Good read. I've always supported JVG; he's the right guy for the job. I'd say he's a top 5 coach. I definitely want him to return for next season and beyond. Now, if the Rockets don't make it out of the first round again, then I'll probably be thinking otherwise. I think there's a very small chance that happens, though, so I expect to see him on the Rockets bench next year.
Great article. However, it's funny to see this board come back around to Van Gundy. I know there are still some JVG haters on the board, but there doesn't seem to be too many left jvg does grow on you after a while. i despised him in NY, but i did grow to respect him and then to really appreciate what he brings. i think people just get caught up in the superficial side of things, i.e. he isnt happy enough, he's too negative, blah blah http://espn.go.com/page2/s/brain/vangundy.html# the honda story is the best.
I think we'll have to pay a lot for JVG. Just because theres going to be competition from other teams that currently have bad coaches, but squads with potential and rich owners. New York comes to mind. JVG still has a spot in the heart of Knicks fans and it was apparent in his last game to the Garden. Philly is definitely going to get a new coach. If it's not Brown then I would think the owner will take a long hard look at JVG since he also focuses on defense. Seattle needs a new head coach, but the owner is stingy. The same is also true for Memphis, but I can see JVG going to Portland if it wasn't for the no knuckleheads thing that he said. Whatever happens, i definitely think we won't get to resign him for cheap. 5 million a year for a coach that got you to the playoffs his first year is definitely cheap if you think about the fact that Doc Rivers makes 5 million and the fact that Brown and Jackson got contracts with seven zeros.
luffy, I think I speak for everyone when I say please go die in a car fire and stop posting. luffy...you think the mavs should have fired avery for not winning it all last year too?
I think jvg is in the same boat that rick adleman was in last year. If rick had beat the spurs and got to the second round he would still be the coach. I like jvg but if we dont make it past the second round he has to go. We are stuck with t-mac and yao for better or worse for quite a while so the only change that can really be made is the coach. Haveing said that i think we are a lock to make it to the second round and jvg will get extended , but still nothing is written in stone.
i dont buy the 'he has to get past the second round' argument, at least, not solely on the face value. there are a lot of variables that we do not know yet to be making that blind of a statement. as for the adelman situation...the difference is that adeleman had a better team for a long time but still never won. JVG has coached a team, inferior to their opponents in the playoffs.
he's dead serious! he believes so because we have his hero bonzi wells on our team. and we all know that bonzi alone would bring us the rings if we had not such a dumbass coach.
I've always stood behind JVG. I don't think he is a top tier coach, but he's definitely a part of the tier below that. I also don't think he has to get us past the 1st round this season to keep his job; now if he can't do it next year that's a whole nother story, but the job he has done so far this year has been fantastic. Van Gundy is the guy we need as our coach, and I think with a healthy team and a little luck he can take our Rockets all the way.
There is happiness in Macon, GA (where I live) as well as I am exactly 2 weeks away from going on the Road Truip to Atlanta and Orlando with the Rox
Barring the Rockets getting swept in the first round(especially if they have home court), I can't think of any scenario where Van Gundy doesn't deserve a multiyear extension. Look at this paragraph from the article: "Once the Houston Rockets lost Yao Ming to a broken tibia before Christmas, even the most ambitious of expectations had them fighting to stay close to .500 until his return in March. Yao was having an MVP year, a breakout season in every way. And even if Tracy McGrady's troublesome back responded to a new-age therapy, the suggestion that the Rockets could stay within a whisper of the second-place San Antonio Spurs in the Southwest Division seemed improbable." Remember the BBS the night of that Clippers game when Yao went down? I was among the many fans who was not only doubting the Rockets' ability to stay in the playoff race, but was openly considering whether or not they should go into tank mode for a high lottery pick. Sure, T-Mac's immediate return from his back injury and MVP caliber play over the last 6 weeks has had a big part in the Rockets 15-6 record sans Yao. But this team never pulls off that kind of record if Van Gundy doesn't hold it together and keep the players from giving up. I've said repeatedly that if they finish the season with 55+ wins, he should be the unanimous pick for Coach of the Year. How do you not extend the guy's contract?
^ well put. Given where the rockets are in the standings, with yao out...there should be no doubt whether or not he returns. it actually seems stupid that its up for debate. although doc rivers may be available next year
I never doubted his ability to get to players to get the rockets players to play defense...Really you can't ask for more on that end. I love the fact that he seems to use his timeouts at the right time to get his team back focused. other then offense only thing I find negative about him is when we are up by 3 and the other team has the ball...why not foul and send them to the line instead of letting them time the game up and come back and beat us...we have been burned in that situation allot.
I can recall this situation only twice. One time we did foul and won the game, the next time, we did not foul (but tried to, Battier couldn't get to his man to foul him before the shot) and someone hit a bank shot three pointer and we lost in overtime. So, I can't see how this is an issue. Hopping back to the original topic of the thread... JVG is my kind of coach (probably why he can utilize my favorite player, Chuck) He is big on defense and doesn't cater to the whims of players with the big ego issues. He is team oriented and that's the most enjoyable type of basketball to watch. For me. I could care less if we only scored 60 points a game, as long as we only allowed the other team to score 50. I like the quote at the beginning of the article as well. True happiness is waking up every day and realizing what a great life you have Some of the people on this board should read that every morning until it sinks in. Life is good! and so are the Rockets! Due, in part, to the great coaching job JVG has done this year.
The rockets should sign Jeff Van Gundy to an extension because we all know that the rockets are going to be the 2007 NBA CHAMPIONS. Jeff Van Gundy has done a great job coaching this team. He is one of the main reasons that we have one 31 games this season (about to be 32 after tonight).
Yes, the Lakers let Jackson go after he took them to the final, but lost to the Pistons. With two star players together for a few years now, any coach is expected to contend for the title in NBA. It's too early to talk about JVG's future at this point. I believe his fate will be decided by how the Rockets will do in the playoff this year.
It's looking very positive for an extension right now. Let's see how the regular season and playoffs finish up.
JVG has been more open minded in playing rookies and is fresh off of praising JL3's hustle/defense. This yr it is by choice...last yr he was forced to play Head due to injuries and what a blessing in disguise last year was...Luther is clutch. Now, if JL3 can emerge next yr under jvg's tutelage....that would be great. Not sure that can happen with vspan b/c of his poor Greek-MAC attitude....and Novak...I sure hope he can become Luther Head-like from the 3 in the next few years. I think the development of young talent will define jvgs success in the next few years.
