I can see why you would say that, but I think the problem with the rockets so far is that they are still playing a Rudy T style game and arent adapting to the new sytem. You can see glimpses of it every couple of games, and I hope with time you will see it more consistently
Let me see if I can make it easier for you. With Rudy Ball in a half court set, there was an average of two to three players touching the ball. Only a very, very, very rare occassion, maybe 4 players would get a touch. With Gundy Ball, 4 players usually touch the ball. Often more. And the ball is often reversed back to the weakside. IMO, this will increase as the season goes forward and more plays are added. The commonality is when a JVG Rocket gets hot (it's been Mobley mostly thus far) or when the Rox try to take advantage of what they feel is a mismatch...they will also ISO. But it is usually not a 1 strong side - 4 weakside clearout late in the shot clock. They ISO early which leaves time on the shot clock to do other things. In several games this season, the Rockets (particularly Francis) will revert back to Rudy Ball. There was some vs MEM, NJN and late game vs TOR. Another difference is how they ISO Yao in the low block. Rudy Ball had the post entry passer move thru to the weakside and all four Rox stood motionless on the weakside behind the arc. Under JVG, Cato is usually weakside FT line and someone (usually the Rocket whose defender left to double Yao) will dive to the basket. IOW, there is some weakside player movement now that did not exist last season.
"There's never been a more wretched hive of scum and villany..." ...show up on this BBS, since JVG (and Yao) has been here. Gundy Ball Rocks!
This team has a certain quality to it, a chance to do something, even with the absolute bonehead things francis, mobley and ming occasionally pull. Hey, did I mention they're all young? So JVG has brought out his recipe book for playoff teams, and sticks guys like JJ and Pike (soon) and Adrian into the mix, which settles everybody down a little. Then he hypnotizes Cato. geez. Jeff is also halarious to watch for any student of coaches. It's also nice to see Patrick wearing the Rockets red. This is fun again.
Another trait of JVG ball is the fact that team assist are important to him. You'll see guys like JJ, Boki, Braggs getting assist in the post. Give-and-goes, cutters, and layoffs in the lane. Those rarely happened under Rudy. In stead of Francis trying to score, and the passing off because he got cut-off in the lane (Passing because of necessity; most of the time resulting in a turnover). He'll have Francis reset the play, and swing the ball around the weak-side, in which that player has a choice to drive and dish or just take the open shot. The system (team) got the assist, not necessarily a players "ability." This takes the ball out of Francis hands (It takes willpower to not go ISO, but rather depend on the system). He's not a decision maker. He's a scorer with *some* passing ablity. So, the burden has moved toward the team, rather than the player in terms of getting the easy assist. It's clear that JVG is using Francis strengths,(a team oriented SG) not his weaknesses (a PG that creates for his teammates).
I have to agree with Moon. Clearly so far so good. He, in my opinion is ahead of schedule and that is saying alot since I am one of those who have very aggressive expectations for the team. The offensive woes are correctable. We were last for a long time in fga. I do not see the need for that if JJ, Mobes and Wink are on your team. Given the defense we play we should fast break more and get into our early offense which would get us to the line more often if anything. So we can literally from the next game start getting more opportunities to score. We can literally blowout teams as the norm anytime now and extend that league leading point differential of 8pts back to 12pts. Why not? The defense is there, the 3 pt shooting is there and getting better, the FT% is climbing, and we have size and skills in the post. All that with reducing TO's bodes well for this team before this calender year is out.
Have you ever seen us run the break? I've seen highschool teams run the break better than us and I'm not exaggerating. We have the athleticism, speed, outlet passer (Yao), and finishers to run but with our guards that's just impossible for them to lead a break. I think you can really practice this and it will get better with time once JVG gets full control of everything.
The team is exactly what we expected when hired JVG, a typical KNICKS team with tough D, but the O will be ugly. The end result is more wins, which is what most people wanted. We just prayer & hope that with more talent in this Rockets team, JVG will be able to put a good offensive scheme in place, so the Rockets can truely be a joy to watch and WIN at the same time. But the odds are against us since the guy didn't show any offensive coaching ability with the Knicks, all his assistants were with him in NY. --daoshi
JVG has to know his limitations. He should have hired a good offensive scheme assistant coach instaed of his flock of JVG yes men clones...
So far I have been very happy with JVG's impact on the team. As GATER pointed out, there has been a lot of ball and player movement as opposed to the stagnant Rudy offenses. Before the shooting difficulties of the last two games, the Rockets were near the top of the league in FG% in addition to their league best defense. Sometimes on the road the shots simply do not fall; this was the case in the Toronto-Philly back to back. It made the offense look ugly, but the Rockets were still able to gut out a split. I think once Mo Taylor and Eric Piatkowski return, the team will have more offensive weapons and the offense should return back to the early season form of being at or near the top of the league in FG%. Add that along with a league best defense and this team should be winning a lot of games this season. If the team can be 11-5 at the end of this month and 21-10 at the end of December, they will be well on their way to a 50-55 win season and a possible 5th playoff seed.
The frontcourt offense will continue to improve and be a focus, and that's the main advantage this offense has over recent teams we've been putting out on the floor. You've got to understand that pretty much everyone but Francis and Mobley are rusty, they have really gotten a touch since college. (or the Asian championships, as it were) But seriously, our post presense is much, much better. Between Yao, Mo, and JJ, not to mention Cato, we should be able to stretch defenses a little more. We still need a better balance, but it's coming along.
I have see all that you mentioned, but i've seen that at times with Rudy T ball. I'm not disagreeing with you by any means just some times i see the same old stale unimaginitive offense at times. Which is to be expected this early in the season
Who are the assistants....Tom Thibedaou and Steve Clifford?These guys seem to be doing a fine job as well... lets not forget that.
