I used to defend JVG, but...but...but... NOTHING. I still defend JVG. Come on, I know we're losing so this is real frustrating, but look at it like this: It is in no way JVG's fault that Wesley and Alston have combined for like 3/16 shooting from 3 pt. land two nights in a row. Those 2 are killing us right now. THOSE ARE OPEN J'S. T-Mac and Yao get them the shots, they just aren't knocking them down. Do you really think JVG wanted Alston to play keep away from McGrady in the clutch against the Sixers? So take Alston and Wesley out right? OK. But who are you going to play then!? He gave Bogans good minutes, but he didn't shoot that hot either. He gave Hayes good minutes, which he made good of. He gave Head some minutes in which Head shot...big mistake. He gave Howard good minutes, Howard responded by scoring consistently, but didn't play good D when it counted. I honestly think it is not his fault this team is dying on defense and in the clutch. We couldn't stop Iverson for sh*t, Alston is to blame IMO. Webber drove it in and scored in the clutch, Howard is to blame IMO. T-Mac played great, Alston should have given him the ball in the clutch. Yao, is just playing insane, Alston should have gotten him the ball, too. JVG is calling out his players, he's trying to get them to play with more intensity, more IQ, he's not calling them out to humiliate them! I may be the only one left on this board defending JVG, but I still think it's not his fault we're so bad. His players, all of them (except Yao, who already has) need to step up and play with heart, passion, desire, and IQ otherwise how does anyone expect us to make the playoffs? Oh, and maybe T-Mac has already got the message too, if he keeps what he did in the Philly game up...
I don't have to defend JVG neccesarily (who brings a lot of the criticism he gets upon himself, because of his own sour attitidue, and the way he's percieved to the public thru the media)... but I do defend the following premise: A team that always plays hard no matter what the situation, a team that can execute a half-court offense with perfection, a great defensive team, a team with no knuckleheads/selfish players, a team that responds to adversity. THAT is the type of team JVG has been trying to instill from day one... its the reason why certain players just won't ever work out here (Francis), and why you'd take guys like Sura and Mutombo over younger/more athletic/but no IQ players. Unfortunately, injuries are a problem in the MATURE type of player... but the Spurs, Pistons and Mavs have perfected the art of getting the young player who's got talent, and also doesn't feel like he's above the game (and thus gives his full effort as if his job depended on it). Those teams have also got great veterans who know how the game is played... THE RIGHT way. The Suns are the only team today that has a realistic shot at a championship that doesn't want to play with the intricate half-court structure that the other elite teams play with... but in the end, while they may be a tad better than the 90's versions of the Kings and Mavs... they ultimately WON'T win it all (unless they hit 80% of their 3 pointers in the playoffs, like they do against Houston).
The responsibilty is shared-he can't be blamed for open shots being missed. But his substitution patterns, inability to adjust defensively during games, the fact he rarely plays Hayes even though he produces time and time again but plays Ryan Bowen who i think is the worst player in the league all point to the coach. Not to mention the fact that we seem to have alot of game plans which require 3pt shooters when our guys really can't consistently hit threes game in and game out. I just want a coach who recognises when to leave a player in a game and when to take one out. A coach who realises that leaving the three point shot open is not a smart thing to do against a team that is known for hitting threes. Our players are far from perfect but i believe we can be better with a different coach-i still support JVG--he just confuses and puzzles me to no end sometimes. And i think the Rockets would be wise to at least look at Rick Adelman, Mario Elie (if available) or Mike Dunleavy before going back to JVG.
I have respect for JVG and defend him as well. He cannot be blamed for everything. If Yao and T-Mac were healthy all season long, this would be a 50 win team. Take Ben Wallace and Chauncy out of Detroit's lineup for most of the season and they would be an average team. Take Dirk and Terry out, Dallas is below 500, take TD & Parker out, the Spurs are crap. I am not saying this team is great, it still has many deficiencies but Injuries have crippled this team. JVG has taken the Rox to the playoffs 2 consecutive years with healthy players. I think he deserves to coach the team next season with a full complement of players all season long. It's funny how JVG is NOW being criticized for calling out his players for their deficiencies this season but when he did it to Francis and Mobley, JVG was praised for being refreshing and a great coach for not using double talk cliches.
I absolutely agree in the part that JVG needs to bring in the players he needs. Well, Wesley just hasn't been shooting it well lately, he's a 3 pt. shooter. Bogans, we needed a perimiter defender/ shooter? so JVG and CD got it done. Fitch, we haven't seen play, but he's supposedly quick. We haven't seen Lampe much... Chuck Hayes? We needed rebounding, so here he is! Now he just needs more PT. I personally think Brunson won't be any good, but we'll see if he brings to the table what we need. I agree JVG should shoulder some of the blame, but I don't think it's his fault. I just want to see some urgency, passion, and determination from this team, that's all, and that's something I believe JVG can't teach. I don't think any coach can.
Nope, no reason to fire Mr. Van Gundy now. There are plenty of reasons to consider it during the offseason (although I doubt it will happen). If the Rockets do not make the NBA finals next season, it MUST happen. No excuses.
jvg's not getting fired no matter how many whiney biatches complain about him. the only way he's not here next season is if he chooses to step down, which he won't. our best player(or maybe our second best player?) loves him and i'm sure he still feels like yao and t-mac are championship level stars.
Bogans was a great pick up and should be starting IMO. Hayes definately needs more playing time--but for some reason Ryan Bowen is ahead in the rotation and i just don't get it. There are times when this team is screaming for hustle and rebounding yet he leaves Chuck sitting on the bench I support him-- but like i said he just puzzles me and confuses me.
With what we had to work with this season, I think he has done a good job. It would have been real easy for a team to give up on the season and fold the cards, but he has kept them focused. We were not in a great position financially to get better players than we have, and we still managed to find some gems. Keep a look on Alston. the guy has some serious potential. Next season is when we start getting a little breathing room and rebuild what we had to give up when we got T-Mac... We sent away three of our starters. That's hard to rebuild in a season. Then the two guys you count on go down and what you managed to pick up is now your starting lineup. Even Swift might be able to make something of himself under JVG. If Swift makes it through this season and the offseason I expect he will be a much, much better player next year.
My only question of firing JVG is who is to replace him? I don't like his style of basketball and his coaching at all, but sadly, there are only a handful of coaches in the league that are clearly better than him and they are not available.
And sadly, its his style of basketball and coaching that still WINS championships. Last year's team, made up of aging veterans and role players that had no business being that good, was no fluke. He gets more out of bad teams than a lot of mediocre coaches get out of more talented teams. This year's team, despite its shortcomings, would have been a 50 win team without injuries. Depth was an issue last year as well... they just somehow stayed healthy as a group, and avoided any serious injuries... this year, we're paying for that "luck". Of course, as soon as I type that, the whole "well, JVG chose these players..." stuff will come spewing out, and that's fine. I blame WHOEVER put this roster together for a.) getting lucky last year with the older/injury prone players, and b.) thinking Swift had half a brain (which he apparently doesn't), thinking T-mac would stay healthy and play hard all year, and thinking the overall tenacity of the team would be play hard every second, every game (kinda like the slogan says).
I'm not the biggest of JVG fans, but all this critisicm is very unwarranted. He has done a hell of a lot for this organization, team and city. It may be easy to dislike the man because of his demeanor and, AS A FAN, you may not like some of his decisions, but he only does what he truely feels is best for the team. He only cares about one thing - to put the best product on the floor on a NIGHTLY basis. He demands the best from himself, his staff and his players and (as you can see from the monster bags under his eyes) he gives everything he can to give the team the best chance to win every single game. THAT, as a fan, you should appreciate. If we are going to watch millionares play a game, pay big money on game tickets, jerseys, memorabilia, etc - we shouldn't ask for anything less. Besides, we all know that without the key injuries to Yao and TMac, we are talking about playoff seeding, matchups and how great they put this team together, rather than talking about the lottery and whining about every decision the man makes. I'll say this, he and his staff have taking a considerable beating on this board on how they have mentored Yao and his game. Yea, they look like they have really did him wrong now, huh?
I do agree. JVG letting Barry go is a making frustration for me, however, I can't deny he is a good coach. If he's let go, we need to find better replacements. Right now, the only two guys I see are Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, Greg Popvich and possibly Hubbie Brown. We can not, I repeat, WE CAN NOT, make the same mistake that Kevin McHale made --- firing Flip Saunders and watching him to take Detroit to championship contention, while hiring some no-name coach and watching him suck.
