the team how to pass, move, shoot....simple fundamentals. It's not rocket science. If the playere timing are off, then they are off. That takes some time when we have a new superstar that we are trying to mesh with Yao. JJ and MoT are the two few players that even know how to play with Yao. The rest do not. McGrady will have to understand Yao's tendency. This takes time. No matter what coach we had here, he'd still have to deal with these REAL PROBLEMS (outside shooting, weak rebounding, Yao's offesnvie fouls and TO, etc...) regarding our new team. And he'd lose too! But, nooooooo....it's all JVG. Come on!
That was sarcasm... You forgot the "No matter what coach we had here, he'd still have to deal with these REAL PROBLEMS (outside shooting, weak rebounding, Yao's offesnvie fouls and TO, etc...) regarding our new team. And he'd lose too! "
Originally posted by DavidS gucci888, you just don't pull a "team" off a shelve like it's some type of appliance. Teams take time to build! They are made up of players. I never said we can just build a team instantly. I am saying I don't think we have the right guy for the job. I understand it will take time to build, but I don't feel like this team is suited for JVG style basketball. I mean, you just called JVG a "defensive genius (superfluous; blowing his intelligence out of proportion) and then managed to insult him in the same sentence, "But the guy is a moron when it comes to offense." So a guy can't be smart and dumb in different areas? I give credit to JVG for what he can do at the defensive end, but that is about it. Bill Gates is a "genius" with computers, but he probably couldn't fix a car. My point is that JVG needs to find a way to balance out the offense with defense, its very simple. Yes, it will take some time and I am willing to give him the time. But none the less, that is what it will come down to in my opinion. A genius and a moron? Don't you even understand what he's trying to do? Teach the team how to pass, move, shoot....simple fundamentals. It's not rocket science. That takes some time when we have a new superstar that we are trying to mesh with Yao. JJ and MoT are the two few players that even know how to play with Yao. The rest do not. McGrady will have to understand Yao's tendency. This takes time. Yes, I understand what he is trying to do. But more importantly, I understand what type of game he plays. JVG teams have always been way lopsided, good defensively-bottom of the barrell offensively. Yao/Tmac will take time to mesh, I respect that, but that doesn't mean the offense will be as potent as it can be. David S.- I respect your opinions and you have always been a good poster with good judgment. But just imagine if JVG went to coach Shaq/Kobe in LA a couple years back. Do you think they would have been as successful as they were under Phil Jackson? I don't, but I guess that isn't the point. Balance, that is all I am saying. And don't forget that I am also a die-hard Rockets fan so it kills me to watch us lose.
It would always be the X-Coach factor then. Because it applies to any coach. By the way, Phil wont come here now. Why? Because he likes to let teams fail a few times in the plays-off, mesh, get their chemistry down and mature as a team. Then, he moves in and takes over those *ready made* teams. Phil doesn't like team building. It mucks up his resume. So, he lets others do it for him. That being said, we still have two more years to wait until Phil would even consider coaching here. And if he feels that we don't have a HIGHLY-PROBABLE chance of winning it all (Sun Tzu: Art of War), then he wont even try it. He only takes *sure things.* He has to have the BEST talent on ONE team. Anything else is a waste of time. That's how he wins. And edc! This is why I don't want to just say, "Hire Phil." It's like a copout. Same reason I would've preferred Larry Brown over Phil. Or Hubie Brown over Phil. Or Dunlevy over Phil. Sure, Phil is better than some of those coaches (resume wise). But It's just that I'd like to do it our way. Alone. Without the "Zen Masters" help. I was sooo happy last year when L. Brown finally got his ring (over Phil no less!).
If the rockets excuss is time to build chemistry, then whats up with Dallas? They have just as many new players then the Rockets, and look VERY GOOD so far.
Dallas and the Suns are going to suprise people. Sac and LA will be up and down. Each team is different.
I have league pass like a lot of you on here may, and Ive watched several games around the league. I hate to continue to bash JVG, but he does have to make adjustments. As previously noted on here, our team does not improvise well. It seems as if once theres one option, thats the only one. There isnt a whole lot of movement. I was watching games yesterday, and I was like, every others team offense seems to have lots of movement. Too often when we move its wrong. Ever see Yao run to the opposite block just as the ball is swung to his side? I think thats the key to why we have so many turnovers. Its difficult in the NBA when you have so many athletic players to have a stagnant offense. It really allows the other teams defense to get into passing lanes and steal or at least disrupt passes. Everything right now just seems to be lacking efficiency. Spending 24 seconds to get a shot off the 1st option....
Actually, Phil Jackson said he would be interested in coaching the Knicks if Wilkins got canned. And the Knicks are in no means close to being a *sure thing.* But I see what you're getting at. Well, whatever Phil does and whatever his methods are, he made it into 9 championships with 2 teams. So whatever he is doing, it is working. Also, I think we would have a legite chance to get Phil. He is 1 ring shy of Red for the most championships, I'm pretty sure he wants that record (and the "best coach ever" label?), or he would have retired.
Then the way to go would've been to keep Tomjanovich. The very act of Le$ hiring Van Gundy was the end of "our" (the Houston Rocket) way. Phil Jackson is simply the logical extension. If the trophy is the only thing that matters, bring in the guy most likely to provide that result.
