I don't care whether VG has a physicians' license or not. He sees and speaks with McGrady (and Keith Jones) a whole lot more than any of us. I'll take 3 years of high-level productive as a fair estimate. So if.... Then, I want to repeat something I feel is important about "role" players. IMHO, we need players who can get their own shots. Eventually and inevitably, McGrady will decline. Perimeter players who are multi-dimensional will help to take offensive and defensive pressures off TMac. This is one reason I never bought into the "Alston is a better fit than Mike James" theory. Rather than need for YM/TM to be successful, a player like James augments what they can do. The bottomline is that the past horrendous season has illuminated the talent deficit between the Rockets and the leagues' elites. "Urgency" is right on....this summer's draft and FA market (regardless of how "thin") are critical. It's a good thing we have both CD and Morey...and they both need to work a lot of overtime! Guess I not so subtly showed my pro-Van Gundy, pro-MJ, anti-Redick view.
GATER, agreed. And that's always what scares me when I hear people say, "this team needs shooters". It scares me to think about wanting to get guys that are shooters but dont do anything else really well. If they go cold, then what happens? You are right on the money with Mike James. He could shoot, but he could take people off the dribble and create a shot for himself and others. It just gives us more options. People are afraid that if we add another "scorer" on this team it will take shots away from Tmac and Yao. That's all well in good in a vacuum. But chances are if either of those guys are out of the game resting, foul trouble or godforbid injured again, we need more scoring punch to help carry us through. And jump shooters that stand behind the 3pt line arent going to do it, because they are TOO dependant on Tmac/Yao creating space for them. That's why I think Vspan might be a good solution if he is ready to come over. This is a guy that can supposedly create his own shot and will drive the lane constantly, which will suck in the defense.
Deuce - Agree 100%. That "vacuum" view overlooks how many extra shots the Rockets can get by the additional dimension of on the ball defenders who force tempo. That IMO was the beauty of a Mike James combined with a healthy Sura, Barry and Wesley. Better defensive pressure...easier transition baskets. Let's hope V-Span pushes tempo like James and Sura.
Three years is not what we thought we were getting, but as was mentioned anyone else hear what JVG said exactly? Also what is productive? Someone who gets 12 & 10 every night is 'productive'. Tracy needs to put up superstar numbers for the Rockets -- otherwise he is a major bust.
This is just JVG putting the heat on Les and CD by saying...."3 more years". He probably just wants much better players on the roster next year....don't we all???? DD
let's see .. JVG signed a 5 yr contract [i think] he has coached 3 yrs. . . so . . . . he trying to maximize *his* chances before the end of his tenure Rocket river
I don't know about you guys, but what JVG said sounds to me like its intended to be a 'warning' to Les Alexander that it's time to surround these two guys with solid players NOW, that the time is NOW or he will miss the train. I think he's saying to Les that urgency is needed, I don't think it's directed at McGrady or anyone else besides Les. I think JVG is trying to get Les to open up his wallet a bit more in the short-term before he misses out on the Rockets' best chance to win it all since Dream was in his prime. EDIT: Looks like I am just being repetitive
kg i understand, but shouldn't you consistently play at LEAST 70+ games a season to be considered an iron man? since kobe became a full time starter in 98-99 he has 3 seasons of 70 games or more. fwiw, t-mac has 5 since 99-00.
The concerned ones should not be you and The Crew but the Channel 2 GM, news and sports team who apparently have one viewer (who subscribes to the higher calling of clutchfans).
My initial thoughts exactly. I agree with Gater at least a third scorer who can get his own shot. It is nice to see that after wasting two years of Tracy JVG sees things as sort of urgent. To be fair they did try to do it asap with old cheap guys, but they did not get lucky as they all got injured. Hey, let's get Mike James and make him the starting point guard. When and if he doesn't distribute enough, we bring in Rafer to distribute (and do his nothing except distribute game ). Rafer is a fine relief pg when Yao and McGrady are rolling. This would allow JVG to relax, thank God for old fashioned values. Then we could still bring in Mike James for crunch time, when you need some toughness.
