In the first two games I've compared both coaching styles. Adelman's offense runs smoother and he has a more diverse offense. JVG's defense was brilliant and he relied more on defensive stops rather than offense to win. JVG also shortened up his rotation, relying on Tmac and Yao to get the job done. But the biggest difference is the willingness of Adelman to develop his players and not bash them after every mistake. Adelman seems to have the trust of his team more than JVG did his whole time here. They seem to be more comfortable out there. For instance, Luther Head NEVER even considered dribbling the ball under JVG. But under Adelman he's actually beginning to utilize his quickness in the midrange game. That's the type of confidence Head's lacked in his first years here. The biggest test between coaches is the ability to bounce back after losses. The one thing JVG did good is we were always mentally focus for the next game.</p> </p> What are some of the differences you guys have noticed in the Rockets?</p>
Good thread. The biggest difference I've noticed is their demeanor during games and in interviews. Adelman is known as a "players coach", and it shows. He'll put his arm around players while coaching them on the sidelines. He'll give a player a pat on the back as he's returning to the bench. I kind of like that.</p> Adelman isn't as quick to call timeouts or yell at players for defensive mistakes (and there have been PLENTY in the first two games). He seems more like Phil Jackson in the sense that he'll let the team play through some mistakes and figure things out on their own. That's just a difference in coaching philosophy. Both styles have been proven to work (e.g. Phil Jackson on one end, Popovich on the other).</p> I like the offensive balance we have compared to last year. There's more scoring balance, which is due in part to the new offense and in part to the increase offensive talents of other players. I think the trio of James, Bonzi, and Scola are going to be great for us off the bench (and Scola has a great chance of getting into the starting lineup once he gets more acclimated).</p> I do think Adelman is still pretty much sticking to a 8-9 man rotation, like JVG did. Head and Mutombo are like "half players" right now, in that they'll only see sporadic playing time based on matchups. So, it's not that Adelman is going to give more players a chance to break in to the rotation, compared to JVG. But we certainly will be using our bench a lot more, for the simple fact that its vastly improved this year and they can actually produce. Snyder, Novak, Landry, Francis, and Brooks won't see any playing time unless its a blow out or there are injuries.</p> As for Head, he's a third year player. Players in their third year tend to take jumps in skill set. So, I don't think its just coaching which allowed him to diversify his game a bit.</p> </p>
I actually disagree with your Luther Head assessment. He kinda broke the JVG mode and was played quite a bit. He played backup point guard behind Rafer and JVG let him dribble the ball. JVG also wanted Luther to keep shooting 3's. If anything I think Luther would prefer playing under JVG simply because of the minutes he got. He's barely a presense now in thse past 2 games.</p>
Well, Rock and durvasa have pretty much covered all the points of note so far, but I'd also like to chime in on the Luther Head issue. I actually remember him dribbling the ball quite a bit last year, as a backup PG. I get Rock's point though in that he didn't use to take the ball and drive it in under JVG; he was strictly a spot-up shooter, but I just think that that was as much his own lack of confidence in his dribbling skills as the system itself. His handle has evidently improved this year in the preseason; I didn't even remember him putting it through his legs last year.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (foo82)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I actually disagree with your Luther Head assessment. He kinda broke the JVG mode and was played quite a bit. He played backup point guard behind Rafer and JVG let him dribble the ball. JVG also wanted Luther to keep shooting 3's. If anything I think Luther would prefer playing under JVG simply because of the minutes he got. He's barely a presense now in thse past 2 games.</p> </div></p> Well actually JVG was quoted as saying Luther needs to NOT be one-dimensional in settling for 3pointers. My point was thAT Luther almost NEVER utilized his quickness under JVG. He never had that much freedom being if he made a mistake he'd be yanked out the game. But I've notice more of a willingness to drive the ball more under Adelman. He's more of a creator off the dribble as opposed to the strictly spot up shooter he was his first years under JVG. If you would maybe watch some of the games you might pick up on that too</p>
I don't really trust Luther Head's ability to create off the dribble. How many times has he dribbled into a crowd with no where to go and turned the ball over already this year? At least 3 or 4 times, and he hasn't even played that much so far.</p> Luther might have improved his handle a bit, and I think he finishes with a little more confidence, but his decision making with the ball is still very poor. Overall, I haven't seen a big improvement.</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (durvasa)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> I don't really trust Luther Head's ability to create off the dribble. How many times has he dribbled into a crowd with no where to go and turned the ball over already this year? At least 3 or 4 times, and he hasn't even played that much so far.</p> Luther might have improved his handle a bit, and I think he finishes with a little more confidence, but his decision making with the ball is still very poor. Overall, I haven't seen a big improvement.</p> </div></p> Ur missing the point. Luther didnt even have the confidence to be effective or non-effective under JVG. Under Adelman he's atleast trying to attack the rim. That's a good step in the right direction</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rock4life)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Ur missing the point. Luther didnt even have the confidence to be effective or non-effective under JVG. Under Adelman he's atleast trying to attack the rim. That's a good step in the right direction</p> </div></p> </p> I see no indication that he's been trying to attack the rim more than he did under JVG. He actually attempted more 2-point shots, per minute, his first two seasons in the league than he has thus far this year. He just wasn't very good at finishing inside the 3-point arc before, but despite that JVG gave him ample opportunity to do so. If he's improved at all, then hopefully he'll show it in regular season games. We'll see.</p> </p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (durvasa)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rock4life)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Ur missing the point. Luther didnt even have the confidence to be effective or non-effective under JVG. Under Adelman he's atleast trying to attack the rim. That's a good step in the right direction</p> </div></p> </p> I see no indication that he's been trying to attack the rim more than he did under JVG. He actually attempted more 2-point shots, per minute, his first two seasons in the league than he has thus far this year. He just wasn't very good at finishing inside the 3-point arc before, but despite that JVG gave him ample opportunity to do so. If he's improved at all, then hopefully he'll show it in regular season games. We'll see.</p> </p> </p> </div></p> Well you obviously haven't been watching the games. Just the other game against Memphis the Rocket commentators pretty much summed it up. Luther Head has been more aggressive attacking the rim. They even made notice of the difference in JVG's system and Adelman's system. Point made</p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rock4life)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (durvasa)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rock4life)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Ur missing the point. Luther didnt even have the confidence to be effective or non-effective under JVG. Under Adelman he's atleast trying to attack the rim. That's a good step in the right direction</p> </div></p> </p> I see no indication that he's been trying to attack the rim more than he did under JVG. He actually attempted more 2-point shots, per minute, his first two seasons in the league than he has thus far this year. He just wasn't very good at finishing inside the 3-point arc before, but despite that JVG gave him ample opportunity to do so. If he's improved at all, then hopefully he'll show it in regular season games. We'll see.</p> </p> </p> </div></p> Well you obviously haven't been watching the games. Just the other game against Memphis the Rocket commentators pretty much summed it up. Luther Head has been more aggressive attacking the rim. They even made notice of the difference in JVG's system and Adelman's system. Point made</p> </div></p> </p> Doesn't necessarily mean he is playing better. His 3-point fg percentage is horrible now. I actually see him hesitate to shoot. There were a few times this season where there was a gap between him and the defender. He will make the shooting motion, and then hesitate. Then he passes it off. I've seen him pass up quite a bit of 3's this season.</p> </p>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rock4life)</div><div class='quotemain'></p> Well you obviously haven't been watching the games. Just the other game against Memphis the Rocket commentators pretty much summed it up. Luther Head has been more aggressive attacking the rim. They even made notice of the difference in JVG's system and Adelman's system. Point made</p> </div></p> Oh, all of a sudden their opinion is expert evidence? Ok, they also said that Chuck does so many things that go unnoticed, and that Scola is going to be very good for us. Point made. Give me a break, its their job to hype of Rockets players.</p> In limited playing time, Luther has had how many successful drives to the basket this season? Maybe 2 or 3, while getting no where the rest of the time? That doesn't mean squat. As I said, I remain unconvinced about Luther's abilities inside the arc thus far, but as a third year player I wouldn't be surprised if he's improved. He still needs to show consistency with it. I will say this: Luther was much better as a 3-point specialist last year than he has been as an "attack the basket" player this year. MUCH better.</p> </p> </p> </p>
