forgetting the eventual outcome and what side you are on the jvg debate, was it good times watching the rockets play basketball that season. i distinctly remember it being the most fun i'd had watching the rockets since the glory days and it proved to me that we could play good offensive ball with van gundy. this isn't a vote for jvg. simply ask yourself, was that fun to watch or was it boring/slow basketball?
are you kidding?? we were watching the best player in the game!!! that team was capable of matching the Suns' style and capable of playing a grind-it-out game. that was what i loved about those Rockets (aside from the fact they won championships)...they were capable of playing with great defensive teams and great offensive teams and beating them. OH, AND THEY WON A FREAKING CHAMPIONSHIP!!!!
After that horrendous 6-11 start, once they brought in guys like Jon Barry and benched scrubs like Charlie Ward, the team became very fun to watch.
First half of the year was pretty boring, but it picked up considerably when we got Jon Barry. Early offense picked up too. DD
remember van gundy was the one who told jon barry he was done. people buying this blinebuy/justice crap about jvg wanting more talent and cd/morey/les thinking we've got all we need: you can't blame cd/morey/les for this year and then also give jvg the credit for bringing in guys like sura, mike james, barry, and david wesley, guys that elevated our team in 04-05 and MADE us fun to watch. so which is it: is jvg in charge of the personnel, or is cd/morey/les?
6-11 sucked then Sura came back and then the three trades for Barry (steal), James (steal) and Wesley (good for that year but bad long term) helped that team take off and I just remember going to work everyday and folks everywhere talking Rocketball. I thought we would lose to the Spurs but I never thought the Mavs or anyone other than the Spurs would beat us.
BigM wants to use that 0.5 season to prove that JVG can coach offense. He forgot that JVG is also responsible for the other 3.5 season. Let's face it. Slow, boring and ugly is what JVG basketball is all about. That HALF season was an exception. That year, Rox actually made several smart trades (Lue for Barry, second rounder for Mike James, etc. I don't agree with the Boki & JJ for Wesley trade, but Wesley actually contributed). They got several guards who were hard-nosed and smart. They just knew how to play basketball and all JVG did was let them play. Don't give JVG too many credits which he doesn't deserve. He can't coach offense.
Not to mention his lack of adjustments in the playoffs AGAIN.....cost the team the first round series with the Mavs that year after being up 2-0 and coming home. DD
The Rockets were a lot of fun after the trades were done. Yao and Tmac were playing well off each other and our sharpshooters were hitting at a ridiculous clip. They were clicking insanely well together. I remember Jon Barry saying before a game, "Welcome to the machine." Good times...
I miss Sura & Jim Jackson. I think the squad could have pulled it out in Round 1 vs the Jazz. Their playing style would be more simliar.
That squad would have a better ability to hit open shots... Wesley/Sura wouldn't be as inept as Alston/Head (Battier had a pretty damn good 3 point shot in the playoffs, and would have likely ='d Barry). The only reason I liked this squad better was because of Yao's increased development from 05... but most of that was mitigated by his injury (even though he still showed more toughness/stamina than he would have). The 05 squad would also have the same problems with the Jazz' size, and Yao having to guard Boozer (unless they wanted to throw Weatherspoon or Bowen at him).
Sums it up for me. The hand signals for making 3's was fun too. It seemed like there was a party going on in the bench.
Yao had his best year that season. a lot of dunks and he was the best 4th quarter player. TMAC played defense in playoffs except game 7.
