Yeah just like you predicted that Johny Davis will win coach of the year this season. Are you not the person that said Francis+Mobley is greater than T-Mac? Oh my bad....
I will always be in gratitude for Rudy bringing to the city of Houston the only major championships we have (please, no arguments about the Comets or Aeros). However, I much prefer JVG's coaching style to Rudy's. There is that honest blunt candor about JVG that I find refreshing. His controlling every possesion was a bit suffocating but now he is loosening the reigns now that he has his type of players. Rudy, I just felt like he tapdanced and said the PC thing to say alot of times, which did show his loyalty to his players but at times I wanted to yell "Where is the friggin' accountability here?" I always wondered if Rudy would have let Stevie get away with the Super Bowl crap if he was here instead of JVG. My guess he would have tapdanced to the media or just simply be tightlipped about it. But would he have suspended Stevie like JVG? I don't think so. Just try to sweep it under the rug. That's just my opinion though.
As long as we are speculating, I wonder how well Gumby would do handling a powder keg like Mad Max? Would he have shown the trust Rudy did in upstarts like Horry and the undisciplined Cassel? Could he have molded them into key pieces of a CHAMPIONSHIP team?
Now I am defintely a PRO-JVG, but I don't think Tmac coming here had anything to do with JVG. Yao Ming. Enough said. As for the poster who said JVG lucked into Tmac and would look clueless this year with Francis, IMO Francis was being traded somewhere this summer. Fortunately, Tmac came knocking. I think JVG recognized SF's ceiling, and I truely cannot see SF being a Rocket had Tmac not been on the market. I think one of the biggest knocks on Rudy was his loyalty. While appreciated and liked by players, it can handicap a team. Rudy was willing to make some big trades for superstars, but he was also willing to give out big contracts (Shandon Anderson, Cato, Mo Tay, Mooch, Maloney.) We overpayed for a lot of players throughout the end of Rudy's reign, and it cost us time in the rebuilding process. I think JVG should be credited with breaking up the back court that was becoming more and more obvious as not panning out. As JVG said, we're in it to win championships, not go to the playoffs. Even with all that said, Rudy can't be discounted for his two championships. Yes, he had one of the best centers of all-time and the next year two hall of famers. But every NBA champion has a player or two like that. Rudy gave it his all for Houston, and I appreciate what he did for us. That said, I'm happy he and we have moved on, and am pleased with the job JVG has done. JVG is now giving it his all for us, and hopefully that will lead to the success Rudy once had. Bottom line: Rudy 2 JVG 0 Bring this thread up in 2 years when JVG gets 2 to his resume and I'll vote Gundy
JVG is a micromanager and Rudy is well...Rudy in terms of management. A team will respond better in deep playoff situations with Rudy's style because the trust is overt and you're forced to bond with your teammates because your coach isn't going to go through your every detail. By the time you get to the finals, the opposing coaches know your game and your coaching tendencies, so if you have a guy like Jeff screaming at players to do a certain play, most likely the other team has a counter for it. In that sense, effort and passion with Rudy goes a long way, but you have to have really intelligent and diverse players for Rudy to win big. Jeff is a pretty good and well prepared coach, but he isn't perfect. Our greatest success this season is when he gives up some control and trusts his players to buy his system. That, in a sense, is the Rudy T way. I'm hoping that this season has offered Jeff a chance to grow in the personal front with his players. Coaches rarely last more than 4 years with his style.
originally posted by Rockbox Pistons where stacked? By who? Pamela Anderson is stacked, Jenna Jamason is stacked. The Pistons where a team composed of a bunch of above average players with an outstanding coach and a lot of chemistry. They did not have a superstar on thier roster.
He inherited a team that won their division the last two years and added Rasheed wallace and Rip to it. Rasheed is a head case but he was an all-star and Rip was the best player on the wizards even with Jordan on the team.
Why do this? Rudy was our guy and JVG is our guy. We are the Rockets. The feeling is back again. Anyway I think to answer this question you might as well get to the real issue: Who is better Hakeem or TMac. Cause Rudy without Hakeem is a ???????? And JVG without TMac is a ????????????? You see this is a league about talent and chemistry. Coaching may make a big difference for all the teams that don't win the championship. But no coach can ever take the credit for winning one without the talent to back it up. Detroit does not win last season without the trade for Wallace, why? they needed his scoring and shot blocking. It was the missing ingredient. Mike James also helped, they needed the depth. It is all about assembling a championship team and having a COMPETENT coach. There are coaches that can cost you a championship. But not any that can win one without talent. Take away Bird, Magic, Jordan, Duncan, Hakeem, Shaq etc. and you don't get championships. Phil Jackson to Red Aurbach all need a Shaq or a Russell. So JVg vs. Rudy is really all about can TMac get the help to accomplish what Hakeem did- 2 rings. I hope so and JVG will then be revered here also.
After hearing quotes from so many of JVGs players, I am not sure JVG isn't a players coach as well as a x and o's coach. So many of the Rox have said he is the best coach that they have played for. His demeanor is that of a funeral home director but that is only his public image, it seems when his players get to know him they come away with a completely different impression of the man.
Richard Hamilton DET 17.6 ppg good for 28th in the league. Rasheed Wallace DET 14.3 ppg and 8.3 rpg while playing for Detroit did not rank in the top 40 in either catagory. These are the 2 all-stars you are talking about
I agree with you on that whole heartedly. They were key elements in that championship run. However, my arguement is that they won the title last year without any superstars. They won with a bunch of above average players. That supports my arguement that Larry Brown is not overrated. They won because they had an outstanding coach, mucho chemistry, and tons of heart.
Man, why do you guys do this? I agree with the bottom line people, Rudy two championships, JVG zero championships. Are you guys addicted to negativity? The Rockets are having the best season they've had in years, do we have to talk about this?
It's a debate when you look at the last 5 years. Lenny Wilkins won a championship, doesn't make him a better coach than JVG now. And no i'm not arguing that JVG is a better coach. They both are great coaches, with the right group of guys either can win.
Agreed, Coach Brown is a good coach. He was good with Philly also. I wouldn't say his coaching dramatically improved after those Detroit trades. He was the same. They added talent. Whether its 5 pretty good starters and a deep bench or 1 super-duper starter with 4 pretty good role players. Talent ultimately defines the coach. I don't think comparing coaches is wise because most competent coaches can win with the right talent. Brown, Rudy, Jackson, JVG, Pop, Silas, etc. There are alot of very good coaches. They become great when they get great, special, super talent and chemistry on the team. In other words it takes very good players with the right chemistry. The best thing a coach can do is get that chemistry thing going. That takes skill few have. It helps to have a good General Manager and Owner also. So Rudy had Hakeem. JVG has TMac. I think both coaches are going to retire with rings.
And a bunch of above average players isn't considered stacked. The only reason Sheed averaged such low numbers is because he doesn't have to carry the load. He led the team that should have beat the lakers in the their first title run. Put Sheed on any contending team for free like how the pistons got him and they would have a great shot at winning the championship. Imagine Sheed instead of Spoon. We would automatically be title favorites along with the spurs. Imagine Sheed along side Duncan, Amare, KG, or on the sonics team and you would have great teams. I would even argue that if the lakers had him and move Odom back to the three they would be a very good team. Larry Brown is a good coach but he isn't the difference maker some people would have you believe he is. The dude has always found good situations and quits on his teams as soon as it gets rough. I think he is even worse than PJ in this regard.
I have one thing to say about Larry Brown and JVG, respectively: JVG - 1998/99 NY Knicks LB - 2000/2001 76ers 'nuff said!
