Just my two cents on the team and the BBS...

Enjoyable basketball or winning basketball? Not always the case, I know. But in this case, I think you have to pick one, especially since a big man's game is not exactly the most exciting in the world (Hakeem frankly being the only exception I can think of in recent years).

However, I do understand your point that coaches at times have to be changed, but the Nets last year had Scott bumping heads with Kidd and Martin and almost his entire team, so Scott had to go if they had any chance of keeping Kidd and perhaps even Martin (Martin said if Nets offered earlier, he would have stayed). And I think sometimes a coaching change is necessary, alas Rudy T when he failed FIVE years in a row (Yes 410 games, not 25!) to put the team in the playoffs, the only reason we did not pull the plug on him earlier is because he was, and still is, such a beloved figure in Houston (I must confess him I miss Rudy the person, not the coach)

Nevertheless, as I said, your point is valid that coaching changes must come at certain times, but not when a brand new team, with GLARING holes that are yet to be filled, is trying to play together, with pieces that frankly don't fi the puzzle and the franchise not yet done making moves rebuilding the team around the two stars we have now.

It really becomes a question of patience: are you willing to wait and swallow some tough shortfalls for a future that, regardless of the crap dooms-day predictors would tell you, is as bright as any team's in the NBA, if not more so. I think the organization now fully realizes the team's needs, and will in the next couple of years build a championship-caliber team, that is really inevitable. So my advice to real fans of the Houston Rockets is to have patience, understand that even Jodan needed the right players around him to win, and that we WILL get there as a team, I absolutely and firmly believe this, otherwise I would be wasting my time watching the development of this team. So enjoy the memories of hardship nowadays, because you will remember this journey in a few years when Yao and T-Mac carry that big trophy.

No need to worry for the long-term prospect of this team, I think that should be a given at this point of time, whether it is with Van Gundy or someone else.

I think the biggest mistake fans always make is instead of thinking for themselves and looking at the facts, they are influenced by the crap and hype put forth by the "elite" sports media (you know who you are!!) with so-called "experts" that half of you dismiss anyways (i.e. Ford). So leave the media hype to the media, it is just that: hype. Remember how the media "elite" were saying last year how the season should be forfeited and just "hand the trophy to the Lakers right now"?! They thought Malone, Kobe, Shaq, and Payton are unbeatable supercombo that no one could match, and it was...on paper! Reality struck, and they suffered the first ever 5-game sweep (should have lost first one two if not for some luck). So again, media hype is just that, we deal with reality here.

Believe me, most teams in the league would kill for the potential of this franchise on a solid foundation of two young superstars. Here is the test question: if you are the Spurs, Phoenix Suns, the Supersonics or Mavs, what team are you worried about the most in the next five years down the road? I would say the odds are good they will mention Houston at/near the top, otherwise I would fire the management for being stupid

 

When we get to the 3-4 seasons mark of "bad coaching", please let me know. Meanwhile, 25 games (or so) and counting...

 

Gotta love it, Clove! The same people who would give all the blame to JVG in a heartbeat, sing a different tone when praise is due. The double-standard is really too obvious to comment on in further details.

I think that this is due to JVG being such a polarizing figure: you either love him or hate him...

 

What was meant is that the typical Rockets fan always wants a "quick fix", whether it be a player or a coach. If memory serves me correctly, Hakeem was faced with the fans of this city contemplating getting rid of him when the desired results were not produced. Thank God that did not happen, the franchise would still have never got a single championship.

I am not going to get engaged in a mindless debate about "who is more loyal?", but I think most will read that and understand that I don't want the Rockets to lose. But with that being said, I do get the feeling that JVG's days are numbered in Houston, and therefore my theory will likely be tested in next few months...

Gee...I could be wrong, but I am getting the feeling that you HATE JVG (your words, not mine) in the first place, and you seem to also REALLY hate the trade over the summer for T-Mac, and don't seem to like Yao either.

Again, I could be wrong, but your opinion might be a little bit prejudiced by your feelings towards JVG and our current two stars.

 

My point is, regardless of how many MORE games we won under JVG, he got us into the playoffs for the first time in 5 seasons.

All I am saying is that despite the fact the man could be criticized for many things he has done, I have personally thought that last year there was more competition and more good teams out West than the previous years, and the fact that the Rockets won two more games than a slightly easier Western Conference the year before is quiet impressive in my opinion. Also, don't forget that a couple of shots falling here and there and we could have taken the Lakers to 7, if not beaten them, and the intensity the team showed against that frightening Lakers team was as impressive as I have ever seen from a young team.

So if you will blame JVG for the problems of this season (i.e. lack of intensity, etc.) then you must give him credit for last year. If you think it was a positive fluke what happened last year, then you also might assume that it is a fluke what is happenning this year, and assume it won't happen again.

Credit has to be given when it is due, and blame also should be assigned when it is legitimate to do so.

 

Rocket River,

You are still stuck in "what ifs" and you are arguing based on hypotheticals, not facts. There is no way you honestly could predict the outcome if Rudy was not sick, it is pure speculation.

Here are the facts: Rockets made playoffs under JVG, the previous coach failed to do so in five tries.

--Tiger