<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There is one underachieving NBA team with two superstar talents and an overbearing coach. That is the true Phil Jackson formula for a return to coaching--and nowhere fits better than Houston. (Granted, if I'm Jackson, I'm not sure I would want to exchange my potential $10 million salary and beachfront home for southeast Texas.) But the Rockets' embarrassing collapse in Game 7 against Dallas on Saturday, their second straight first-round playoff elimination under Jeff Van Gundy, provides the best option for a great coach like Jackson to make a difference and quickly develop a champion. Van Gundy has two years left on his contract at $5 million per season, so no one expects the Rockets to make a change. But perhaps NBA Commissioner David Stern will help them. Van Gundy still has to explain to Stern just who told him the league was conspiring against Yao Ming and why Van Gundy suggested games were manipulated. (Let me get this straight: Stern wants to help Mavericks owner and league basher Mark Cuban, whom Van Gundy said alerted the NBA to the moving screen tactic? The commissioner wants to hurt Yao, arguably the world's most popular player, when the NBA is trying to extend its popularity into Asia? That's the NBA plan?) In Van Gundy's defense, I don't believe that's what happened. He has seen coaches like his mentor, Pat Riley, and Jackson try to manipulate the message in the media during the playoffs. That's all Van Gundy was trying to do when he said referees were told to watch Yao's moving screen. Van Gundy just wasn't as savvy or subtle as Jackson, Riley and some others. This is the same guy who mocked Jackson's Native American work, calling him Big Chief Triangle. Jackson long has worked with Native American schools and camps to help poor kids and communities. Van Gundy crudely labeled Michael Jordan a "con man" for the way he tried to help other players. It's all cynical and self-centered.</div> Source It's an interesting article and an outside perspective on the JVG-Yao relationship. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A great coach considers a player's limitations and puts him in position to succeed. Van Gundy has ignored that, and then wants to blame the referees.</div> This statement caught my eye. Is Van Gundy asking too, much of Yao?
Some guy in chicago is telling us van gundy is bad for the rockets? I dont know what he is talking about and he doesnt either but he seems like some real hater to me.
This article is complete BS.......never did Jeff blame the rocket's losses on the refs...he just stated that the refs don't know how to officiate Yao and he didn't just start saying it in the Mavs series, he's been complaining about the way Yao is officiated poorly.......I noticed this writer is from Chi Town, I guess that explains his comments on Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan. EDIT: It's funny how he pumps Avery Johnson when he complained about the officiating crew in game 1 or how he didn't mention Mark Cuban's constant bickering, this dude must not be gettin any to be saying some the stupid things that are in that ridiculous article.....every coach in the NBA has complained about officiating at one time or another....even the great Phil Jackson to whom this guy sucks up to, has complained about officiating plenty of times.
Van Gundy is as good as a coach as anyone would be for the Rockets. Van Gundy is the hard-nosed, no crap taking guy that the Rockets need. A guy who doesn't give a damn about what you say about him, and a guy that expects the highest from his players. Rudy, as good a coach as he was for us, lacked that when his health starting dropping. Van Gundy is a kick in the butt that will, hopefully, send this team in the right direction. Is Van Gundyt the right coach for the Rockets? No. But of the 29 other coaches in the league, I would put him in the top 3.
This guy is saying that the refs did a decent job. It's evident through the series itself that officials did a crap job. Then he goes on to state about Avery Johnson not complaining, while Avery went crazy during a press conference. That it was his team that started the officiated controversy.
He has some valid points, but I still think that JVG is a good coach for this team and the team (and the owner) believes in him and for the most part they have played well. Give it another season before blaming JVG for the team's problems.
I agree with the article actually. I think Jackson would be a much better coach for houston. Van Gundy wants Houston to be a defensive team, but they don't have two players on that team who are capable of playing the Pistons type defense he wants. Jackson is much better with Talent. Van Gundy's offense is quiet stagnant, there is very little passing. Basically TMAC or James run pick and roll and that's all the team does. I also agree that JVG does not use Yao well. On offense, Yao should touch the ball more, get his own shots, and involve other players of screens and such. On defense, Yao should defend the paint and alter shots, not come out and try to trap tiny guards who blow right past him. I think with Jackson coaching next year, Rockets could win the title.
The triangle offense takes an extremely long time to adjust to. You saw it with Kobe and Shaq, MJ and Scottie. Phil's zen teachings wouldnt be all that new to Yao though.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I also agree that JVG does not use Yao well. On offense, Yao should touch the ball more, get his own shots, and involve other players of screens and such. On defense, Yao should defend the paint and alter shots, not come out and try to trap tiny guards who blow right past him.</div> I actually think Van Gundy has stressed to his players to give Yao the ball more- but its just that guys like Sura and James don't really like deferring to Yao. It isn't really the coaches problem. If Yao defends the paint, I think he'll be picking up a lot more fouls from the guys banging down low on him and small guards driving into him.
I agree that the article is BS...Van Gundy has made Yao better and has focused his offense around him somewhat and has involved him more...Yao is doing more screen-setting and rebounding during JVG's tenure, and also has improve his defensive positioning and passing out of double teams...JVG puts a lot of pressure and responsibility on Yao, and that has made Yao more aggressive and a better player...
Van gundy is a great coach for the Rockets, but there are things I agree with in the article. He is not offensively utilising Yao in the best way possible. If Yao plays the high-post game (and I know we'vem entioned this before) he would be awesome. He has a good mid-range hsot and I think, if he is coached right, could become the best shooting big man in history. Would you sconsider Bird a big man? Dunno.
I don't think the Rocket's system (both on offense and defense) is ideal for Yao's talents, but you can't say the Rockets have underachieved. Look at their team. Other than Tracy and Yao, there isn't a whole lot of talent there. JVG has taken the Rockets farther in his first two years than they've been since the years of Hakeem. Looks like progress to me. I do think that Yao has some passing skills that haven't been utilized at all with JVG. That's one part in his game I'd like to see expand next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">If JVG is such a good coach how come he got out coached by a rookie coach like Avery Johnson?</div> Avery has been the coach of the Mavericks since he was a player. He was the player/coach when he was still out on the floor. He knows the system better than anyone, and his teammates respect him. Avery is by no means a rookie coach.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Einitials:</div><div class="quote_post">If JVG is such a good coach how come he got out coached by a rookie coach like Avery Johnson?</div> Avery didnt outcoach no one...he did outwhine Van Gundy tho..he actually had questionable coaching situations through the series, such as substitution patterns and such...he's lucky that the refs were kind enough to go ahead and hand the Mavs game 5...
