not commenting on whether JVG is a btter coach than LB, or even whether such a scenario is even likely, but if it were there is no way in hell JVG would take that job, with that team, and w/ that GM. no.way.in.dante's.7.levels.of.hell.
Ewing would personally compensate the Rockets by giving them all his gift certificates for free lap dances at all of houston's "gentlemens clubs."
I don't remember JVG coaching at Providence, unless you mean as an assistant. (edit) He was a graduate assistant under Pitino during Billy Donavan's final 4 year. I think Billy Donavan is going to be a great coach, and knows how to play offense too.......JVG...well, he is bald. DD
Billy Donovan who has never coached in the NBA has shown an ability to build an NBA championship team but JVG who actually took the Knicks to the NBA Finals has not? Or maybe you consider an NCAA championship the same as an NBA championship.
Larry Brown won both........ But I don't want him here !! I think a college championship is harder in some respects because of the one and done situation in the tourney, BUT, recruiting makes it easy to have better players, so no draft per se. Both are equal acheivments in my opinion. DD
All JVG has demonstrated is that he can drive somebody else's car -- he can't build his own. That was pretty clear from his years with the Knicks, and has only become more painfully unmistakeable the last few years Donovan, on the other hand, has proven several times (once with Marshall and twice with Florida) that he knows how to build a great team. And that is what we need. I especially like the variety of Donovan's tactics. He can win a grim defensive battle (see the Georgetown game), or he can blow you out with offence (as Villanova and UCLA discovered). Whatever his game plan is, it works. To me, that shows that he really understands basketball.
Wouldn't you agree that success in college does not necessarily translate to success in the pros though (see: Rick Pitino)? Since JVG is the coach, not the GM, that doesn't seem so important. No matter what he is being asked to "drive somebody else's car".
A college background is not necessarily bad. Gregg Popovich, Rick Adelman, Chuck Daly, and Jack Ramsay were college coaches. That's two hall of famers (Daly and Ramsay) and a guaranteed inductee (Pop). Well, if JVG isn't building the car, why are his fingerprints all over it? Look at all those worn old Knicks parts! If he could swear to keep his hands off it while it's being built, I might not have so many issues with him. But you just know he has to meddle.
When JVG wants someone, he will get someone, but thats mostly through waivers. As far as trades are concerned, that's mostly CD. And drafts and scouting, that Lyndsey. JVG doesn't get enough say on trades, free agents, etc. I think he will this offseason though.
I didn't say it was necessarily bad, I said success in college does not necessarily translate to success in the pros. They are different games. You can certainly be good at both, but you can hire a great college coach and if you get a great NBA coach or not is a bit of a crapshoot. As the coach, the front office is going to ask him what he needs/who he wants. In the end the final decision is up to others though (ultimately Les Alexander). If JVG wanted to trade Yao for Marcus Camby, who has been playing great and was good for him on his Knicks team, that is not going to happen. If he wants to trade our crap for old Knicks crap, they will accomodate him, but it doesn't really matter if we have Moochie Norris or Charlie Ward, does it? The only really bad personnel move I credit to JVG is getting rid of Padgett and keeping Bowen.
I'm glad CD is going..his glasses are a bit thick and he may be blind. It's apparent in his signings of Rafer alston and Stromile Swift, (in the past nachbar, richard jefferson was traded) that he's a terrible scout. Good thing Luther Head was a good pick. Van gundy and his friend only has 1 year left..CD is leaving after that and if vg's playbook stays constipated next season..i mean..an offense is supposed to be fluid like a motion offense..not be 1 dimensional and depend 100% on Yao ming or tmac in the post in every play until he gets foul trouble or gets tired in the 4th. Success in basketball requires a motion offense..not a slowd down vg offense where even shooters can't sink a shot.
What is it with you guys and wanting to see Jeff Van GUndy go? He is a great Head Coach. No one not even Phil Jackson who some of you drool over could have taken this team with all the injuries to the playoffs. Tmac missed 35 games Yao missed I think 26 Sura missed all 82 and Alston missed 18 games. By the time our season ended we were starting Alston,Head,Bogans,Howard and MUtombo. All 5 are role players and spot players. Mutombo being the spot player. Don't get me wrong Mutombo needs to be kept on as Yao backup again because per 48 mins he still rebounds and blocks shots well. Next season with Tmac,Alston,Yao and Sura with a complete roster overhaul we will be the 4th or 5th seed in the west next season. Count on it Tmac and Yao will not let us down next season. Go Rockets!!!
It's a crapshoot any other way too, so why not seriously consider someone who has a track record? So you agree that JVG has heavy influence on the team's recruiting. As far as I can tell -- especially after this disaster of a season has exposed all of his decisions -- his influence is bad. Why don't we get someone whose influence would be good for the team?
