Yep. Pick-up games are fun. But you don't learn (the game) playing that way. That's why guys like Francis, Mobley, and Moochie don't like to practice. It's hard, kinda boring (repetitive) and seems endless. Euro players: Practice more American players: Play more That's why Yao is so fundamentally sound today...all those endless hours of "boring" practice. He didn't spend time on the play-ground, saying "We got next." P.S. Putting "organized" and "Rudy" in the same sentence made me cringe. Rudy was known for his "wild and woolly" coaching style. A rumpled style. Think, Rodney Dangerfield.
i like jvg's no nonsense style but i think this is being blown way out of proportion as usual by this board. do we know how many players or teams around the league are together right now practicing until training camp. i'm guessing zero to none. and for those questioning the work-ethic of steve and mobley there is absolutely no way you will find 2 players more dedicated to basketball then them. theyre well known as gym rats and have without fail come into camp every year in mid-season form. you can question they're decision-making and they're leadership if you need to but calling them lazy is absurd. where's piatowski? is he running drills with jvg? how about the veteran rice? these guys lazy like the rest just because they're now on the rockets? NO. you think shaq and kobe are in LA teaming up and working out with jackson right now? you think kidd and the boys in jersey are gonna running scrimmages tomorrow? NO. it'd be a wonderful surprise if our whole team met up early but it doesn't friggin happen.
Why has everyone failed to mention that all these players work out in their hometowns? Only people who should be back home and practicing already are Eddie Griffin and Bostjan Nachbar. Everyone else can work on their game wherever they want for all I care.
maybe that's why he doesn't know how to be aggressive yet, b/c he didn't have to spend time on a playground saying we got next and playing playground ball. not everything outside of america is greatness and everything inside america to the detriment of the game. and as has been mentioned: a) oooohhhhhh, jvg talks tough. whoop dee do. getting things done is more important. lets see how that works out first. b) uhh, are all other teams training at this point? if so, then we're dumb for not doing it also. if not, then we're normal. it's called the offseason for a reason. when camp starts, you come in (veterans i think even get a few extra days per the CBA), before that you're free to live your life. c) who says the players aren't working out just b/c they're not in houston? have steve or cuttino ever come in not in amazing condition and do they work out in houston? d) since i didn't see it, how did jvg say it anyway? did he say it kinda joking like "i can't tell you how it's going cuz no one's here yet" or real pissed like "i can't believe no one is here yet w/ all we've got to do." if it was the 2nd, is that the wisest thing to do before you've even coached a game. i know everyone loves when coaches talk tough, but players are people like you and me and having your boss talk bad about you in front of a lot of people doesn't really endear you to him.
Agreed, although I think his track record is pretty clear regarding this. He is tough. All the other teams don't have new coaches this year. While I'm not saying I want to see 5 on 5 full court scrimmages going on, I would like o see the leaders of this team here in Houston working face to face with their new coach. Again, I'm not talking about coming into camp in shape. The only people that I'm concerned about regarding this is Cato and Taylor.(but thats another topic) I am talking about our maxed out point gaurd who has never played in a structured offense in his life not taking this golden opportunity to learn. Rudy hasn't said an ill word about one of his players in forever, look where that got us with this group.
So . . . has Van Gundy *ASKED* them to come in???? do we know. . . better yet . . .DO WE CARE? Nope .. .we prefer to bash our players Van gundy is God. . . . with no Rings Rudy is a HACK with two that seems to be the opinion . . . The Man already Bashing out players in the media. . and Whiny If Francis said something similiar you same guys would jump down his throat Sickening Rocket River Be fair and consistant please
If this is the attitude of our players then I think we should start trading a few of them. If we trade steve for someone who actually had determination like jvg and yao, I wouldn't be dissapointed.
Yao hasn't shown up for practice either. His first duty is to his national team. The Rockets are second. At least Steve and the guys don't put another team ahead of the the Rox. Yao has a new coach and a new offense to learn, and he hasn't even tried to get back early. And he's supposed to be one of the leaders of the team? If he doesn't put the Rox first and he's a leader, why should anyone else?
Jump down his throat? You think anyone would be pissed if Francis made a little jab about teammates not working hard while he was? I don't think so. You guys are SERIOUSLY over reacting to a simple comment. The season can't start soon enough.
JVG's just giving his players a little goose. Time to start showing up if you want to make the playoffs. As far as this statement being overblown here on the board, maybe. But I like the fact that the coach wants to keep after the boys. In the offseason Steve mentioned something like "Utah won't be in the playoffs, that'll be our playoff spot." Wrong answer, recruit. Nothing's a given. Bring on the season.
It is time for Francis, Mobley, et al, to begin to show some commitment to winning. Instead of doing this, they continue to show their immaturity and lack of drive. Their skills are eroding over the summer as they play their 'and-1' style of ball back with their boys back home. Sorry, I'll take fundamental skills over another attempted triple-reverse-behind-the-back turnover. If coach wants you in practice, get your butt to practice. I don't want to hear Francis and Mobley's typical whining about all they want to do is win, when they make no commitment in the off season. Pathetic. The modern athlete is souring a great many people on the NBA.
Ok, who here actually saw the interview? I did, and Gundy sounded pissed. I was in shock for a few minutes afterwards. The tone of his voice was full of innuendo, and it didn't sound pretty.
Since it's not an obligation for players to come in & practice during the off-season, I think it's a good move by Van Gundy to sent out "invitations" to his players. He didn't address the issue to any particular player so no harm is done. By doing it this way he offered a challenge to his players, which I think is a positive thing... Hopefully Francis, Mobley & other guys will show up so Van Gundy could give them a head start.
i didn't see the interview, however, if van gundy's tone was what goophers says it was, i like it. sure, you do run the risk of alienating yourself from your players. and yes, you run the risk of pissing them off. but, really, what it that risk? that they won't want to play for you? please. this group of misfits haven't done sh*t in 4-5 years so if they have to go i could care less. also, everyone knows that yao ming cannot be here because he is contractually obligated to be in china right now. so it is very obvious to me that van gundy is NOT addressing this comment to yao. the other players have the option of being here, and although most nba players don't show up this early, it sounds like van gundy would like for his players to do exactly that. it's a matter of commitment. it's working harder than your competition so that you can be better than them. those that have posted that "no other teams are doing it" are basically advocating our growth being at the same level or *below* the other teams. but, the truth of the matter is that if we want to accelerate our growth, it will only come at the expense of hard work. what van gundy is doing is "setting the tone". it's letting his players know that when they do decide to get here, there will be no lollygagging. it's time to get down to business. a good parallel is with the coach of the us hockey team that beat russia. his goal was to unify his team, even if it came at the expense of them hating him. in the end, that olympic team not only accomplished the "miracle on ice", they also came to understand exactly what he was doing and appreciated it. if we (the rockets) have the talent to compete - and i think we do - someone (in this case jvg) needed to smack them around and let them know that prima donnas and/or "just enoughers" don't ascend to the throne. many posters here seem to believe that just because we will get more experienced, we will automatically get better and slowly climb to the top of the western conference. but things just don't work that way. it takes work, and more important, an attitude that you are willing to do whatever it takes to get there. in rudy's tenure with this group, i never once saw an inkling of that desire, of that commitment. jeff van gundy is demanding that commitment. if the players don't give it, expect them to be in other uniforms very quickly. like he said, he understands "winning players" versus "losing players". it appears he's challenging the rocket players to show him which one they are. go 'head jeff. do yo thang...
