You know what I love? How there's a whole bunch of people who are writing off our record right now because the "Real" games are coming up. In their posts, you can clearly see them licking their chops, waiting for the chance to say how good our team "really" is after this upcoming stretch of hardcore difficult games. 12 games, 10 of them on the road, and 2 or 3 back-to-backs. The reality is that we've been through a semi-difficult patch of games, but come out with a great record. That stands for nothing apparently. These next 12 games do NOT show how good we "really" are. It shows how good we are in the TOUGHEST stretch of the season. It is NOT an indicator of the calibre of this team. If you want to take a sample from the season to forecast or project hod good this team is, you take a sample that's indicative of the population. That means you take a sample that has a difficulty level equal to the dificulty level of an 82-game season on average. You want to know how good we'll be in the playoffs? Take everyone's record against the top 8 teams in each conference, and put a much heavier weight on the West that the East (since we\ll only face the East once in the playoffs if we win). You want to know the closest thing to the truth this early in the season? You take a look at ANY ranking system which takes schedule difficulty into account and see that every single one points to the Rockets being better than their current position. Every ranking system has its defficiencies, but if all the different systems trying to judge the same thing point to one outcome - the Rockets are better than their record - then you need to eat some crow. So what's a good indication of how we're doing? I'd say rankings which take difficulty into consideration OR actual midseason standings. Those are good numbers. Those are VERY strong indicators. Those are things needed to make a solid argument. As for this argument, it's quite weak IMO. You basically put an argument against your own position in there that is better than your position. You say that JVG does something and it works. But you want him to change it? Well first off, he is changing slowly, incorporating the rookies a bit more each time. When you're doing well, you go with trial and error. Why sacrifice defense for offense? Ideally, you hold on to being the best defense in the league while trying to move things around to improve your offense. If you become a bit worse defensively and a bit better offensively, you're just wasting your time. After the next 12 games, we will have completed (up to that point) them ost difficult schedule in the entire league. If after such a stretch, we still stand top 5 in the West, I will be ecstatic. I will give JVG the credit he deserves for making us the best defensive team in the league and for personally pushing Yao into becoming the top C in the league. Those are two concrete goals that he pursued and achieved. There comes a time where you say "well, I like my way better than his way, but both work." This is one of those times. JVG has shown that his way is not worse than any other way, and he's damn good at doing it his way. So let's leave him to it.
I have a kind of mixed feeling of JVG. When I saw the solid defence, like in Cavs game, I truelly love this coach; however, when our team sucked on offence, taking ill-oriented jump shots one after another, I was like "WTF, didn't the coach have any clue on offense?". So, basically winning matters. I will give him a pass once we are in 2nd round of Playoffs this season.
In another word, JVG's behavior and coaching style are like Communist. Since we are winning right now, I don't really care how JVG does it. I will jump on your bandwagon if we start to play poorly or got knock out of the playoffs again in the first round.
How many "friendly" coaches have there been who have won the championship? The only one I can think of is Rudy T. Who else has won in the last couple of decades? Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, Larry Brown, Greg Popovich, Chuck Daly. Loud-mouthed bitc*es, every one. About Vspan: the dude is a tough guy. You think he's going to respond to a coach's criticism by going home and crying?
The criticism wouldn't seem so bizarre if JVG did not consistantly receive praise from current and former players. Steve Francis trashed JVG, but everyone else says things like he is the best coach they ever played for. If his players do not think his approach is too tough (even headcases like Spree, who actually choked out PJ Carlissimo), then maybe he is doing a fine job and doesn't need to be told to coddle his players.
It's hard to argue against good D. ANd tonights game was very good D. As much as I don't care for Van Gundy this may be the best Defensive team the ROckets have had. Not even a small collapse to complain about tonight. Well tomorrow brings another game.
Bad thread. And Snyder didn't get benched in that game. JVG screamed at him for an idiotic foul and put him right back in. I stopped reading because it's false and pointless.
The defense is great and it's good we can ride it while the offense gets worked out. But the offense needs to kick in gear eventually to make this team a contender. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the defense. It reminds me of how the Bulls used to choke the living daylights out of teams some nights. But the next step is for the offense to function decently against other good defensive teams. If/when that happens, the Rockets will be very hard to beat.
I agree that JVG may be creating something special with this team. Now if you had just resisted the urge to negate the positive start of your post with your final negative sentence, you might have been able to regain some credibility and be glad we are winning under the "dreaded" Van Grumpy. It's as if you hope they lose tomorrow so that you can come back and continue pontificating on how Van Gundy is destroying the Rockets.
all good coaches are hardasses. Vspan played ball in Greece and coaches are very hard over there. he probably didn't go through it in Greece last couple years in Greece cause he was like tmac over there. You also have the fans to deal with in Greece cause if you have a bad game chances are theres a few bottles, lighters and coins coming towards you head. here he just has JVG to deal with so is prob a relief.
Gregg popovich is the probably the most strict, disciplinarian coach in the history of NBA. but look what he did to the spurs! JVG way is the best way!
I normally enjoy reading anything you type, but lately you seem to be an absolute JVG hater. I've lurked and typed(like you obviously have since you have the change over 1999 date when Clutch upgraded the sight) for a long time, but can not understand your hatred for JVG. IMHO as much as I LOVE Rudy.....Jeff is a better coach(I think I just puked a little bit in my mouth). You can't play like the Suns and play D as well....it just doesn't happen. You of all people should understand that(2-time champions). just my .2 Not trying to offend you. uggg....posting drink again
i have to agree with you, that's why I love Phil Jackson. but JVG did some good things to Rockets, give him some credit.
