Are you questioning me? Sorry I didn't think to record it and put it on YouTube.com for you. They (ch2) said they would have more JVG on their Sports Sunday night show.
You're welcome. It was a typically bizarre comment from Van Gundy. I've yet to figure this guy out, as far as how he treats his players in the media. Never mind how he plays them... his rotations have frequently had me baffled, even taking into account the injuries. But the things he says about them has often been strange. One has to assume that he had an agenda with this one. The idea that it was a message to Les is certainly a good theory. Kind of taking a chance on Jeff's part, however, because the man signing the checks isn't going to enjoy reading a quote like that in the Chronicle, where it'll probably appear. (unless they're asleep at the switch, and that's not impossible) Doesn't everyone have the feeling that it's going to be a wild offseason? Not sure if it'll be "good" wild, or "bad" wild. Most likely both, with a good dose of WTF??
The people in the front office must just LOVE all of the wonderful, positive things JVG has to say. Must make it REALLY easy to sell tickets.
Yeah ... sounds like he's saying "win NOW", like any coach getting closer to the end of his contract would. I have to wonder if JVG isn't going to push for a trade of our draft pick too. We saw what happened from 05 to 06 when we added a bunch of end-of-their-rope role players, so I sincerely hope JVG has this franchise's future in mind (which I don't feel he did at the end of the season). I do agree with him though that the window of opportunity with T-Mac is going to close sooner than we originally thought ... I don't know how people who watched him this year couldn't think that. Let us hope we make solid moves this offseason.
JVG is full of BS.. T-mac will be back and will have 5-6 perfect (productive) seasons where he wins 3 championships .. then he starts going downhill ( at about 34) and then retires...
Clutch, this is why I would be very hesitant on letting JVG make any more roster descisions. I know their window of opportunity is now, but I would still like to see them add some talented young athletes to this team.
I think Tmac has 3 to 5 good superstar years left in him. If he can provide he will have lived up to his contract. Yao is going to be a beast for 5 to 10 years longer. Go Rockets!!!
All coaches should either be developing for the future (Atlanta, Boston to name two) or trying to win it all today. I absolutely believe one or both picks will be shipped along with a player or two or three for multiple immediate help. But is this the best long term answer if there isn't a championship shot within the next two seasons? If there is a good pick but an iffy short term prognosis is trading Tracy not the unmentionable but the right move? He is dadgum good and worthy of being a Rock or going to a team on the precipice. I, too, question whether JVG's latter season coaching was in the 'best interests' of the franchise. That, frankly, has moved me from JVG's camp to hoping Camp Cablevision buys out Brown and goes after JVG (preferably with comp but ok if not).
I just don't believe that Tmac will be done by 30, I think him getting flipped over onto his back before the season caused a problem all year. I think it was a fluke and that yes, he may have some back pain, but I doubt he has another year like this one. At least I hope not. DD
I see no realistic prospect that we can replace Tracy McGrady with anybody as good, because almost nobody meets that standard.
that's absolutely right... nobody can replace T-Mac because he is kinda like Hakeem, does everything ( I know it's crazy to compare the two)... I dont think any player can replace T-mac including Kobe, Lebron, and all of these ballhogs who think they are superstars... the Man is so valuable...
If Tmac is healthy, yeah. Otherwise, I will take Lebron for sure. At least the refs will treat LeBron's team better.
I think it depends on what your definition of "done" is. Tracy has a lot of basketball years on his body...I can almost understand where Van Gundy is coming from on this. Should we really expect McGrady to be BETTER at 31 than he is now or has been? You could say that about a lot of players. That's not to say McGrady can't be a force in his 30's, if healthy.
There were a lot of folks saying Vince Carter was done when he kept detaching that tendon in his thigh (I think that was what it was). He changed his game/ training a bit and now he is back in form. Tracy has more than 3 good years.
I can see JVG's point here. Folks tend to forget that TMac came staright out of HS into the league. He's got an awful lot of wear and tear on his bod and the back problems have to be considered a big red flag. It may well be that TMac has but a few more years of playing at an elite level. I hope that's not the case but given the lousy luck of this franchise, I would not be surprised if it turned out to be so.
