Can this Mess be Fixed?

The "Basketball for Thought" is a commentary by Kris Gardner.

December 2, 2004

Before the Houston Rockets began the 2004 - 2005 NBA season, I believed the team would get off to a slow start. I wasn't convinced the team was a playoff team because I believed quite simply "the pieces just don't fit". Well, the first month of NBA season has come and gone; and, the Rockets have surpassed my expectations of a slow start with a less than stellar record of 6 wins and 10 losses. Can this mess be fixed?

During the preseason the Rockets players talked about the need to build chemistry; and, though they didn't cite this is an excuse, the number of new players (then 8, now 9 with Andre Barrett joining the team) would need some time to used to each other on the court. I';m quite sure the players did not believe a 6-10 start would be the result; and, I'm very certain the fans didn't see this mess coming. Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy has taken all of the blame for the team's horrible start; and, quite frankly, he should take the blame because he assembled this team. JVG pushed for the "Francis - McGrady, et al trade" because he did not believe the Rockets with Steve Francis would become a serious contender for the NBA championship. Jeff believed the Rockets first round trip to the playoffs last season was as far as that group of players could advance. As a result, out with Steve, Cuttino Mobley, and Kelvin Cato and in with Tracy McGrady, Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue, and Reece Gaines. In addition to acquiring those four guys, JVG pushed for obtaining Dikembe Mutombo. Mission accomplished. However, to be honest, Mutombo's solid play thus far this season has surprised me and exceeded my expectations of what Deke had left in the tank. Then, JVG pushed for the free agent signings of guards Bob Sura and Charlie Ward. Ward's knees have been bad for awhile; so, signing him was a risky move and Sura injured his back while working out shortly after he signed with the Rockets.

Sura's injury disrupted the Rockets plans of a Sura - McGrady starting backcourt; so, now Sura is healthy, perhaps that duo can begin erasing some of the Rockets' woes. Unfortunately, the problems in the frontcourt are the biggest areas of concern. Mo Taylor, Yao Ming, and Juwan Howard are three soft players. Neither is a physical presence on defense or when it comes to rebounding.

Van Gundy inserted Taylor into the starting lineup; and, that move has not worked. Howard should be starting; but, lately, JVG hasn't even given Juwan any minutes off the bench. Yao Ming is not an aggressive, physical guy. Yao simply does not have a mean streak because it's not in his make up.

Consequently, without a "banger" to do the dirty work, Yao's weaknesses are magnified on the team. Jeff Van Gundy has been very candid with the media about his team's shortcomings; but, more importantly, about his failures as a coach to motivate his players. He has not hid from his team's flaws or the horrid start. His candor makes for lively quotes to the media; however, his brutal honesty may not be what is best for this group of players which he assembled. Personally, I believe each time JVG criticizes Yao in public (to the media), Yao gets offended and retreats to his personal comfort zone. Coaches have to know how to motivate players and also realize different players require different types of motivation.

JVG is quoted saying after the December 1 practice, "Let's face it, everybody knows we quit last night. What we quit on, only that game, me, who knows. But hey, look, you can't fool anybody. No one in that building was fooled. We quit. I know one thing, you quit once, it's easier to quit again. Our group last night quit."

Quite frankly, I believe the team has quit on Jeff Van Gundy; however, I do not believe the players have quit on each other. If the players have quit on their teammates, then the season is lost. Sports is filled with examples of players uniting (and winning) in spite of the head coach and / or management; but, teams which simply act as individuals instead of a unit are losers time and time again.

The NBA season is only one month old; however, if the Rockets (players, coaches, and management) don't make changes soon, the countdown to baseball season in Houston will begin very early.