http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=tautology In this case, JVG saying that T-Mac "needs to improve his 3pt %" is a needless repetition of an obvious idea. .312 from a reputed deadly jump shooter is just not going to cut it, T-Mac knows it, JVG knows it, the world knows it. Therefore it's a needless repetition that doesn't criticize at all. If he said "T-Mac needs to improve his shot selection," then that implies that T-Mac needs to change his way of playing, which T-Mac may or may not accept. T-Mac can improve his 3pt % simply by shooting better, while he probably wouldn't take so kindly to a coach asking him to change his game. Besides, the point still remains that this comment from JVG is the FIRST (or one of the very first) times JVG has ever said anything negative about T-Mac, and it is VERY measured, moderate, and in my opinion a tautology, while Yao has seen many negative comments usually reserved for rookies. Your analogy that JVG could say that "Yao needs to improve opposing FG%" is not a good one. Improving opposing FG% is completely correlated with playing better defense, while improving FG% is NOT NECESSARILY correlated with improving shot selection. Look at Kobe last year. His shot selection was pretty bad, shooting from anywhere and everywhere, contested or not, yet he finished last year with a 45% FG%.
yao ming cries himself to sleep every night after each game cause he can't take all the trash talking.
In response to 'shutting up vg haters'. I think we all have the right to speak our mind. Some of us actually base our judging on what we see in the plays from last season and how it translates to results and also how we react to them. Defense and Offense sets were extremely obvious under vg. Throw the ball to the big guy inside..the opponents KNOW This which makes yao ineffective in the clutch when they close down on him or double him. THe suns and dallas and miami for example..don't emphasize YAO and Tmac only..they play team game. If yao and tmac are emphasized and role players will feel left out..which makes them perform worst. It's 15 strong..sometimes I hope VG gets a reality check and read what other fans criticize him about. He will gradually change but he's isolating himself and his mindset so he won't change. He is just too stubborn isn't he? I am a rockets fan through and through but if I don't like what i see in the way rockets play..then every1 has their right to address it. This year, if he creates a team atmosphere and a freeflowing game, then rockets would do better. The problem is rockets don't have a legit pg who can create plays out of every1 in the team
Anyone who's ever coached or taught school knows that different approaches work for different people. You think JVG's stupid? You don't think he knows the background of his players and what makes them tick? 1. McGrady- His problems with "Yell In Your Face" Weisbrod were well-documented. JVG knows that you're just not going to "reach" McGrady if you scream and yell at him (not that he gives you much reason to criticize). He knows exactly how to deal with him- you can tell watching him that he tells T-Mac "Hey, Tracy, we really need you to step up" or "Tracy, we got a problem now and you're going to have to get us out of this" 2. Yao- JVG knows that as much as you need to respect a player, if you know the person can tend to have a reserved nature, or if they have been accustomed to the fire-and-brimstone approach, you have to be more direct with them. "Yao, we can't afford for you to miss that rotation" or "Yao, what are you doing out there?? Focus!" Yet, as much as he communicates with Yao on this level, look at all the positive things he says about Yao. "Hardest worker...I wish everyone would display the type of work ethic that Yao does..etc.etc.etc." Don't think for a second JVG doesn't tell Yao this in the quieter moments of practice and in his office. OK, we're not talking the 100% positive approach of Rudy T. (BTW, if anyone wants to get a glimpse of what Rudy could be like in the locker room during halftime, read Yao's book for the excerpt where he does his imitation of Rudy to the All-Stars before the All-Star Game), but I just can't imagine that JVG doesn't sprinkle in the praise along with the "constructive" criticism. If there's one thing most can agree on, it's that JVG is smart. Smart people know how to motivate and lead. 3. Everyone Else- does it even matter how he treats everyone else? (just kidding). He's got some players who have had issues with coaches (Alston, McGrady, Wells), and so far, Alston and T-Mac have nothing but good things to say about him. If Wells is a choir boy with the Rockets (come on, it's not hard to get along with Adelman, so last year doesn't count), then we know JVG's doing the right thing.
Ha! Now that was funny. Old Man Rock, you always had great posts and started great topics. But something about JVG just makes you into a raving loon! I saw him with the Knicks for years. TRUST ME. Gundy would sell his mother to the Devil for a championship. And I believe if the players love him and trust him, who are we to question his coaching style? The players can get a coach fired tomorrow if he was so bad. And all you hear from the league is that they all want to play for him for the most part. I think that says a whole lot.
