http://espn.go.com/espnradio/play?id=15561885 Just dropped minutes ago, will add TL;DL after listening:grin:
JVG: "One of the jobs of a head coach is to try to sell a vision... It's [upon] the players to voluntarily cooperate with the vision "
Nothing specifically on the Rockets. Something interesting is he seems to value Batum greatly. He and Lowe seem to prefer him to Derozan. He believes Batum will get a max and Whiteside will get a max. If KD is a pipe dream and doesn't happen, Does adding Batum and Horford create a championship level team? This off-season is going to be fascinating.
He has clearly given a large amount of thought to deciphering the Warriors Could come in very handy if we can successfully retool this summer
He is a basketball junkie - of course he is spending his time trying to decipher the best team of all time.
I think people here are underestimating how much he has learned in his years as a broadcaster. Kerr has talked about it quite a bit.
I am sure JVG has talked to Hornets coach Steve Clifford many times and gotten plenty of details on Batum. Batum is pretty valuable in that he can play multiple positions and is a 2 way player. So if you are going to throw money at someone, better someone like him than a 1 dimensional player. I am not a Derozan fan. His offensive game is just too inefficient. I don't know if adding Batum and Horford to a Harden lead team makes it a championship level team. But it would certainly help elevate the team's talent level greatly. And those guys have the ability to play big and smallball so they are versatile.
This. taking time out of coaching doesn't mean you stop learning about the best ways to maximize success in the NBA. From Van Gundy's vantage point, he may actually have had more time than he otherwise would have to study new innovative approaches and see what has worked for a variety of teams and personnel scenarios. Obviously some of that you do on the fly as a coach, but during the season you only have time to concentrate on your next opponent. I don't look at his time away from the bench as a determent. It might actually end up being a benefit, as rocketpower2 points out.
I think it just isn't as apparent as something like what Thibs did going around and visiting teams practices
I think we would have a Clippers-esque type ceiling with those additions. I would love to add those players, but in order to truly compete we need a solid second offensive option and/or secondary ball handler. KJ/Bev/Goudlock Harden/KJ/Bev? Batum/Beasley/KJ Harrell/DMo/Beasley Horford/Capela/Dmo That can be a very potent, versatile roster on both ends of the floor with a good coaching staff. However, adding a Lou Williams type of guard will make the offense less Harden dependent and Harden would be able to play a more complete game. We have a log jam at the PF spot we could use to bolster the guard spot.
JVG has had a hard-on for Batum for a while. Defensively, he's got great tools. Vastly underrated playmaker, and can defend 1-3 pretty easily. I'd be very happy if we got him, but not ONLY if we got him. He's a complimentary piece, certainly an upgrade over Ariza but not worth $10M-$15M more PLUS no one else coming here. We need a legit #2 option, and a #3 option. I don't want us to get a 3rd option and sell him as a 2nd option. No way, not as long as I'm here!