I think it was Larry Bird who said that every coach is tuned out after a few years. There may be some truth to that. The phenomenon of NBA coaches changing teams every few years (with a few exceptions) is probably proof for Bird's assessment. Even "great" coaches like Jackson and Riley have their shelf lives. Popovich and Sloan is probably the only exceptions now. Interestingly, they are two of the most hated coaches on this bbs. Our own Rudy T had one of the longer tenures in recent memory (until he got Steve Francis ). I don't know if JVG's style makes his shelf life short. Probably not as much as it seems. But I do believe that the ability of staying on one team for a long time is one of the most important measuring standards for a coach's greatness.
With few exceptions, players consistently sing the praises of JVG. I know he wears on a lot of people around here for whatever reason, but guys like TMac, Jon Barry, even nutcase Latrell Sprewell have said that he is the best coach they have ever played for. Eventually, unless you are winning multiple championships, you have to change the formula with either the coach or the players (something they didn't learn in Utah in almost 20 years beating their heads against the wall with Sloan and Stockton and Malone) because you can't expect improvement with the same coach and an all veteran team. That would be several years down the line for the Rox though.
It depends on the players to a certain degree. Some can take more or longer, like Yao, others probably get pissed off sooner. But the ultimate factor is winning. If you win, players will take it; otherwise, they will be tired of you quickly. Riley was fine with the Lakers, and started well with the Knicks and the Heats, but both of those two teams got tired of them, eventually, because he couldn't get them to the promised land.
i don't know what it's like playing under van gundy but i think a lot of people here make him out to be something he isn't. if he was such a bad dude we wouldn't have so many accounts of how his players love him. his press conferences and game face give him a bad name but if you listen to his radio interviews he comes off as very witty and funny. his players know he has their back and i think the way he treats them in private is very different than what people expect.
Is there an answer in your response? It is not unusuall for some coache's to have a shelf life. You bring in a players coach and all of a sudden a good team turns into a championship team. This happened with the Rockets when Rudy T (the ultimate players coach) took over. I am not knocking JVG but am asking a legit question.
Yeahh- it could not be Van Gundy's responsibility in any of this. It is all the players - all his past players love him and always will. Yeahhh- the players should own the responsibility to motivate themselves to win All on these players
I think you are right-the players all love him. I expect he will get his extension no matter what. None of the events taking place now are his responsibility
Sorry - I meant to comment that he has a very long shelf life. Van Gundy will get his extension - 3 year minimum I expect. There have been 21 or 22 sell outs this season at Toyota center. The owner is happy.
