Excellent post. No one knows if PJ is the answer, but we do know that JVG isn't working. A new coach, a new attitude could do wonders for this team. All I know is that players have struggled offensively under JVG.
Even if firing JVG is the appropriate thing to do, do you really think it's going to happen? I don't think so. P.S. AFC NORTH CHAMPS BABY!!!!!
The one thing that Jackson brings, is the ability to make players believe in themselves & pull together as a team. His offensive system, while a slow down game, is more of an upbeat game than JVG's. Also, his 9 Championship rings will make the most hard-headed of players (Francis/Mobley) listen to him. As for the role players, does anyone here truely believe that Jackson/Yao/T-Mac wouldn't be able to draw in the top role playing FA's? UFA's like Payton, McInnis, Swift, Bobby Simmons, Bobby Jackson, Donyell Marshall, Jon Barry, Kareem Rush, Ray Allen (S&T), Sprewell, & many more. Players with Player Options like McCarty, Damon Jones, Keith Van Horn, Tony Battie, Grant Hill (not likely), Antonio Daniels, Danny Fortson, & even Cuttino Mobley. I also believe that Jackson could get Howard back to his career 17/7 game. That'd give you your 3 headed monster in the triangle offense. Add a solid PG & SF from FA & you've got a pretty good nucleous of talent. If I'm Les, I'm calling Jackson's agent right now to let him know we are interested in talking to him after the season is over, or sooner, if he's ready to come back now.
I think Calvin was our free throw coach once, but he quit becauce it was too much work, but I bet he will settle for any job right now.
has it occured to you that maybe it is your opinion that is wrong? if over half the people here think Boki has got skills that arent being properly used, and you and a few(very few) others dont agree....I think it is safe to say that the majority is right and you are wrong. I agree that many other players we have arent very good....but you need to stick to accusing Ward, Lue, Howard, Mo and Spoon of not being good...cause the other guys have got skills to contribute. Yao and Tmac obviously have the skills Padge, Deke, Boki, Sura, and Barrett(maybe Bowen) are all decent players everyone else blows. and to actually touch the topic..... Jackson aint coming here...we arent close enough to being a contender. Better set your sights on a less well known coach that doesnt mind doing the work to build a team into a contender, cause Phil wont do it.
Thank you for injecting some sanity here. Jackson would take over someone like the Spurs or Heat before he would even think about the Rockets. That is his MO - he only goes to the place that has the best chance of winning a title and sure as hell ain't Houston.
Manny I have to disagree.. Coaches were salivating at the idea of coaching Yao and Francis (Dunleavy practically begged for the job, We did not commit to LBrown in time we mentioned he wanted the job but Les did not answer quickly enough for LBrown) So now that we traded for Tmac I dont think any coach would turn down an offer to coach Yao and Tmac.. There is too much potential/upside. You have mini Shaq and mini Kobe without the animosity and ego. You have two guys borderline superstars who will work hard and have the talent to go far in this league. If I was PJackson I would be thinking about coming in next season.. A few trades and personnel changes this team could go far.. even this year if we plugged a few holes.. PF PG vet leader - (not JJ since he isnt cutting it usually the PG) 3pt mercenary we are a dangerous team. for the people who think PJ failed last year I think you forgot the Lakers were in the Finals? Im just saying there is so much potential here not being utilized dont you think every coach in the league is thinking they could do a better job than JVG right now?!? especially someone like PJ who might bring the biggest ego? *side note - I think Yao / Tmac would thrive the triangle.. Yao would get to mix it up more (jumpers/low post play) and TMac would be better utilized. J
Im willing to try anyone other than JVG at this point. The games against the Mavs proved JVG ball wont work in todays NBA.
Are you sure Les will fire JVG even after this season? JVG has at least two more years under his contract which worths over 8 million dollars. And we are still paying Rudy right? Sigh, the team looks more and more like a mess.
What are you talking about? The offensive flow was great. Kenny brought the ball up, dropped the ball down to Dream in the post. Dream tried a baseline move and was triple teamed so he kicked the ball to Horry who then touched passed the ball on the wing to a wide open Vernon Maxwell to drain the three. Money. And then the way Otis Thorpe and Kenny... wait sorry I am thinking of the good 'ole days. I think I will go cry. I just woke up from my dream cause I am in JVG HELL.
actually...Im not sure we are still paying Rudy...wasnt there a mention of a buyout? Im not sure, but I coulda sworn I heard something about that. and as for me....no, I doubt they out and out fire VG...unless our record looks like Orlando's last season and the stars put down a ultimatum about it. I would expect VG to quit before LEs has to eat his contract.
My exact sentiment. For me, winning isn't everything. Having likable players and coaches are important to me as well. I despise PJ more than anyone in the league, even more than Karla. Winning a championship with PJ is like marrying the most beautiful woman in the world but realizing that she was once a man. It just feels dirty. (No offense to the gay community on this board.)
I doubt Les is going to fire JVG. I dislike PJ, but,.....if it would me this team would win. I would say bring it on.
I thought we didn't have to pay Rudy because he signed with the Lakers. Not sure if you can have a contract with 2 teams. If that is the case, JVG would find another job easily. A team like the Pistons, Larry Brown will probably retire after the season, could hire JVG and keep up with the defensive intensity.
*you guys sound like the same people that said that we would never get TMac in a hundred years and start rattling off all the reasons why it would never work. this is after TMac mentioned how he would like to play with a big man like Yao and hundreds of posters started fantasizing about a Yao / Tmac combo. Somehow it worked out.. PJackson is like TMac almost out of reach but if PJackson really wanted to come here im sure Les would make it work. That's if he wanted to coach this team and im sure he does but is waiting for us to make some better roster moves first. Do you guys remember why JVG hates PJ ? its not just because of the Bulls era but JVG felt offended that PJ made a case for the Knicks Head Coach job while JVG was still there. Theres some bad blood there but JVG is not getting it done and we know if we bring in PJ he will.. Not because he's a proven winner or any of that other mumbo jumbo but because he knows how to fit pieces together and maximize a players potential. He may have not put the major pieces together he was fortunate to have those already in place but he somehow completed the picture. example: bringing in HGrant / RHarper? making sure everything knew their roles (Shaq is the man everything revolves around him) these are things missing from our team now. PJ reinforced all of that JVG is not doing that. we dont know who the leader of this team is? Is this a Yao team? Sure doesnt look like it.. dont Center oriented teams usually have alot of good shooters? Is this a guard oriented team? ummm.. doesnt look like it since we dont have any solid rebounders? we are built around JVG's philosphy of defense first / offense as an after thought and the players seem to reinforce that. He sacrifices offense for defense too much.. every team revolves around good balance.. slashers/rebounders/scorers/defenders/shooters. Last year we complained about starting 3 SG's and 2 C's.. This year looks worse.. J
