I won't pretend to know what is going on in the locker room or what the players/management think of JVG. All I've ever heard about him was that he was a good coach who preached the virtues of defense and expect his players to play hard and act professionally. Nothing wrong with that. But, while I am fully aware that JVG isn't exactly known for giving young players a shot (such as when Boki got hot) versus his veterans, and I am fully aware that the TMac trade really hurt both our depth and our starting 5 (minus Tmac and Yao, of course), I have absolutely zero idea why we are so exceptionally awful. Now, I won't venture to lay out an analysis of one coaching system versus another.... ....but what I CAN say is that if all you ever hear is negativity, you eventually start to believe it yourself. That's psychology 101. I always knew that JVG was big on discipline and a stickler on defense, but I never knew how damn negative the guy was (and quite frankly maybe I just wasn't paying attention). My #1 concern is this: No one can ever do anything right for him, and its obviously (to me, at least) rubbed off on the team. Like Tracy said, he was looking over his shoulder, afraid to make a mistake. And hell, this is Tracy's first season! Just imagine what the guys who've been here under JVG must have going through their heads. With the big trade, I didn't expect to win a championship this year, and probably not next year either. But I sure as hell didn't expect this. What a mess. I'd take damn near any coach with a better attitude over JVG right now.
I have now and have always hated Phil Jackson, but for that matter I never wanted to have the 1995 New York Knicks and their coach in Houston. With the options that are out there being as slim as they are I would certainly not be opposed to having Phil in H town. When JVG was proposed I was scared that he would come here and screw up all that we have worked toward since our glory days. Now he has done that and I would not have a problem letting someone else have a chance.
What free agent would want to come to the Rockets with Van walk it up as coach. Fire him now so we can start actually looking at our young players like Malik and Boki and free agents will know what direction we are going. If we wait until after the season and get into a bidding war with the other ten teams that don't have a coach, will we still get him. if we wait until the mid season, are other openings like the knicks going to open up where he may go to. i say do it now, put the young athletic kids in to learn how to play, ala Phoenix, and pick up the shooters next summer when they know they will be coming to a team with a base of Yao, t-mac, and Phil.
okay,lets say Phil would possibly be the biggest opportunist in the league compared with other coaches.He is not the guy would rebulid the team from the base, but the one can bring the champs within the precondition that they have the good foundation already.And he would never take over a team which is under 50% percentage of winning. so do ya still think he will be here,and I havn't mentioned how bad the relationship between him and JVD.
for sure he is. let not waste any time. do it while he's available. i hate to see this time next year the rocks still struggle, with jvg, and pj's signed with another team.
Jackson would be an upgrade over JVG, but i don't think he's necessarily the answer. we need a system in place that gets the guys to play together as a team and maximizes the talent of the players he has, and a big name coach won't always do that. look what happend two years ago. we got a name, and the team has regressed. on the other hand, look at what eddie jordan has accomplished this year in DC, w/ much less talent. and remember, Rudy wasn't a name when he was initially hired by the rockets as head coach.
Why would Phil Jackson want to coach this team? The rockets are nowhere close to being Phil Jackson ready. I don't think Phil is going to take the job based on Yao's potential.
might he take it based on TMac's potential? There are not that many teams that PJ would be suited for.. only the Nuggets/Rox/Suns/Sonics are a few pieces away from contending and the currect coaches could be replaced. Jeff in Denver doesnt have a good relationship with the management. JVG is doing a poor job here in Houston. DAntoni is doing well but if the Suns dont have any post season success look for the coach to be moved. Nate was not reupped by the Sonics management. J
Don't think PJ will come to Houston, and don't think we can afford him. Probably we need a no-name European style coach or a college one, who put more emphesis on outside jumpers and get some no-name players who can make a jumpshot for a change, and imply zone-defense (since everybody says it's the simplest thing on earth, and I truly believe it's best suited for the Rockets with Yao in the middle.) We can really save that 10 millions on PJ.
