Even tho I'll be the first to bash Van Gundy, he's lack of offense, unwillingness to adjust, and inability to make players with talent but bad attitude to work (alla Bonzi, Swift, Vspan exct) But as much as I can say how much JVG sucked, I have to tip my hat to him. This is the same coach who took a team consisted of Steve Francis, Mo Taylor, and Calvin Kato to the playoffs. The same coach who made the Rockets compete despite the loss of Yao for most of the season. The same coach who made the Rockets a NBA powerhouse after years spent on the bottom of the standings. As much as I despise him for turning Yao into a mechanical machine whose moves are soo predictable that everytime he gets the ball we all know what he's going to do, I have to give him props for turning Yao into a consistent 25 and 10 big man, who is the best center in the league. The fact that he pushed the rockets to a game 7 with the likes of David Wesley and Ryan Bowen playing 20+ mins. No matter how much I am disappointed with this season and wanting a new coach I have to tip my hat to Jeff for the great job he has done, from making this team compete to turning yao into a better big man, offensively and defensively. Mostly I would apploud him for turning TMAC into a offensive minded guard to one who can do it all, assist as well as play defense. GOOD LUCK JEFF in what ever you chose to do, even tho you where bashed by me as well as most Rocket fans, I have to applaud you, you are coach of the year in my book. Ok Rocket fans whats your best memory of JVG.
Go to play off means nothing. What really counts is to win the title. JVG is not a championship calibre coach at all, period!!!
After the disparaging remarks the Knicks made about Houston in '94, and JVG's early blow-ups when he got here, I have to give him credit for loving Houston and becoming a better human being. See ya' around Jeff.
You may be right that JVG has developed the Rockets talent, particularly Yao, but at the same time we might be seeing the limits of what JVG can do. For whatever reason the Jazz outmuscled and played with more heart than we did. Something broke down and JVG couldn't fix it so for the Rox to get to the next level we might need a different coach.
I remember when he stood up for Yao and said that the refs were not treating him fairly during the 2005 playoffs vs. the mavs. I finally began to like him and was happy with what he said. He then took his statement back the next day and I lost all of my 1 day of respect for him.
El Jon' once told the story of Jeff making a rookie cry, back in the summer camps.Or Jeff telling J-fizzle "get your azz over here and do something productive for once in your life" during the katrina fund raiser In every case,Jvg's finest moments have been on the mic and not on the court
What he couldn't fix are the limits of his players... he couldn't make Chuck taller or Yao quicker. Whoever comes in to coach this team will need an improved roster to have more success than this team had last year. I think the Rockets may have to gamble on someone with a questionable past... maybe Darius Miles?
It hasn't happened yet. The day he walks away will far and away be my best memory of Mr. Van Gundy's time in the Rockets organization.
I like that one day he smiled...oh and that other day when he had that one fist pump after a win. Seriously, he did more good than bad, but it is time to move on.
Jeff was not a bad coach but if you have T-Mac and Yao you cannot play only defense! Of course defense is important but JVG did not have any good tactics for Tracy or Yao just let him go. Probably our new coach will bring here some offensive energy and defensive as well.
A new coach will be a welcome sight to clutchcity. I can only hope it is a new coach not someone who has had thier chances and didn't get it done. I really would like Mario Elie. Did anyone here see the video with Yao and Olajuwon. If I heard correctly Olajuwon said to Yao "We will work on some moves over the Summer". Man I hope Olajuwon and Yao do get a chance to work on his game with the Dream.
Wasn't that the idea with getting Bonzi? Anyway I forgot to post my best memory of JVG. Mine was him on the trampoline with that goat.
surely he has done some good things he is not a bad coach, just not for this team he needs an attitude change
What it came down to was getting it done when it counts, JVG has failed many times. He has had NO playoff success going back to his days with the Knicks. The only yr he took the Knicks far was when Allan Houston hit that floater against the Heat, I remember reading that if Allan didn't hit that shot, JVG was gonna get fired from the Knicks. Anyways, he has lead us to 3 consecutive 1st rd exits, including one with Steve, Cat, and Yao against the Lakers. With him here, we are always a playoff team, winning 50+ games, but it's really because we dominate the crappy teams during the regular season. I think a guy on NBATV last week said the Rockets record against the East was like 27-3 or somethign like that but very average against the West. He's way too stubborn. We will lose alot of our defensive role as a team when he leaves, but so be it, our offense must change
