These are from Van Gundy's post-game comments from the Sacramento game. But he his talking about what he has seen in this team this entire season. ROCKETS COACH JEFF VAN GUNDY On the offensive execution in the final two minutes: "We could do better." On getting outscored 32-15 in the third quarter: "We start a lot of third quarters slow. Our focus as a team is not, obviously, where it should be and we start slow over and over again." On the combinbation of players that orchestrated the fourth quarter comeback: "I thought that Scott (Padgett) made a couple of big shots. Scott always plays hard. You know what you’re going to get from him - hard playing, competitive guy." On his general philosophy when down in the closing seconds: "It depends on the situation. Time, score, situation. So, that situation, he’s (Steve Francis) at the rim. But, again, we missed free throws, and we don’t get stops when we need to. Similar to the Minnesota game." On his feelings about where the club is now: "My feelings haven’t changed. You guys go on a roller coaster between praise and condemnation depending on the result. I basically am looking for, and have been, a group of guys that can make strides toward playing championship-caliber basketball. Making the playoffs, obviously, is something we’d like to do, but I think it’s much larger than that. It’s trying to find a group that makes us have lasting improvement. "And certainly we have shown this year not nearly enough lasting improvement. So, as far as the playoff race is concerned, the schedule’s gotten tougher, we haven’t played particularly well or tough-minded and, as I’ve been saying, which I’m now sure you guys will agree, the playoffs are certainly up in the air. "Golden State just whipped us pretty good out there back-to-back, Denver just whipped us, Seattle is 3-0 against us, Utah and Dallas, obviously. But, again, I’d like to make it for Mr. (Les) Alexander, but more importantly, I’m looking as I have been since I took the job to make lasting improvement so that we can play championship-caliber basketball. And we’re a long way from that." On the team’s performance in recent games: "I don’t believe I’ve ever been a part of a worse performance in a critical game than the Denver game. We put next to nothing into the game, so in that respect, we got next to nothing out of it, obviously. And yet still down seven with 1:49 (to go), we have a baseline out of bounds we have to defend, to get a stop and maybe a possible score to cut it down and we flail around and take shortcuts and give up a layup with one second and that’s been emblematic of a lot of our season." On whether he is worried about the team's confidence down the stretch of the playoff race: "I don’t worry about anybody that has a great competitive spirit, got great pride in what they do and prepares themselves to play. That’s where you generate confidence. I don’t worry about anybody that’s like that." On the importance of making the playoffs: "I want to do it. I’m a competitive person. I want to win games desperately. Don’t confuse what I’m saying. I want to get in, but we have set our standards so low here. The culture is such that we just want to breathe a sigh of relief that we made the playoffs, like that is some magnificent accomplishment. My point to the team from day one is that that’s the lowest form of accomplishment in the NBA, just making it. "I want to have a disciplined, sound, hard-playing team that competes for a championship. The last couple of weeks, as we’ve been going through this, and I’ve been trying to beg it out of them, and again, you need to have high aspirations in this league because if you watch us, and this is no news to the team either, championship-caliber teams at home, off of a three-game losing streak, don’t give up 50 percent shooting. They don’t turn it over 20 times and they don’t do those things, so I’m just trying to broaden the picture that it’s bigger than a 'one year let’s try to make the playoffs.' It’s much bigger than that. That’s my point."
make it happen, but please hurry yep, what he said He's not a happy camper and I'm sure that despite certain players lack of intelligence on the court they are picking up on this off of it, kinda makes you wonder about how these players would perform given their coaches lack of confidence in them. Dear coach, Do we have any players like that? signed, not so sure I'm gonna agree, at this point who really cares about the playoffs, the only reason to get in is to just say we did and break the streak of not making them. The most important thing now is getting winners on this team, hopefully we have the talent here that will allow us to aquire some of these types of players. And let me reiiterrate, I want to get in but it's no longer the most important thing. ditto.
TO's, defencive collapses, decision making, have been problems all year. thats nothing new. they will all be addressed this summer.
Jeff has pointed out the problems but daoshi is right he was hired to help fix them. The players have to execute the plan and we aren't doing it but the coach has to motivate them and help get the job done.
Last season, the Rockets averaged roughly 2 more turnovers a game than their opponents. <a HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teamstats?team=hou&seasonYear=2003&season=2">Rockets Stats 2002 - 2003</a> This season, they average almost 3 more turnovers a game than their opponents. <a HREF="http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/teamstats?team=hou&seasonYear=2004&season=2">Rockets Stats 2003 - 2004</a> Not good at all.
This is what the media (TV, newspaper, ESPN, TNT), BBS, retired players, coaches (that don't have a coaching job) used to measure this team, so why do you, or JVG, or anyone else expect the players to feel any different, be it right or wrong? Mango, who gets the blame? Just the players?
The real question is whether you think this team has made significant strives forward over last season. Just barely making the playoffs this year does not necessarily mean the answer to that question is yes. I see a team making the same mistakes as last year with an improved Yao Ming (who still has a ways to go) that is going to make the playoffs because the bottom of the western conference did not turn out as tough as it was once looking. THe Rockets surely aren't playing like a team worthy of the playoffs the last month and sadly I don't think the absence of Kelvin Cato alone explains it. Yao Ming's consistency and conditioning remain a serious concern as does the team chemistry and the failure of the guards (namely Steve Francis) to make good decisions, hit their shots, and not turn the damn ball over more than 3 clips a game.
Where is all the talk about no excuses that was flying back and forth in preseason. It seems like years ago when this same team was talking positively and consructively, when in fact it was last October. And reading about Francis always talking to management during the off season about what he could to do to make the team better. it seems like lip service each time I think about it. For a team about to make the playoffs I should be happier for them and the city. But I'm NOT! This team has way too much potential to be playing this poorly. NO Excuse! That being said I really believe they can go to the second round. I know it's just blind faith but I just can't stop believing in the Rockets even when I feel that they don't believe in themselves or their teammates or their coach.
Moonbus, It depends on how a person views the coach - team - results relationship. If it is: <i> Coach -> players -> results on the court </i> then the players are to blame. If it is: <i> Coach + players -> results on the court </i> then everybody gets the blame. The only excuse that JVG can take comfort in is that the core players are mainly holdovers from the previous regime and might not have bought completely into the JVG way. The flip side to that excuse is that JVG spent time as an analyst last season and supposedly reviewed every Rockets game after being named the coach. Some might say that he should have been able to see the challenge ahead of him and do a better transition from the Rudy way to the JVG way. Last summer, the Rockets changed coaches in hopes of improving team performance and the fans haven't seen as much as hoped/expected. Flipping coaches every year or every other year doesn't lead to continuity (and they get expensive to buyout).......so a player(s) are more likely to be changed this summer.
From what I've seen, it hasn't been from a lack of trying. JVG has been consistently pointing this out from day one. If you want to point fingers, point them at the players and the organization. This organization in general, Carroll Dawson in particular, has done an absolutely pathetic job in finding and evaluating talent whether from free agency or from the draft. The EG fiasco nonwithstanding, Dawson has proven time and time again that he has no F'ing idea what he's doing. As long as he is the GM, you can expect this team to go nowhere because they do not have a good talent evaluator at the top. That's the primary reason Memphis leapfrogged the Rockets this year. They have Jerry West finding players while we have Carroll Dawson picking up NY Knick rejects. As for the players, the majority of the blame has to rest with them. Steve Fancy and Cuttino are simply too undisciplined for words. Mo Taylor plays soft and dumb when he's not hurt. JJ has worked out great but AG was a dumbass signing because he's always hurt. Any fool who followed the Mavericks would have known that but not CD. Boki is at the end of the bench and is virtually on a milk carton. Piatkowski has proven to be an ex-Clipper. The constant has been Yao playing with dumb and dumber (SF & CM) and this combo simply doesn't work well at all. JVG can only do so much as a coach. It's up to the players and organization to complete the puzzle and that's where the Rockets coninue to fall short.
I think he equally frustrated with his team when they continue to make bone headed plays time and time again. Van Gundy has brought a defensive mind set and that has help the Roxs but just think about how many more games we would have won if someone didn't make that one stupid pass or take that stupid shot. I think he has preached and preached but when it come down to it the players have to react. The only constant the player have given him is that they lack any.
You know, I'm starting to wonder if it's really just fatigue catching up to the team? It's sort of the same last year too, when we choked down the stretch and out of the playoffs. Both Rudy last year and JVG this year really rides the starters. I really wish Van Gundy had stretched our bench this year so we'd be fresh now.
I don't really know if JVG can solve the lack of focus and discipline...Yes the D is better, but at times, it seems he doesn't have control of the team, ala RudyT...
I agree whole heartedly that "this" is an important question. IMHO, we have made some improvements, but not significant enough. The beef I have is with the original quote: "The culture is such that we just want to breathe a sigh of relief that we made the playoffs, like that is some magnificent accomplishment" Granted that JVG pointed out they should strive for more, but it was the media, the BBS, and everyone else that used the "making the playoff" as the measuring stick. Now that we are "close" to making the playoff and the players still get bashed for it? How is this different than a company telling you that you need to exceed your sales quota from last year, which you did, and then turn around and say "how can you be happy, the company hasn't acquired any new contracts?" Mango, I go with the "everyone should get blame." JVG had ample time to evaluate Stevie and the rest of the team. This is the best he can get out of the bunch? What has he done really to help Steve's game (except harp on the importance of defense)? If Steve is going to be with the team next year (yeah, a BIG IF), JVG better get someone to help out Steve's game (if Steve is not doing it on his own). "Flipping coaches every year or every other year doesn't lead to continuity" I agree with this, but making changes to an important piece doesn't help either. Are we to expect/accept another year of "mashing" together with the new player(s), or should we expect nothing less than a fight in the 2nd round of playoff next year. If we expect the current group to do more than making the playoffs, why shouldn't we expect the new group to challenge in the 2nd round next year. Seriously, if Ray Allen is that much better than Stevie, I expect nothing less than a 2nd round playoff and win at least 2 games. Is this expectation too much? If yes, why?
