If the first round of the playoffs were 5 games like they used to be instead of 7 games, we would have won that series 3-2. Thanks for screwing the Rockets NBA rule makers!
No, under the old rules, Utah would've had home court advantage and would've won the series. Besides, it doesn't really matter, as this is 2007, under the current rules, not eight+ years ago, when Mr. Van Gundy could actually coach a team out of the first round.
How would the Jazz have homecourt in the old rules?? The Rockets still won more regular season games than them. The seedings might have been different as the Jazz would have been the #4 seed with the Rockets as the #5 seed but the Rockets would still have the homecourt advantage.
My main concern with JVG is the development of other "non-rotation" players. Seems like guys get in his doghouse quite a bit. I have no idea though. Could another coach have gotten something out of Bonzi (and Vspan, Novak, Snyder, etc.) ? Do those guys actually just suck? None of us goes to practice so we can't tell. Damn a "good" Bonzi would have been absolutely awesome for us. Thinking about it just gets me sad..
It is his fault he is too stubborn to develop players like VSpan, and Novak. It is his fault for not playing Dikembe when the man went for 18 boards earlier. It is his fault for not finding a way to motivate Bonzi. It is his fault for no fouling on the last play. It is his fault Sura can't get healthy... well not so so much but you get the point.
The division winners used to automatically get the 1-2-3 seeds, regardless of record. Actually, under the "old rules," the Rockets would've played the Spurs in the first round series.
To think of it, you know whose fault it is? Isiah Thomas, as always. If he had just bought out Steve Francis, the Rockets would have been a better team. At least they can get double penetration going, rather than just TMac doing all the work going to the hole from the perimeter. But Francis was kept because some guard got hurt (Crawford?) and they thought they had a playoff run...
Not developing the bench and playing other players has got to be driving the front office crazy. Imagine spending millions of dollars for players and then watching them sit all season long.
VSPAN and Novack weren't ready - they would not have been effective. The weakness at the 4 was too much to bear. Boozer killed us on offense, and Okur was a problem late. But had we had a shot blocking, rebounding, athletic running 4 - we would have beaten the Jazz.
We beat Jazz if we score 5 more points in our homecourt. JVG's offense is offensive! We beat Jazz if we hold the Jazz to 5 less points in our homecourt. JVG's defense sucks! We beat Jazz if JVG could give our players a different speech in the locker room, but he didn't. Our players came out the most important game in their lives like zombies. JVG's motivation skill sucks! We beat Jazz if JVG didn't screw our bench, JVG's team development sucks! JVG sucks.
Is Tmac's 1st round jinx He just can't seem to get out of the 1st rd nobody which conferance he's in or playing with.
While it's not intentional even Yao is calling out Van Gundy. It's time for a change. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=2920054&postcount=17
I don't think you can blame JVG for the shortcomings of the team. It's because of his outstanding effort in turning a crap roster into a 50 plus win team that has gotten everybody's expectations up. No other coach would have gotten as much out of what we had out there. Other than Yao and T-Mac there is nothing on the roster. Rafer is a low to mid-tier point guard at best. Chuck is a D-leaguer Juwan and Deke are at best 5 years out of their primes Battier is a solid role player but didn't even start in Memphis Luther Head is a one dimensional player Lucas is a summer league player Novak and V-Span would have turned all the hypers into haters when they turned the ball over or got beat on defense
There's nothing wrong with our role players to get past the damn first round. They aren't championship caliber players but they can beat Utah if they don't play scared under that grumby coach.
There is an error in logic stating that if Van Gundy had played VSpan and Novak during the regular season, we would have a deeper bench and therefore been able to beat Utah. If VSpan and Novak were developed during the regular season, then we would have not finished 4th. We would have probably finished 7th or 8th and then be eliminated in the first round as well. We would be eliminated, perhaps in a better position for next season. But still eliminated in the first round. Anyways, Fire Gundy. I was a Van Gundy believer. But 4 seasons and no success is enough. Need to try something new.
