You guys can say what you will, but I live in NY and have seen a lot of Knick games. JVG is gonna be hard on all the players - ALL OF THEM. If Yao doesn't get tougher, become a better rebounder and more aggressive, JVG will be all over him. He will pull Yao to play Cato. He has a shorter hook than Rudy. JVG is about winnng - and he will play the person who is playing harder. He does not like soft play. You can say what you want about the guards not getting him the ball, but there is NO reason whatsoever why a guy 7'5 shouldn't average at least 10 rebounds a game. No reason. JVG will be closer to Larry Smith than Rudy. If Yao is consistenly lagging on getting back down the court and is slow on his defensive rotations and is not getting good post position, he will spend some time on the pine until he does.
That's simply not true, unless you think Larry Smith told Yao Ming not to shoot well for the last 15 games of the season. Yao just simply got tired and didn't have for those last games. I think codell was being sarcastic.
I don't know if it is all to blame on Larry Smith (probably not), but I remember that Yao mentioned something like it was easier for him to get along with Rudy than with Larry Smith. Also, I do remember that Yao got quite a few less minutes when Smith took over and that Smith seemed to trust Yao less and take him out in important stretches of the game, even if he just had some momentum going - Rudy did that, too, but I think Smith did it a bit more.
Goodness. . . .Just think If he had said this this time last year EVERYONE would have jumped down his throat at the IMPOSSIBILITY that cato would play hard. . . . much less harder than Yao Rocket RIver
Amen. JVG is not going to baby players at all. You either play his way or ride the pine. Ask Chris Childs and Marcus Camby about that. He works harder than any coach in the game with his game planning and film watching (that's why he looks like a mortician). And he expects the same from his players. I will say this, if he get along with Spree with little to no trouble, he can definitely get along with any of the present-day head cases on the Rox roster. He is a polar opposite of Rudy T and that is a good thing.
Same thing. If Steve keeps making bonehead plays he will sit. If he's not getting his teammates involved, he will sit. If Mobley starts jaking up bad shots he will sit. And both of them will have to get MUCH better defensively. J Posey is JVG's kind of player. He hustles and works hard on the defensive end. You can be forgiven for missing a shot, but not for giving less than 100 percent. No more babying next year, and it will start in practice.
This Article was an expression of the writers views. It should not be taken as the absolute truth, as he is fallible.
I actually agree with everything he said. I like the article because it tells the truth, even though most of you don't want to agree with what he said for some reason. It just shows that a lot of you don't even WANT to give Steve and Cat credit for anything....
Credit for what? That article didn't give them credit for anything other than saying Francis was adequate. He was talking about poor shooting, turnovers, too much dribbling, inability to fast break, lack of discipline, etc. Did you even read the article?
If all that he states is a reality (which many of agree it is) then reality is CD and Rudy assembled a bad team with a number of overpaid, out of position, under achieving players. FOR THE RECORD: Reality: Francis averaged 3.7 turnovers per game for a "low-possession team", that is not acceptable. He is not a PG.
BamaSlammer, If Feigen has the nerve to say the Rockets DID NOT ISO ENOUGH then he better be prepared for an unthoughtful poster like me to not just disagree but to say he had his head up his... But seriously, I was not writing a letter to the editor in the sports page 2 in the Houston Chronicle with that response but just quickly reacting without much thought to a reply in the clutchcity bbs, a cool place without all the restrictions of a civilized newspaper, and a bbs board where I can let loose a little and have a little more fun with my opinions and responses about the Rockets. so keep on writing bad articles Feigen, I still like to read 'em in the mornings at the breakfast table. BamaSlammer, I meant no disrespect to you and your profession or hobby and I hope there is no hard feelings. Go YellowJackets! ; D
No offense taken. You realize that the internet has changed the way sportswriters do business? Take a look at the Mike Price fiasco and tell me who started that, internet boards such as this! Face it folks, these boards are monitored by the media. Some good stories have been leaked on these very pages.
Well said Stoke. I have heard many here call out other Chronicle writers like Blinebury non of have done the same to this Jonathan. Mr Feigen is the worst Jounalist I know without a doubt. Anyway it is just the Chronicle - I guess it does not matter anyway.
