Ya know I was thinking about how respetced Rudy T was around the NBA. He was a players coach adored by all. He has championship rings. He coined "Never Estimate the Heart of a Champion," which I still hear from time to time! Unfortunatly though he was respected, I don't believe he was taken seriously in the end by the players. He allowed too much freedom (which the players loved). What about Van Gundy? I know he's a hard ass and all. But is he respected? What has he really done to earn it? Will Francis really listen and will there be a fan backlash against Van Gundy if he sits our star? I have no doubt Yao will do whatever Van Gundy wants him to do. But I concerned Francis will fall into his "old tricks" when it comes down to the end of a game and he goes iso and all that crap!! Just interested in some of your thoughts on this!!!
Good question. I have posted on many threads my opinion that JVG and Francis's basketball styles are incompatible. I predict that they will come into conflict or become best friends. Much depends on circumstances such as the team's early record and whether or not Francis sees JVG's system as in his best interest. This is based on my "fan knowledge" of their respective histories in the league. I have no insider information other than that which is occasionally posted on this board. If Francis continues some of his past antics he will send JVG into orbit. Then it will get interesting.
Heheheheh good question, but I think the quote was: 'Never UNDER-estimate the heart of a champion!' but as to your actual point, I have already speculated as to whether or not we should all start a betting pool on which 'name' Rocket will be the first to be shown the door (Rice excluded, obviously) and getting bad weird vibes that it's gonna be SF who takes the prize.. but GAWD I hope not..
Van Gundy is respected in the NBA. He has one of the highest winning percentages in the history of the NBA. He is the coach of our team and if he sits a player for not doing his job I will respect and support that decision.
If things in NY were any indication then yeah I think he'll be respected (I'm assuming you mean by both players and fans alike). Even if he isn't respected, does it matter? If Steve doesn't play he'll just sit his ass on the bench for 2 games.
Why does JVG even care if he gets respect? He is the damn head coach. Last I heard in NBA it's the head coach decids who, to play, how to play, and everybody's minutes.
Many former players of JVG loved playing for him. So I would expect he is respected in that regard. What has he really done to earn it, you ask? For starters, I think the fans have to respect that he always has his team prepared and the fact that he took the Knicks to the NBA finals doesn't hurt either. He is labeled as a tireless worker and a defensive genius. As far as I am concerned, if he sits Francis, it is for his own good. Francis is a punk. He talks the talk of winning championships and making the playoffs but he doesn't bother to show up at JVG's voluntary camp. Not that it is a huge deal but I do think it reflects negatively on him as a person and his level of commitment to his new coach JVG, the Rocket players and winning. His play on the court does not suggest that he has worked to improve his overall game. If he was a true leader he would do anything in his power to become a better player. He would also realize the Yao Ming will only make him better. But instead of being a leader(which IMO is too big a role for an idiot), he's a b****, already crying about one of the future greats and second best center in the league getting more touches. The day Francis leaves will be a great day for me and great day for the Rockets organization. There are ABSOLUTLY NO EXCUSES for ZERO improvement in 4 years!
Well JVG and Eddie Griffin were actually communicating with each other...with eye contact. Grown-up discussion. He will get respect! He is a great coach!
I heard a GREAT quote from Van Gundy on the radio about the team committing to working out in the summer and showing up in shape and be committed to trying to win a championship. He called himself am "Ogre" when it comes to players working out and he said something like "You want to win a championship then you should come to work early and get in shape and make a committment to winning....heaven forbid!" That's not verbatim. but he did say "Heaven Forbid" in such a disgusted tone...it was awesome!! I for one LOVE this guys grit!!!
and u know for a fact . .. rudy did not call these plays? Right? Van Gundy is workign our players through the media is sad and sorry to me We the rockets. . not the frickign GEORGE KARL bucks I see a word use around here alot. . but it does not apply to whining in the media . . .as some other have thrown around CLASS . .it is CLASSLESS to be backbiting and cuting into your players before you even say HOWDY Do they need more criticism probably. . . but d*mn can you just have a cup of fricking coffee with them before you start trying to angle them in the media. I mean , ,, if you was gonna start working for a new boss and on the way in to the office. . . you here that he called you a slacker for not showing up an hour earlier than you were suppose to How happy and willing are you to kill yourself for him? My thing with all this is Francis cannot win on the board If francis goes out becomes a 20 10 8 guy people will say . . SEE WHAT A GREAT JOB CAN GUNDY IS DOING If he is a 20 6 6 guys but we winnnig SEE WHAT A GREAT JOB VAN GUNDY DOING he a 20 10 12 guys and we losing He a ball hog . . . he not a true PG .. . he a cancer .. . blah blah blah that is just unfair and sad Rocket River
In a word...nothing. He was (and presumably still is) a hard-working, decent NBA head coach. That's it. He has no ties to the organization or the city, coached a boring Knicks team, and brought the blight known as Patrick Ewing to Toyota Center. More Jimy Williams than Jimmy Johnson.
and one more thing WE KNOW THAT VAN GUNDY KNOWS HOW TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP BECAUSE HE HAs. . . uhm . .. well. . . he saw one won once. .. forreal though . . has he been associated with ANY TEAM that won a championship on ANY level? Rocket River
He took that "boring Knicks team to the Finals. And since when do you have to be a great proven coach to coach the Rockets. Sorry ass Rudy T was a damn interim coach. He got f*cking lucky he had the best center in the NBA in his prime while Jordan was retired. Rudy T sucks. Can't draft. Can't develop talent. And proved he can't coach a team built to his specifications to success.
He is a hard working guy with a .590 career winning percentage... I respect that. Coached a boring Knicks team to 7 playoff appearances (not quite as boring as our last 4 post seasons)... I respect that. Blight = Rookie of Year (1985); All-NBA First Team (1990); All-NBA Second Team (1988, '89, '91, '92, '93, '97); All-Defensive Second Team (1988, '89, '92); 11-time NBA All-Star; One of 50 Greatest Players in NBA History (1996); Two-time Olympic gold medalist (1984, '92).... I can respect that. No excuses... I respect that.
Let's see... 7 winning seasons with one of the highest winning percentage with a team my local HS would be ashamed of, reached the finals. You tell me. Minus the 2 championships Rudy had given to him by Dream on years MJ retired, what has he done to earn respect in the last 4 years?
Rocket River I love your sig "Under Ideal circumstances. . . people perform Ideally. . . the measure of a person is how the perform under less than Ideal conditions." - Omen River Go look at the rosters of the teams JVG took to the playoffs and measure JVG as a coach.
