I'm undecided this year so far. So I'll say 5/10. I don't really see signs that the team is underachieving or overachieving yet. Most of the changes so far seem attributed to the roster moves. Good signs: 1) I agree that MoTay is being managed better this year. He just isn't very talented on defense, and his major contribution should be offense. Obviously, he can shoot outside and this will create space for Yao as teams are forced to defend that. 2) I haven't jumped off my couch screaming about any bizarre substitutions this year, so I guess Yao is also being managed well as far as fatigue goes. Mutombo helps in this regard as well because it doesn't hurt the team so bad when he is the sub. 3) In general, I think the roster moves were positive, and JVG clearly had a big say in it. I'm putting a lot of hope in Sura's return. Somehow I think he could be a keystone of the team... the one piece that could make things really start to click. The one extra mismatch that could force opponents into uncomfortable situations. Think - a 6'-5" and 6'-8" backcourt (our starting forwards are 6'-6 and 6'-9"). Bad signs: 1) Yao still hasn't proven that he can catch the ball while his feet are moving. He did well against Minnesota, but that is the type of opponent that he usually excels against. The offense needs to function when they are playing a scrappy, full court opponent. 2) Still a lot of turnovers. I think it is inevitable that this will improve, by virtue of the roster moves... but no serious evidence yet. 3) I don't know what it is yet, or if it will be a weak spot on the team, but we just don't have an easy time with energy and defense. We are ranked 27th in blocked shots, 26th in steals, and 26th in rebounds... THIS SUCKS! What I would do for a weak side shot blocker! I don't buy the fact that we are a slow team because I think that only effects steals.
I'm not sure #3 of my negative list is curable by coaching alone. We may have a fatally flawed roster, that needs at least one more change.... a weak side shot blocker, a scrappy defender in the starting rotation, a player with all the intangibles. ...not that our roster isn't stronger than last year. I would say we were without a dount fatally flawed last year.
On a scale of 1 to 10, I give JVG's coaching a NEGATIVE INFINITY. All Yao and T-Mac have to do is say a couple of bad things about Van Grumpy and the coach is outta here! If the Rox can get rid of Rudy and SF, it sure as hell will get rid of Van Grumpy!!
Jediknight - I think your logic is fundamentally flawed. I believe the Rox got rid of SF and Rudy T because they are so committed to JVG. Good move in my opinion.
9/10 for JVG. I think he's the perfect coach for Yao. Without JVG, i don't think Yao will progress where he is today. JVG's discipline and defense-style of basketball makes Yao better. I like the fact that he's a defensive-minded coach...although it seems like this year, the team isn't as good as last year DEFENSIVELY ....not yet so far. I like when he keeps calling timeouts when things aren't going well. Some coaches just let the game go on without bothering. Not JVG...he wants to break momentum of the other team. Putting ONLY the best players on the floor when the game is on the line...by that i mean he lets players continue to play if he is currently playing well on the floor and doesn't take him out yet until he gets worst of course. He just know when to substitute at what situation and the timing and everything is strategically played out. And of course when the game is on the line...he will put in his superstars even sometimes when they haven't got much rest...THAT i also what i like about him. Doesn't afraid to speak his mind about the team (bad or good) after the game.
I agree with Glyde, it way too early to tell. If I have to give a grade at this point: 8/10 So far, I like what I see.
I don't like him. I don't like what I see with the team. Instead of passing and execution, we have turnovers. The defense is prevent, not disrupt. After a big defensive stand, do we get the rebound? Do we break? Do we steal? He is sludge. Dirty and Boring.
I give a 6/10. But as the season goes along, he can improve it to 7/10. But i stil dont like him. I would love greg popovich to coach the rockets. Or a hubie brown if he discovered the fountain of youth and maybe a doug collins. But as the saying goes, if you only have lemons, make a lemon tea. Got to be happy with jeff.
thats the kind of attention brings to the game. If he's not suited up he still commands a double, but not the regular triple teams.
I think it is still too early too tell. This team needs a little more time to gel and heal (T-mac and Sura), then I think a more definitive judgement can be made. But its still fun to watch.
Defense : B- Offense : D Overall : C The team doesn't seem to be playing up to it's potential offensively.They need to work on that part of their game or it's going to be a long season.
.500 or worse record is always = to a "C" or worse. On a 10 point scale, he won't crack a 7 until we are at a .700 or better. I have him at a 4.5 as we speak. I don't like him though. I base the coach on the record given the talent. He under acheives, and he somehow gets the team to under perform offensively on a consistent basis. His so called "defensive" genius really leaves me wanting more as a fan. It's basketball for goodness' sake, not golf. SCORE MORE!!!
6 out of 10. Ditto to what everyone else says about not enough O, okay on the D, but my main issue with JVG is that 82 games plus playoffs (?) is a lot of games to play under the leadership of a guy who would make a bachelor party feel like a funeral.
Nothing like rating a movie that is 10 percent in progress. Now that I think of it, Lord of the Rings I is probably the worst movie I have ever seen. So is the Godfather.
I would give JVG a 9.5 out of ten. He loses that last 0.5 by leaving in Lue after he botched one play so badly, only to have him get the ball again and throw it 10 feet over Yao's head (keeping in mind that Yao is the tallest player in the NBA) when we needed a 3 pointer. Lue needs to get some time on the pine for a few games. All of the b****ing about how many total points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, etc that we get is BS. JVG limits the number of possesions in a game. With fewer possesions, there is going to be less of everything. Before McGrady went down, the team was really starting to play well, and even in his absence, JVG has coached the team into a position to win both games. Unfortunately, Jeff can't keep the officials from making bad calls and he can't keep Lue from play like a WNBA backup.
