We all know one thing about JVG, he knows his defense. We also know another thing, he does not know what offense is. I think that Les should step in and hire an assistant coach, not to replace gundy but to help him. Very similar but opposite of what was suggested with Dallas and Don Nelson. Get rid of trash like Ewing, and get some people that can actually make an impact coaching the team and not just crack jokes with Deke and baby Yao.
That's a big downside to Van Gundy...he wants it his way for sure. It's going to be hard to convince him that we need an offensive coach and hard to find a guy that isn't comfortable with him to come and coach with him.
There is no way that Les can "step in" and hire an offensive assistant for Van Gundy. He has given Van Gundy a lot of control. Van Gundy would walk in that scenario. Van Gundy's offense isn't the problem. The problem is that we do not have the type of players to play the kind of defense that Van Gundy wants to play. We've got slow perimeter players combined with a slow big man, a recipe for disaster. So, one of two adjustments needs to be made. Either Van Gundy change his scheme or his players. Which one do you think will happen? If Van Gundy gets the perimeter speed and quickness for his defense, our offense won't be sputtering because we will be forcing bad shots and turnovers and running on the other end. Our offense wasn't the problem last year when our defense finally got turned around by adding Wesley and subtracting JJ. I hate to say it but it sure looks like Wesley has faded significantly this year. We gotta make a trade to add perimeter speed. Otherwise, we are dead in the water.
What exactly does Charlie Ward contribute to the team as a coach? I'm still wondering about Ewing's impact. Maybe he should have put more consideration into his assistant coaches. Or maybe he did, in which case...wtf?!
Basically I think they just gave him the gig to get him off the roster to clear room. I don't know why else they would have done it.
OKAY! Let him go. Yes it is! Or, rather the lack thereof. JVG chose them. So, change the system. See above. We do seem to be dead in the water already.
There's only one thing right now that I'd like to see Jeff do offensively. Free Yao up like he did TMac to make decisions on the court where he wants to play and feels like that he has the best advantage and quit making him set all those screens at the 3 point line. Still, in spite of that, our offense rocked last year, when our perimeter defense was in high gear and DWes, Barry, and company were hitting those jumpers.
Sorry for the vitriolic outburst. You are right, the defense does drive the offense and our defense is not up to snuff. I have come to believe that JVG is too cerebral for this team. The offense and defense is too complex for these guys to master in anything like a reasonable amount of time. With the lack of athleticism rearing its ugly head, IMO Jeff needs to dumb down the defense and offense to get better results. I don't know if Yao is capable of carrying his own game. Stromile definitely has a 'get the ball, go to the basket' mentality. It is very frustrating to watch the guys struggle. We have dug our collective hole pretty deep this year. JVG just has not been able to cope with situation presented to him.
The players can be replaced. Especially since we have some expiring contracts that teams love. But JVG's offense has never been free flowing. Not even football coaches call every single play of the game. They sometimes let their QB's take over and call them. This is where he needs help. Stop calling plays every possession, but prepare the team so they know which plays would work in which scenarios. If you think too much about something, you will not do it right. So if the players call a play by themselves because it has become second nature to them, they will execute it perfectly. I dont think JVG will be able to do this, that is why I think he needs somewhat of an offensive coordinator for this team. JVG can call plays when needed, but he needs someone to teach the players to play in a free, motion offense. Not the stagnant bull*hit we are dealing w/ now.
it'll never happen but it'd be great to have Rudy back as the offensive coordinator, or maybe co-coach.
