Chicago Tribune: Best cure for Rockets: Launch Van Gundy

They wanna ship Eddy Curry in favour of sucking Yao.

 

EVERYBODY who needs a center is coveting Yao. And the more unhappy he gets with the Rockets, the more the rumor mills will grind out whispers that maybe, just maybe, he might become available. And make no mistake about it, right now Yao is VERY unhappy playing here as is T-Mac.

From where I sit, this article was basically accurate particularly about their dismal statistical rankings. Numbers don't lie and their numbers tell us that this is a below average team. You can blame JVG for this all you want but a large share of the blame has to go to the guy(s) evaluating, drafting and signing the players.

 

With the exception of "signing," you are describing Van Gundy. From all accounts, he has the same authority RT did, which peans player-personnel decisions end with him. CD is responsible for offering suggestions, negotiating the contracts, and making things work under the cap.

 

Their field-goal attempts are 26th most

This stat is a killer. We've got two of the league's biggest offensive threats at their respective positions in T-Mac and Yao. We should be doing everything possible to increase the number of shots this team takes per game, not limit it.

 

Thank you, Mr. Yao, the second most dominated center.

 

Anybody think the Rockets would benefit more from a Euro-style offense...like the Sonics... they've got off to such a great start...and while I agree it prob won't last.... just look at how they play...its so fluid and effortless... and since Yao is used to the European/International style of play...it'd seem like that would exploit his strengths a lot more than the current offense...while at the same time limiting his weaknesses...plus it'd also be a great system for T-Mac..because it would allow him to penetrate a lot more.

 

At this point, I think watching a Bobcat game would be more interesting than the snooze fests we have going on.

 

so who is the first most dominated center?

just kidding

 

That's true, but Bobcat games have actually been a lot of fun to watch.. maybe if you said a Hawks or Hornets game then it might be a tougher call =P

 

well . ..
We got Pike
We got Nachbar

even YAo . . .supposedly good shooters
yet the failed here. .

Rocket River
SUCKED THEIR SHOT OFF THEM

 

JVG can kill off shooters very well. I don't know what he does. Pike looked like the bad Matt Maloney when he was here. Yao has almost no jumpshot now. TMac is slowly losing his jumpshot too. Ward has already lost his jumpshot.

 

Even better, then we won't have to pay him.

Great article, I wish the Chronicle would write a piece like this.

"This is not to say Van Gundy is a bad coach. He's just the wrong coach for the Rockets." - Quote of the year.

I don't think any of the anti-JVG posters are saying JVG is a bad coach, it's just that his system doesn't fit the players and we know that JVG isn't going to change the system.

 

What makes me laugh about this article and those that have agreed with it, is the notion of blaming coach Van Gundy and his offense for Yao's lack of production. Yao woes are directly due to the slow and soft style of play he brings to the court. The sad part is, that the organization will put all of their chips behind Yao because he is a cash cow. He has the potential to be a great offensive player in this league but I don't know if he'll even get that far. As far as becoming a great all around player, that seems unlikely. I think when Yao's career is all said and done, he will be viewed as a good player not great.

 

It's not Van Gundy.

The Rockets did not have a point guard who was worth a sh*t when Steve Francis was the starting point guard, and now that Steve Francis is gone, the Rockets still do not have a point guard that is worth a sh*t.

That, my friends, is the problem.

 

That, my friends, is Jeff Van Gundy's fault. He doesn't want a "good" point guard. He has perfectly succeeded in recreating the 2001 Knicks: "a perpetually grumpy coach, an inconsistent star, a finicky star, and three mediocre point guards (one named Charlie Ward)."

http://www.recordonline.com/archive/2001/11/18/kkgcolum.htm

 

"history always repeats itself, and those who do not learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them"

 

Yao is like playing a badminton game. He's not getting killed by running a few sprints up and down the court. Starts and stops waste more gas than sprints. Yao wastes too much energy on offense and defense. He gets worn out by all those starts and stops.Yao often plays a possession like this.

Fights for position on the left block. Gets it. Guards swing the ball to the other side of the court. Runs to the other side of the court to fight for position. Gets it. Guards can't pass because of double teams. Runs out to set screens for guards. Runs back to fight for rebounds.

On defense he often gets fouls trying to stop penetration allowed by our sucky one on one defense, or trying to go back and cover his own man, who is made open by Yao's help defense. Also, funneling offense towards Yao is stupid when the refs don't buy it. Adjust or extinct.

Yao is in a mud on both ends of court created by a little bald guy called JVG. Here's what JVG needs to do. Yao needs to shoot more jumpers. He needs two man game with T-Mac. He needs plays to be run for him to score. He's not a cow that just makes milk without eating grass. It's not a shame it's maximizing players' talent. Malone gets easy baskets all the time. Who cares if Yao is MDE or not as long as we can find ways to win. On defense sits or trades those players who can't play decent one on one defense. Help defense is just what it is, help, not savior!

We obviously need high post plays involving Yao to speed up the game a little, get more possessions and open up the lanes for penetrations. Doing so immediately cures two of our problems, being last on possessions and FTs. Running more won't hurt either. Don't worry about Yao's stamina. He doesn't need to run every time and he runs pretty fast among centers. High post offense also helps him conserve energy. What are we afraid of when we have Mutombo as back up? Mixing it up on offense with low post, high post and running is the way to go.

JVG needs to find ways for Yao and T-mac to maxmize their scoring talent or he'll be out sooner or later.

 

I agree with Panda. That describes perfectly a Yao possession. It's way to much work for someone who labors to make it through a game. Give him the left block and let him camp out there. If you want to swing the ball fine, but that can be the weak side with Mo or Ho and Jim Jackson working a two man game. He runs well for a big man when he wants to run court, but often labors on Defense. Van gundy needs to make the game simpler. The Old Rockets offense or Triangle would work fine for us. But even if not, Yao should be force fed the ball on the block and then let everything else happen or breakdown after that. It's boring. But it's so much easier for the big guy.

 

So
Who are the great Point Guards in the League now?

Rocket River

 

You know what will be funny
when JVG finally does some
of the things the Naysayers are saying to do
and
the Rockets Take off. . . the JVG protectors will
SWEAR it is the same thing .. but the rockets are
just gelling

Rocket River