We are finally past the half-way point and the team just did a 360 turnaround. Remember 3 months ago how crazy and negative the forum was, and most were directed towards JVG? I was one of the few people who was patient during the odeal, while many had panic. Now this forum is a much happier place now that the Rockets found their stride and go into the all-star break on a very high note with an 8 game win streak and 11 game over.500. Seriously, JVG needs some props b/c he was one of the people that was resbonsible for the changes on the roster in the last 3 or so month. He got the right people in here, despite negative criticism towards them but he believes in those players and continues to stick with them and I'm glad he did. It made me teared up a little bit seeing him smile and laughed for the first time, while thinking back how brutal he got it from the fans and media. He's not the best coach in the world, but he is one with a big heart, where the players believed in him and he believed in his players. I know that we still have another half left to play basketball, but lets just savor this moment now and not think ahead...it's a great accomplishment, and we will never know if we will have another 8 game win streak again. Much cheers to JVG-
Personally, I'm very upset. I have offered several times now to have Jeff Van Gundy's baby, and he has still not called me.
Where is that poster who went to a Rockets game where he got a bunch of people together and yelled out "JVG Suck!!" to get him fired, while some fans here agreed with him? I wonder what he thinks of JVG now? As mean as that may sound, I think it sparked a fire in JVG.
Must not post...must....hold out.....errrrrr.........ahhhhrrrggghhhhhh.. Ok, ok, I was wrong, JVG has really turned the corner, he has changed his approach by letting TMac run the offense and he has taken Yao out of the low post and got him moving again. All it has done is to negate the fronting, and get Yao touches where he can handle them. JVG has changed his strategy to match his teams strengths. Well done JVG ! There I said it.....now.... GO ROCKETS !! DD
I like the way the team is playing ball, and he is the coach of my beloved Rockets, so....YES ! D (flipping faster than flopping) D
and it only took him a season and a half to start! JVG was stuck on "into Yao with his back to the bucket," trying to fit Yao into a Shaq/Ewing mold when you actually plays more of a Hakeem game (though not quite as good). It was t-mac who brought JVG to his senses, saying "you know, Coach, I just don't seem to be scroring in this system somehow." Now T-macs back to his old self, and Yao is scoring easily.
early on, there were a lot of Rocket fans hitting the panic button and a lot of Magic fans straining their arms patting themselves on the back ... now there are a few people already making comments about SF3's game and possibly firing their coach and trading francis .. The Rox are getting better and better - not like last year where it was win 3 lose 2 win 4 lose 5... I know that the Sonic might be the best options in the 1st round - but I say, go for broke at head for that 4th seed
With JVG's grin in his face gives us all a new look of the Rockets in days to come. Man, i love their game!!!I'm sure that Jeff knows that the game he wanted are being executed and played well. GO ROCKS!!
I am not the biggest JVG fan so the only credit I will give him is that he let go of his ego and adapted to his star players rather than torture them with his structured style of play. The Rockets are playing under control and with lots of enthusiasm but this only happened when JVG allowed T-Mac to be T-Mac and let Yao play second fiddle. He took the burden off of Yao and allowed his star to shine which he was NOT willing to do with Stevie. The other thing is that he only gave in when the team was horrible playing his style of offense and looked like he may be fired if the team kept up the 6-11 pace. Thank GOD he came to his senses and didn't shackle T-Mac. So credit is given where it is due but it was only because it was forced upon him with the bad start (out of necessity rather than willingly). Peace.
I agree with Rivaldo..we've become a really good team. He really is an excellent X's and O's coach..and yeah his assistants are good too. He's good at assigning roles...and yeah it took patience.. I like how JVG is never complacent. We are going for a championship
He was NOT willing to do that because SF was unable to NOT turn the ball over. Plus, SF is NOT capable of scoring 26PPG while at the same time still being in the flow of the offense. This team plays as a SINGLE UNIT, even though TMac has freedom to create. That's the difference compared to before. TMac knows when and when not to pass. He knows when and when not to shoot. He never forgets this team even though his can score a bunch.
Please... the Rockets play more structured ball (with EVERYONE, not just the stars, involved) than most of the other "high scoring teams", and they're still able to get players in position for great shots. Ladies and gentlemen... this isn't T-Mac being allowed to run willy-nilly and do whatever he wants. Players are cutting, setting picks, rotating the ball (with almost no hesitation), and hitting their wide open shots... its truly a TEAM effort. Granted, JVG did stop trying to go to Yao first, and thus we no longer see the "fronting defense" (what are they going to front, if Yao isn't even attempting to post up? ), but this does not mean T-Mac has just taken over every play. On the contrary, this offense moves much smoother when its Sura with the ball, as T-Mac is sure to draw the double-team every single time. I'm not crazy, however... Tracey deserves a ton of credit too. His ability to still score almost 30 on any given night, while playinng well within JVG's offensive system, is one of the most remarkable things to watch. He no longer hesitates on his jumpers (which was the real thing holding him back the first two months), and he truly is an AMAZING passer, as if you're open, he will find you. Finally, I got to admire the EFFORT and HUSTLE out of all of these guys (especially Howard, Deke and Sura). When each Rocket steps out on that court, they're giving 110%... which is unheard of for most teams... and there's only one guy who could have inspired each and all of them to always give their full effort. Bill Worrell related the following from T-mac tonight, "JVG is the best coach I've ever had." That says it all.
You can continue to be naive and stubborn all you want - if it makes feel good......great. That does not change the simple fact that the concept of prudence and evolution is lost on you and your ilk. JVG did not let go of any ego or let Mac be Mac - the team was newly put together and was going through their evolution phases. Only a little child would have expected them to start out faster than when you factor in the key injuries and the stress of travelling to China and back in the pre-season. Only a puerile mind will continue to NOT see things for what they are - JVG and CD had a great plan and kept improving on it on the fly. I could see this much from afar back as November. Only few of us actually did see this coming including folks like Clove, DoD, T Stoke, etc. (great prudent minds indeed). Tmac even said it best himself, he was not himself because he was new to the team (clearly Yao's team at that time and he wanted to please us all and shed the Memac label) not because JVG clamped down on him or his style. JVG even had a heart 2 heart conversation to tell him to be himself. He has now come around to say that JVG is the best coach he has ever played for (that says much but not much though put in perspect but you get the point folks) in his NBA career. He did not get it earlier but he later figured it out sooner and later. Yao got it too and everyone felt comfortable. This team's turnaround started over 2 months ago (only a seasoned eye could see that). The philosophy of the team has not changed much - Make Yao or Tmac #1 and #2 options in no particular order (the best possible order) and surround them with smart, hard nosed and selfless NBA players that can shot decently when called upon. The team is finally getting it and coming together abd the key additions and subtraction have even made things better. Defense is still paramount. Smart play is still paramount. Execution is still paramount. Cohesiveness is still paramount. What did I leave off? Props to JVG once again. PS. Why is not a 5 star thread? PPS. Please make your vote count - make this thread a 5-star thread. Every votes count!!!
