Maybe JVG has already learned that he will be dumped in the summer, and this is his preemptive revenge. Tonight's totally unnecessary win over Denver could harm the franchise for years to come. I can't think of any other serious reason why JVG would do what he has just done.
I agree Bynum could still be very good ... but the Rockets will need someone who can play more than 7 minutes and give more than 1.7 points a night in his first season. The difference between 7 and 10 last year was Charlie Villanueva to Andrew Bynum. All I know is Minnesota is throwing a party tonight. I sincerely hope for some draft surprises and fast risers... we need all the help we can get now.
As a coach you cant tell player to lose the game intentionally. But at this point why still gave Juwon 33 minutes,Deke 23 minutes,Wesley 28 minutes? Who cares about Deke's feeling and his playing time? Who cares about if this is Wesley's last game with Rockets? A whole new mix of players next season? Has JVG done this for the past 2 seasons already?
wow! The whining in this thread is hilarous! While I would have loved for the rockets to have finished the season 33-49 and what most likely have been a two way tie for 7th with minnesota, winning the game against Denver isnt as bad as some of you reactions lol. True it moved us into a tie for 8th with GS and seattle... but its not like dropped completely out of the lottery! The chances of getting the first pick from the 7th spot is 2.8% the 9th 1.7% not a big difference. Furthermore there is no Tim Duncan or Lerbon James in this draft, in other words there are no locks, no sure thing in the entire draft let alone the top ten. What is the clamatitous difference in the player available at 7th that wont be at 9th or 10th? Is that differnce really gonna "cost the rockets for years" as some of you proclaimed? Look of course I'd rather have the 7th pick than the 9th or 10th but lets be real and not act like the Rockets future is doomed or wasted because we won a game and dropped a position or two in a weak draft of relatively uncertain commodities.
LOL, funny post Clutch. But the Lakers fans think Bynum will be one of the best centers in the league soon though. There are threads on the ESPN board with the titles like "Who can stop this monster in three years?". It's all because of this one single nice spin move on Shaq in a mid-season game in which he had like 4 pts and 1 rb. Last time I checked this 'will-be unstoppable monster in three years' averages 1.6 pt/1.7 rb for the season.
we have no chance to draft Roy now. and we have practically no one on our roster that the team drafting Roy would want for him. thanks for the winning culture, you fu**job.
While I agree that winning the game was a stupid move, I've also learned that things aren't always as they seem (and not to overanalyze the things that ARE as they seem). Brandon Roy won't last past the first five picks. Granted, we'll now have less "balls" to move up and get him. It's possible JVG might have his sights set on Mardy Collins, who WILL be available at the #9/10 slots. Not a shooter, but a 6'6" PG/SG, a defender. Can get to the rim, although his free throw shooting needs work. Or, if JVG really wants a whole new cast next year, well, by God, trade Tracy McGrady and be done with it. Having so much salary cap tied up in one player, no matter how talented, is detrimental to the team's progress. What we get in return depends on how hurt Tracy really was/is, and how much of his inactivity was due to the team's wanting to tank or to let him mend for US next year or for a trade this summer etc etc. If we trade TMac, look to Chicago. Send Juwan with him. Chicago has too much youth and not enough experience; the Rockets are just plain thin. If we land the pick Chicago got from NY, THERE's your Brandon Roy, maybe even get Luol Deng, whatever.
If it is easy to bring in talent at the good price, Knicks should have win multiple championships already. The fact is, it is not easy to sign the players you want. Teams are always constrained who they could sign because of salary cap rules. Realistically speaking, unless this new stats wizard can find some gem in the draft, there is pretty much no hope for next season.
You dont get it !! There was still a chance of us getting 6th place. If we were lucky enough to do that we might have found ourselves in an even much loftier position say 2nd or third. Now there is no chance.!!!
Well, I've stated my position on this, and while an honest loss wouldn't have bothered me, I'm proud of them for winning another game. And yes, let the bashing begin. You never know, that extra ping pong ball or two might have just crowded things and pushed someone else's ball ahead of us. As it is, I look for us to take the number one pick now. (ok, I don't know jack about the reality of the potential here, but I like the kharma). SA has clenched their spot, look for the rockets to win tomorrow as well.
Yes Roxtxia you have touched on a touchy subject but one that we must be prepared to consider. Do we take a chance with Tracy Mc Grady, if we have another season like the last the Rockets will be doomed and Mc Grady will be not be able to be traded and championships will not come our way for a long time. If the Rockets have a plan, Mc Grady as an asset must be used now not later. With two good, young and fit players in exchange his contribution could be replaced.
Dood, JVG hand picked these players. He is a control freak in every sense of the word. This team has a 2 time scoring champion and a offensively gifted 7'6 center, and they still have problems scoring. JVG wanted Stomile Swift to pair with Yao's lack of athletism and CD went and got him. JVG wanted a real point guard he could control and traded away one of our best offensive weapons to get him. I can tell you right now Mike James has what JVG wants and that's FIREPOWER. He kept Ryan Bowen over Scott Padgett. I don't know if I let JVG make anymore roster descisions. JVG just dropped this team several slots in the lottery for no reason. Now you gotta hope Josh McRoberts and Noah come out. Matt Bullard said last night that the rockets are going to workout 70 players for this upcoming draft, I wonder how much imput JVG is going to have on that.
Look ..the rockets are not doing anytnig to mend Tracy's back..no surgery ..nothing..so basically he is going itno next season just like this season...so he could land awkwardly again and we could go through the same thing again..there is no cure and never wil be for his back..you people who say we can't trade Tracy because how great he is is ridiculous...true he is great but he has a chronic back probelm that will never go away...if we can get some great talent for him then I wouldn't be aginst it....but i wouldn't give him away either...we have to get a superstar or a future superstar in return.....those of you who deny this are just fooling yoruself....look at Grant Hill...do you want another one of those scenarios...
Winning the game against Denver as crazy as it sounds is an unmitigated disaster. What possible good happened by the Rockets winning that game. Here's hoping April 20, 2006 the Rox announce the firing of Jeff Van Gundy. As an example of stupidity for the hopefully ex-coach, he did the same thing last year winning the last few meaningless games to get us Dallas in the playoffs instead of Seattle. When he should have been resting his older and fragile squad for the playoffs, he was playing his regulars big minutes to win some absolutely meaningless games. The future of the Rockets has been hurt by having this guy coach our team. Time for this over rated NY'er to go back home. I have officially joined the anti Gundy bandwagon today. The time is now..... FIRE JEFF VAN GUNDY
I don't anyone fears the Rockets right now getting a higher pick in the draft and are intentionally losing games. George Karl should want home court in the first round, so why would he lose and risk not having that against the Clippers?
Because they already lost homecourt the day before... there was no chance of that left for the Nuggets. http://www.dailycamera.com/bdc/nuggets/article/0,1713,BDC_2452_4625667,00.html (requires registration) Karl even said after the Rockets game that he didn't want to risk injury to Carmelo Anthony, which is why he didn't put him back in. The Nuggets had nothing to play for.
It's a testament to Van Gundy's inability to not motivate when the Nuggets' nothing to play for outweights the Rockets something to not play for.
