I posted this elsewhere... but since I have gotten on the fire JVG bandwagon... Our players are not so much the issue as the system you put them in. This was stated before and I don't remember who stated it: "the biggest difference between college coaches and pro coaches is that college coaches build systems that their current crop of players can succeed in while pro coaches demand that their players adapt to them." The college coaches have it figured out. Can we win with the players we have. YES, YES, YES. Can we win with the current system we have? NO, NO, NO. JVG is bringing in the same system he used in NY and it isn't working. The only reason it worked last year is because we had better players, more athletic players. Rudy T at least was able to adapt his style of play to fit his players. With TMac and Yao we should have the best 1-2 punch in the league outside of Wade and Shaq. With MoTaylor we should have instant offense off of the bench (not starting!). With Howard we should have a solid, all around PF. Not fancy but blue collar. With JJ we have a consistant shooter and a good rebounder and a solid defender. With Sura and Ward we have high energy, defensive minded points who can create and push the ball (Sura) or who play under control and can shoot (Ward). In Boki and Padgett we have energy and solid shooting off of the bench. In Bowen and Deke we have hustle and defense off of the bench. WE HAVE A TEAM THAT CAN WIN GAMES. We just need the coach who can find the system best suited to the solid players we have.
If you believe that, there are a number of places that would be glad to take your money. The current line is SA + 6.5 (meaning, if the Rockets win, or lose by less then 7 points, you are a winner).
Who: Phil Jackson Why: 9 Championships When: No one knows Who: Donnie Nelson Why: Young, ambitous guy who knows the game When: Whenever we give him a call Who: Del Harris Why: Knows Yao, knows the game, can run an offense When: Whenever we give him a call
Congratulations. I hope you bet the mortgage. Having said that, the win was entirely due to McGrady. JVG's "system" was responsible for being down by 11 with three minutes to go.
It's true..we wouldn't have won had T-Mac not just taken matters into his own hands...that can't mean that T-Mac can/should do that every game, all the time, but I saw the ESPN recap Uprising posted...it was pretty amazing! (Ok, not to nitpick, but does anyone think T-Mac shot the ball on that 4-point play AFTER he was fouled? )
It's also true that we wouldn't have won if we'd have allowed the Spurs to score their season average.... But who here appreciated defense?
Lets hope it is. I hate Van Dumpy more then anyone else. But if he is willing to change his style then I am willing to give him a chance.
He had a lot to do with it. Tmac wouldn't have had the opportunity to be superman if we didn't play crazy D all game.
Where was it in JVG's playbook for T-Mac to hit those 3's? T-Mac had to break out of JVG's shell to hit those 3's.
Props to you. Keep on booing them when they play like CNT. I feel you are a part of this turn around.lol Maybe for the time being, drop the "fire gundy" chants, for say, 10 games or so. Personally I think it gets JVG going, it's like energy drink for him, but some people don't really understand that.
Its funny because R0ckets03 actually had the chant going around the time the Rockets were down by 11. I was sitting on the bottom level and i could still hear him and some others. Maybe JVG or T-Mac heard it as well and got extra motivated (joking).
So when they lose, blame JVG! When they win, JVG didn't do it! Sweet logic. GATER nailed it. JVG had a great defensive scheme coming into this game and the Rockets did a great job playing D. I wonder if Rudy was the coach, we would assume he gave Tmac a motivation speech and so Rudy won the game for us?
