From Insider: Dan (Columbus, OH): Ric, is Avery Johnson simply getting out-coached by Van Gundy? Playoff basketball is a lot different than games against Golden State in March. Ric Bucher: (4:32 PM ET ) Partly yes, partly because Johnson has only had a few games to develop the type of def. mindset needed in the playoffs. That is the Rockets identity. The Mavs are learning to be that type of team and that has been the diff. in the series so far. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mike LA, CA: Ric - since you wrote a book with Yao, maybe you can answer this: do you think he would be progressing faster and dominating more with a different coach/mentor? Is Ewing really the guy to mentor Yao? Yao's talents seem like they would be better used if he played in a system like Sacto's or was mentored/coached by someone with a game more like Walton's. Ric Bucher: (4:35 PM ET ) Loaded question! As I know some of the social invitations Patrick has extended to Yao! I think Patrick is good for him in that he is teaching him how to be more aggressive. I don't think the Rockets system is ideal for him. The triangle or the Princeton offense the Kings run would be more to his skills. But he needed to develop more tougness and Van Gundy is doing a great job instilling that? Can he be the best he can be under Van Gundy? Probably not. But he is developing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preston (Shreveport): Is Dampier even better than Mutombo? Ric Bucher: (4:41 PM ET ) Certainly Damp has the ability. It's just been a matter of consistency. He has the raw ability to be arguable the best center in the league after O'Neal. The question is can he stay healthy and develop the consistency required to achieve that. I have less of a problem with him saying that than Marbury saying he is the best PG in the league. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Paul (Portland, OR): Ric, if I can follow-up on the Ewing/Yao question, whenever I've watched Ewing on the bench this season he looks very disinterested in the game. Is it just his facial expression? Ric Bucher: (4:38 PM ET ) Certainly Patrick has never been known to be engaging with his expressions. So don't read too much into it. Being good with Van Gundy is the best retirement plan you can have. Better than AARP. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Michele (Houston): Are we really seeing an emerging T-Mac? Ric Bucher: (4:53 PM ET ) This is a T-Mac that, as good as he has been before, I"ve never seen before. He needs to win this series though and I expect him to do that. He is ecstatic to be hooked up with Van Gundy. He feels he is turning him into the player he can be. I'm seeing a different T-Mac and I'm optimistic we will see him establish himself as one of the 3-4 best in the league which he should be. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- H-TOWN: Is anyone afraid that Nowitzki played poorly and the rockets pg shot lights out, we got outrebounded and shot fewer FT and only won by 2? What chances do rockets have of slowing the tempo down on their home floor Ken Bikoff: They have a better shot of it in Houston than they had in Dallas, and they slowed Dallas down tremendously. I don't think the Rockets are going to sweep Dallas, but the Mavs don't have anyone who can cover Yao Ming, and the Rockets need to keep him heavily involved. Dirk is being frustrated by McGrady, and I don't think T-Mac is going to let Dirk off the hook by backing off. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jared (H-Town): Shouldn't T-Mac be talked about as a MVP candidate NOW? He is by far one of the best in-your-face shooters of ALL time. He, like H-Town, is getting no love. Ken Bikoff: Sorry computer problems. Let's not get crazy just yet. McGrady can't be an MVP candidate for having one good game in the playoffs. He has been fine, but the Rockets are a No. 5 seed. Guys such as Steve Nash and Shaq have had a much bigger impact and are more valuable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Joe (Billings, MT): Ken, can the Mavs recover from losing the first two games or are they toast? Ken Bikoff: They aren't toast just yet because of their experience and hunger, but they definitely are in trouble. They don't have an answer for Yao, but they did only lose a close one. This series isn't over, but the Mavs need to come out and really play well in Game Three to try to gain some momentum back. ben albany: im sorry man but are you nuts? i would take mcgrady now over shaq or nash.......and i mean it Ken Bikoff: The MVP award doesn't go to the best player. It goes to the player who is most valuable to his team, at least in my eyes. There's a difference.
LOL that bikoff chat was great. I got 2 questions answered. The 1st one was teh NJ nets vs Miami Question (I didnt ask a rockets question cause this happened to be spomething my coworker and I were discussing at the time the chat started and I DIDNT actually believe hed answer it. Then at the end I asked the question from GINOBILI, (By this time he had answered a couple Rockets questions, so I just tried to be funny)
for the first time, i agree with everything the espn boys had to say. tmac isn't most valuable yet. yao may never be his best under JVG. we may not sweep the mavs. you know what? as long as we are winning (and getting a little respect) i'm happy.
decent reading, some good questions. i tend to agree with bucher (one of the few ESPN guys i actually care for) about Yao probably not developing as well in our system as he could in another one. his skills are perfectly suited for a system like Sacto's. but that don't mean a damn thing because sacto never won a championship with that system..... of course they never had Yao neither but i still believe Yao will be a 22/12/2 guy even with JVG at the helm. and i'm pretty sure that'll Yao will finish his career (in houston obviously) with a few rings!
you forgot one (this is a real poster) Eric Dampier (Big D): Should I be laughed out of the league for making those ridiculous comments about me being the "best center in the West?" Ken Bikoff: Yes. Yes, you should.
I think it's just Rick Bucher's opinion, I don't agreed with him at all. Van Gundy is a flexible enogh coach to be able to incorporate the talent of both TMac and Yao. As long as Yao is here with TMac, and TMac has Yao, they're gonn finish their career in Houston with multiple rings.
I have to agree that Ming's potential is not fully realized in JVG's system, game in, game out. I have never thought Ewing was the perfect match as a tutor. Ming would be unstoppable in the King's system or the Princeton system. In all fairness, JVG has tweaked things considerably and may continue to do so. It has been tough to watch Ming struggle most of the season. Game two was a rare performance; I want it to be a common occurance.
I wouldn't worry about Yao, he's always fresh and seems like he can adapt to anything. Yao doesn't need a system suited for him to be great is what I'm trying to say
Yup. A 7'6" guy with a nice shooting touch and a number of post moves can succeed in a lot of systems. Maybe he could be more effective in the middle of a backcut motion offense. But I have no doubt in my mind that the Rockets can win mutiple championships with Yao running the pick and roll with Mcgrady for the next 10 years.
JVG wasn't playing the most Yao-friendly system when the season began. Nor was he playing the most McGrady-friendly system. The difference is, when we were floundering, McGrady decided to take matters into his own hands and became such a dominant force that JVG had to let the "system" adapt to McGrady. Hence all the screens for jumpers. If Yao had taken that kind of initiative, he might have forced JVG to adapt the system to him. He didn't. Moral of the story: Take control of your life, or someone else will take control of it for you.
I think you have it reversed. Yao doesn't care if he's a dominant force or not - he'll do whatever the coach wants whether it's good or bad for him personally. And if Van Gundy's "system" limits his talents, Yao will accept that for the team's greater good. Of course the team's greater good is having a system that will maximize Yao's skills. That's the conundrum.
It is easier to "take matters into your own hands" when you're a guard because you do a lot of the ball handling. What's yao going to do, dribble the ball up the floor and set himself up in the post? Yeah sure whatever you could argue that yao should "demand the ball more". Is it really neccessary for him to do it every possession? Isn't that pretty much a given? Not trying to start anything, but that post really came off as a shot at Yao more than anything.
True, but "you" (ESPN, media) are the guys who bring up names like Lebron and A.I. into the discussion. No, they won't win it either, but why are they even being discussed?
Very good point. The dude really is a model worker. But I think we need him in "management" (superstars) as opposed to "labor" (role players).
EXACTLY. For Yao to maximize his potential, JVG and the whole team need realize this. Judging by Game 2, the coach and Yao's teammates were doing exactly that.
But After I watch KINGS GAME LAST NIGHT. I start to believe B.Miller is much better passer than YAO. B.Miller is the key to the Kings system.
I would agree that Yao probably would be more effective in a system like Sacramento's initially, but I think in the long run Yao will develop better under Van Gundy's system. The number one reason? Defense and toughness. I think yao would have been too soft on the defensive end in Sacramento because they do not preach defense. He'd probably be a slightly higher scorer hitting shots from the high post but I doubt he would have as big an impact on the defensive end as he is now. It's important to use the skills he already has but it's also important to develop skills he needs to learn and I doubt he would learn that in sacramento. He'll reach his potential faster being a strong low post player and then adding his high post play back in later instead of playing right off the bat in the high post and never developing a low post game.
Well, JVG's system limits McGrady's offensive abilities as well, but that is the price players have to pay in order for them to become winners as a "team". Phil Jackson's system pissed off Kobe and Kobe felt it didn't maximize his abilities. The difference is both Shaq and Kobe won 3 rings under that system. Yao is a very good player, but to think that somehow he can "consistently" play like he did in Game 2 is ludicrous, Yao in his prime will probably be along the line of 22ppg, 9 rbs, 2.5 bpg. If Yao puts up those numbers, he wil lbe absolutely dominant, and that will be more than enough for the Rockets to win a few rings in this decade. Being a team requires making sacrifices, and making those sacrifices is a worthy price to pay is if the ultimate goal is to win as a team. By yielding to the overall team goal, it goes a long way in helping to develop team chemistry, and keep everyone happy. Just ask Jordan if it was worth it to shoot less and score less and involve his teammates more. It got him 6 rings. Ask Magic if yielding to his teammates was worth it, he will show you his 5 rings.
You are absolutely right, Yao himself is better for it. And you know who else is better for it? The Chinese National Team. Yao is going to be an absolute BEAST in the Olympics. I will be rooting for him to do some damage in that competition. And China's chances to do something worthwhile will be better for Yao's defensive development and post-up game.
