I wont confirm Yao & T-Mac's superstar status until they get another coach. I still think they are superstars.
This is incredibly asinine logic. Historically, coaches don't make superstars.... if anything superstars make coaches. Magic made Pat, Jordan made Phil, Olajuwon made Rudy... hell, T-mac made Rivers. Shaq was tremendous wherever he was... nobody needed to "coach" him to become a superstar. Yao and T-mac have put up GREAT numbers the last 3 years... T-mac has been consistent and fully developed his overall game (no longer "me"-mac). Yao's numbers have improved every year as he's gotten bigger, stronger, and more durable (minus the freak injuries). However... Yao and T-mac are going to have the same defeciencies now as they had under JVG... T-mac's gimpy back, Yao's lack of speed/athleticism, T-mac's desire to take jump shots, Yao's lack of the "rip your heart out" killer instinct (which I don't think he'll develop in the high post). Talent-wise, and scheme-wise, they have all the tools to be superstars... they lack all of the mental aspects. They have some, but not all. From all accounts, everybody wants the new coach to be a offensive technician... not some control freak that instills confidence, and commands all the respect. We've got more of that in JVG than we'll get from any of the other available candidates. It still boils down to surrounding talent... you need to get enough to mask the defeciencies of Yao/T-mac. They are very very (very) good players... but it will never be as simple as just those two (plus ideal coach) = title.
How about the argument that Jackson took over the Lakers after their two superstars had already played 2-3 years together? JVG didn't have that luxury when he stepped in.
How can superstars be superstars if u dont play to their strengths? Both Yao & T-Mac are offensive WMD (weapon of mass destruction). JVG tries to make the Rockets into a defensive team is a mistake. Games are about point differential. The Rockets should build as a offensive powerhouse and be sufficient in defense.
Yea... Yao and T-mac had terrible numbers under JVG... never had monster games. If anything, he trusted them TOO much... had them taking more shots, getting more points when he should have had better surrounding players to take the heat off of them. A better offensive coach, with better offensive weapons, likely causes their overall numbers to go down (but perhaps their wins to go up). Either way, they still need help. Having JVG didn't hide their defeciencies... it merely amplified it. T-mac has had around 4 coaches... Yao has had 2... their weaknesses are still as present as before they ever played an NBA game.
Depending on your viewpoint, it can be argued that Kobe and Shaq bought into Phil's plan of working together. So he made them into superstars. Before they had CoY winner Del Harris and Kurt Rambis leading them to playoff misery against the Jazz. PJ was either the right coach at the right time or the coach to kick their butts into expected form.
You hit right on the money! He showed too much faith in Yao and TMac! That's why I found Yao's comments about JVG's coaching so despicable. Anyone can be critical of JVG but Yao!
What exactly did Yao say that's so bad? That the offense was one-dimensional? Believe me, JVG knows. That he thought Kirk Snyder might have helped? JVG evidentally thought so to and gave him a few minutes in the middle of the series... just didn't work out.
Yao b****ed about how the Sloan is so adaptive etc. and how JVG does not allow CD to teach him... All may be true. But you don't rat out the guy so loyal to you for last four years at this juncture!
Did JVG coach them to a 5 point lead with minutes to play in game 7 and the players choked it away? Did the players do all they could to build a 5 point lead with minutes to play in game 7, but JVG couldn't come up with a game plan for those last few minutes so they lost? Or maybe, they had some balls not bounce their way and the Jazz ended up getting a few long rebounds for second chance threes and Kirilenko threw the ball out of bounds and the refs gave it back to the Jazz (while Kerr was trying to come up with every possible scenario that would make that not a bad call).
The Rockets were playing 3.5 offensive players in their starters so they could be a better defensive team: Chuck Hayes = 0 offensive player Battier = 0.5 offensive player T-Mac and Yao has been carrying 50% of the Rockets offense. But the Rockets offense is simple - mainly 2 plays: 1. post up Yao - either shoot or pass out; 2. pass to T-Mac and let T-Mac does his stuff. If without Yao scoring in the paint, the Rockets are mainly a jump shooting team. This kind of offense dont work anymore. Teams get easy baskets in fast-break points, in drive and dish. Penetrations are premium on offense. JVG's offense sucks because of 1 dimensional - lack of fast break points, lack of player movement ---> lack of easy baskets. The only team which can play 3.5 offensive players in their lineup and can get away from it is the Spurs. But the Spurs' offense eff. is #4 and defense eff. is #2 while the Rockets' offense eff. is #14 and defense eff. is #3. U want to see the Rockets catch up with the Spurs, the Rockets simply need to improve in offense in order to become an elite team. A coach change is essential because it means a change of direction, a new makeup of roaster. JVG wants better defense by playing 3.5 offensive players in his lineup. Other coahes probably want more offense. If Rick Adelman coaches the Rockets next season, I guarantee the Rockets offense eff. is top 4.
To myself, I dont think its speculation. I tell it by watching many many games - no just the Rockets. That's why I said Warriors blow out Mavs in Game 6. Check the game thread. I guaranteed a blowout. And also Jazz in 5 for the Warriors. Also, the Spurs will win it all.
How can we miss him if he never leaves? What's the hold up? Let's move on. The Francis experiment = painful The Van Gundy experiment = painful Waiting for the next experiment = painful Being a Rocket's fan = priceless
ROFLMAO !!! He gave him a few minutes and it didn't work out...... THAT IS SOME FUNNY CRAP MAN !!! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH.... I mean come on....a few minutes....... Wow -JVG apologists are going to crazy lengths these days. He failed, he will be fired.... GOOD RIDDANCE ! DD
I think there may be more to the story than that. We are talking about Yao here... who is known to suck it up even when things go bad.
