It really seems like TMac/Yao are completely fed up with JVG. To hear TMac say "It's got to change"the day after JVG said "I don't waiver in what I believe wins," and "Every losing teams should just change styles. I don't think it is that." It seems that TMac is basically going against JVG's "my way" attitude. But I think Yao's comment really sticks out. "Wasting our time" sounds a lot like TMac's comments last year. These guys are going out knowing that they are most likely going to lose, and lose in an ugly fashion as well. "82 games will go by real quick," "We've already played 16 games," "We're just wasting our time right now." Hearing this the day after JVG said, "I would say it is really important now that they put total trust in me, and I'll help them solve the problem. I'll lead them out of it." To me, its sounds like Yao is basically saying "enough is enough." JVG is saying to put total trust in him, and Yao is saying "Don't waste our time." Maybe I'm paranoid. But maybe it's because the media isn't glamourizing it, but it seems like JVG and Yao/TMac are clashing heads, much like Francis and JVG did. If Francis said these things last season, it would have made headlines in the Francis vs. JVG battle. But just because we aren't hearing it on SC, it doesn't mean there isn't a little power struggle going on
I don't know what "it" that TMac refers to is. Is "it" the losing ways? Is "it" the way they play their game? Is "it" JVG's offense/defense/game plan? I don't know. But it makes for great reading material if you say that he's referring to JVG, doesn't it?
Ditto on the Yao comment, btw. But ok, let's get rid of this coach, too. Maybe we can find a coach that can shove some consistency up Yao's ass while we're at it?
It sounds like you took quotes talking about different things out of context in order to create disagreement. They may be in disagreement but I don't think these quotes are strong evidence of that. tmac was talking about the losing. That has to change. JVG was talking about his belief that the stuff he's coaching is correct and shouldn't change.
Like I said, if Francis would have said these things, people would have taken it as a direct attack on JVG. We don't want to believe that Yao/TMac and JVG are clashing heads, but like Doc Rocket posted in the "mutiny thread'-some players are getting really pissed at something, and I don't think it was just at losing. But like I said, I'm probably just paranoid.
Maybe just maybe Yao is smart enough to know basketball and how he can most be successful. Therefore he sees that JVG is asking him to do things that he may not be physically ABLE to do. And he knows this and is frustrated by the coach's inability to recognize the obvious. DD
It's not a question of "what we want to believe". I fully believe there could be clashing of personalities and ideologies behind the scenes. But I just can't take some non-specific line and say "I see conflict here!" If you want to call it that, then cool - I just can't say I see the same thing from reading those lines.
Actually I was responding to gucci888. As for Yao stating things, I have no idea. I'm not there, I don't know Yao, I don't know how Yao and JVG get along, so I can't make some leap of faith and trust some instinct that "hey, Yao is chewing out JVG". From everything I've seen of Yao, that would be contradictory to the type of person he is, but like I said, I don't know him well enough to judge/interpret his quote.
Agreed about Yao and his quote, but it is clear to me that he is not playing as hard as he has in the past, and it is reasonable to extropolate that JVG and his style of coaching is a big reason for this. Did you read the article where Yao had talked about Rudy and how Rudy used to exentuate the positive things that players did? DD
The Houston Sports Media has been pathetic in this whole affair. All they wanted to talk about was how we were getting rid of all of our problems and how the Rockets were setting themselves up for championships. Anybody question McGrady's attitude, they simply said idiotic comments like they knew the Rockets wouldn't make these moves unless they were sure JVG and TMac would get along. Question whether they are giving up too much, they say its a one in a life time chance, no brainer. Talk about the bad reviews from Orlando, they say Weisbrod is a jerk.
Exactly. Yao just isn't giving the same push as he was last season or even his rookie year. Not blaming it totally on JVG, certainly Yao needs to take most of the blame, but playing under JVG must be hard, and on top of that, it probably flat out sucks. Yao seems like a smart basketball player. He may not be giving the same push because he knows half the things he does on the court are useless, mainly offensively. Setting picks 20ft out, the post up diversions. Yao is bascially the only one going for offensive boards, everyone is back peddling to get back on D. We don't believe that Yao is the type of guy to come out and bash someone publicly. But like Dr. Dunk said, we don't know Yao, we don't know if he is capable of doing it or what.
A play lastnight really caught my eye, not because it was a TO, but because it showed that Yao is just going through the motions. Yao got great position on the right block, Lue was about to do the post-entry pass, but since it was early in the play, Yao rolled out and was about to trek through the paint to the other side. Well just as he did, Lue passed the ball out of bounds. Not saying this is Lue's or Yao's fault. But it showed me that Yao is just running plays out there. He had great position and was sort of calling for the ball, instead sticking with it, he decided to what JVG would want him to do and set up shop again.
hes suppose to sit there all day with elbows digging into his kidneys waiting for a pass that might not come? if he had good position but didnt receive the ball, his teammate failed to get him the ball, so he goes to the other side of the lane to post up and hopefully get a better angle for an entry pass.
Lue was waiting for Yao to get full position, when he did, he passed the ball. My point is that Yao wasn't even looking for the ball. He might be so use to setting those diverted posts, that he doesn't look for the ball when he finally does get position.
It's just amazing to see how much Yao has changed from the first year he was in the league. In his rookie year he was making great passes to the cutters and making the highlight reels each game.... Now 2 years later under Grumpy he has become a 7' 6" pick setting machine and boring player to watch.... It's like JVG took all the creative ablilty he had with his great passing game and made him this way. If you don't believe me just look at all the videos of yao from year 1 and early year 2.... And now look at him.
