I don't understand, are you saying that Yao not getting any rebounds in the 2nd half is because of the adjustments JVG made at halftime? Can you elaborate?
I have watched every game since the all-star break and Yao has not softened up on defense. He is averaging over 2 blocks a game. He is staying out of foul trouble because he has learned to just put his arms and not bite on fakes. It also appears from what i have seen, the refs are giving Yao a little more respect or they have finally learned how to officiate Yao. Van Gundy has the best center in the league and when healthy one of the top three guards in T-Mac. He needs to worry about getting his other players to hit open WIDE OPEN jumpers, not b**** about Yao
Ahhh... insight from the 'SCREW TMAC' classic poster? JVG had to rely on Head, Bogans, Hayes and Brunson about 110 minutes...against the Mavs. I'll even let you use 100% hindsight...what 'adjustments' would you have reccomended?
What about the starting power forward next to Yao hauling down an incredible 3 rebounds in 30 minutes and going 3-11 from the field. How come JVG is not on Juwan's ass.
Actually, coaching is what happens during practice and games, not during the post game press conferance while talking to the media. If he has a problem with a player then he needs to handle it with that player. Maybe if talking with a player doesn't work you can start b****ing to the media but I doubt that's the case with Yao.
Avory made Adjustment. Triple teaming if he had too Dallas seems to say SCREW IT .. YAO ain' gonna beat us alone Rocket River
I have a funny feeling after reading this thread. I suspect it's not about if Yao deserved a criticizing after a superb performance..........but it's more like 'let's bash Van Gundy because we were losing the game'.
While I agree that Van Gundy should not be babying Yao, I kind of view what he’s doing as babying him. Van Gundy’s kind of acting like a mother that feels the need to constantly nag at her little boy in order to get him to do something. If he truly doesn’t want to treat Yao like a baby, he has to trust Yao a little bit, treat him like he’s a grown man, and trust that Yao already knows what things he has to improve upon. Since Yao is his own worse critic, I’m pretty sure that he already knows that his defense and rebounding kind of tailed off in the second half. He doesn’t need anyone to remind him of that. All I know is that Yao’s confidence level is at an all-time high and the last thing you want is for Yao to go back to being that low self-esteem Yao that gets down on himself every time he makes a mistake. Right now he’s just playing on instinct. He’s not even thinking while he’s on the court. That’s what we want. If you nag him over every little mistake, he’s going to start overthinking, and that’s when the mistakes will mount.
Because Juwan is the hardest worker and number one loverboy for Van Dummy. Seriously what more does JVG want from Yao. Yes he had only 1 rebound the second half but what do you expect JVG had him charging out on Dirk in the second half. How is Yao supposed toget a rebound from the top of the key. ANd don't tell me that wasn't JVG's idea. So when it didn't work and Yao was out positin to rebound or Dirk just blew past him Van Dummy gets pissed at Yao instead of acknowledging his defensive strategy on Dirk sucked. Well Van Dummy next time your defense doesn't work call a timeout and b**** slap yourself.
YAO really hasnt done anything on the D. He missed several key rebound yesterday in the last 6 mins of the game. And he was killed by DAL PnR
I'm as big a fan of Yao as anyone, but JVG has done nothing but praise him for the most part. So he had something negative to say about Yao, and it's not even that much as "ripping" into him, and the fans are calling for his head? He called out his defense and how he's not reacting as well as he should have. There were times that Yao did not make a total defensive effort, and JVG wants Yao to see and know that. IMHO, Yao should have seen Finley coming a mile back in the game against the Spurs. It didn't seem as much of a big deal cuz Yao was there late, but he had no idea where the ball was in the first place. JVG does not expect Yao to guard the 3 pointers or the guard, but he does expect Yao to play consistently, and in consistently, I meant both halves of a game. Someone mentioned earlier that JVG should put Yao's first half into perspective. Yao playing out of his mind in the first half does not give him a free pass to take it easy. I think JVG just wanted to point it out that Yao might not be consistent enough throughout the game. I hardly see that as "ripping" into a player. Honestly, the thread starter over-analyzed and exaggerated JVG's quotes, either because he saw it that way or because he wanted to get people to react. At any rate, 80% of the people jumped on over a quote that was misconstrued like nothing else. Moreso, every time that someone came on to post the exact quote, everyone ignored it like an angry mob. If the team does not respond or make shots, or if the team does not show enough intensity, you blame him for not coaching them right or take them out. He brings out some energy from certain players, ou call for his head. Yao getting into foul trouble, it's his fault. Yao playing great but not all out all the time, and JVG lets him know, he's not pampering Yao enough. In the NBA, coaches go after the stars to send a message. You rip players like Luther Head and he won't give u the light of day. He's choosing Yao because he knows that it would only make Yao better. Have any of you consider the concept that going into Yao's needed improvements is probably the one motivational factor that could happen for the rest of the team? The one guy who is doing anything right now, the one guy that the whole team looks up to, is getting criticism from the coach because the rest of the players didn't step up. If I was one of the other players, I would give everything I've got just to make things right with him. In any workplace where competitiveness and hard work pays off, you'll often see your authoritative figure put himself on the other side to have the team get together. If the team pulls together around Yao, JVG's job is done, and done well. I really believe that JVG's bone to pick with is not with Yao, but in doing so, the rest of the team gets the message. What's the point of ripping into Juwon Howard or Bogans or Head? What is that going to do? You want the team to play hard for their leaders, not just the coach. Yao was not consistent, but he gave it all. He would only be consistent if the rest of the team plays consistent so Yao would not be out of position all the time. I believe JVG knows what he's doing in that regard.
Great post. Unfortunately for you it's an absolute waste of time trying to reason with this "fire gumpy" mob we got here.
I don't think its a "great post." Fact is that yelling at Yao won't help the Rockets nearly as much as yelling at the other players. It wouldn't matter if Yao had 10 blocks and 5 steals because that's not what lost the game. JVG is barking up the wrong tree.
And you just proved my point. Just going over your post: 1. JVG did not "yell at" Yao. He was asked a question about Yao's performance, and commented that his defensive intensity hasn't been 100% in the past 3 games. Is it so difficult to comprehend that Yao isn't the perfect basketball god yet? Oh, and by the way, Yao actually agrees with JVG. The only ones whining are the YOFs here who have their panties all in a bunch over a piece of FUD spread by a horribly inaccurate post title. 2. "Yelling at the other players"? He was asked a question about Yao. And see #1 about "yelling". And I haven't even reached the end of your post. But like I said, it's a waste of time trying to actually reason here. You'll probably ignore what I've just said and call me a JVG apologist or something.
