Since this team is being built around Yao, whether you believe it or not, Yao is expected to take up a leadership role on the team. Could a possible hinderance in this development exist from the fact that we have several veteran players around him? Set aside the basketball skills on this subject, and look at attitudes instead. Could a more vocal JJ, J. Howard, or any of the other veterans be actually assuming the leadership role (in Yao's eyes), and could that in turn hinder Yao from taking charge in games? What would be the outcome, if say, the entire team, save a few veteran BENCH warmers, were all younger and/or less experienced than Yao? (other than the fact that we'd probably suck..... ) We are now the oldest team in the NBA. How does that relate in how Yao, or Tmac, taking up leadership?
How would Yao react if the majority of the team, in the near future, were brought in because of YAO, just like Tmac did? Surely Yao knows that he should be the man, or does he? I feel that he's starting to take more responsibility in leadership and performance.
I agree this is an interesting issue. While Yao/Tmac is the youngest combo of star players in the league, we also have the oldest team.
I don't think JVG trusts or gives anyone a chance to make a mistake....i don't think he is the greatest coach to teach younger players. You can see how frustrated he gets just watching us play sometimes. I think he is good at teachind discipline and all but i really think as far as giving young guys a chance, he doesn't do it. I mean instead of developing our talent and giving them a chance he brings in vetrans to replace them and play for a year or 2 then the young guy rots on the bench with no experience.
our team is so experienced that players like deke aren't measured by years but by other players' age. http://www.nba.com/news/survey_experience_2004.html
LOL!!! Player Team Years Kevin Willis Atlanta 19 Reggie Miller Indiana 17 Vlade Divac L.A. Lakers 15 Clifford Robinson Golden State 15 Elden Campbell Detroit 14 Derrick Coleman Detroit 14 Gary Payton Boston 14 Scott Williams Cleveland 14 Kenny Anderson Atlanta 13 Stacey Augmon Orlando 13 Dale Davis Golden State 13 Tony Massenburg San Antonio 13 Dikembe Mutombo Houston Steve Smith
I'm really not crazy about the roster moves made in Van Gundy's tenure, aside from getting T-Mac. He signs a bunch of former Knicks and not a single one of these guys has contributed to the team in a significant way. Charlie Ward was never a great point guard and is now on the sunset of his career. Charles Oakley also did nothing. Clarence Witherspoon hasn't done anything. Marc Jackson didn't do much either. None of these guys turned into significant role players. I can't see the answer in Lue, Bowen or Sura. Boki at least has some potention since he's young. Everyone else is just going to get worse. Howard still has a couple good years but unfortunately he plays the same position as Mo Taylor who is still decent. Right now, the Rockets got Yao and T-Mac, two superstars like Shaq and Kobe. Unfortunately, I don't see any of the other stepping into the roles like the Lakers had turning their three-peat run, guys like Rick Fox, Derek Fisher and Robert Horry. Decent players that know what their job is and execute it. Van Gundy has put this team together and right now I can't see them getting the job done. Even if Yao and T-Mac both improve, there's only so much they can do when no one else on the team can buy a bucket.
Agreed. JVG played the Knick's Vets until they were done with. And once those guys retired or left, JVG was left with Houston, Spree and a bunch of guys who never really played, and he had didn't know how to handle it and had a melt-down and quit. I just like the way he is handling Boki. He is basically our only young player and he has shown a lot of improvement this year. He has one bad game and he's in the dog house, this does nothing but shatters Boki's confidence, which I believe is the only thing holding him back.
We do have too many old players. If we plan to be a good team for years to come then we won't have any high draftpicks. We have one young developing player in Boki that Van dosen't want. Where do we expect to find a third player that has the chance of growing and getting better with the team? I feel we should be looking at Tyson Chandler for one of our power fowards. We need a young athletic player that brings something diffrent to the team, with alot of potential to get better. Whats up with this blind loyalty or obsession with his former knick players? They all have sucked and are one of the biggest weakness. If Van doesn't show improvement with this team sone his job come into question
