League average scoring this year (2003) was 95.1 ppg. It's hard to find historical averages, but I did find 2: '99, 91.6; '01, 94.8. '95-'96: Wish I could do the last pre-Van Gundy year, but the data isn't available. '96-'97: Averaged 92.2 points per game and finished 57-25. Led by Ewing (22.4), Houston (14.8), Starks (13.8), Larry Johnson (12.8), and Oakley (10.8). '97-'98: Averaged 89.1 ppg and finished 43-39. Led by Ewing (20.8), Houston (18.4), Johnson (15.5), Starks (12.9), and Chris Mills (9.7). '98-'99: Averaged 86.4 ppg and finished 27-23. The league average was 91.6 ppg (I believe the low-point in NBA scoring). Led by Ewing (17.3), Sprewell (16.4), Houston (16.3), Johnson (12.0), and Kurt Thomas (8.1). '99-'00: Averaged 92.1 ppg and finished 50-32. Led by Houston (19.7), Sprewell (18.6), Ewing (15.0), Johnson (10.7), and Camby (10.2). '00-'01: Averaged 88.7 ppg and finished 48-34. The league average was 94.8 ppg. Led by Houston (18.7), Sprewell (17.7), Camby (12.0), Rice (12.0), and Thomas (10.4). '01-'02: First season without Van Gundy who quit 19 games into the season. Averaged 91.6 ppg and finished 30-52. Led by Houston (20.4), Sprewell (19.4), Thomas (13.9), Camby (11.1), and Weatherspoon (8.8). So, the offense got a little better after JVG left, but not by a margin any larger than year-to-year changes during the JVG era. It could be only that they didn't have much offensive talent. Balance that with the fact that the defense got noticeably worse and that their record went in the toilet despite little change in the principle players. So, what did I manage to prove? Only that the folks who say JVG's Knicks had a low-scoring offense were right. Though I don't know the league averages every year, we can safely say the Knicks were under it every year. Does that mean the Rockets will have a low-scoring offense? We were already below average (20th) in ppg with 93.8. I don't think we'll average less than that. But, don't say that JVG killed our offense if we rank 20th next year.
JV, For future reference, I use the following program for all of my bball references: http://www.hoopscorner.com/almanac/index.html Every stat for every team and every player, regular season and playoff in NBA history. Even sortable misc. stats. Very easy to use and navigate and best of all, its free.
Right. I get tired of people saying JGV is going to kill our offense because he coached the knicks. That's making the assumption that he doesn't have the ability to adjust his offensive scheme to the players he has. Personally, I give him more credit than that. Just PLEASE leave Pat Ewing in NY!
Darn..he has some low scoring teams. Maybe he will change his coaching style and how his teams play this year... Who knows! Just wait and see! It should be exciting....... I think the Rockets should run more...and hopefully Posey is resigned. But our defense should be even better.
Agreed. I think this team will do fine offensively. In fact one can make the argument that with improved defense (better rebounding and creating more turnovers) the team will run MORE and score MORE points! Additionally if more motion is added to this offense more people will get involved and score more. Bottom line is this team needs structure and JVG will bring that which I think will have a very positive effect on this team.
JV, some of your stats might be a little off. Off PPG 00-01 88.7 (Van Gundy) 99-00 92.1 (Van Gundy) 98-99 86.4 (Van Gundy) 97-98 91.6 (Van Gundy) 96-97 95.4 (Van Gundy) 95-96 97.2 PPG (Nelson/Van Gundy) 94-95 98.2 PPG (Riley) 93-94 98.5 PPG (Riley) Def PPG 00-01 86.1 (VG) 99-00 90.7 (VG) 98-99 85.4 (VG) 97-98 89.1 (VG) 96-97 92.2 (VG) 95-96 94.9 (VG/Nelson) 94-95 95.1 (Riley) 93-94 91.5 (Riley) One interesting stat I found is that JVG's teams usually averaged more TOs than they forced. Also, VG's teams didn't average any more rebounds than they gave up.
It's not his style but it was just the fact that in order to win with the players he was given, he had to run a slow and effective offense. I don't think there's any coach in the league that would choose not to get out on the break and score quick easy baskets. It's just that he wasn't able to with players like Ewing, Houston, and Oakley.
Yep! That's why Van Gundy's Knicks were so ugly to watch. He's going to be in the West now and he'll have to install a system that can put points on the board or this team will be toast.
I can care less what he did or didn't do in New York. Did he have a 7'5" center with touch like Duncan???? I look for the Rockets to return in some form or another like the Rockets of old. Dump it into Yao and let his passing abilities take over. It seems simple to design an offense for the Rockets, but zone defenses and all won't make it that easy. Most agree that the focal point should now be Yao, and judging by Van Gundy's remarks about Yao, that should be the case. If they do go to the inside out game of old I can see Yao averaging close to 5 assists a game. Didn't Gundy once say he'd give it to Yao every time down the court???? Won't find anyone to argue with that. Now add his emphasis to defense, and things are looking pretty good. Just ordered my season tickets again, and I go to A&M. Well worth the drive.
