What more do you think Allen Iverson can accomplish with his team. Do you think he should have beaten Shaq and Kobe, do you think he's on the best team in the East?
I'm gonna try to give my opinions on several issues: 1. Rudy did ****. Even former Rudy fans have to admit, in the latter part of his career he did absolutely nothing to turn this team around. If Van Gundy was anything like him we won't make the playoffs this year either, so he's already off to a good start in my books. 2. I know Van Gundy run the risk of alienating players with his comments on the news, but think about this: if he doesn't say it, who will? Rudy certainly didn't and look where it got us. We all know oh let's just say certain elements on our team don't play as hard as they should and could and nobody ever has done **** about it. Also consider this, JVG ran the same system the same way in NY and supposedly his players should hate him. BUT , when the Knicks were going to fire JVG, remember it was HIS PLAYERS that stood up for him and saved his job until he quit. 3. The Rudy 2 rings JVG 0 rings comparision is false. If anything JVG had to work much harder to get his players where he was. 4. We all know Yao can't be here so might as well not talk about it. Besides, who needs more practice any ways on a new system? Steve/Cat/Moochie or Yao? Last year Yao was a rook and his integration with the team to me looked better than how our veteran players ran the team. We all agree that Yao needs more strength which he doesn't have to be at camp to do and is in fact doing right now. We all agree he needs stamina, well hell the Chinese are giving him blackouts with their stamina training. Anything else?
It's called SETTING THE TONE.....early. C'mon back inmates, I'm in charge now It is exactly what is needed - a new "corporate culture." D R
Freakin' awesome...JVG needs to crack the whip... I can't believe none of the Rox are in early making a push to get better... Francis should be the first one there and the last one to leave and get everyone in line...
What Verse said... Van Gundy is sending a message and setting the tone. He's starting to put his stamp on the team and I'm all for it. The players need to understand that things are different. There is more than just a new system to learn, there is a whole new dynamic of player-coach relationships to learn. I bet we see several in Houston within the next few days, followed by sound-bites that "it's time to get to work." It is time to get to work.
From what a couple, like goophers, have said Van Gundy has asked at least some of the guys to show up early. And he's ticked off that several haven't. He seems to give that impression. Maybe it's a motivational tool, an act to get them to show up early. The guy is just as much a workaholic as Rudy, by all accounts. I'm sure he can't wait to start pounding his system/philosophy into the players and to see how quickly they get it... how well they are going to execute it. There is still time to make a trade or pick up a free agent. If the guys are working out with JVG, he has a much better feel for them than watching tape. And some of them may be spending time at Westside with him. Anyone know? Yes, it's their time off, but you have a new coach, a new system and 4 straight years of post season frustration. You would think, if they have been asked (and at least now they publicly "have"), that they would start to show up.
People are definitley over reacting, it is just a small comment, but it is also strong statement. We are a talented team that is underachieving, we were way behind with our "rebuilding" status with Rudy. I'm not saying Steve and Cat should be there this early, but JVG has been here for a while and is ready to get this party started. And so am I.
At least now we honestly know one of the reasons the Rockets never had enough practice time to implement new schemes - they had to spend the first few weeks of training camp just getting in shape.
I don't know, every time I look at the boards during past summers, Stevie and Cuttino has always been working out somewhere during the offseason. Both of them always comes to camp in shape and ready to go. And from what I've read lately, Steve is working out this summer playing pick ups i think.
That is what most of the NBA greats are about. Unfotunately there is only one potential great on this team and he has other obligations. Franacis on the other hand is one of/or 2 things: 1) The king of lip-service. a) His BS conversation with Lucas before last season which resulted in him talking about how he wanted to become a leader and a better point gaurd resulted in nothing new or improved. b) Per Francis, his conversation with Oscar Robertson was supposed to change him as a player, yet produced no changes. 2) Not a top player. Quote stats all you want, but that means nothing. Look at his play and it says it all. Out of position, too small for his true position, no defense, no understanding of the game, no understanding of what to do to make those around him better... Most importanly, he is NOT a leader. Leaders would be working with the new staff to get a better understanding of what is expected of them. Lastly, JVG should not be the one to call out the player. If he is or wants to be a leader, SF should be the one leading by example and he should be the one stressing the importance of the team coming together, and be there to get as much done in the little time that remains before camp. I have said since his rookie year that SF and his game is not something you build a team around, and the day that is accepted and the Rockets either trade him or no longer make him the focal point, the team will begin to move toward the top again.
I don't know if Van Gundy's public rebukes will work. But I do know that Rudy's private rebukes failed. That's enough to justify the experiment, IMO. And if the experiment fails -- i.e., our current players fail to respond to private rebukes OR public rebukes -- then the next experiment isn't a new coach. It's new players.
Francis took less shots in the second half of last season, which how much time he played after speaking with Oscar, a half of a season. What do you expect in a half of a season?
Wow, the dude doesn't sound happy. What gives? Everyone on Wheel of Fortune and in "Pad of the Month" magazine? They're not bustin' it at Westside? Give them a break...Just cause they aren't working out in front of JVG doesn't mean they aren't working out at all. I am sure they train elsewhere. They don't stay looking fit by not doing anything all summer.
you are so missing the point. it's not about being in shape. it's about working with the new coach and new staff. it's about learning a completely new system on the court - defensively and offensively. it's about mastering what you will be asked to perform for (hopefully) over 82 games. is anyone here foolish enough to believe the rockets can pick these things up on their own in pickup games outside of houston w/no current staff present??? c'mon man.
I believe that the CBA actually forbids players to work with coaches during the offseason. They can work out and work with one another, but I don't think a coach can actually run any sort of camp for his players until a certain date. Remember when the Pacers all shaved their heads and were practicing during the summer for another playoff run. It was a big deal because they were doing it without their coaches (who weren't allowed to participate) and doing it during the offseason when they aren't expected to work. If someone can tell me definitively one way or the other, it'd be appreciated. Besides that, I don't want the Rockets working during the offseason. They are supposed to be off during the offseason. That's like my boss haranguing me because I didn't work 60 hours -- I'm only paid for 40. Anyone who 'goes beyond the call of duty' like this is no better than a scab.
Thank you. And I asked, "does anyone know?" if any of the guys are here working out. I'm serious, anyone know? Some of them may have their starting spots and/or playing time on the line. Or playing for the Rockets, period. I don't question Francis and Mobes showing up in shape. If anything, Cat does too much during the summer. (not this summer, thank god) With some of the others that isn't true, not by what we've seen in the past. But really, it's about what verse said. JV, we read many times over the years about several of the players having "informal" workouts with the staff. Am I wrong? Listen, I think they need their down time. I really do. But they are facing something completely new this year with Van Gundy. It's time to start learning and coming together, even in an "informal" way.
I saw an interview with JVG this week and there were players running sprints in the background. (They were at Westside, I assume) I assumed they were Rockets although I didn't see them close enough to identify them. Who were those guys?
I wouldn't loose any sleep over this. I doubt that he was pissed off. Anyway it makes for good conversation.
I don't know why everyone is so upset that the Rockets aren't learning their 'new system'. If people thought Rudy should have been able to install a new system without having Ming in training camp, JVG should be able to do it without conducting quasi summer workouts pre-training camp. No excuses, right? we were way behind with our "rebuilding" status with Rudy. This is laughable.
