What exactly is Les/CD waiting for? This team isn't going to work, whether it's JVG, or the players, something has to change. Our PFs suck. Taylor/MoT is seriously one of the worst forward rotations in the NBA, if not the worst. Our offense sucks. JVG's slowdown-snoozefest offense is really getting old, I wouldn't mind it if it worked, but it isn't. Good defense doesn't mean crap if you can't outscore your opponent yourself. My Checklist 1. Fire Van Gundy. The guy is just doing a terrible job in coaching this year. His defense is the same, but it is taking way too much from our offense. Only JVG could hold a Yao/TMac team under 80ppg. JVG doesn't change his system, he has repeatedly said that he won't. No point in wasting everyone's time thinking that he will. 2. Trade for a PF. It really doesn't matter who, just as long as they can rebound. Howard and MoT make me want to throw up when they play. Get a new coach and let him showcase them. Maybe the change in attitude will give them an incentive to play better. Just do something.
Yea - that D was great last night. The only thing that is consistant is the lack of O. Players can't hit shots because they are not the shots they are used to making. Why is it that the leading scorer can't score? Why is it that EVERY player that comes here has career lows while playing under this system? Open your eyes - it's NOT the players.
Art, With all due respect, some of these players stink man. Yes, I agree most of the blame should be on Van Gundy. But the problem is the combination of Van Gundy's coaching style and the fact that we have some players that can't play ANY SYSTEM. Of course, those players are there because CD signed them or CD and JVG traded for them (e.g. MoT and Howard) but they are totally inept. I am beginning to think that MoT is just chucking it in because he is fed up with Van Gundy. There is no other explanation for his now pathetic offensive game. His D and rebounding have always been horrid. But now he had fallen to new lows by clanking shots and not passing. I think he knows he is untradable so he is trying to force a buyout by playing so badly. What I don't understand is why we keep running him out there game after game. If we are trying to trade him, he is just losing value with every clunker game he has. We'd be better off to sit him. And if we can't trade him, then we oughta buy him out and cut him loose. Spoon can't possibly be worse than him right now. In my opinion, Mo no longer wants to be here. He does not want to play for Van Gundy. Get him out of here. Why should we as fans pay good money to watch players that don't want to play? Either get him out of here or get Van Gundy out of here.
Let me see.... T-Mac is a 2 time scoring champ that cant seem to get on track. Juwan Howard and Jim Jackson both have been premier scoring options during their careers. MoT used to be an offensive force. Last year both Cat and Steve saw a drop in their offensive production. Coincedence? I think not. Soring is as much about getting in a rythem and being comfortable in a system as it is about just having an open shot. JVG is so controling that his teams have a hell of a time getting any rythem at all. If you are hesitant about shooting the ball even when you are open because of your coach then you are not going to be as effective putting the ball in the basket.
Its no coincedence that Allan Houston/Latrell Sprewell/Steve Francis/Cuttino Mobley/Tracy McGrady/Juwan Howard all had significant drops in ppg and FG%. Its no coincedence that we are having trouble scoring 80ppg, just like the Knicks did. This is Van Gundy basketball, period. Don't wait for this guy to change, he has already said he won't. This is his style and he is sticking to it. It might have worked in the 90's in the Eastern Conference, but this is a brand new league in a much different conference. If JVG can't adjust his system to the players, there is absolutely no point in wasting the players time, and the fans time. Fire Van Gundy Now!! What is the point in waiting? Its not like all of the sudden the players are going to say, "Oh, I see, lets slow it down some more."
Okay but Yao number have increased at least scoring wise in two consecutive years. Cato had his greatest season last year. Boki is having a career year. Camby had career year with him. So much for your logic. What is your point again?
Yao was going to improve no matter what, we all know that, plus he had more playing mins in his second year. Cato had a good season defensive wise, but his offense still sucks. Camby had his only healthy season in NY, so what did you expect?
I think he's referring to offensively skilled players. Camby under his years with JVG was not a skill player. Cato is far from a skill player. Yao is becoming purely a grunt. He has regressed in his 3rd year. I argue that Mo and Yao looked good last year due to a carryover from Rudy T's tutelage. With a year of JVG under their belt, they now show why JVG is not good for OFFENSIVELY SKILLED PLAYERS. JVG kills skilled players. I bet if there was video of the Kings training their players compared to the JVG Rockets, it would be strikingly different. Kings know what wins. Mavs know what wins. Rudy T is laughing his ass off since he knows he can Mo and Yao back to their former selves. I'm rooting for Rudy T now. I cannot root for JVG. TMac will not be a Hall of Famer under JVG.
Yao better have increased his scoring every year, that's usually what happens after your rookie year. Yao increasing his scoring had nothing to do with JVG, nothing. Yep, Boki is having career year, and he is on the freak'n IL with no injury. Okay, so you point out Camby/Cato/Boki, 3 role players, great. I don't think that negates the fact that Houston/Spree/Francis/Mobley/TMac (all prolific scorers) all scored less under JVG and shot worst under JVG. My logic is that JVG hinders offense in every single aspect. If you can't see that, then you obviously don't know basketball.
The point is JVG sucks at coaching this team. You cant argue with that. Boki is having a career year???? He doesnt play!!
Men!! This team is so boring even if they had steve nash at PG. So fire the coach now now now now now now. But again who is available for us instead of Phil Jackson (doubt that he will sign with us ).
what about George Karl. I wouldnt mind if we was brought in for the remainder of the season. If the team doesnt improve by season's end then get another coach in here in the offseason.
I keep getting the FIRE GUNDY song in my head to the tune of Let's Go Defense. I'm sure JVG would be proud.
