I think, we need to think... Most of the struggle for this team was due to making a huge system change. You could plug in any coach's name and gotten the same results including Rudy T.- Our guys attempted to go from a one-on-one break down your guy team to a pass and get a good shot team. JVG system simply wasn't about freelance, create a shot , dribble, dribble, dribble. Sorry for the change, but we needed it badly. You could argue that the system doesn't fit our players strengths, but I would argue that the system exposed our players weaknesses. The fact that discipline, defense and execution is expected, no is demanded does not mean that the players were put in a position to fail. It probably means that they are not disciplined, and fundementally solid as they should be at this point. Let's wait and see if the same players are back, or if changes are made. Either way I have no doubt that the dribble, dribble, dribble, iso, take a shot with 2 seconds on the clock days are numbered under JVG- If we fire him, I hope we don't revert back...
You really don't know too much about Silas. No one sits someone quicker when they mess up then Silas. But also when it's needed, he will put hia arm and around them as well. JVG just breaks down his player, never any build up.
this is exactly right. this doesn't mean that we still won't improve, but you cannot blame jvg or his system. i bet you the players don't.
ragingFIre hit it on the head. the "east was weak" argument didn't hold water in 1998-1999, which was the season after the Bulls second dynasty run. the knicks of '99 had to gut it out against some tough teams, including rileys heat and the perennial pacers. jvg has been to the playoffs every year as a head coach, he is worth keeping.
Incorrect. Absolutely, I found Van Gundy-ball unwatchable in NYC. I thought he was a bad fit when he was hired. However, I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Before the collapse, I probably would've graded him B-, and might've been convinced to bump it up a notch. Afterwards, no way can it go any higher than C, and my inclination is to bump that down a notch. How many "playoff quality" teams had a twenty-game stretch *at any point in the season* as poor as the one the Rockets had? The fact that this one came at the end of the season, when a team should be at the top of its game is the problem.
JVG can coach.......no argument....... .....why you ask??? simple: 1.) No one in the League right now gets any team to play better D than JVG. Some arguee Larry Brown. But I say that is horse crap. Brown forces his teams (at least his past 2 teams in the 76ers and the Pistons) to play D because they only have 1 or at best 2 guys on the court who can score at will (in Philly it was Iverson, in Detriot it's Rasheed, and a combo of Rip and Chauncy, one will heat up while the other is ice cold). 2.) JVG teaches TEAM D. When he was with the Knicks, NY was ALWAYS a top 5 D team. Even while they had Glen Rice. Glen Rice can't guard a bucket of water let alone another NBA player. His team D stratiges are top notch. 3.) JVG is the most prepared coach in the NBA. Many players, writers and other coaches have echoed this thought. Charles Oakley said it dozens of times when he played in NYC, Toronto, and again in Chicago. Oak routinley said that NO ONE had thier teams more prepared than JVG. Oak has also played for Lenny Willkens (even if he can't coach, he is the most winningist coach in the L history)and Phil Jackson. 4.) JVG is extremley loyal to ALL of his players. Remeber when Zo dragged him on his leg durring that scuffle with Grandmama? Remember when he was on the wrong side of the Marcus Camby punch? Did he not go to break up the scuffle of Malone/Boki/Francis?? JVG busts his butt for his guys, and expects the same in return. He is the coach more than anyother I want coaching the Rockets right now. He is a winner.
JVG just breaks down his player, never any build up. Maybe not in public, but his past players consistently talk about how they love playing for him - that wouldn't happen if he was just always blasting them. He demands excellence, but I don't see a problem with that.
I think JVG is what we needed for discipline. I really don't think he is what we're going to need for the long run. I think once our boys got a little trainin and self discipline in their belts we can look to someone else...
Not when the team should have competed for the conference title! He was considered a failure that regular season, and the Knicks was ready to fire him for Phil Jackson.
Rudy (a legend) got fired because the team supposedly 'underachieved'. If 43 wins last year was underachieving, that means the team should have won AT LEAST 3 more games (conservative estimate). So we were 'supposed' to be at around 46 wins last year or better, by the owner's expectations, or he wouldn't have made a change. Another year, a better Yao Ming = higher expectations. So if playing to potential last year is 46 wins, this year it would have been more. We'll say 2 more, to be really conservative, so 48 wins. Either way, you have: 1) the team underachieved again or 2) the team played up to its potential last year, and a change never should have been made to begin with or 3) the players should have been changed, not the coach Bottom line, again and again: a legend was kicked to the curb for NOTHING. Thanks for everything you've done, thanks for my new building, now get the **** out. Benefit of the doubt? Sorry, you haven't earned it, coach.
No, he was kicked out because he wasn't getting the job done anymore. *******, the Rockets kept him for longer than any coach in the NBA besides Sloan, yet you act like they just hire and fire people at will. Please, they gave him the benefit of the doubt through many disappointing seasons since 95. Christ, look at the East, within the past year, every single franchise has fired its coach. Eventually in coaching it becomes time to move on -- it happpens in every sport. The message wears out and a new approach is needed. That's what happened with Rudy, and that's what will happen with Van Gundy, and what happened to Pat Riley, etc etc etc. Let it go, it's been a year.
Some of us thought he WAS getting the job done, and that has been proven out after this past year. See my 1-3 above. Let it go? It's not like I'm here starting threads about it. The subject is already being discussed - I'm merely responding. Regardless, if you don't believe that certain individuals in sports (in the NBA specifically - the salary cap in the NFL somewhat prohibits it), albeit a VERY small number (for the Rockets, that means Hakeem & Rudy, THAT'S IT), earn the right to go out on their own terms, then I don't expect you to understand the disappointment.
Van Gundy did a great job last season. No other Coach would have put up with Steve Francis/ Mobley and all the garbage they were doing to this team over the fact that they wont work with Van Gundy and help develop Yao as the teams direction.Steve Francis had a deliberately poor season and worked against the direction of the team in many subtle ways.Once he is removed the team will recover.
There is still so much resentment in your words regarding Rudy's resignation. I get the feeling last year you root against the Rockets and hope they would implode without Rudy at the helm just to say 'I told you so'. I bet you were so excited when they were collapsing down the stretch huh? What ever happened in the past, happened already and there's nothing anybody can do about it...Now get over it already and move on please. That's just insane Ying Yang. Steve busted his tail the past year doing everything JVG asked with the best of his ability without many complaints...I have no doubt about that. The debate should be about his ability and not his effort. His game went down because he had to play defense for the first time in his career. Period.
How many times have you guys posted something, and deleted it because it was too harsh? That makes atleast 50 for me.
First of all, Rudy resigned because of health issues. He is not ready to come back after a whole year off. Do you acknowledge that Rudy knows he's not ready to coach after one year of rest, which clearly implies that he needed the time off? His health issues were a distraction to his team, and his coaching career was a distraction to his family and to his health. Rudy was not fired. Second of all, JVG did a better job than Rudy. JVG got the 7th seed, while Rudy had us in 9th. Even if he had stayed over those last couple of weeks, the best we could've hoped for was 8th. JVG got 7th seed. Don't forget the intangibles and fundamentals that JVG has put into this team. We are now one of the best defensive teams in the entire league. I will admit our offense is horrible at times, however, we have a big man, and the offense is always bound to ocme around with a big mabn once you put the right players around him. You know this. You saw it with Hakeem. Me and you both know this squad is not equipped to feed a big man. Finally, you simplify everything in your favor. Yao Ming's improvement = more wins? Are you JOKING? Do you know how many new players this team added? Assuming you don't change a roster, and replace a coach of around 10 years with a new coach (assuming both coaches are equal), shouldn't you expect a slight drop in wins for the players to adjust? So what happens when you change 2 starters and 2 bench players as well? Shouldn't you expect to give the team time to acclimate? This was JVG's first year, while it was Rudy's 3rd or 4th year coaching Francis and Mobley. Both Rudy and JVG had one season with Yao. For the team to add a few wins in a betetr conference, and go up 2 places, while having to deal with a new coach, a new system, and new players.... That's pretty damn good IMO, and it showed i the playoffs, where we tested the Lakers as well as teh mighty Spurs did. Hell, Minny just dropped game 1 at home. ChenZen put it perfectly. I don't know you, and I don't think he knows you personally either, but there's so much resentment in your tone, I really efel that you want the JVG-coached Rockets to fail just because you love Rudy so much. Homecourt won't be good enough for you next year would it? If we start challenging for homecourt, you'll talk about how we should be a top seed. When we're a top seed, you'll be talking about how we should sweep everyone in the playoffs. This immature team would have never gotten the maturity that they acquired this season under Rudy T. Rudy is a veteran's coach, and he can't turn kids into veterans. I personally don't think JVG will lead us to the top, but I do think that he will get us to a point that RUdy couldn't. At that point (when they're veterans and know the system), Rudy is the man that has the ability to win the championship, the guy that gets creative, that bringso ut all the heart in a team. But he wouldn't be able to do all that, unless there was a jeff Van Gundy before him.
I am certainly not sure Rudy wasn't fired and I am not sure his settlement with ownership precludes him from coaching this year, without forfeiting millions. Second of all, JVG did a better job than Rudy. Probably Finally, you simplify everything in your favor. Yao Ming's improvement = more wins? Are you JOKING? Do you know how many new players this team added? Assuming you don't change a roster, and replace a coach of around 10 years with a new coach (assuming both coaches are equal), shouldn't you expect a slight drop in wins for the players to adjust? Have you noticed Detroit and Indiana? I really efel that you want the JVG-coached Rockets to fail just because you love Rudy so much. I want JVG's Rox, my Rox, to SUCCEED and I love Rudy, too. This immature team would have never gotten the maturity that they acquired this season under Rudy T. Rudy is a veteran's coach, and he can't turn kids into veterans. The ironic part is that the roster stayed more stable under JVG than it likely would have had Rudy been here. All in all, it was a successful transition, a successful year. This summer's activities for the Rox -- and the rest of the West -- will go a long way in determining whether Rox are still playing this day '05.
