The Coach vs. the Braintrust An executive suite melodrama usually ensues when a general manager or a team president is brought in by a franchise and has to coexist with an entrenched coach. The coach has friends in high places and wants more input in personnel matters; in part for that reason, the new GM usually wants his own man in the coaching seat. Often, all parties wind up losing in the subsequent power struggle. Is Houston the next setting for this sort of drama? The situation seems ripe. In April, the Rockets announced the hiring of Daryl Morey, a statistical analyst with the Boston Celtics, to be their new assistant GM, and that he would succeed current GM Carroll Dawson after the 2006–07 season. The announcement was a minor shock as Morey, an MIT MBA, had no playing or coaching experience and the Rockets' front office was chock full of veteran employees who had seemed like front runners to replace the 64-year old Dawson. One of the most pertinent questions was whither Rocket coach Jeff Van Gundy. Van Gundy is fondly remembered by most Knicks fans and for good reason. He coached the team from 1996–2002, leading them to six straight winning seasons (their last winning seasons) and the 1999 Finals. Given the current decrepit state of the Knicks, if Van Gundy were to become available, the hue and cry for his return to the Garden would likely drown out the jets at all three local airports. Knicks fans shouldn't hold their collective breath just yet. In three seasons with the Rockets, Van Gundy has compiled an impressive 130–116 record despite significant blocks of time lost to injuries suffered by Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming and a blockbuster trade that remade the roster two summers ago. The two acquisitions made so far this off-season suggest a delicate balance is being struck between Van Gundy and his new boss. The draft-night deal that brought Shane Battier from Memphis is certain to be a coach-pleaser. Battier is the sort of player who doesn't compile good fantasy league numbers, but has an excellent plus/minus rating, is among the better players at taking charges, and shot 48.8% from the field last season, including 39.4% from behind the arc.The 6-foot-8-inch Battier is durable; he's missed 14 games in five seasons, and he doesn't need the ball to be an effective player. The forward seems like an excellent third option behind Yao and T-Mac. Battier's downside is that he turns 28 in six weeks, and probably won't get much better than he is now. And he cost the Rockets dearly. Not only did they give up first-round pick Rudy Gay, a player projected to go top five in most mock drafts, but they also gave up Stromile Swift. The 6-foot-9-inch Swift failed to live up to his billing as a future superstar, but his disappointing season in Houston notwithstanding, he has been a valuable front line reserve. The Rockets' second move this offseason — nabbing shooting guard Kirk Snyder from New Orleans for spare change — sounds like a Morey move. Snyder improved markedly in his second season, but at the tender age of 23 he's already a journeyman, having worn out his welcome in Utah and New Orleans/Oklahoma City. On the one hand, he seems like a player on the rise who hasn't received a fair chance to showcase his improving skills. On the other, he seems like a player whom Byron Scott and Jerry Sloan, two coaches of similar temperament and style to Van Gundy, didn't want around. This sort of seesawing is probably going to be the Rockets M.O. for the next few years.The primary roster construction challenge is simple: build a supporting cast around Ming and Mc-Grady. For the last two seasons, the Rockets have tried an array of moves that border on guessing (how else do you explain the trade of productive guard Mike James to Toronto straight up for head case Rafer Alston?). Morey will bring a set of statistical prerogatives that will guide the Rockets moves. In all likelihood, the key factor that determines the success of the Van Gundy-Morey relationship won't be philosophical; statheads and controlfreak coaches both value players who shoot a high percentage and take care of the basketball. Instead, it will be a simple matter of power. Some of Van Gundy's cronies, like George Postolos, are clearing out and making way for the new regime.How Van Gundy feels about Morey's people will determine if he stays or gets wanderlust. If it's the latter, we can probably guess the next chapter in the Knicks saga.
Champ06, good writing and an interesting thought to ponder. I for one don't think it will be a major issue. Both guys tend to look at results more than ability and potential. Plus Morey hasn't been around long enough to have "his own people". Also, JVG doesn't seem to be that much of a control-freak about his roster because that's not his job.
Thank for the compliment, but I did not write the article. I wish. If you want the link you can click on the title.
Honestly I would hate for the Rockets to see Van Gundy slip of to the Knicks. I think Van Gundy is here to stay, even passed his "last year to show results" that everyone who's a Van Gundy hater is salivating over. Let's see what he can do with a healthy, all-star tandem and some young and capable role players.
Actually, I would love to see Van Gundy go back to the Knicks. Let him go run the team where he traded away all of the draft picks and youth to win for a few seasons, the team got too old, he bailed and left a hell of a mess in NY. While Zeke is no Rocket Scientest, he did inhereit an old team with no potential and he can thank Van Dummy for that. IMO, we are the Knicks of the future and hopefully he is gone before there is nothing left to build on after Tracy and Yao are gone. If not, it will take a trade of one or both to replinish the team if he is allowed to continue to squander the future.
he had a hand in trading this guy <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yCso8qP_Mm4"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yCso8qP_Mm4" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Thanks you! How about we just move on. I must say though, he kinda reminds me of the "Human Highlight Film"
the headcase rafer alston? why do people say this all the time? b/c he hated playing for a junk team in toronto? b/c he's passionate? thats really annoying.
Has Rudy Gay ever shot a jumper? Judging from this video, his range extends from the basket out to about one foot.
I agree, Houston is well on their way to being the Knicks. Look how many assets the Rockets have outside of their two big stars. Hopefully Zeke's one year coincides with JVG's last year, so they can have him back. Then NY will have another 5 years of failure before they fire JVG or he quits.
JVG is only here to stay if we win next season, otherwise he's as good as gone. Everything is on the line this year.
Well if we become the Knicks at least that means we will make it to the Finals Seriously, didn't we just get a lot younger? How is this like the old Knicks?
hopefully if jvg doesnt work out this year we can steal phil jackson away, who's contract is up after this season and has expressed interest in coaching yao ming.
Are you being serious or are you trying to look dumb? Name for me the one instance of this happening during his years there, and why it was JVG who did it and not the GM (Layden et al). Thanks in advance. I'm not entirely satisfied with the teams offseason and JVG's perceived role in it either. But criticize the man based on actual evidence and not stupid things that you made up.
Since when is a .528 winning percentage (= 43 win season) "impressive?" Doubly so when combined with missing the playoffs and a couple of first round losses, including the worst game 7 loss in NBA playoff history?
Doubly so when combined with missing the playoffs and a couple of first round losses, including the worst game 7 loss in NBA playoff history? well lets see. He took over a team that missed the playoffs for what? 5 years. The rockets lost to shaq and the lakers when yao was a 2nd year man. Then the rockets lost to the mavs with 2 starters less than 100% (sura and wesley) and not even having its starting PF (howard was missing. ryan bowen started for christs sake). Oh yea, and then you are going to pick on JVG b/c he couldnt lead the lineup of head/wesley/bogans/hayes/deke to the playoffs? (ok thats a bit of an exaggeration, but not much. But a smart person will get the point). wow. i guess thinking is optional today
You guys just don't understand do you? Van Gundy is far from a control freak. In 2005 when we traded for Barry,Wesley, and James he let the team go and play to the strengths of the guys on the roster. Van Gundy may be a coach that demands discipline but he also understand the game on both sides of the ball and will allow the team to do its thing if he sees it is working. In 05 it was working in 06 he had a team 2nd and 3rd string guys so he rained them in and tried to work things out in order to get the very most out of a lets face it bad roster. Not even the forever optimist Rudy T could have won with that 06 injury riddled team. The Additions od Battier,Synder,V-Span,Novak and next week Lucas have made this team better on Offense,Defense, Backcourt quickness and movement and just a better overall IQ basketball team. Battier and Snyder are good shooters from the field and both are VERY VERY solid on the defensive end. In the case Novak watching his summer league games on nbatv he moves well without the ball/ shoots a great 3 point percentage and has the ability to create his own shot. Lucas has great quickness and foot speed both straight ahead and latterly so he'll be good at gaurding west gaurds like Terry,Nash,Parker and Mike James/ He also can get into the paint and penatrate a defense and then passout to open shooters well. V_Span we'll see how he does until he plays we really don't know much about him.
Mr. Van Gundy took a team that had won 45 games in the regular season with Yao Ming as a rookie, and won 45 games in the regular season with Yao ming as an improved, "used to the NBA" second year veteran.
