ROCKET RICH NYC has been around here for years. He has always taken the time to post personal observations from being at games in New Jersey and New York. He has never pretended to break major stories, but he did pass along the Moochie trade before it hit any major news wires. What I remember most is when he passed along the news that the Rockets uniforms were rejected by the NBA, and that's a fact - they were rejected at that time (or as some would say the NBA -cough, cough- strongly suggested they change up the design). He clearly knows people who are in the know on some things ... being that he's in New York and knew about the unis and trades as they were processed perhaps he knows someone who works with the NBA. But he doesn't have to give any further details on how he knows some things -- just read the info and process it as you see fit, but I don't think there's any need to disrespect him. I haven't heard anything about Van Gundy having problems with the players, but it's not surprising given that close to everyone (if not everyone) in the org hates the guy ... he's just a jerk in the way he treats people, plain and simple. Someone should slip Van Gundy a note on it that says "Remember when the Spurs hired Jerry Tarkanian?" Maybe that will cool him off. He's done a brilliant job with the defense, but the offense is unwatchable and I don't see how him being an ass is selling any tickets. Also, you get the feeling if Van Gundy traded Steve Francis it would be for Chris Childs or some quote-unquote "hard-nosed", New York garbage.
Not helping fill seats, having everyone in the org hate you, and having a product that is like watching paint dry? Maybe JVG is OUT if this goes on all season and no playoffs. I wouldn't mind. still think they panicked when they lost Brown and Silas....
If he is such a jerk...a nice thing would be...IF they get rid of him at some point...if the players could still keep up the defensive schemes and intensity he taught them...then it would have been good for something...
Who said he was playing well, the point is he seems to be buying into the system. the point of this thread was Steve tanked a game. Does what you just wrote sound like a player who is tanking a game. Hughes can't even give you half the wins in the East, but trade him for Steve. Steve is asked to play a totally different role from what Rudy asked. You aren't paying anyone anything, the team is currently on its way to making the playoffs, and where do you think this team would have been with Larry Hughes or Eric Snow these last four years.
Judging from what Clutch said I was probably too hard on you. But is your post based on inside info or your own feelings? I know you dislike JVG so it's hard to tell if it's your own opinion or actual inside info.
Well, I'll say this. Knowing about a jersey policy and a trade: objective. "Knowing" about a player's intermost feelings: subjective. That seems to be the bottom line that several of us are getting at. That being said, perhaps Rich has heard of some very specific arguments/confrontations/quotations that strongly indicate where players are leaning. I truly hope he's wrong. From what Clutch has said bout JVG bothering everyone around him, I'm kind of worried at this point.
i know someone close in the organization and i asked him about it today. he said jvg has changed alot of things and the players dont like every change. but he said there is huge mutual respect by the players to jvg and from jvg to the players. also he told me that there was very little yelling but a whole lot of intensity...the players that are new plus cato and mobley have adjusted well and its not true about yao getting yelled at last night...he was complaining to the coach about the fouls being called on him. about the people in the organization not liking him...my insider says that he likes him but a lot of the holdovers that were loyal to rudy cant stand him because he demands excellence from everyone in the organization and he has shut down the locker room, autograph signings are out, they cant use the practice court...etc...so rocket rich is right about some in the organization not liking him, but the team is pretty unified although i think steve wants more freedom.
Sounds like it makes sense and sounds more objective than what we get from Rocket Rich NYC...there, it's a bit of a mix of facts with opinion and sometimes it's hard to tell which is what...
good, nice to hear a relatively "unbiased" opinion. things will never be perfect with any coach keep in mind, but we can only try to all get along at least to get to the playoffs.
After much deciphing, the "facts" from RRN were "I had heard that prior to last nights game, the two got into a heated yelling match. " "Also, I heard Yao has been getting degraded and yelled at by JVG on a daily basis. " Overall, I think the whole team is improving. MOT, Cato and Mobley are gaining satisfaction from their improved performance. SF at least is better than in recent games. Yao's performance is still efficent though no where near everyone's expectation. Definitely, SF and Yao face a bigger adjustment and change. So, it takes them more time to adjust
The first part of your statement is technically supported by the facts, but it is misleading. He is taking fewer FGA per game than last year, but as a percentage of the teams FGA it is virtually identical. As for passing more, not only is he getting fewer APG (something attributable to the reduced number of possesions) he is also getting fewer assists per FGA. That means, if anything, he is passing less this year, or at least is passing less in situations that lead to baskets. Steve has not really changed, beyound his newfound inability to hit shots, it is the rest of the team that has changed, Steve has just gone along for the ride.
Hey, this is cool. We haven't had any insider info for awhile from anyone but Clutch. Thanks RRNYC and DennisCD! We especially miss Popeye/Oeilpere and DocRocket, but also others who gave us tidbits ... and even some of the other's with whom we dissagreed with. Since JVG has come, the switch has been turned off here in the BBS. We don't like being in the dark. DennisCD, I am curious why you chose your particular user name? Also, do you have any other insider tips of what is going on with potential trades or player movement?
My first boss could be a real jerk and was very demanding. He expected more out of me than I thought I could give. But he was right and he knew what I was capable of even when I didn't think so. I ended up going beyond my own expectations in my field because he pushed me. Looking back I realize he helped me a lot in my career. JVG may not be Mr. Nice guy but I believe he has his players best interests at heart. You may not like his methods, but he is trying to make Yao and Steve better players. These guys make a lot of money and are grown men, I think they can take the heat. Some of you are making JVG out like he is abusing them somehow.
With all due respect to Rich, I think that he is smoking bad South Bronx crack. First, the whole generational gap crap is totally that. CRAP. Larry Brown is 325 year old. Iverson hated him. Why? "Practice man. Its practice." Players like Francis and Iverson will NEVER get along with coaches like Gundy who demand all t's crossed and i's dotted. Of course Francis is not gonna like Jeff at first. Its like when you go work out after having your ass on the couch for 5 years. Your body is gonna hate you for putting it through what it needs to. Francis has a basketball brain that is use to just having little bitty amounts of activity since he can just count on athleticism. The problem with Rich is that he hates Gundy and no matter what, he is gonna bash him. Simple as that. Yet, if you look at the game...take Gundy out of it...look at the way these idiots play basketball! Unnecessary alley-oop passes. Turnovers left and right. Cuttino jacking up shots even when he is falling into the 3rd row. Steve is freakin 26 years old. Grow up already. You see Jim Jackson b****ing? Of course not. Because he is a hard nosed player that Gundy likes. Just play the damn game and shut up. As for Yao, he needs to hit the weights and he needs Ewing and Gundy to yell at him more. He is way too soft and needs to have the whip cracked. He is lazy at times. But I am willing to wait on him since he is willing to work and actually has improved from last year. If Gundy had rings on his fingers, nobody would be saying a damn thing. Everywhere Larry Brown went, he was hated big time by someone one. He is a Nomad. Yet, he is a great coach for this team? He is 633 years old!! How is he relating to that generational crap? How is Parcells doing? What about Jack McKeon? He sucks right? In his 70's and he never won a world series...oh wait! HE JUST DID WITH THE MARLINS!! Hows that generational crap doing there? How about Phil Jackson? Hows that working out? He relating to a Gen X player and a Gen Y player? I guess Phil is in his teens still. Yea. Ok. Gundy is not even 40. The problem here is that Steve and some other players were living in a club house for years and years and all of a sudden you have to actually use that organ in your skull instead of running and jumping like deers! Thats the problem. A little homework and all of a sudden you suck as a coach. I just gave you examples of coaches who are taskmasters and are hated. Yet they are proven winners and in the end the same players basically want to kiss the coach on the mouth. Let me give you a personal example. Before my brother left to the Marines in 2000, he was the laziest, lackadaisical mofo you had ever met. Late for school 24/7, never did his homework and just did crap and looked like it. Then, after high school, something told him to join the Marines. Now, this guy works 10 hours and goes to Cisco classes to get his CCIE every day after work. He also bartends on the weekend. Why? Cuz the freaking whip was cracked and he learned to stop being a lazy ass and get the hell up and do something. Use your brain. They kicked his ass and that is what Francis needs. A bootcamp to show him that his way is not the right way. That or run laps til you puke. Rich, you are way too biased. Give the man a chance. I go to MSG just like you do and saw him coach. Everyone who knows more that us says he is a great young coach who made the right choice in his job. Period. Give the man a chance, guy. Put the crack pipe down for a couple of seconds.
I RESENT YOU REFERRING ME TO A DRUGGIE! MAYBE YOU ARE THE ONE SMOKING CRACK! I've never been to South Bronx so I don't know. And no matter what ALMU no disrespect... JVG can do no wrong in your eyes. JVG is OVER 40. The big difference between JVG and the coaches you talk about is that Parcells, Brown, etc. have all learned to ADAPT to the environment, RE-INVENT themselves, and MOTIVATE their players. They all respectively have a way of surviving. Let's see how long JVG can last and see if actually can WIN THE BIG ONE!! See you at the game Thursday ALMU!
except for the unnecessary comments about the crack, great post. I agree that while there may be some hotheaded exchanges from time to time, I dont believe that SF is ever going to tank on purpose...the kid wants to win too much to do that. His heart and desire to win have never been questioned. glad to see your still around almoo... post more often.
HA! this is great... it's so fun to see who actually reads the msgs.. and makes a not of who says what and has a logical argument/history.. and who skims it and just post an irrational thought... I never thought I would see so many well respected posters just dumped on so quickly...
