Despite some of the hate for JVG on this board, this stuff is the reason why I really love him. He’s a hard-nosed coach who doesn't take any crap from whiny babies like Bonzi. Saying that, I really hope Bonzi shapes up and plays well. I know that probably won't happen, but I won't be blaming JVG if it does. My 2 cents anyway.
Hell yeah!!!!!Bonzi needs to warm-up for about 2-3 games and when TMAC comes back we'll see the real Rockets team. Lol, and we're 14-6 right now....scary
I feel that way too, and there's a lot of people I know that just can't stand the realities of the NBA and no longer support the Rockets. My fear is that JVG is a dinosaur and his schemes have been outlawed by the NBA. But make no mistake, Yao or TMac could get JVG fired in a heartbeat if they so chose to do so. It's been that way for a long time.
Uh, why? The wheels for Bonzi to return were in motion prior to TMac going down. Whether or not TMac's injury made it happen in the end, we'll never know. But all reports indicate Bonzi made his overtures to JVG prior to TMac's back flaring up. Bonzi's screwed up by not getting in shape when JVG asked, and he thought the team needed him more than he needed them. JVG didn't blink. The Rockets are on pace for 57 wins with Bonzi playing for all intents and purposes, no part in it. Van Gundy is feeling no heat at this time - the Rockets have the 2nd best point differential, 3rd best record in the NBA, are 1 game behind the Spurs, and 1.5 games behind Utah. Bonzi blinked. Van Gundy accepted his blink. The thing about Van Gundy, is he's such a fanatical nut job, when he says he's willing to put the past behind him, I think he actually means it. Bonzi just doesn't have any rope; if he doesn't screw up here on out, he'll be fine. Van Gundy 1, Bonzi 0. Rockets 14, Opponents 6. Van Gundy has cemented himself as quite probably the best defensive coach in the NBA today, and I can't think of anyone who's even close. If he wants to coach, he'll have a head coaching job in the NBA even if things go awry here. The ppg gap between us and the 2nd best team in points allowed is 3.6; the edge for Phoenix in terms of points scored is 3.0. It's not a perfect comparison, but the idea is simple enough - as good as Phoenix is offensively, we are defensively.
I know we aren't discussing coaches in this thread, but let's not go overboard here by saying there is no one close. remember that guy in SA? he's not too bad of a defensive coach.
Bonzi better get his butt in shape because he will be getting mad PT especially since Mcgrady is hurt.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4395436.html Dec. 12, 2006, 1:02AM Wells may help fill T-Mac's void Van Gundy lets veteran come back to Rockets practice By FRAN BLINEBURY Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On the day the Rockets learned they have lost Tracy McGrady for at least one game due to his latest round of back spasms, the good news is they were able to plug a fresh body into the hole. Well, maybe not fresh, but a body. And perhaps not immediately into McGrady's spot in the lineup, but someday. Maybe. In the latest soap opera episode of "As Bonzi Turns," head coach Jeff Van Gundy allowed veteran guard Bonzi Wells to return to the practice floor Monday. It was the first time in more than a month that Wells participated in a full workout with the team, and it does not mean he rides to the rescue tonight against the Lakers at Toyota Center. Stories differ What it does mean is ... well ... they'd better explain it. "I don't think it's any secret that Bonzi and I have struggled to find common ground," Van Gundy said. "I didn't think it had a chance of working for the last two to three weeks. "He called me about a week ago, and we talked and he wanted to give it another opportunity. I thought about it. We talked again on Friday and again (Sunday), and we're going to give it a final go. "I think there's been frustration on both sides, certainly where neither one of us has gotten what we expected from the other. That being said, as I've told our team, it's not about me, not about Bonzi. It's not about 'me-or-Bonzi.' " After spending an extra 30 minutes following practice in shooting drills, Wells, 6-5, walked off the court wearing an ear-to-ear grin. "It's kind of like home, someplace I'm used to," he said. "I'm happy to be back. It's been a long time coming, I guess. Whenever your love is taken away from you a little bit, you're a little sad. But I'm happy I'm back and ready to start playing." Wells, 30, also played the role of the excited, chastised pupil willing to do anything to please. Has he been hurt? "My feelings," he said, chuckling. "It was just all about coach. Coach was going to let me know when he thought I was ready. He gave me the nod (Sunday)." What had changed? "I don't know," Wells said. "Coach just called me. I explained how I'm ready to go. He told me he's ready for me to go. That's basically how it happened. "It's all about coach. I feel like I can play always. Whatever coach says, I'm going to do. He's the coach, I'm the player. It's all about the team. If he thinks I'm going to be with the team, I'm going to be with the team." Signed on the eve of training camp after turning down a four-year, $36 million offer from his former team, the Sacramento Kings, the free-agent Wells took a two-year, $5 million deal to join the Rockets. With a salary of just $2 million this season, he was triumphantly regarded by management as a coup who could provide another big gun, a third option offensively, along with McGrady and Yao Ming. List of excuses long Wells missed the early days of training camp while nursing a groin injury from last season. He then missed several days following dental work and was absent on more than one occasion for personal reasons. Wells played only 30 minutes total — taking 10 shots, scoring six points — in the Rockets' second and third games of the season and was not happy. Neither was Van Gundy happy with Wells' playing shape. Thus began a monthlong standoff that had Wells pedaling away on an exercise bicycle and put on the inactive list for games. Van Gundy eventually told him to stay away from Toyota Center. Is Wells in better shape now? "I don't know," Van Gundy said. "Because I'd asked him to not be around starting about 10 days ago, to do conditioning on his own, I don't really have any idea what he did in that time." Wells admitted he was winded at Monday's practice and not in game shape. "I probably won't play," he said. "This is my first practice in, what, three or four weeks? It's going to take some time. It's up to coach. You're going to have to ask him." So for a day, at least, Wells returned to practice and nothing else has been resolved. Van Gundy shrugged. "There has been frustration on both sides and it hasn't worked out yet," he said. "That doesn't mean it can't work out. We'll see." fran.blinebury@chron.com
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl//4395435.html T-Mac won't play vs. Lakers By FRAN BLINEBURY Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle He is listed as day-to-day. "He's still stiff and sore," said Keith Jones, Rockets head trainer. "We're treating him with heat and with a vacuum decompression unit that we got for him over the summer. He's also taking anti-inflammatories." McGrady had to leave Saturday night's game against the Wizards in Washington with 6:54 left in the fourth quarter after he jumped to try to block a shot by Gilbert Arenas. Welcome back, Bonzi The sight of Bonzi Wells back on the practice floor Monday was a welcome one to teammates. "He can play the two and three position and help us in the post game," Yao Ming said. "He'll give us more choices, another player we can go in to. "He's also very good on offensive rebounding, and in the last game we only had five offensive rebounds." Shane Battier, who played with Wells in Memphis, knows the transition won't be simple. "If we can integrate him into our offensive and defensive schemes, we'll be a deeper, more experienced team," Battier said. Hayes plagued by fouls Foul trouble has been sending Chuck Hayes to the bench early and severely reducing his minutes over the past week. "You have to learn from it and adjust," Hayes said. "Adjust to the referees, to the tempo of the game and to the player you're defending. It's hard, because I consider myself an aggressive player. Sometimes I'll have to let up as far as my strength. But I won't let up on my intensity."
Has anyone here ever been banned from anywhere or anything? I once was banned from a gym because of foul language, got sent home and washed my mouth out with soap. Being banned from any place sucks, I feel for Bonzi!
I hope that was a nothing statement. Sure his game would be rusty, but winded at practice? That would suggest he hasn't been doing the cardio work in the past month at all.
Per Jeff Van Gundy: Is Wells in better shape now? "I don't know," Van Gundy said. "Because I'd asked him to not be around starting about 10 days ago, to do conditioning on his own, I don't really have any idea what he did in that time."
Pop is a very good defensive coach, but he also has had Duncan making him look good inside, a former DPOTY at the start of his career in Robinson, and Bowen making him look good on the perimeter. Duncan and Bowen are probably two of the best defenders of this generation, and both are terrific help defenders. In his 9 years, Pop has benefited from 15 NBA All-Defense appearances, including 9 First Team (9 from Duncan, 5 from Bowen, 1 from Robinson). In his 8 years Van Gundy has had 1, on the Second Team (Oakley in 97-98). Van Gundy in New York basically made Camby the defensive player he is today (he was basically a glorified Stro Swift when he was with Toronto), and in Houston, look at the strides Yao has made, and what he did with a team that had guys like Steve Francis and Mo Taylor. Of course it cuts both ways, as TMac and Yao are probably two of the most special offensive talents of this generation, and our offense under JVG has been thoroughly average, and that's being kind. I don't think Van Gundy is on the same level as Pop overall, but JVG is a defensive genius.
after what i saw tonight...bonzi is getting packaged and traded...he was pitiful...2 to's and 3 pf's in the 5 minutes he was on...
He hasnt played a tottal of 3 GAME in a span of 7 months. 35 minutes of ball in 7 months and you guys expected 20 and 10. it's gonna take him atleast 3 weeks to get he's groove going.
