That's the problem. This isn't 1995 anymore. For the fact that they cannot recognize that shows that there is a problem with the coaching philosophy. The lack of drivers and cutters is crazy. In this league, perimeter players that drive get all of the breaks.
If I thought you were 100% on the mark, it would. But I don't. I loved our off season and think this team is built well for a strong run in the playoffs (ahem, so do many gm's but I don't profess to be smarter than one). I also think that Van Gundy is the perfect coach for the team and would hate for the Rockets to change because some fans are impatient because they blew a lead to one of the best teams in basketball.
1. A good coach will never let such kind of collapse happen. Obviously our current coach is not. 2. It is not the first time Rockets lacked mental toughness. Still remember that 7th postgame against Mavs? Neither tmac or Yao stepped out! A championship team shouldn't look like that.
What world are you living in that you think a "good" coach will never let such a kind of collapse happen? I bet you think that Rick Adleman is a good coach. Oh yeah, but didn't he let a 20 point lead go in the fourth quarter of a deciding game in the playoffs? Oh, and I've never seen S.A. blow a big lead, because Popovich won't let it happen. Hell, remember the time he ripped off his suit, threw on some skivies and brought his team back from the dead with a windmill jam in Shaq's face?
THe suns do this every year. Lodge heavy minutes on starting 5 all throughout and especially the playoffs. This is probably why they didn't go far in the playoffs
Sorry I don't share your optimism. But I don't see Van Gundy or the playoffs as part of what those GM's were thinking. Just my opinion but "most improved" equates as Lottery to playoffs...not to a "strong run in the playoffs" as you are suggesting. http://www.insidehoops.com/general-managers-survey-102506.shtml 3. What was the most underrated player acquisition? Shane Battier 25% P.J. Brown 14% Jackie Butler 7% Speedy Claxton 7% 4. Which team will be most improved in 2006-07? Houston Rockets 26% Orlando Magic 15% Golden State Warriors 11% New York Knicks 11% Toronto Raptors 11% Others receiving votes: Atlanta Hawks, Chicago Bulls, Minnesota Timberwolves, New Orleans/ Oklahoma City Hornets, Seattle SuperSonics, Utah Jazz
Ive already posted this but it seems relevant. Pop played Beno in his rookie season. He appreared in 80 games while averaging 14.2 mins. Ive thought this before and I still think this....VSpan > Beno
TMac and Yao scored around 60 pts in that game 7. Im annoyed by JVG right now but too be fair....a poster noted that even the Rox team that had Hakeem on it blew big leads.
PLEASE READ THIS JVG.. WE, as the fans, do NOT care if we lose 3 regular season games in a row this early in the season. Therefore, we beg of you, please play Novak and Spanoulis and Bonzi. Let them have time on the court to develop and keep that fire they had coming into the league. If you sit them, it will only serve to ruin their confidences and severely hinder their careers... HERE YE HERE YE!!! PLAY THESE ROOKIES AND BONZI!!!!
Good Thread. First, I'm not JVG hater, I respect him. Somebody mentioned some chinese words like 师奶. I want to give a real chinese fans opion about this thread. In chinese wisdom, Pop use the stragetic of "田忌赛马" to knock down Rockets. And "知人善用" is what the coach should do. We couldn't always get a guy with good offense, good defense, good assists , good rebounce. A guy like V-span, got good offense, good assists, good defense, should be well played under the coach's rule. I think JVG is doing this thing in his own schedule. Waiting to see that. It's so funny to introduce two chinese words to american friends.
JVG at most is an opportunist with some overrated basketball knowledge. He is not a strategist, nor he is a leader, a motivator, a visioner, a fighter and ultimately, a champion.
Do you guys think if JVG puts Novak and V-Span yesterday, Rockets will win that freaking ONE game against Spurs? What if Novak plays no defense and got beat by any Spurs, and V-Span turns the ball over 5 times. Will you guys still call JVG baldy, crappy, stupid, and horrible for putting rookies in a tight game instead of more proven player like Snyder, Alston, Battier?
On playing the rookies: what's with this zero minutes policy? The basis for the zero minutes policy is by gauging the total performance of V-Span or Novak in practice. My point is, if the total performance of them is overall positive in practices (despite defense or To problems), then they should get to play in the real games, starting from little minutes every game. If the total performance of them is overall negative they should be sent to NBDL, cuz if a player can't bring an overall postive impact in practices he has no place in the NBA. Keeping V-Span and Novak planted on the bench all the time while occupying two NBA roster spots makes no sense. As for dealing with offensive droughts, I think the Rockets need to find a high post/face up presence in Yao Ming when his post game isn't working. Yao is human, he may not enjoy doing wrestling in the paint 24/7, he may get tired from banging down low, he may get frustrated cuz the Rockets haven't found a way against aggressive fronting and double teaming over all these years, and he may get murdered with officiating. Whatever the problem is, it is stopping Yao from post dominance at times. Yao and the Rockets need a backup plan. In role players management I agree with Gater with one caveat. The Rockets should go after scorers, as well as pure shooters. Average spot up shooters who can't either consistently make contested shots nor create for himself should be valued lower - regardless of his three point shooting percentage as those are made under wide open looks. Pure shooters are what the Rockets need against elite defensive teams that quickly closes the perimeter after double teams on Yao. That's why players like Steve Novak are pretty valuable. He's tall to shoot over people, his shot is lethal and quick. He just needs a little space to launch the shot, and he can hit them despite being contested.
Novak should have played. Here's why: The Rockets defense sucked already, the Spurs were scoring left and why. Novak's D doesn't matter since our D was already very bad. Even if Novak plays no D at all the dropoff is just marginal. However, on offense the Rockets just couldn't buy a bucket. They missed 18 out of their last 19 attempts or so. That's where Novak would've helped probably. JVG should at least try to see if Novak can buy some buckets.
All the JVG haters will be eating crow. I don't expect the Rockets to lose another game this month despite the tough schedule. Look at my sig. That was back in July when most people on this board said we wouldn't even make the playoffs.
CHA 95: SAS 92 We win Miami , lose to spurs Spurs win us, lose to Bobcats. Man, after a hard fight, starter need time to rest and cover . We should play more bench especially at this situation.
