I remember the Blazers quite well. I didn't mention them as a "team ball" team, since they had this Hall of Fame, top 50 player named Clyde Drexler. I think he averaged about 24/7/6 during the finals years. Wow, that line looks suspiciously close to another Rockets player.... My point is that superstars are needed to win championships. Sure, one guy can't carry 4 nobodies, but that doesn't change the fact that great players make champions. It's not 5 nice guys who really play together and share. It's about great players bending the outcome to their wills.
Yeah, with Brooks in the starting lineup and Artest on the floor. There's too many other variables to simple point out at the team's total points and claim that it's the result of one guy's presence.
how many finals did JVG get? how many total years has JVG coached? How were they comparing with Rick's?
Its not like he was devising some amazing zone schemes or gimmick defenses that only he can do. His strategy was pretty simple.... all-out effort on BOTH ends of the court, but as your shot will come and go, defense is something you can bring to EVERY game. They helped and rotated with increased energy and effeciency on the defensive end. They had a guy (or two) that they'd target to allow the open 3's. And, the two most important facets: Always GET BACK in defense, and clog the lane/no layups. The players know what they need to do. Its simply a matter of commiting to it.
JVG took that Knicks team to the finals. He was an assistant to Pat Riley during the Knicks too. That Knicks team that took the Rockets to 7 games with that thug defense.
Yao Ming is a superstar. I can say it with confidence this year too. He's finally figuring out that whenever he's that close in the paint that he'll dominate... and that he's playing in an era where there's really no really decent big men (dwight howard and old shaq is about it). Right now. its obvious, Yao Ming = option #1
Oh and for any criticism thrown at that Sacremento team that lost to the Lakers. We ALL KNOW WHY, and it WASN'T SHAQ or KOBE <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/EhETqQXCXGI&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/EhETqQXCXGI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Luke Skywalker wouldn't have dropped that torpedo in the Death Star if Han Solo didn't help him. Horry=Han Solo
I'm standing up for Coach Rick the Ruler, I'm tired of him getting all the blame while his track record shows that he's taken teams far. remember that Sacremento sucked hard before Rick came to town. He brought in Bibby who was stuck with the Grizzlies (they sucked hard) and Webber (who's teams sucked, Washington and Golden State) and he made them winners. So criticize that. It ain't his fault that the legendary players of the Rockets championships were the clutchest role players in the universe. what happened when Mario Elie went to the Spurs? championship Sam Cassell has taken every crap franchise to a conference final, Wolves, Clippers, Bucks and Horry, that guy has 7 rings No team today could survive against those heroes cause God gave them Clutch abilities that are beyond human comprehension heroes.
When a team is in their dark days, there are 3 things fans will blame. 1. The star player of the team. 2. The coach 3. The organization. A classic example is the current knicks. Their problem was Marbury, Isiah and the organization as a whole. However, they're doing a good job of fixing it by getting rid of Isiah, Marbury (in the future) and fixing their organization. The rockets aren't that bad yet, but the fans are acting like it. Our star player has gone Marbury a few times this season, but if we want to win we still need him. As for RA, he is a fine coach, although I don't really trust him when it comes crunch time, he is still a fine coach. This is the most talented team he has ever coached, and when you have this much talent, a coach like RA who relies heavily on role-players will struggle. RA wants to get the best out of our star players, and at this stage our star players (besides Yao) has been underachieving. The fans should give it time, RA knows what he is doing. In time, IF our players come back healthy, I look to see this team going deep in the playoffs going against the Lakers with a pissed of RA dying for revenge
You can't excel on one end of the court without giving up something on the other end. Van Gundy over-emphasizes defense, which is why his teams always perform well on that end. You don't play defense well without practicing it, just like anything else. There are only so many hours of practice available, so other parts of your game are going to suffer as a result. It's much more than just "commitment". You act like Van Gundy is the only coach that requires effort from his players. Defense isn't the only thing that requires effort - it also takes effort to play offense the way this team is trying to play it this year. It's about playing guys that will improve your defense, like starting Cato at the 4. Completely conceding the offensive rebound makes it a lot easier to get back on defense. Having your center chase guards around the perimeter. Favoring defensive players (no way Von Wafer makes the team, or Aaron Brooks is drafted, w/o Adelman here) on your roster. Basically, it's much more than Van Gundy simply getting guys to play harder.
Maybe if he had healthy players and a consistent line-up, It would be more managable for him to cultivate success. We need an agressive power forward with size and a healthy t-mac(or someone else who can be aggressive consistently). Without all the weapons at his disposal, its going to be tough for him either way. I think he can get us there.
Those portland teams had good players Cliff Robinson Jerome Kersey Kevin Duckworth Terry Porter Drexler
Don't blame the coach for your player's shortcomings.... He tried to give Yao the high post shot. Yao felt uncomfortable shooting that. He shoots 80% from the FT line but can't consistently make that WIDE OPEN shot in the flow of the offense? Gimme a break. IF Yao makes that shot it adds to his offense and it open the lane for cutters. I'm sure adelman does not want him shooting that all the time, just to free up from the pressure and double teams on the block. Yao makes it very easy to double team him and front him when he is standing on the block EVERY TIME down the court. We all know Yao draws attn on the block, it is just hard to get him the ball when he does not gain post position quickly and his hands are suspect.... Adelman is what these guys needed. It is taking longer than anticipated but the offense is coming around with this group. Especially now with guys like AB, Barry, and Wafer who are good at moving their bodies. It was difficult with Head and James.
3+ I am hoping. He has the Rockets 10 games over .500, hasn't had a full roster for most of the games and the Rox have given a handful of games away already this season. With Wafer spreading the floor a bit more for Yao has been nice and I want to see more of that. Loving the offensive numbers, but the D is steadily declining. I know the saying that goes "as long as we score more than them, we're cool" is true, it won't mean anything come playoff time. The potential is there.
