There was this guy that worked at Apple in the 80s as their CEO. He didn't do too well and was fired. He kept in contact with the company and fiddled around in the same field learning new things. A few decades later he came back to Apple as their CEO again and did a pretty good job.
Having been a coach on the Spurs staff certainly isn't a negative. However it doesn't really mean a whole lot either, if the actual coach is severely flawed. You see that with several of the former coaches that spent time with the Spurs. Messina has high upside as a head coaching candidate. He is very bright and has led teams before. I would take Thibs over Messina every day of the week, but not the other lackluster set of candidates. Jeff Van Gundy is a very interesting candidate. I agree that he was stubborn with the Rockets and Knicks and wasn't great with rookies. However, I think people need to remember that he was a very young coach with the Knicks and Rockets. Jeff was 34 years old when he was named head coach of the Knicks and coached a decade straight. He was only 44 years old when he left the Rockets. People change a lot. There is no guarantee that Jeff isn't as stubborn; but the statements he has made the past 5-6 years have been those of someone far more open minded, and he has admitted his mistakes. Jeff at 35 wouldn't ever admit he would do it a different way.
I used to think that Messina would be amazing. But then a poster here, who worked as a GM for a russian team, brought some details about his time in CSKA. Apparently it's hugely known that he has trouble controlling egos together and asserting control, even when it comes to Europe.
I would be beyond happy if we ever gotten one like Bud as our coach. What he has achieved? In the only 3 years he has been their head coach, turning their team from a perennial treadmilling 8 east seed, with such a roster to make the ECF. To make a great system and develop now two players from nobodies to around max contract wings. To establish an identity of team play, great defence, and hard work. Even Hardaway who was useless under Bud seems to turn himself into a potential good young wing. And that's nothing short of a miracle. If it's only to judge by results, regardless of circumstances, then go hire Byron Scott who has made the finals twice.
I think JVG is a very smart guy who knows how to deal with people (egos) and gets guys to play together. He also understands the game and how it is changing. I think he will fix a lot of the fundamentals that our team has been shown lacking in on both sides of the court, and I think he understands how to exploit the current way the game is played. He would be a good choice.
so mchale has turned the rockets into a wcf team and developed harden into a players' mvp? he's mentioned as a coy candidate too, right? lol. i am not denying bud is a good coach. but that's not the point. the point is,,, many automatically think a coach will be great if s/he is from the spurs. and that's just baseless.
right now, our situation is basically,,, we can score but we cannot defend. i dont see a better situation that calls for jvg to come back and be the hc for the rockets.
developing rejects from other teams like Bazemore and Caroll into max level wings (in the current market) than taking Harden a young player who already was max level and basically doing what? just let things roll and he will develop on his own, is two far different things. Bud is not automatically assumed he will be great because he's from the Spurs. He has already proved with his own work that he's an elite coach.
Do you not remember how many lay up and 3s Rafer brick? Do you not remember Chuck Hayes was our Starting PF?
I think JVG would be the best option. He's been a head coach in the NBA since the mid-90's. So he's well seasoned in dealing with NBA players and has the right personality for it. He is a funny guy but also has a serious side that demands discipline. He is respected as a coach and liked as an announcer. I think the players respect his basketball knowledge. And as for his actual results on the court... He's been a head coach for 11 seasons and he's only had 1 losing season in that time. He's only missed the playoffs ONCE in those 11 years. He's been to the NBA Finals. He has a career winning percentage as head coach of .575. Other coaches with very similar winning percentages are Rick Carlisle, Doc Rivers, Rick Adelman, Frank Vogel, etc. He's a proven winner in this league as a head coach, and he may have improved in his time off. He may have evolved, especially on the offensive end. The Rockets need structure and discipline, and I think Jeff Van Gundy is the best guy available to provide that.
Btw Bud is at the end of his contract with the Hawks, who knows if he'll be available...might also give us a better opportunity with Horford.
didnt know that. so if his team gets eliminated by the celtics, it's possible he will be let go? idk. wouldnt mind if he becomes a candidate of the rockets.
Bud will almost certainly resign with the Hawks because he's also the POBO and they have given him all the power and everything he needs. He wouldn't leave that situation to go to a team that doesnt' give him as much power.
