JVG vs. Adelman

You make some good points. IMO, a balance between defense and offense is best, obviously, but in the playoffs, defense becomes critical.

 

I hated JVGs offense. Liked his rotation and minutes with a limited lineup compaired to Adelman. Hate Adelmans Defense so far with his substitutions being sub par and his minutes doled out somewhat questionable for some players that he favors. If we could somehow combine these two coaches we would have the perfect coach. I like Adelmans Offense and his play calling.

 

I would take JVG and his staff over Adelman and his staff. Tom Thibodeau was great and helped Yao become dominant. How exactly has Jack Sikma helped Yao?

 

JVG easily!!!!!

JVG did more with less. Who would have thought the Rockets would make the playoffs with the way the Rockets roster was shaped up.

RA is doing less(sort of ) with more.

 

Both are among the best coaches without a ring yet.

But I just want to say that after Van Gundy's departure as rockets' coach, you kind of appreciate him more.

Looking back, his philosophy of game playing is sound. Basically, he wants the team to play in a playoff style. Namely, slow tempo and stingy defense. Everybody has to agree no matter how flashy you play in the regular season, once the playoff starts, defense begins to matter and the pace of the game slows down. Defense wins champions. Just look at who won it in the past decade, you know it's true. By contrast, the running and free flowing game as exhibited by the Suns, has never been resulted in a champion.

JVG's assessment of players are spot-on. Foremost, he thinks Yao needs to play in a slow paced style and he needs to be a factor in the low post. While Yao doesn't seem to have too much trouble running, he doesn't excel in that system either. Of his size, Yao should definitely have a low post game, otherwise he's just another Brad Miller.

So many people conveniently point out JVG's fault not to utilize certain players. For example, in his last season, he didn't give Bonzi, Snyder, Novak enough opportunities. You all saw what turned out to be for these player next season under a new coach. By the way, where are these players these days?

Again, JVG is criticized for not developing players, esp. rookies. But he did develop them. Chuck Hayes is still considered the best defensive PF on the team. Luther Head once was the third scoring option on the team and a sharp shooter and was well liked by many fans including ESPN pundits (remember one calling Luther 'my man'). He didn't develop Novak but neither did Adleman. For V-span, you never know whether he will be utilized in RA's system. AB was well developed under RA. But remember JVG gave John Lucus III minutes? No reason he wouldn't give AB chances. The list of players goes on.

Looking back, you can't deny JVG properly assessed and used every player's talent. The fact is, he just didn't have enough talents to work with aside from Yao and T-mac, as he pointed it out himself. Also that's the reason he asked the team to go over the luxury tax to get some talented players.

People got caught up in the moment while he was the head coach here. But after he left, as time can tell, he's just a great coach who never under achieved.

 

I would take JVG's team, which had the best center and a top 5 player in TMAC, over any Adelman's team.

2 superstars >>>> 0 superstar.

 

JVG playoff record: 44-44 1 finals appearance, 1 conference finals appearance
RA playoff record: 79-78 2 finals appearances, 2 conference finals appearance

Obviously, JVG's stuff works much better than Adelman in the playoffs. It's always nice to see solid arguments backed up by facts.

/sarcasm

 

I'd have to go with Adelman too. I started watching rockets games really close ( all 82 games every quarter, OTs, preseason games, and every 48+ minutes of em) during the JVG yrs (I'm a lifetime rockets fan). I liked seeing T-Mac play as well as Stevey Franchise. Those guys made me jump out of my seat but Adelman, his offense us smart in addition to entertaining.

Besides the entertainment value I think both coaches contrast as JVG catored to his players and favored them while Adelman includes the team as a whole and like the OP said develops our players.

JVG - stellar defense, great halfcourt game, new how to use our teams strengths

Adelman- better transition game, better rotation (smart substitutions are glossed over), better balanced offense as opposed to being centered on key players

I'd have to give it to Adelman from the basketball aspect and how he makes the games more entertaining.

 

that's because we traded our best rookie prospect away during JVG era

 

I like Adelman but prefer JVG.

Adelman has a lot better players than JVG had.

 

Everyone is comparing jvg last lesson with adlemans first.. And saying we weren't able to beat jazz with adlemans with a better team...I think people are forgetting that Yao was injured in playoffs right?

 

They're on the same tier, both very good coaches without rings. Playoff records don't say much because neither one of them has won it. By looking at the coaches who has done it, Phil, Popvich, Larry Brown, Doc, pat Riley, etc, one common trace is they're great defensive coaches. So that's not exactly an argument in favor of RA.

 

Fine, replace "create" with "produce" - it's a matter of semantics. I'm talking about the injury seasons specifically.

On one side, you've got Stromile Swift, Richie Frahm and David Wesley. On the other, you have Scola, Landry, Brooks Martin etc. Are you seriously arguing that those two teams had comparable options on offense?

As I've said before, other than Ward, whose deal was relatively modest 2 years 3.5 million (total), not exactly a cap-killer, guys like Jackson, Strickland, Oakley, were midseason pickups who signed 10-day contracts or non-guaranteed veteran minimums, and who were gone within a year - how was that unforgiveable?

Oh and btw guess who just shelled out a big money deal for a 34 year old Brad Miller?

 

most of these were JVG picks

 

I seriously hate when ya'll say "Well, JVG didnt have the talent". JVG had full control of who played and who didnt. Athletic young players with potential were players who would never crack rotation on JVG's team. We were the worst teams in fast break points and points per game. His offensive scheme was terrible and his rotations were garbage. David Wesley should not have been playing as much as he was....Adelman has taken young players like Landry and CBud and gave the CONFIDENCE to play in the NBA. JVG was a confidence killer.

 

SO if this is true (which it's not, but whatever) then why hasn't Adelman been able to generate any meaningful improvement whatsoever in the Rockets offensive efficiency?

They remain mired in the middle of the league. The numbers don't lie - and not a single person has been able to explain this yet.

 

I think that if JVG had coached this past season (w/o Yao), our team would not have finished with the record we did. I think that we would be in the low 30s, near the bottom of the Western Conference. But with Rick, we would have made the playoffs if it weren't for injuries to Lowry, Battier, Bud, ect.

 

You need some rep, good sir !

:grin:

But, arguing with the JVG nuthugger brigade is like arguing with the Tmac fans.......the problem is the JVG fans stayed.....while most of the Tmac fans slunk off like cockroaches......

DD