Prediction : Lakers will have better year than the Rockets

Having that scrub last year didn't seem to prevent them from getting a high seed. We will be pretty good this year, but I will be very surprised is we have a better record than the Wolves. The following year, however, is a different story....

 

Yes and Don Nelson Jr., whose Lithuania team is undefeated in Olympic play, including a victory over USA, says Rudy T is one of the brightest minds in the game.

But of course they are just patronizing him because the guy is ill.

 

This post was just created to bash Jeff Van Gundy for whatever reason. As for the Lakers having a better season then the Rockets, Rudy didn't even get last year's Rocket team to the playoffs, Van Gundy did. So what has Rudy done that makes you sure that he'll take a less talented Lakers team and make them better then the Rockets? No disrespect at all to Rudy.

 

You're kidding right? Steve Francis last year was worse then Steve Francis Rudy T's year. Francis was so ridiculously inconsistent shooting wise.

 

The same Larry Brown that is coaching this year's "Dream Team". Larry Brown won the NBA title this year, but Larry Brown calling you an "offensive genius" considering the teams he has coached isn't exactly fantastic praise. That's like Don Nelson calling Rudy T. a "defensive genius".

 

Please tell me a coach that DOESN'T praise another coach?

 

Reason? Gee, what changed so drastically between SF's last two healthy seasons? I'll give you three guesses, and the first two don't count.

 

Of Course that's the answer "The Rudy T Conspiracy"... Say the coach is one of the greatest coaches ever, even though it's not true because you want to be politically correct or something. That's almost funny. Winning Championships in the NBA is special. Winning championships internationally is even more special. Rudy has done both. Rudy even placed 3rd in the world championships with a bunch of CBA scrubs. Hell our NBA players didn't even place in the last world championships. If you can't acknowledge that qualifies Rudy to be considered a great coach, than tell me what does...

This is not a knock on JVG. He is a good coach. Only we had a better coach and fired him because the owner thought the Rockets were one of the best teams of all time. Ha ha... 1 year later with the emergence of Yao and a much more experienced team and great acquisitions like J Jackson and Piatkowski. And a much better coach and our record is only slightly better and down the stretch we play worst. Down the stretch Rudy's team's play better. Are did you forget clutch city and the heart of champions. Make no bones about it that heart came from Rudy.

 

I thought this thread was to compare the players, not the coaches. My bad.

 

Can Ya tell it's off season? cf x

 

You nailed that one! Rudy was never "creative." He was a very good defensive coach (as long as he had Hakeem on his team). Any "offense creativity" really came from Hakeem's ability (and Drexler). Not because of any "offensive philosophy" from Rudy. Rudy's game plan? Give it to your best player and get the hell out of the way. Ok, fine. That works sometimes. But not all the time! His mantra: simplicity, almost to a fault. Sure, you can get away with that if Hakeem can carry your team (a veteran at the time). Prior to 1992, it was very hard for any coach to get Akeem to trust his teammates and give up the ball. So, Rudy deserves the credit for that.

I remember those screen plays you mentioned above too (Yao/Francis). It was funny seeing Rudy try that play over and over and over (three games in a row). It was like Rudy found a new "toy" and wanted to show everybody! Bzzzzzz! Game over! Our opponents knew about his new "trick play" too! And they defended it. Come on Rudy! Mix it up. Nope. Not Rudy. He was incapable. Mostly predictable.

Plus, Rudy doesn't work well with inexperienced players. He's best with already established players.

I remember back when we got Barkley...a few of his first games, he had a move where he'd drive basket baseline and laid it up off glass. Rudy after the game said something like, "I've never seen moves like that in my life...amazing!"

I remember thinking, "What planet have you lived on? Or are you just that unaware all the time?" It was strange. The next few games, guess what happened? Rudy started calling the same play over and over and over for Barkley (the same ISO post baseline play). It was ok w/Charles since he wanted the ball in the first place. But the same play over and over? Come on! That was Rudy's "creativity" for ya! He found a "new play" and was running it into the ground.

Sigh...

By the way....

Lakers - Shaq = worse (that's all that really matters).
Rox + McGrady + Yao = better

 

But the "direct comparison" is only taking one aspect of the situation; without looking at all the circumstances involved.

Here's a direct comparison; using ONE variable. With an absurd conclusion.

Question: Who is the better player?
Robert Horry + 5 championships = HALL OF FAMER!
Charles Barkley + 0 championships = just a decent player...

"Horry is the better player! It's obvious! He won more rings!"



If JVG gets 53 wins next year, 56 the following, and 61 the next...would the JVG vs Larry Smith comparison really carry any weight anymore?

 

haven, it's both! Puedlfor makes some good points.

Being very, very good a ONE thing can "hide" other flaws (becomes a distraction). It can also allow that player to *rely (with success)* on limited, but effective skills sets (that being one-on-one, iso and physical abilities that are extra ordinary).

So, improving physical abilities, causes a player to rely on them more so, and thus erodes any perceived *need* to develop the tactical abilities. The league could "get away with it" for a while. But not anymore.

 

(1) That's kind of the point. There was ONLY one variable. I don't accept the "they had it locked up" excuse. The Rockets could've fallen out of the playoffs this past year, and they got lucky no one stepped up like Phoenix did the season before. Even if you do buy that line, until the last week or so (when you rest your guys), the last quarter of the season is about building momentum for the playoffs. The Rockets did not do that.

(2) If JVG gets 56 wins any of the next three years, I will say "good job." However, regardless of the number of regular season wins, if he does not go to six or seven games in the second round of the playoffs this year, he MUST be fired.

 

http://www.clutchfans.net/teams.cfm?Season=2004
The Rockets failed to make the 2004 NBA Playoffs

 

Sura Lue Ward
Jackson McGrady Piatkowski
McGrady Nachbar
Howard Taylor
Yao (Backup) Howard

Versus:

Paargo
Kobe Rush
George Walton
Malone Medvedenko
Vlade


I don't think the Lakers will break the top six Playoff teams this year.

The rockets now have a very smart, heady team with an array of weapons from the inside and outside.

I think it will look like this:

San Antonio
Minnesota
Houston
Kings
Denver
Dallas
Los Angeles
Phoenix

 

Okay, back to the subject of the thread. I don't know who will have the better record since both teams have dramatically changed their rosters. But anyone who counts out the Lakers are really not giving their roster enough credit. They still have the best guard in the game. At worst second best. And anyone watching Lamar Odom in these Olympics should be impressed with his all around game. If Lamar Odom could ever play a full season to his potential, he could be a franchise player himself.

Now you have Odom, who will do a lot of the dirty work, and won't command the ball like Shaq. And Kobe should be a happier player now with no one questioning who the man is. Your starting line-up is wrong Khan, and when you add an Odom who's playing well, that Lakers team all of sudden looks pretty good. And Odom can guard the 4's in the West, with maybe the exception of Duncan. And that's not including Vlade, although I understand he might be 50 years old.

 

Why is everyone SO sure Kobe is going to play next year? You never know...