I am sure you understand what I am saying, but you are playing "smarty" to find something to disagree on. So let me restate what I previously said: Rudy: 1999-2000: Rockets miss playoffs 2000-2001: Rockets miss playoffs 2001-2002: Rockets miss playoffs 2002-2003: Rockets miss playoffs JVG: 2003-2004: Rockets make playoffs 2004-2005: ? Satisfied "edc"?
If the players play well, and with emotion that is the coach's and GM's fault. If the players DON'T play well and with emotion that is also the coach's and GM's fault. In both cases they chose the players. The staff, from the owner to the coach are entirely responsible for the performance of the team, period. If you don't have the right players get them. The Rockets don't play with inspiration because none of the players are fiery players, and the coach ( Well does anyone remember Tex Avery's cartoon character Droopy, google him ). No emotion., period !!!!
Semantics. What does it matter.....4, 5, whatever. That is 2 misses too many. By the way, why did you stop the great work you used to do with the videos and audios? Were on a payrol? Are you related to any memeber of Rudy's Rockets staff?
If you can prove 4 = 5, the universe would stop working very quickly. It would literally be like one of those Bugs Bunny cartoons. Payroll? I wish. Thank you for thinking my work was professional enough to earn a paycheck. Why did I stop? Jeff Van Gundy didn't do a radio show last year, and besides, I have zero interest in his grumping, much less the "privilege" of chasing him from the middle of the afternoon to four AM or whenever the heck John and Lance spend their hour kissing up to him.
The stats don't necessarily support this. The record of the 2002-2003 Rox would've made it into the playoffs for 2004, or at least tied with the Nuggets who finished with 43 wins. Heck the 2000 Rox, who didn't make the playoffs, might've been the 6th seed. So I'm not sure you can attribute immense JVG success to the fact that the Western Conference was so much tougher than it was in previous years. Even if you would argue that most of the Western Conference got much better just from having one more year of experience in the NBA for Yao and playing with the Rox nucleus of Francis, Mobley, Cato and etc. you would've expected the Rox to do better anyway even without a coaching change. I'll agree this is speculative but its also highly subjective to presume that JVG was an impressive improvement over Rudy / Mr. Mean coaching.
a teams success or failure a year after a coach leaves is still credited to that coach. jvg has dismantled that team and re-assembled a team that is now truly his. i do believe this team will improve and acquiring a legit PF will make them that much better. this lot lack the D to get the confidence to hit up the O.
a) i = sqrt(-1) b) i^2 = i * i = sqrt(-1) * sqrt(-1) = sqrt(-1 * -1) = sqrt(1) = 1 c) i^2 = (sqrt(-1))^2 = -1 d) because of b and c, thus 1 = -1. E) 5 - 4 = 1 F) Since d), 5 - 4 = -1. G) 5 = -1 + 4 = 3 H) Since 5 = 3, ==> 5 * 2 = 3 * 2. I) 10 = 6. J) 10 + 2 = 6 + 2 K) 10 + 1 + 1 = 8 L) Since d), 10 + 1 + (-1) = 8 M) 10 = 8 N) 10/2 = 8/2 O) 5 = 4 P) Therefore, 4 = 5. Done. There you have the proof that 4 = 5.
I do agree that SOME (not all) blame should be assigned to JVG, he is a big part of why we have some of the players we have now (Ward and others), and why we don't have others (Damon Jones; Griffin, although I still support the decision to cut criminals from the team. I am a zero tolerance guy, and millionaires don't get much sympathy from me for their "tough" lives! ) So you have a point and I share it BTW. I am not a JVG "lover" (I am yet to see someone on the BBS profess otherwise)
Tiger, I agree with 90% or more, depending on how I look at what you wrote. But you can't coach heart and passion. Yao Ming seems to lack what it takes to reap the rewards of his own inate talent. JVG is making a huge mistake by forcing T-Mac to handle the ball so much. We need a good shooting point guard that keeps defenses honest and who can ably distribute the ball. See also my inflammatorily titled thread re: Yao Ming sucking. But here's another point for you: I don't think coaches turn stupid overnight. Don Cheney was coach of the year and was fired the next season. Look at what Parcells did for the Cowboys last year and see how that team's played this year. -P1st, S2nd.
Absolutely, I agree with the JVG comments, he has made some annoying mistakes this season, at least ones that annoy me. About the Yao comment, I am probably one of the few people here who thinks that Yao has both heart AND passion. Why? Mainly because Yao gives a damn, and you can see he is hard on himself whenever he makes mistakes on the court. Now here is what Yao DOES lack: mental toughness, and the good news is that mental toughness can and does develop over the years with experience. But I really do think that Yao has heart and passion, he just lacks the consistent mental toughness that allows him to be more aggressive, consistent, and not get so easily frustrated as he does seem to get every now and then. I don't think coaches become stupid overnight, but I do think that - as Phil Jackson has once said - the coach's message becomes "stale" after a little while, and the players just stop listening and get bored with the whole routine. The solution to this is usually one of two things: either change the players and get some new blood in, or just replacing the coaching staff to give the players something new and something to get excited about and look forward to (obviously, the latter is easier to do, and is therefore more often done, since it is easier to replace the coach than the players) --Tiger
In principle I must confess that I truly respect your stance on this issue (I also respect you as person). At least you have been consistent and somewhat precise with you opinion on this issue The bitter I still sense still beats me though. But in all we are Rockets fans and winning it the bottom line. I only hope you will be man enough to come accross the isle when the championships (division, conference and "world") start rolling in consistently with JVG, Yao and Mac at the helm of it all.
Here is an idea, You don't like what is being said on this BBS, you are free to leave. Quit whining about fans that have passionate opinions about the team. Babies !! Sheesh ! DD
Uh, oh! I have a feeling that this is directed towards myself... If so, then you are out of line telling anyone to "leave", especially someone who supports and contributes to the BBS (topic and money wise), and even if they don't you are still out of line. I am not "whining" about fans that have passionate opinions, I am simply challenging their views, and asking them to have patience with the team, because there IS light at the end of the tunnel. Anyone who wants to complain is welcome to, I have no power or desire to prevent them from doing so. Meanwhile, I have the right to say what I want, and people have the right to challenge me on what I say. That being said, I know you are a respected BBS member, but don't let the power go to your head, because you have none as far as dictating what posters can/cannot say or whether they leave/not leave the BBS. Chill Bro' --Tiger
