JVG has a rep of being a hard nosed defensive minded coach. But now that I think of it, he's actually not that good actually defending teams. He's just giving them fewer shots, which works against us as well. We give them fewer shots by the offense using as much clock as possible. Think about it: 1. JVG plays low posessions games, we all know this. So it's not like we are getting defensive stops on teams, it's just that we don't allow them to take too many shots. Which seems obvious, but it also limits us as much as them. 2. These low posession games also affect the FG%. Since teams don't get a lot of shots against us, missed shots really lower the %. Like Kenny's example, a game is really up in the air if you play someone one on one to 5 points, but if you play to 20-thats when the better person will win. This may seem obvious, but my point is that JVG's whole defensive scheme is based on what the offense does. He needs the offense to use as much clock as possible for his defense to work. This is why we are SLOW. This is why we don't get into transition-because fast breaks take about 3 seconds to do, JVG would rather have the 21 seconds taken off the clock rather then the easy 2 points. This is why you see Yao in good position early in the posession, but not get the ball thrown to, JVG wants the ball thrown around the perimeter to take more time off. I could be wrong. But it just seems logical. That is why JVG teams have always been low scoring teams, its not that they don't have the players, its because JVG is sacrificing offense for his beloved defense.
That last defensive stand by the Rox with less than 3 seconds left, ball coming in from out of bounds was a hoax. I wonder what JVG's strategy on that one
This could also be the reason why we never get to the line that much, because it stops the clock. Ya, we don't get a lot of calls our way, but we don't do anything to get calls. Taking jumpshots all night long won't get you to the line.
Thats kinda my point. It was JVG's job to get a good defensive play out there, and it basically turned into a wide-open three for Crawford. It was lucky, but where was the help on Crawford after the pick?
Id buy your argument but last years D was just amazing. It was no hoax. We alllways had a hand in the shooters face no matter wat
Slowing the game down and playing good defense are 2 different things. I see good defense out of some of the guys (JJ closes out on shooters as well as I have ever seen it done), but I think JVGs "defensive" basketball is cloaked in a game of limited possesions I agree. The problem with limiting possessions is that often times it limits opportunities as well.
The only problem this team has currently is that it does not execute on offense when needed most. That is something the team has to do...period. When we start playing better flawless BB in the 4th quarter is when we start winning games. No team in the NBA can blowout their oppenent everynight. If the Rockets shot better from behind the arch they would have blown out the Knicks. The Knicks got hot from 3 at the right time and we did not. We need to hit the open shot when it is there and pound the ball inside to Yao. He will either score, get fouled, or kick the ball out to the open man. Simple, smart basketball. Tmac should be the one to get it into Yao and it will force the defender on Tmac to make a precarious choice of double down and leave Tmac or let one of his other teamates come over to help which will open up another shot for someone else...which NEEDS to hit that shot!!!
Couldn't agree with you more Dennis. But I think we are relying too much on 3-pointers. We've shot bad from behind the arc the last 2 games and we ended up losing to 2 of the worst teams in the league. JVG should implement a 2-man game between Yao/TMac more. Them 2 alone will have the defenses' full undivided attention on them. Defenses would be so worried about that 2-man game that they would sag off their man. But I agree, it comes down to hitting shots, obviously. But I wish this team would get more easy shots, and if has to come early in the shot clock, than so be it.
