In aswer to the original post "NOPE" I can't enjoy grinding defensive basketball if the team isn't winning championships, or at least pushing a wester conference finals themselves. But, I did enjoy watching the Rockets learn how to stop other teams. I just remember back in the days when Steve and Cuttino were playing; and the team was bad, there was no defense!!! No that was grueling and painful to watch. If there was anything more demoralizing, it was working hard for a nice jumper or layup; then the opposing team waltzing down and scoring at will. NO DEFENSE IS HORRIBLE TO WATCH!!!! I can say at least that JVG style was tough to watch sometimes, but it was very watchable, because his team were competitive at a certain level.
i think our defense was overrated this season. it seldom worked worth a damn against top teams. it was more than enough against average and lower teams.
I enjoy watching the Rockets because they are MY TEAM, regardless of who the coach is. I would enjoy watching them no matter what because they are the Houston Rockets, the team I love. And yes, I did enjoy being known as one of the best defensive teams in the league, with one of the biggest no-nonsense coaches in the league, and being a contender. That said...no, I did not particularly like how our offense was handled.
The defense numbers are good because of the slow down ball limiting possessions. The offense looks bad because of the same thing. I am not sure we are a bad offensive team or a good defensive team. I do think the only 4 players scoring game in salt lake has a lot to do with us having a new coach.
Hmm... Phoenix Jump shot: Attempt 68%; eFG% .496; Assisted 65% Close shot: Attempt 25%; eFG% .614; Assisted 54% Dunk: Attempt 6%; eFG% .905; Assisted 82% ALL SHOTS: eFG% .552; Assisted 63% Houston Jump shot: Attempt 67%; eFG% .467; Assisted 63% Close shot: Attempt 29%; eFG% .534; Assisted 54% Dunk: Attempt 2%; eFG% .973; Assisted 72% ALL SHOTS: eFG% .499; Assisted 59% 68% of Phoenix's shots are jumpers, vs 67% of Houston's. 6% of Phoenix's shots are dunks, vs 2% of Houston's. Overall eFG% of Phoenix is .552, vs .499 of Houston. Yeah, Phoenix is a jump shooting team and JVG's is not. Good luck in the playoffs.
eFG% takes into account made 3pt shots. That's why eFG% is always higher than fg%. Anyways, the point is, a lot of people equates a fast pace offense to jump shooting offense. The fact is, JVG's offense has as much jump shooting as the Suns' offense. And they have a lot more dunks than we do. A lot of people also equates fast pace offense to uncontrolled or TO-prone offense. That's not necessarily true either. A lot of Yao's TOs aren't caused by making a move too fast. It's the opposite. He often waits too long to make a move and results in TOs. The issue is not style. It's efficiency. Phoenix has the most efficient offense. An efficient offense often attacks before the defense has time to get organized to zero in on the predicted offensive moves.
It's probably just me but I liked JVG style of play. One thing we definitely don't do as much as other teams is flop. We play hard nosed defense and rarely resort to such tactics. When the player is on the court they play hard more times than not. I like our hustle and our grit and determination. MOstly because that's the type of player I am. NOt gifted in any aspects at all except my will to play hard and give it all I got, so I probably see a lot of how I play in JVG's teams. I pride myself in stopping the other opponent. I can appreciate both styles of ball but one thing that annoys me is letting the other guy score so easily which is what disgusted me the most in the playoffs. Utah found our weakness and exploited it over and over again.
That's a common misconception. Actually while some defensive numbers do look better because of the slower game, a slower game does not effect FG% against, a catagory which I believe we were very good for the majority of the season.
Ha. Point well taken. I guess it just depends how you define contender, considering we were a game away from the Western Conference finals 2 years in a row. But you're right, we were not one of the top 3 teams in the West, so some would say we have not truly contended yet.
Hey! Someone noticed the post! (clap. clap. clap.) Golly, I said a long time ago that JVG should go if we didn't make it out of the 1st round this season, but I'm not going to blame him for world hunger, Iraq, the immigration crisis, Americans being too fat, or the sinking of the Titanic, as some here seem to be eager to do. Did JVG have a style one could enjoy? You've got to be kidding. Hell, he didn't lose the comb-over until this year. Van Gundy wouldn't know style if it bit him on the ass.
i don't know that the team chemistry had anything to do with him. they are just a bunch of nice guys with an ass monkey for a coach.
JVG'S concept I liked, of defending the paint and stopping the other team from scoring- love that part. The HANDLING of his schemes and lack of adjustments and his overall lack of creativity especially on offense I did not like at all. Being that that the JVG "style" includes his handling and his personality blend, overall I'd still say yes but barely. After all, it was very successful (except when it mattered to save his job) and I like success. Defensive ball can be enjoyable because every possession counts. Wouldnt it seem more rewarding and nice if a team executes successful plays against a stingy D after figuring it out? Rather than just going up and down the court and you know your team got points cuz the other team didnt care to stop them. Basketball compared to the other sports even with ugly defensive ball is still WAAAY faster paced than football and baseball, so to me it doesnt matter that much a Phoenix Suns style or Rockets style. Don't need a whole roster overhaul and total reversal in style to get the "fun" in though. Its fun watching TALENTED players perform at a high level. No matter what the scheme is. Apples to oranges maybe but the Nebraska Cornhuskers and Notre Dame used to run the option in football and won championships with it. Now they're both funner-to-watch pass happy programs but what have they done with that compared to the ol' days?
I can watch & try to enjoy it IF the Rockets win, but it's such a painful experience to watch them on offense, especially when they lose.
Ok, I'm going to put it on the record. Despite the assumptions of many people on this thread, I do not think JVG deserved to be fired. I thought the team had a good season and was undone by a combination of (a) surprisingly poor play by Yao and McGrady in game 7, (b) poor 3 point shooting from good shooters, and (c) the fact that Carlos Boozer had the series of his life (I don't think it was a coming out party - I don't think he'll consistently hit some of those shots again in his life). JVG had a good year. He's a good coach. He deserved another year. I still think his style is boring. Maybe it's the style that wins. Maybe you have to play boring, defensive basketball to win titles. I'm not sure. My point truly is confined to the very narrow concept that Rick Adelman-style basketball is more impressive than JVG-style basketball. I find it very interesting that so many people assumed I actually was criticizing JVG's value as a coach despite my specific disclaimer to the contrary.
My friends and I were all in agreement -- the Rockets were boring to watch with JVG as coach. It was still 'fun' of course to root for our team, but the slow grind it out style was tedious at best. Adelman will have success and bring some excitement and national exposure back to our team and fans. It seemed like last season in particular we were bumped from a bunch of ESPN/ TNT national game nights. That's annoying for the fans out of town and it is a lot of lost revenue for the organization.
