Ultimately, the Rockets management only have three options for this team. At this point in the season, if you were Van Gundy, would you: A) Keep the team together until the end of the season. B) Trade a role player for another role player before the February trade deadline. If so, then who would you trade? C) Trade one of our all-stars for another all-star to really mix things up. If so, then who would you trade?
Go to Sam's and invest in a bulk supply of Pepto Bismol, consult a lawyer, and try to get out of my contract coaching the Rockets.
SAR looks pretty good! I would NOT trade Yao or Francis. I would try to build on my star players. I think Mobley is our most tradable asset (along with Cato in a package). I would look to try to trade for a quality NBA starting Forward, perhaps a SAR or Al Harrington. I think addressing our forward situation has to happen eventually. Should it happen before the trading deadline? I dont know. Perhaps this upcoming summer with the Luxary Tax most likely being written off and the Expansion Draft rules that favor moving players and our own Trade Exception it is wise to wait until then to make our moves. But ultimately our forward situation has to be addressed. And I think we need to explore moving Francis to the 2 guard spot and bring in a real PG with playmaking abilities.
JVG should lower his ego and learn to adapt, inspire, and re-invent himself as a coach. His old school thinking isn't working.
Maybe EG will come back and sign for alot less money but fill in some important minutes... *crosses fingers J
Continue what he is doing, while working to improve the weaknesses of all of them, including his own. He is doing an outstanding job working with the strenghts of this team, while trying to improve their weaknesses. When this team gets his system, they will be a much better team and much better players. Yao has much potential and much talent and Jeff is trying to get him to get more aggressive. Yao plays all year long and looks tired alot and this is to be expected. Jeff has done an outstanding job with Cato. He is playing out of his comfort zone and Jeff is trying to improve his shooting and his confidence level to shoot. If this works he will not only be the best back up center in the league, but a powerful power forward in the right match ups. Jeff is trying to get Mo to play more aggressive and improve his toughness. This has to come from inside Mo. We see flashes of this, but Jeff is trying to get him to be consistant. If he succeeds we have an all around power forward. Jeff has done a good job with Jackson at the 3. Jim is a little small for certain match ups @ the 3 and Jim works so hard at defense trying to set the tone for everyone else and he is refreshing. His past shows his shot will come around. Mobley is having his best year. He is playing better defense and is still learning Jeff's system, he will get it. Steve is one of the best all round gaurds in the league. His defense has improved and will continue under Jeff. When he becomes comfortable with this new system, he will blossom into one of the best all round point guards. Jeff uses his bench when they are needed to the best of their abilities. Eric would be coveted by many teams. If we need one thing, it would be a 6'9" or 6'10" tough minded, quick, defensive small forward for match ups with bigger small forwards to help JJ. If I were Jeff, I would continue what I am doing, then, mix in more positive re-inforcement. This team is growing together with Jeff and his staff. Give them time. All of them have very good positives and a few negatives that need improved. I personally like the talent on this team. They are improving, even though there are some ups and downs, the overall trend is upward. The weaknesses are really obvious against the premier teams in the west, but I have full confidence they will continue to improve.
If I was JVG I'd change the starting lineup to Francis Mobley Pike MoT Yao Last year JJ came off the bench for the Kings and did an excellent job providing instant energy on the offensive end. Something I think he could very well do for us on the bench. Cato could come in at the C position and do well since that's true his position. I'd use Padgett, and Boki more all depending on who is hot from the perimeter and is just filling their role with Pike. I'd move JJ to SG on the bench in place of Mobley, or have him fill the PG role when Francis needs a breather. We already have two starting combo guards, why not have a 3rd? I'd keep Moochie on the bench as long as friggin possible, and use Alton Ford more when MoT is stinking it up at the PF position. Worst case scenario is Ford can do no worse at the PF position then any of our current PFs playing significant minutes. So here's how my rotation would work. Francis/JJ Mobley/JJ Pike/Padgett/Boki MoT/Ford Yao/Cato I'd also listen to any trades being sent out that we could use to get a solid backup PG, and PF. Our small forward position won't exactly be great, but with 3 sharpshooters to switch around with, it'd be hard to have a night where all three SFs are clanging from the perimeter, so atleast they would still be effective in some aspect of the game. I'd go to Yao at every opportunity and in a half court set. Not even so much so he can shoot the ball, but just get touches at every opportunity instead of neglecting him so much consistently. If he's double teamed in the low post, run high pick n' rolls for him to get open looks, or be ready to make the pass to an open slasher driving in the lane. If he's outhustled his man down the court and has him sealed 5 feet under the basket, pass the ball down low to him. Just make sure he gets atleast one touch every game and move the ball around him. This doesn't mean he has to take over THE MAN role just yet, but atleast wet his feet a little when he's ready to fill that role. Anytime Yao sits, let Francis do his magic, and if he plays stingy or stupid, hope and pray the Rockets have a hot hand that night to exploit. Oh yeah if Yao is playing like a puss on a particular night letting the ball get slapped out of his hand where he flairs his arms around like a schoolgirl, or isn't holding his position well, I'd use the high pck n' roll more often instead, and rely on our athletic guards to slash in the lane for open looks and FT attempts. That pretty much covers what I'd do on the offensive end.
i would ditch the so called all star franchise for a true all star. Acutally just a point guard who can distribute the ball and give yao more touches.
Take the money and find myself a nice place in a foreign poor country and be a local king there. Or, I will ask my players to play my way.. or sit them on the bench. Yao.. steve.. cat.. whoever not playing hard or playing right, they will be on the bench.
yao getting more touches will not improve this team. Have you seen the game today against the pacers. This guy is the flop master like Malone, the only difference is that Yao doesnt fake when he flops. This guy is weak bigtime. Me and like 5 other friends were watching tonights game, and laughed so hard when yao got the ball stripped, played vollyball when trying yo get a rebound, getting knocked down by pgs, back-up and not moving anywhere... This guy is a joke.
Eh...wrong. First, get up and go to a game. I'm sure you can find some cheap tickets or splurge if you want. Then, when there, watch the game closely, and you will see how Yao is constantly grabbed, pulled, pushed, hacked, etc. Yao was doing a pretty good job with Jeff Foster's elbow in his neck most of the game, though.
I believe you are a joke too. Yao definitely will be better in any ball moving system, instead of standing there and pushed by other strong defender...
from what i saw tonight against indiana, i saw that yao was falling way too much, but i don't know if there is anything that can be done about that, playing the bench players to show the regular rotation that they are replacable would be a good idia, play ford, nachbar, padgett, and wilks, just to show guys like pike and mo that they need to step it up or they will be replaced, that would probably encourage them to come off the bench with more energy, and if not, just keep playing the deep bench, everytime i watch a game on league pass, if a team is struggling bad, they put in the deep bench, i don't know why jeff won't play them, if the rest of the players are tired, then bench them and put in fresh players, but what do i know, im not a coach.
