Van Gundy hits the right buttons John Feigen's inspirational article in Chron. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3044135 Van Gundy hits the right buttons Rockets heed tough talk that led to turnaround By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Ages ago, in a place very different — December in Toyota Center — the Rockets would have reacted very differently. Jeff Van Gundy would have said the sorts of uncomfortably candid things he says, and the Rockets would have gasped or at least missed the point. "I know that some in the locker room think that I'm overly demanding," he said then. "I don't care." Removed from those dreary times, Van Gundy recently decried an uninspired effort in a victory, the Rockets' seventh without a loss, and his players were thrilled. They took what their coach said as a compliment and the inspiration to a 30-point win over Washington on Tuesday, their most-lopsided victory of the season. This, they decided, was an indication of how good or even great they can be. Van Gundy's criticism, hard and direct, was the nicest thing he could have delivered. "I think his perception of what this can be has changed over the last two weeks," guard Jon Barry said. "With him saying what he has, I think he really believes we can do something special. I think he honestly believes now we have a chance to do something great. "I really thought this could be a special team when I got here. I really did. With the makeup of this team, if we play to our capabilities, we can beat anybody." Two months ago, few would have suspected such a thing or even the eight-game winning streak the Rockets are taking into the All-Star break. Even now, Van Gundy hasn't announced that the Rockets have a chance "to do something great." Van Gundy has been fretting over the schedule after the break, calling it the NBA's toughest. Consumed with the challenge that awaits the Rockets, he glanced at the schedule, considered it for a moment and "had a panic attack." But on Sunday, when explaining his dissatisfaction with the Rockets' performance and preparation, he repeatedly used the word great in a discussion of his team's potential. "I like our team a lot — a whole lot," Van Gundy said. "We have climbed out of a hole being 6-11. As much as I like our team, I don't think we're showing the proper respect to how hard it is to win in this league and what you have to put into every single day. It's hard to be great. It's easy to be mediocre. It's hard to be great. "It's disappointing, because I want them to be great. I really like the guys; I really like them. I really so much want them to be great and to strive for greatness. My job is to convince those guys that it's worth doing what they don't want to do sometimes — work, sacrifice, fight through it — in order to achieve what they want to achieve, which is winning big." Raising their game It would seem easier to make that case than the one Van Gundy made to drive the Rockets from their early-season hole. Once they became convinced they were not merely the victim of a few injuries and bad breaks, the Rockets improved. And they brought in players who seem to respond to demands. In the winning streak, every Rockets starter has averaged double-figure scoring, led by Tracy McGrady's 25.4 points per game. Yao Ming has averaged 20.5 points (on 64.5 percent shooting), 8.3 rebounds and 2.13 blocks during the streak. Bob Sura has averaged 10 rebounds in the past five games. "We are a better team," Van Gundy said. "There is no doubt about that. But the fight for us is to keep seeing the improvement as our way (of doing things) and not level off or drop off. "We need to keep focusing in on the process of improvement. If we can improve, I think we can hang in there. If we don't, it's going to be a struggle. "We have without a doubt the most difficult schedule left in the NBA, so every game we're on the brink. It can change quickly in this league, like it has for Minnesota, so our attitude and approach have to be great so we can get enough wins to make it in the postseason. The schedule is just brutal. If you look at our schedule compared to other teams competing for spots in the West, it's mind-boggling." The three Western Conference division leaders come strongly into play. The Rockets have not faced Seattle at all and have yet to play at San Antonio or Phoenix. That will change immediately after the break when the Rockets face a back-to-back against the Sonics and Spurs. All the right moves But the Rockets have done enough since their 6-11 start to decide they belong in that group, and not without reason. Since their acquisitions of Barry and David Wesley, no team has won more. "This team has a chance to be great; there's no doubt about it," Sura said. "If we do what we're supposed to do, we always have a chance to win, and very few teams can say that." In a way, that might be what Van Gundy was saying all along. But now, the Rockets seem to get it. jonathan.feigen@chron.com
I think that last sentence is critical. Van Gundy has changed, and so has the personnel and the team's attitude. They moved toward each other.
http://bbs2.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=91426 Here are the next ten games after the break.......YIKES!!!
The crystal ball becomes clear the first week after the All-Star game. Beat Seattle and SA, instant contenders. Get beat in both games, wait till next year.
If we can carry the way we've finished the streak over to the second half, there is no doubt in my mind that we will dismantle Seattle. Defensively, we are doing such a great job defending the pick and roll and rotating that it has been hard for teams to execute their gameplan; and offensively, we are spreading the floor, making good passes and hitting shots. We have imposed our will. It's a testament to the team, that the Wizards could not stop what we were doing. Eddie Jordan did a wonderful job of coaching and making adjustments that were tailored to prevent us from what we were doing offensively, but they just couldn't stops us from executing. The Rockets are playing as good as, or better than, any team in the league at this point.
I say 5-5 would be awesome considering that seven out of ten are on the road.... I think we beat Seattle (at home), Utah, Chicago, Washington, and Golden State. We could maybe, just maybe eek out a home win against Dallas to push it to 6-4 during this stretch. Anything over 500 would have to be considered phenomenal!! If we are 6-4 or better in the next 10, I might even have to say something nice about RainMan Grumpy !
I am geniuely moved by these comments, no bull. It gives me a very different insight into JVG. And based on what I have seen on the court, I am starting to believe. This team is on the verge of something special. You know, if the team just fights like crazy and does their best in the upcoming stretch, win or lose, I will still be proud of them. I have not felt that for many years. The role players on this team are playing the best ball of their careers, you have to respect that.
I don't know what more to say, I have defended JVG from day one, during the bad days, because I knew that a disciplinarian coach is necessary for our young stars. It was really disheartening for me to see JVG being laughed at and rediculed by sooo many fans on the BBS, on radio and elsewhere. They NEVER gave the guy time to adjust to a COMPLETELY different team that naturally needed time to gel together, they quickly forgot that JVG took the Rockets to the playoffs last year for the first time in 5 years! People were giving him all the blame when times were rough, and some people refuse to give him the credit when it is deserved. I have been and will continue to be fair-minded about JVG and every single player/personnel on this team, and I think if we win rings with T-Mac and Yao, it will be with JVG at the helm. But that is just my opinion.
We will definitely beat Seattle - we are better than them right now. I have no doubt about this. But San Antonio is a different case - they are still better than us. If we beat them that will be an huge upset.
I know - thought they were fluke wins though. Maybe they (our team) can prove me wrong next Wednesday.
