I wanted to start this thread a few weeks ago when all three of our rookies started playing well. I resisted, however, in order to make sure that they would sustain their solid play. They have done just that. We all know what each brings to the table, but there is no doubt in my mind that we wouldn't be seeing such significant contributions, if any, from this rookie trio if JVG was still around. Not only has Adelman given them a chance, but they've gained his trust enough to close out games and even help win them. Steve Novak has even been given time and has shown what he is capable of doing out on the court. If Van Gundy was here Chuck Hayes would still be seeing most of the mins at PF with Luis Scola getting inconsistent mins as a back-up. Carl Landry, Aaron Brooks, and Novak would all be languishing on the end of the bench. JVG was so recalcitrant that he wouldn't even allow youngsters to utilize the D-League. Both Novak and Brooks saw action in the D-League this year before they made real contributions in the NBA. The point is that JVG didn't really give unproven young players a chance. He did not allow them to really play or would yank them immediately after they made an error. You have to allow players in general and rookies and younger players in particular the freedom to play and make mistakes so that they can learn and develop. So, in this sense, you have to give Adelman credit. He has given everybody, even the rookies and younger players, a fair shot. JVG did not do this. He would rather go out and get experienced players he was comfortable with, even though they were significantly past their prime, and give them a tangible role on the team as opposed to allowing a younger, less experienced player the same opportunity. Examples include a washed up Charles Oakley and an over the hill Rod Strickland who were both brought to the Rockets by JVG. The only reason Chuck Hayes and Luther Head were allowed to play as rookies was because of a rash of injuries during the 2005-06 season, which left Van Gundy with no real alternative but to play the two. Yet, he still went with veterans when he could, which ultimately pushed the Rockets a few spots lower in the NBA draft. During his tenure here, JVG was a failure in developing young talent. Thus, my message to him is that rookies can play too!
It all depends.... Perhaps JVGD will use the Scholll 4.... Rookies are also important for a team.... For the team's future...
I give Adelman credit, but to some extent it was also a desperation move. The starters were not getting it done, so he gave a shot to the rookies. If the team had a better record at the end of December, the rookies probably would have never seen a minute.
The problem with JVG isn't his unwillingness to play young players(he turned undrafted Hayes into a starter, after all), but his unwillingness to let young players make mistakes. He's a big proponent of good defense + no TOs. And guess where rookies really struggle at? Turning the ball over, and playing defense. Hayes was fine because he's great on defense, and he doesn't handle the ball enough to turn it over. With Luther, JVG basically turned him into a spot up shooter. So he couldn't make mistakes unless he played the point. Landry and Brooks, IMO, would not be where they are with JVG. Especially Brooks. Because they wouldn't be allowed the freedom to do what they're doing. Scola though, would be getting plenty of minutes no matter who's coach.
I think JVG did gave rookies some chances to play in some games that we have big wins. However, JVG will never ever play rookies in the 4th when the game is on the line. His mentality is if the game is very close, rookies will make mistakes and we will lose (his thoughts are logical though and he will not take risk)
Exactly. Veterans, too. It seems to be the main philosophical difference between Van Gundy and Adelman. That, and hard work. For all I know, the tradeoff is worth it.
To be fair, we were winning games. JVG didn't have to keep shuffling the lineup to find something that works. Plus, all we had was V-Span. He got a chance and stunk it up. He couldn't sniff the jocks of a Landry or Brooks. Even Boki got a chance with JVG but he didn't cash in. Other rookies like Head and Hayes got playing time regardless of the circumstances in why they played. We never had a good draft during the JVG era. Morey has changed all that.
Look, I am no fan of JVG, but he is gone....Who cares what he would or wouldn't have done? Let's worry about getting back in the playoffs THS YEAR. DD
Thank you! And that was coming from DaDakota! Probably the one that had the most harsh words to say about JVG in the past. I thought JVG was a great coach and admire is hard work during his time here. Although, I'm sick of dwelling on the past and everyone that keeps trying to compare the two, The past is done, nothing can change that. Why not look forward with our new team and new coach? Seriously though, by the way some of yall talk, it sounded like Rick the Ruler just won us a championship. Let the JVG thing go and move on.
You fail to mention that moving down in the draft also meant moving up in the seedings. You can not fault a coach for winning games and trying to get home court advantage. Yes, it didnt work cuz of the first round loss, but were you cheering for the Jazz to get home court last year in the playoffs so we might pick 25th instead of 26th? Also, dont flat out say JVG didnt develop young talent, cuz I believe a guy named Yao Ming would disagree with you. He was a second year player with flashes of brilliance when JVG came in, and the best post player in the world when JVG left. You say he turned Luther into a spot up shooter, but its not like Adelman has turned him into a driving slashing player. His game is still the jump shot. Lastly, dont even pretend that JVG ever had any rookie on his team that had the talent of Brooks, Landry, and Scola.
That's one big reason I support coach A to replace JVG. Even we cannot pass the first round this year, it still give us hopes because of the potentials of the three rookies. And imagine somehow we can add another 2 or 3 on top of that next season?
WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG Do some research first. You could have saved us from reading your post.
No kidding. Luther and Chuck played rotational minutes from the get-go. Luther's game log If you click on individual games, Luther is still playing early on despite having TMac, Derek Anderson and David Wesley healthy and playing. Chuck Hayes' rookie game log Looks like the Chuckwagon played every game from the minute we resigned him
exactly right. i think another important point is gundy never played more than 9 guys in a rotation. right now adelman is playing 11 guys (yao, scola, shane, tmac, rafer, brooks, luther, bonzi, hayes, landry, novak). you can bet 2 or 3 of these guys would not be in the rotation... and james probably would be.
