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Houston Rockets struggling in early going
The boos were raining down, and a group of fans started a "Fire Gundy" chant that got louder with each second.
Houston Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy gave a grim-faced nod to the fans calling for his ouster, then turned his attention back to his team's miserable performance.
It's been rough so far this season for a team that was supposed to be a top team thanks to an offseason trade for reigning NBA scoring champion Tracy McGrady. But McGrady and Yao Ming haven't clicked right away, and the Rockets are 6-10 — their worst start since 1999-00.
"It starts with me," Van Gundy said Tuesday night after the Rockets lost 93-72 to Detroit. "I'm going to get a group that looks like they really want to play. I just haven't provided that this year, and for that, I'm very apologetic to our fans."
Houston has lost four straight games overall, and five in a row at home. The Rockets have struggled to find rhythm on offense, made costly defensive breakdowns late in games, and have been consistently outhustled.
It's the league's oldest and most experienced team, yet one that too often looks feeble, slow and unathletic.
After the team's worst loss of the season Tuesday, many of the veterans in Houston's locker room wondered aloud if their problems went deeper than the obvious physical ones.
"We haven't found a direction," Yao said. "I just think we're very fragile."
McGrady came to Houston believing he and Yao could form an inside-outside combination that could replace Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant as the dominant duo in the NBA. Turns out, McGrady might be no closer to the crown with the Rockets than he was in Orlando.
"It's pretty tough for me, because I did go through a pretty bad situation last year," McGrady said. "To come here I thought it was going to be a start of a new beginning. Right now this is tough, because I really didn't expect for me to go through this."
Back in Orlando, former Rockets Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley have contributed to the Magic's surprising 8-5 start. Last season, Orlando didn't get its eighth victory until late December.
Francis is averaging 20.4 points, seven rebounds, 6.2 assists and 1.3 steals a game. McGrady is averaging 20.2 points, five rebounds, 5.4 assists and one steal.
"They made a trade and put me with Yao, and everyone thought we would do well," McGrady said. "At the same time, it's tough to come into a different system and have to change your game. Right now, it's just tough for me."
The Rockets have gotten little from the other three players who came in the trade: forward Juwan Howard hasn't left the bench in the past two games, Tyronn Lue is the backup point guard, and second-year guard Reece Gaines has been on the injured list since the start of the season.
Typical of most Van Gundy-coached teams, Houston is a top-notch defensive club — third-best in the NBA. But they're a mess everywhere else: 29th (out of 30 teams) in scoring, 29th in rebounding, 27th in steals and 23rd in blocks — even with the 7-foot-6 Yao guarding the basket.
"We're just out of sync," Van Gundy said. "We're not playing with any effort at all. Right now, we're lacking in life and spirit and we have to find a way to get that."
Things could get better soon, though.
Houston plays 11 of its next 13 games at home, including against losing teams New Orleans, Atlanta, Golden State and the expansion Charlotte Bobcats (twice). "For us, it's just 16 games. But that can turn to 30 real quick," veteran guard Jim Jackson said. "I don't think it's too early to demand a lot from ourselves."
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