[ESPN.com / Karl] Rockets need team-first approach

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?id=1958811

Rockets need team-first approach
By George Karl
ESPN.com

Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy is facing a significant and age-old coaching challenge this season: How do you take two young, talented players and create good team chemistry?

Guard Tracy McGrady and center Yao Ming, Houston's talented tandem, haven't been playing together consistently enough at either end of the court, and the Rockets (16-15) have struggled to stay near .500. McGrady came to Houston last June in a blockbuster, seven-player deal that shipped Steve Francis to the Orlando Magic.

Van Gundy's challenge is to take these new pieces and put together a winning basketball puzzle. And Van Gundy himself is part of the puzzle. So far, some pieces appear to be out of place, but there's still time for them to fit.

This is the softest Van Gundy-coached team I've ever seen. These Rockets don't play with the intensity or the physical presence of a normal Van Gundy team. At 7-foot-6, Yao has a tendency to play with too much humility, so sometimes the 24-year-old doesn't embody an intense, competitive spirit.

Meanwhile, McGrady is probably one of the three most talented and skilled players in the NBA, along with Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. But the 25-year-old McGrady hasn't yet found the consistent ability to multiply the skills of his teammates. In fact, sometimes he negates the skills of his teammates. Too often, he freezes the other Rockets, playing the game by himself rather than incorporating the team as his ally.


McGrady, Yao Must Put Team First
Van Gundy doesn't want to sacrifice the team for McGrady's freedom, as the Philadelphia 76ers have done with Allen Iverson. The Sixers' approach is to let Iverson dominate and take control offensively, while the rest of the team fills in the gaps.

While I don't see Van Gundy doing the same with McGrady, he might need to compromise some of the physical game he favors so that his 6-foot-8 star feels more comfortable. Still, as great a talent as McGrady is, Van Gundy wants to develop a great team with McGrady as the pillar of that team, but not the dominant individual.

McGrady is averaging a team-high 24 points per game (eighth-best in the NBA) and a team-high 5.6 assists per game. Yao is averaging 18.6 points and a team-high 8.6 rebounds.

With a great team, though, sometimes role players win games. Tim Duncan does an incredible job of this with the San Antonio Spurs. Duncan loves to watch Tony Parker, Manu Ginobili and Devin Brown shine and win games. But in a big game against an elite opponent, Duncan is able to put the Spurs on his back and carry them to victory.

To be a championship team, the spotlight needs to be on the team, and then the individual acclaim follows. When the individual is the first focus – which is what's happening too often in Houston now – it's tougher for the team to find its way.

I respect and admire Rockets GM Carroll Dawson and Van Gundy for making major changes in late December to try to make things work this season. They decided to fight to make it work this year instead of saying, "We need to give it time." So they traded for guards Jon Barry and David Wesley.

I like Houston's new backcourt of Barry, Wesley and Bob Sura. There's no true point guard, but when the ball isn't going to Yao in the low post, Van Gundy wants the offense to go through McGrady anyway.

The trades and the Yao/T-Mac dynamic mean that Houston's offense is still seeking balance, cohesiveness and confidence 30 games into the season.



Shaq Paves Way with Team-First Approach

Let's contrast the Rockets' chemistry issues with the Miami Heat tandem of Shaquille O'Neal and Dwyane Wade.

The success of the Heat (25-8) speaks volumes about Shaq's commitment to the team. Shaq has given Wade freedom and enabled coach Stan Van Gundy (Jeff's brother) to build on the success of Wade's rookie campaign last season while adding a pillar like Shaq in the low post.

Wade is averaging more points per game than Shaq (24.1 to 21.4), but Shaq isn't concerned with his own scoring. He's been a great teammate and a great leader as the Heat posted a 14-game winning streak.

Shaq has allowed the Heat to grow and to prosper without taking the major role that he could. This tells me that Shaq cares about the team (and winning) first, and his own stats second. This is a great example for young players and for the rest of the NBA, because sacrifice is a part of championships.

In the Kobe-Shaq drama, Shaq has determined to make his mark by winning championships – not by winning the scoring title or the MVP award. In so doing, Shaq is making Miami a special team rather than a good team with one spectacular player.

McGrady and Yao can learn from what's happening in Miami. This talented tandem has been frustrated by losing more than they'd like to, but they still have time to figure this team thing out.

There have been good signs of a stronger team emerging as the Rockets have won three straight to get over .500.

Those three Houston wins have had different personalities: The Rockets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-87 on the road, with Yao dominating in the fourth quarter. Then they beat the Milwaukee Bucks 105-90 at home without Yao, with McGrady (42 points) being the individual superstar we know he can be. Then they defeated the Utah Jazz 99-80 at home, with Sura (24 points) becoming a bigger part of the attack.

All three of those personalities are good. Van Gundy wants Yao to assert himself; he wants McGrady to score when needed within the team concept; and he wants the new guys to blend in and take more responsibility. There needs to be a balance – and that's what the Rockets are searching for.

 

mogrod, I agree. It seems more and more the articles coming out from the national media only talk about Yao and Tmac and how they arent meshing. The reality is they are meshing pretty good. They are on their way. I am not sure what games the media is watching or if they are just piling on because that's what other media types are saying.

I think without question the bigger problem has been the role players (or the lack there of). Until recently we handn't gotten good role player play. Guys are stepping up. And Tmac is feeling more comfortable in our system.

The Miami and Houston comparison in general is fine. Shaq and Wade / Yao and Tmac. But after that it stops there. Damon Jones, Eddie Jones, Udonis Haslem etc (and to a lesser extent Dooling, Laettner, Rasul Butler). Those are key guys for that team that ARE producing for them.

 

He is a terrible NBA coach in my opinion. He did a terrible job with the USA basketball team when he had them. I felt he did a terrible job in Milwaukee. Not a fan of Karl at all. I am not huge on JVG, but I will take JVG over Karl any day.