Do I really need to point this out to you? He sneers and replies sarcastically because he coaches the same as he was when we were scoring 89 pts a game. Nothing has changed, except for the players, and the execution.
Can you please post the quote where JVG said he wants to play a low-posession game, or the quote where it says he is uncomfortable with the offense as it is now? I don't really think much has changed, but the personel did and that has helped a lot. Basketball IQ goes a long way when you're trying to be a run-n-gun team. That's why teams like Sac flourished because they had Divac and such who made smart decisions, and why teams like the post-Hakeem Rockets failed because Francis and Mobley weren't smart enough to make it work. There isn't much difference in the posessions per game as far as I know, just the execution. The guys are finally coming around, and JVG should get every bit of credit as criticism that he recieved earlier.
Knowing what is thought of the Rockets' offense ?or more precisely, of their "system," to borrow the word that amuses Jeff Van Gundy so ?Bob Sura could not understand the impression. He knew what people thought. He just didn't know why. Bob Sura on Gundy's Offense: "There's a system, but I'm a little surprised by how different it is than the perception people outside have," Sura said. "He (Van Gundy) tells us to get the ball and run up and down the court. He tells us to try to score in transition. People on the outside look at us and say, 'They are a slow-down, pound-it-in team.' But he wants us to get up and down. And we have a lot of freedom. Sura: "If somebody's open and that's their shot, he wants you to take it. He'll tell you, 'If you miss five good shots in a row, you miss five in a row. No big deal. Keep playing.' " Jon Barry on Gundy's Offense: "It's more of a motion, passing offense than I anticipated. I expected more iso, dump-in, spot-up. But he wants everyone incorporated in what we're doing. He wants to get out and push and score." Clutchfan poster edc on Gundy's offense: He wants the ball to go in the basket, but scoring is not a priority. He WANTS slow-down, low posession basketball. JVG has said that, repeatedly. "Efficiency" (points per posession) is also something he has mentioned. That means making the shots, but it doesn't mean high scores. You choose who to believe
there is TONS of motion in this offense, right now. you honestly think the players are doing this on their own??? they just go into motion sets on their own?? yeah...i doubt it.
I have not been spending that much time on the board lately, been pretty busy. I remember earlier in season I've wanted to keep this thread alive when we turn the season around...I was among the people preaching patience with the team. Maybe people should start eating crow now...or we can wait till the end of our 19 game winning streak...early crow tastes better though. Lets not do the "well we are winning because we are not playing JVG ball" thing, it's just lame.
Van Gundy (<--------) has changed his style. I was mad at him before we started playing because he was being stubborn and trying to play slow down mid-90's Eastern Conference ball. After T-mac's talk with Gundy, everything seems to be going much better. I have no wish of firing him if we keep playing like this. Nothing personal against the dude. His criticism was warrented, but he is getting better. I even saw the dude smile on camera today for the first time.
73-67 final score. Second lowest halftime score this season. Lowest Spurs point total this season. This game seems exactly like what you were mad at him about. The system is not what has changed, just the execution.
Disagree, we have been moving the ball much better the last few games and we are getting out in transition a lot more than last year and the beginning of the year. Whether that should be credited to Van Gundy opening up the offense or the additions of Wesley and Barry, I'm not sure. But, our offense has definitely changed.
Hey, R0ckets03. You remember when Sura was activated? Amazing how that "slow down style" kinda changed the moment we put Sura in the game (as opposed to Ward/Lue). So, your assumption of "stubborn" has nothing to do with it. There is no ONE factor in our improved play (and past struggles). There's lots: TMac learning the offense/defense. TMac learning his teammates. Yao learning about TMac. TMac trying to figure-out his role and not come here and try and take over "Yao's team (remember that?)." Weak rebounding (still), Yao still having foul, rebounding and post entry pass problems. Guards like Sura, Wesley and Barry that can actually hit their OPEN shots, make passes, and run the court without turning the ball over... So, you see. There's been changes. But they are made by the coach on the basis of the players you have to work with. There will be more changes that will address Yao's weak rebounding too (if not this year, next). If JVG and CD don't make those trades, you could give the ball to TMac all you wanted (see the Magic, last year)...and we'd still be struggling because then our opponents would just double-team TMac more and we'd be stuck with Ward/Lue trying to score. The fact of the matter is that we needed more shooting, cutting and passing than we had before. And we still do if we want to become an elite team (more speedy players and more rebounding). Don't believe me? How about we trade Sura, Wesley and Barry to another team and go back to Ward/Lue and JJ. We would start struggling again, and you can go back to blaming JVG for being "stubborn."
A four game winning streak does not make me bail off of the fire the JVG bandwagon but it certainly gives me a moment of pause. The team is with out a doubt playing better now than at any other part of the season. In the course of 1 week we out played the Mavericks on their home court at their style of play and then came home to out play the Spurs at their style of play. I am impressed but I still want to see the type of consistency that S.A., SAC, and DAL have exhibited the last few seasons before being totally convinced. But at least JVG has shut a lot of people (including myself) up for a while. All I want is for Houston to be one of the elite teams again and be a yearly contender for the NBA title. If that happens I will be thrilled regardless of who is the coach.
