This blurb, from Michael Hiestand's 'Sports on TV' column in today's USA Today (sorry, no link available [yet?]): Tidbits: ABC NBA analyst Bill Walton on Sunday on what Houston's Yao Ming really needs now: "A great coach." I laughed. But I doubt his (apparently not great) coach did.
i heard him say that during the game. i think he meant for one-on-one training. someone to teach him some extra post moves, etc...
Nah, he was pretty clearly talking about head coaches. He even went on to say that Ewing had John Thompson and Pat Riley.
It looks like Bill Walton is eyeing the job of JVG, that's head coach of houston Rockets....... Bill, please consider, if you were the head coach, you will be flamed in hell like JVG on this board.....
Yeah, I remember this during the game--he definitely was taking shots at JVG and Ewing...Walton said what most impressive about Yao's development is "that he's had to figure all this out himself. The one thing that Yao lacks that every other great big man has had at some point in his career is a great coach" The other commentators pretty much burst out laughing and one of them said something to the effect that Walton won't be getting any calls or invites from JVG or Ewing", and Walton continued saying even Ewing had Thompson and Riley--Yao's never had that. He wasn't exactly mincing words!
this is true. I met Walton in Vegas a couple years ago, and he told me that he didnt like JVGs system.
I agree, he is dead on right. I think Ming would have progressed faster in a different system with a more offensive minded coach.
It's pretty well known around the NBA that JVG's coaching style is predicatable, mechanical, non-adapting, and downright ugly. Bill Walton isnt the first one to take a shot at Gundy. Not only are we stuck with a mediorcre coach in Gundy, his personality is also going to effect Rockets in attracting players to team up with Yao/Tmac.
jvg needs to modernize his coaching style, but bill walton is a blathering buffon...i hope his studdering problem comes back and we dont have to listen to him on tv anymore
I think Walton is right, JVG is moderate coach, the rockets need a good coach elevate them to next level.
I wont say JVG is a bad coach just that i think JVG coaching philosophy is more suited for playoffs basketball... the problem now is, his team cant even win in the regular seasons.....
I wasn't tuned into the commentary the entire game, and am not sure this is what I heard at all, but I think Walton may have said Jeff Van Gundy was one of the best coaches in the league (or something to that effect) when a stat came up of JVG being in his 10th year coaching in the NBA, his win/loss record, etc... Does anyone remember this? Did Walton make this comment or was it someone else?
first, Bill Walton is stupid... second, a successful coach is not the one that wins championships or wins a lot (Jackson, Brown)... a good coach is the one that gets right players with the right roles and get some chemistry going... I think the best coach in the league now is Mike D'Antoni.. I know he has Nash, Amare, and Marion..but he gets the right players and turn them into superstars.. I mean, look at Raja Bell... he is playing really good with them.. and Eddie House..he aint missing a shot and he is playing with the team like he has been playing with them for 10 years... they also got Diaw and it turned out to be successful... D'Antoni also give players their freedom, he doesn't turn them into robots ... he gives them some plays, but not every single time.. that's why they are fun to watch .. I am actually sick of watching the boring, slow rockets... but you know what? I think JVG is doing the right thing and I know everybody will start going off on me..but it's impossible for any coach to have a running style with a dominant center like YAO... Phoenix is successful in running because their center can run .. kinda like Hakeem with the rockets.. but Yao is like Shaq ..he needs a half court offense to be set in the post so he can get some points.. so stop messing with JVG..
