Actually the stories around NY was that JVG was a very petty individual especially against people who had personal issues with him. and yeah I know I'm reaching. I can't help it, there's no way he woulda ever given SF this much freedom. I guess the unintelligent remark kinda tickeld my Franchise fanboy bone.
The problem is that numerous times, T-Mac shoots A LOT OF those shots. Of course every star perimeter player jacks up bad long range shots. But T-Mac had a habit of doing so too much sometimes, especially in crunch time. I am so pumped for the playoffs. T-Mac is definitely our biggest X-Factor. Yao, Battier, and Head are pretty consistent. Rafer is streaky and you can only hope that he has more good games than bad. But if T-Mac can truly elevate his game to near his Orlando days, I feel good about our chances.
That's from yahoo? Wow. Great read. Usually you don't find sports writing that good on yahoo or AOL or whatever.
Well, as much affection as we may all have in our nostalgic little hearts around here for SF, you won't find anyone saying that Stevie had a high level of 'basketball intelligence'. I know the passage of time always dulls the pain and frustration of the past, but I still remember the agony of watching Steve dribble for 20 seconds in an iso and then jack up an off-balance miss, and seeing this happen CONSTANTLY. Steve could have been so much more, could have been an all-time great player, but his disability was between the ears, and he was already long ago as good as he was ever going to be. It's doubtful that JVG feels any need any longer to take shots at SF, but there is no question that he prizes basketball intelligence a great deal, and by the same token obviously has little patience with players who can't or won't 'get it'. Let me just put it this way: It is a lot easier to feel a fondness for Stevie while he is playing for any team other than the Rockets.
I think assistant coach Gundy gives Rafer his head as well because he continually tells him to jack up 3's too. This story is a very good read and compiled with some very good thoughts from the coach. Nice find!
I definitely agree. Like yesterday's game, I believe it is 1:14 mark. We had 6 or 8 point lead and ball. What Tmac did was running all the way to the frontcourt, jacking up a long jumper in like 5 seconds. I know if it went in. It would be a big one. But I think the better strategy for any intelligent or not player is KILL the TIME and seeking hight percentage shot such as layups or draw contact to go to the line when you are leading in the final minutes. Tmac did have a good game. But frequently his shot choice is not smart at all.
Ever since the chance to get him from the Knicks, from buying Francis out, passed, for sure. I have to give it up to Van Gundy. I may never love him, like I did (and do) Rudy, but he has won me over this season. He deserves coach of the year. And he's exactly right... who cares about winning the first round? Who knows when we'll have a team of this caliber again? Look at the team that went to the Finals in '86, my favorite Rockets squad, aside from the 2 championship teams. We had everything ahead of us. We were proclaimed the next dynasty by the national media. And that was a much deeper team than this one, even without Lucas. What happens? A descent into hell. You just never know. Van Gundy is right. Nothing should be on the minds of the players but winning it all. (and on our minds, as well) I think we can do it.
lol, the content more than makes up for the title though. great insight from van gundy, you haters got to atleast respect this man's determination for the ring.
Great article!! As far as JVG's nagging on Yao & praising TMac goes, Yao can take constructive criticism and improve, while TMac needs praise to build up his confidence. This is just a case of JVG coaching to his players needs.
It sucks that you are focusing on a fringe 12th man when judging JVG instead of his body of work as a whole. 4th best record in the league w/ HCA in the 1st round, despiting our 2 superstars missing a combined 50% of our season.
chill man, im not a jvg hater. i was just pointing out the title of the article. sarcasm meter not working today? im sure there was an article with that title this season when yao or tmac got hurt.
i truly believe jvg is the best at reading and handling players in order to reach their full potential. Every player is different and gets motivated in different ways, and jvg is the best at accomplishing this. my only personal knock on him this season was his short rotation and substitution patterns. However, i dont have a problem with it this late in the season and for the playoffs. He has a better sub pattern now then he did earlier in the season and now its too late to increase the rotation. he def deserves coy.
The same scene popped up immediately to me when I read JVG's comment on giving Tmac freedom. I believe this is JVG's way of delivering sugar-coated message to Tmac not jacking up shots like that in this kind of scenario.
