Van Gundy hopes for more in reserves Rockets coach irked by lack of intensity off bench By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/2864492 As word spread through the TD Waterhouse Centre that Tracy McGrady's homecoming would be just a tease and he would spend the night relatively out of booing range on the bench, speculation explaining his Saturday off filled the arena the way his shots once did. He was hurt, scared and sticking it to Magic fans again, conspiracy theorists assured. Then the game began and the real reason for McGrady's absence was obvious. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy started his reserves with Yao Ming because he said he needed to answer some questions. And as they played, it was clear they needed the work. If he had hoped that someone would make his decisions easier, Van Gundy found no such luck. Instead, he was left with reason to worry about the next time he has to turn a game over to his bench. "I don't have any concerns. I really don't," Van Gundy said. "I don't have any concerns that intensity, concentration and discipline can't cure this. We can't make mistake after mistake after mistake. It's one thing if you just get beat on a great individual play. But when we don't do our job, it's a sign of a team that's not disciplined enough, and right now we're not disciplined enough. "We have not done as good a job coaching — I have not done as good a job coaching them — as I would have liked. We're not intense enough. We're not disciplined enough. We don't concentrate enough. That's on me. I should have those younger players further along than they were." Unlike fans, scouts who attended the game were not the least bit disappointed to find that Van Gundy would hold out as much as 80 percent of his starting lineup. At this stage of the season, they are there to write down the plays. Backups, they reasoned, were even more likely to faithfully run the plays than more talented starters. But from the game's first trip down the court, the Rockets were sloppy in the way they ran plays and carried out assignments. "I had seen these same problems as we progressed," Van Gundy said. "Because we played on the road, some of them hadn't come to the forefront. (Saturday), they came to the forefront. We don't have much time. Unfortunately, we're probably not right now where we need to be to play against the schedule that we're going to play against." But before the Rockets play the Pistons on Nov. 2, Van Gundy faces choices made difficult by Saturday's performances. Bostjan Nachbar continued to struggle with his shooting touch. A 36 percent 3-point shooter last season, he is 0-for-8 from that range in the preseason, only occasionally drawing iron. "In practice, my shot is looking great," Nachbar said. "In games, I can't get going. I realize I haven't made a 3-point shot this preseason, so it's kind of getting in my head." Van Gundy said Nachbar's problems, like the reserves' in general, have not been isolated to shooting touch. "If it is (a confidence issue), he should be stronger-minded because obviously he's got enough ability," Van Gundy said. "Like all our younger guys, I've been disappointed in their concentration, intensity and discipline. That's what led to uneven playing time (for Nachbar) last year. I think he knows where he stands." Nachbar's problems might have been the most obvious and raise the most immediate decisions for Van Gundy — Nachbar was in line to be the first option as a backup to McGrady and Jim Jackson. But if Nachbar's struggles send Van Gundy looking at a training-camp find, David Hawkins likewise hasn't made a preseason 3-pointer. He went 0-for-5 from the field against the Magic. Tyronn Lue started at point guard and struggled to get the Rockets into their offense. But his struggles were minor compared to those of Reece Gaines. In one embarrassing stretch, Gaines could not reach half court because rookie Jameer Nelson stripped the ball on consecutive plays and went in for uncontested layups. Moments later, Van Gundy put in Derrick Zimmerman and pulled Gaines. Maurice Taylor, who came off the bench last season, was a bright spot, making eight of 11 shots for 18 points. But he continued to get only an occasional rebound. He had three in 26 minutes Saturday and is averaging 2.5 in the preseason. If Saturday's exercise did little to help Van Gundy's decision-making, Taylor said it could help those who played. "It's got to be helpful for the young guys to get the opportunities they got," Taylor said. "For Reece, Boki, David, Derrick just getting out there, getting some minutes, it's a big thing to get some minutes, see what they need to work on in game situations like that." Most of the reserve players will not be asked to play en masse. Barring injuries, they will mix in with the starters, not replace them. If Saturday's performance failed to offer Van Gundy many answers about the Rockets' reserves, the reserves themselves refused to be discouraged. "It wasn't a good game, but I think we have a chance to have a great bench," Lue said. "We have a lot of guys coming off the bench who have started. I think the team knows it." But Van Gundy would like to base his confidence on more than just faith. "In general, we think we're further along than we are," Van Gundy said. "That's what I've been seeing." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Rockets Summary McGrady targets age 35 Tracy McGrady said he has no concerns that he will sign a contract extension to be with the Rockets for three seasons beyond the three he has remaining on his contract, rather than opting out after the season. After that, he's not too sure. "We're going to get it done," McGrady said. "We're going to get it done. But I can't see myself playing past 35. That's 10 more years, man. I'll probably be hurting then. "To me, I probably play five, six years. I'll be done. I've said for a few years I won't play past 35. That will be 14, 15 years in the league. I'll be done." McGrady, 25, was drafted by the Toronto Raptors with the ninth overall pick in the 1997 NBA draft. He was traded to Orlando for a first-round pick in 2000, and arrived in Houston this June along with Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines for Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. This will be McGrady's eighth season in the NBA. Like a cheating wife Magic guard Cuttino Mobley has not decided about opting out of his contract after the season to become a free agent. But if he does find himself weighing free-agent offers, he said the chances he would consider rejoining the Rockets are remote. "Like I said before, getting traded is like your wife cheating on you," Mobley said, visibly disgusted by the idea. "But you never know, man. Anything can happen."
It's also kind of like Mobley getting busted on live TV for hitting on Destiny's Child when he had a girlfriend and looking to crawl under a rock.
Is Reece Gaines as bad as Nelson made him look? The first time Nelson picked his pocket, I didn't think about it; Nelson got the jumpo on him, fine. But, to get picked again on the very next trip up the floor, when you should be especially concentrating on protecting the ball? Shooting 0-5 wasn't helping his cause either. We know Yao and Mo Taylor are in the rotation, regardless. Of the remaining guys, only Lue and Weatherspoon and maybe Bowen looked like they should be playing professionally.
What are the chances of the Rockets picking up Nachbar's option before October 31st? I would say doubtful at this time. I WANT Nachbar to succeed! But it just doesnt seem like he will, or at least will on THIS team. Nachbar is worthless to us unless he can hit a jumpshot. If all he is going to be is a defensive hustle guy, we have that covered in a much cheaper Bowen. As for Gaines. I dont think he is a NBA PG. And he doesnt have the jumpshot to be a SG. Maybe he will really improve, but I am not holding my breath. I think it is clear why the Rockets brought in a lot of veterans. They team just cant count on the younger players.
Deuce looks as if Nachbar has a confidence problem when it comes to shooting the basketball during games. It would not surprise me if he were part of a potential trade involving one of the rocket powerforwards sometime this season. I am really pulling for him.
Dave Jamerson had the same problem. Could fill it up in college but in NBA games just wasnt comfortable.
<b>"We have not done as good a job coaching — I have not done as good a job coaching them — as I would have liked. We're not intense enough. We're not disciplined enough. We don't concentrate enough. That's on me. I should have those younger players further along than they were."</b> Well, Van Grumpy, if you can't turn a team with Yao and TMac into a championship contender, you're fired!
Van Gundy is trying to play head games like he did with his Knicks. He would try to take the blame for a specific weakness on the team. The team sees that the coach is trying to take the blame, so they would focus on that weakness afterwards. As much as JVG is talking about the obvious (Boki), I think he is referring to Yao too. I'm getting tired of Yao doing all these damn commercials if it takes away from his play on the court. Tim Duncan has essentially been the best player on the planet, but he doesn't go around doing commercials. Until Yao gets his play on the court down pat, he should be limiting his offcourt promotional stuff to a minimum. Focus on his jumpshot. Get the hook shot down. Missing these short-range shots is just bewildering.
the first steal didn't bother me. the second steal didn't bother me. the fact that the guy just walked/jogged after nelson after the second steal did bother me. the dude could have easily 1. attempted to block nelson's shot (dude is 6'6" and nelson is what 5'10"... i dunno... whatever he's listed at isn't right) or 2. foul the shat out the mofo (damn it being just a preseason game. you're fighting for playing time and the guy just embarrassed you in front of your new teammates.) Either was possible looking back at the play. what did he do? well... vg called a timeout and he threw a hissy fit and threw the ball to the floor. get some nards, "reece gaines pine time".
