I was forced to wonder last night what adjustment Van Gundy is missing in the second halves of games. Offensively Yao is becoming ineffective because he is getting double teamed and his passing out of the post is even getting to become a problem. What is the answer? I'm not a coach but it seems that putting Yao in the high post in these situations would work well as Yao (a naturally good passer) could see the cutters better. Also, we could actually HAVE people cutting to the basket for easy points or free throws since there would be at least three fewer people (Yao and his two defenders) clogging the lane. As much as Van Gundy says we are getting "home-run" happy at the end of games you would think that unclogging the middle would have occured to him. Please note that during our comeback there was no real low-post presence allowing our guards into the paint. Defensively the only solution I can even guess about is to run a zone at least for a while. I know that with our "pack-it-in" defense we allow other teams with "home-run" capability to shoot their threes virtually unguarded. Another defensive (and offensive) solution is fresh legs as evidenced by the "all-heart" team last night. Kudos to those guys even though I knew they had it in them. Now that I have said that--I would even not be opposed to seeing our rotation expanded to 10 or 11 players (a la Hubie Brown's Memphis teams) Okay, I've vented...
We also run the pick and roll with Yao and Tmac, but for some reason, not with anyone else. I would think that V-Span and Yao would be a good tandom. DD
agreed. how come it seems like everyone knows how to fix this team except van gundy? there is one glaring problem with jeff's "offense" as it is right now. while setting up yao in the post is the most efficient and stable way to produce points, especially on a team without tmac, you cannot rely on it every single possession. 1: defenders adjust very quickly, 2: yao gets tired, and 3: you are an NBA coach. what good are you if all you do is pray yao's brilliance can carry this team to a championship. give the guy some freaking help. create some freedom in the paint for an easy score once in awhile, let yao take a break from running from the left block to the right block, constantly having to fight off his man. its no surprise the rockets have a hard time scoring when the gameplan consists of: yao in the post, or yao in the post and kicking it out for a 3. if you want to live and die by the 3, please make sure you have the personnel to do it. if you don't, maybe its time to adjust to your personnel.
right, I don't remembering seeing last night Bonzi playing postup. That's his strong move. I saw him trying to post up and asked for the ball but the ball didn't get to him. Well maybe I switched off the TV too soon.
Assistant coach refuses to change. He said becaue Pop and Sloan doesn't change and it works for them he feels that's necessary for him as well. It's funny how fans can notice general basketball things that would help, some of it the same things that Walton, Anthony and Legler were criticized for saying Yao needs to do, yet assistant coach won't ever do it.
it's pretty obvious that this team needs another scoring option. even with tmac they need a 3rd option. without him, that person can step up and let someone like luther up his points form the bench. i'm happy that the team is a better shooting team than last year. i'm also happy that there were more defensive players added to the team (shane, snyder, hayes in the rotation). however, until we get another scoring option we are a first round bust.
If JVGs lack of offensive creativity and flexability weren't enough, I am growing really, really tired of his demeanor. The "dark", morbid, depressive facade is almost unbearable. Surely, he can't be this way all the time, no would could stand to be around him. His press conferences are worse than funerals. He appears to be the most miserable person on earth, it's basketball, not a life or death situation. If his contract is not renewed (oh please let it be, spare us more suffering), he is still a millionaire and will easily get another job. He is not a bad coach, likely a defensive genius, but, I would really like to see this team with a positive, creative, motivator type of coach. A cross between Rudy and JVG.
Why did "all-hearts" play better defense and offense? Reasoning: JVG did not set any play for them. When he did, after last timeouts, they were lost in both ends. but kudos to JVG for benching some starters even when the game was close. That's right attitude. We might have a little winning streak after this.
Reasoning: JVG did not set any play for them. When he did, after last timeouts, they were lost in both ends. well i think thats a little bit of a stretch. when JVG sets up a play after timeoutsm the rockets more often than not, get a good shot. lets keep it simple: If the rockets made their FTs at the end of the game, chances are the rockets win. it's pretty obvious that this team needs another scoring option. even with tmac they need a 3rd option thats the biggest thing. the rockets dont have anyone(other than tma) that can create when things break down. luther is getting better but its still not enough, as for JVGs facade...who cares. He is a dry guy, who cares. at least he is himself and doesnt try to be a phony. He is actually pretty dam funny if you get him
When you say 3rd option, I'm thinking a man who can score regardless of the man defending him (e.g. Yao, Tmac, Kobe). But we really don't need a 3rd scorer (though it would be nice....Bonzi?). If you look at the Lakers, who do they have that can score in any situation? Just Kobe. Maybe Lamar, but he wasn't in the game. Luke, Parker, and everyone else scored because of the game plan. Setting picks, backpicks, running around. Good offensive movement, adapting to the game situation through PJ's coaching.
Yao is getting really fatigued in the second half..especially when we're losing and the opposing team is playing fast basketball. This is worrying..I really hope they keep on playing bonzi so he gets used to playing again. We all know if he fits in the system and gets more minutes he'll become the good player that he is.
I was not trying to knock the coach as such. I have come to respect VanGundy and even like him--especially after his creation of the Red Rowdies. I even think he taught Yao the "right" way (low post, low post, and more low post) which has made Yao the dominant force he is now. But sometimes I believe that VanGundy does the wrong things for the right reason and Yao CAN play the high post. It's just that when plan A begins to fail you need a plan B that will work. I also believe that we have the proper mix of players to win NOW. I just think spacing the floor more cuts down on the 3-point craziness and lets folks like V-Span, Rafer, and Luther get to the basket more.
Actually, I am thinking that maybe Yao should share the offense with other guys a little bit more even if he is only single covered, especially when he is outside the paint. Three benefits of this: 1. save energy of Yao. 2. make other guys warm hands so that they can step up when Yao get doubled in the 2nd half. 3. make our attacking strategy less predicable. The other team will hesitate to double Yao and Yao can get a better look.
No, Mr. Intangibles needs to step up as the third -- or really the second -- scoring option. We traded our future for him as "insurance" for the day T-Mc tweaked his back. That day is here.
I would have liked to see more pick and roll since posting Yao up was beginning to cause problems from the collapsing defense. But, you know what the bottom line is guys/gals? People didn't hit open shots. If you don't do that, defenses will just play Yao, no need to guard the other guys. TMac's absence was a big factor in it. Snyder too, he can create. They tried to post Bonzi once, and the ball was stolen. I won't sit here and pretend I know more and know better than the coaching staff though. I have my gripes about JVG as many of us do, and sometimes I wish he'd just loosen the leash a little at times. But hey, we have a good record, and *hopefully* everyone will be healthy come playoff time.
I seem to remember this system working a couple of times...I think the banners still hang in the Toyota Center. Not sure... Seriously, though...IMO the problem is this. We are a team built around two players that create their shots and players to compliment them. If one of those two guys goes down, we are basically screwed.
dude anybody expecting shane battier to become any kind of scoring option is going to be sorely disappointed. have you seen the guy dribble? i love him, but the man couldn't create a shot in a layup drill. head is the only viable second scoring option, unless bonzi ever shapes up. but that is besides the point. you dont need designated scorers. you need a gameplan that enables EVERYONE to have scoring opportunities. launching 3s does not count as a scoring opportunity. and i like van gundy too. he is hilarious, he works hard, and he loves basketball. its obvious. but he just doesn't know what to do when the game plan isn't working. he said it himself, the best teams stick to their gameplan and never waiver from it. well, the best teams aren't missing their best or 2nd best player. when that happens, you gotta change the game plan a little bit...
