Well, they're obviously trying to trade Mo. There was that blurb in the Orlando Sentinel that the Rockets are "desperately trying to move Cato and Taylor" (big surprise). Thing is, if they do, who comes in to replace Mo? Not that he's irreplaceable (is that an actual word?) but who would we get for him? If we need "more than a few tweaks" or whatever the quote was, that would involve trading Steve. Obviously we need to shore up both forward spots and I just...wonder....how, where, WHO? I'm still thinking Harrington and Croshere to give us interchangeable skills at the 3 and 4. I'm sure Steve and JVG get along OK, but that doesn't mean an amicable divorce isn't on the way.
Reading the Thread, and reading 'between the lines', it certainly 'sounds like' Stevie is still 'The Franchise' and Mo is his - T - ory.
Where's you get that? Van Gundy actually praised Cat. I think the disciplined practice comment is more along the line that he wants Cat to focus on improving certain weaknesses.
Someone on the ESPN Rox board said: " Did not listen to the interview, but it seems almost everyone need improvements, which is fine, except SF who got nothing but kind words. here're a few possible explanations, 1) jvg really thinks SF is perfect, no improvements needed. 2) just a coincidence, JVG forgot to suggest improvements for SF, after covering almost every other main guys on the team. 3) JVG knows SF already faces a lot of pressure, being a good coach, he did the right thing by defending SF for the sake of the team. I'll offer this advice again, if u want to convince others of how good u think SF is, this "jvg said so" stuffs is exactly the last thing u should do. It only shows how little u have. From the interview, u see JVG saying good stuffs abt SF whereas what it did show was JVG trying very hard to douse a fire. "
This comment: He said those Rocket teams had height at the 2 with Drexler and the 3 with Horry, making those passes easier, and that's something the Rockets lack right now. I didn't suggest he was going to be 'given' away, just traded away.
JVG sounded. . . . .RELAXED it was almost frightening. . . . . I was expecting him to be more abrasive and defensive like their last interview Rocket River
That was only during the WCF and Finals of 95, when Mario Elie's shot was dropping, and Rudy made the switch to get him in the starting lineup. Man... considering how reluctant Rudy was to change things up, that was one helluva move based on the opponents they were playing (relatively smaller and more mobile PF's in Rodman and Horace Grant). Also, Pete Chilcutt and Chucky Brown weren't much of a factor throughout that entire playoffs... and they were our only other options at PF. Hmm... maybe we don't need a real PF after all... (j/k)
No improvements or criticism for Steve? I like the "don't put more pressure on him" theory. However, it could be let's build up this trade value could be what is going on. Hey, how can we get height at the two and three? We need more than a tweak. Interpetting his remarks reminds me of how some study Alan Greenspan's comments. I still like Mo T, but he does have a lot of trade value. Hope we didn't play it too cute by not protecting him.
either jvg is trying to bring up steve trade value or he does really like him. Hopes its the first and we get tmac.
It looks like his first priority is to trade Mo Taylor, more than anything else. He didn't have anything good to say about him really.
I don't disagree that JVG may be playing up Steve, but it sounds to me that he would rather trade Cat and MoT for more complementary players to fit better with Steve and Yao.
I just hope that he wasnt saying anything! Because if he was realy for keeping Francis then fans must brace for another season, just like the last two . The only hope is that Yao might relise that he is getting the short end of the stick and that he might start to demand the ball be passed to him. If this happerns and JVG forces Francis to pass I expect all the big moves to come the following offseason, as Francis just wont like it! What do you think Yetti?
Translation: Stever is out of here. People always talk up their players just before they are jettisoned. DD
