Sorry for forgetting the link the first time. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4818153.html Alston says players shoulder blame Rockets guard among many surprised by team's decision By FRAN BLINEBURY Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle SAN ANTONIO — If Jeff Van Gundy was the fall guy for another first-round failure in the playoffs, at least one of the Rockets thinks the wrong guy tumbled. "If there's any blame in this situation, it comes on us as players," point guard Rafer Alston said. "If we win Game 7 like we should have, then we're probably still playing and nobody's talking about any of this. That game and the whole season came down to us being able to get the job done, and we didn't." The general reaction from players and most NBA observers is that Van Gundy got all that he could out of the Rockets in guiding them to a 52-30 record in another injury-plagued season when Tracy McGrady missed 10 games and Yao Ming 33 because of injury. "We had another up-and-down season this year, and it ended with a disappointment," center Dikembe Mutombo said. "But you have to consider that Jeff had to play the second unit for a large part of the season, and he was able to keep the team together and get us into the playoffs when many people did not think that would be possible." Jon Barry played two seasons under Van Gundy in Houston and was one of Van Gundy's broadcast partners for Friday night's Spurs-Suns game in San Antonio. "I'm surprised they're going in another direction," Barry said. "Obviously they're disappointed with another first-round loss. But I think that Jeff did one of the finest coaching jobs of his career this season. I mean, he has to play without Yao for 30-plus games and he held it all together when the season could have come apart. "Jeff is the best coach I ever played for. I think it's his dedication to winning and how focused he is about winning. That's all he's about. He'll do anything to win. His basketball knowledge is like no one that I've ever been around. Coaches, GMs, owners, scouts, anybody. He knows more about basketball than anyone. "If you ever hear players say that they don't like playing for Jeff, then those are players who don't like playing basketball. But if you love playing basketball, if you love to compete, then there is no better coach you could have than Jeff." Both coaches in Friday night's Western Conference playoff game simply shook their heads at Van Gundy's dismissal. "You never know what's going on with somebody else's organization," Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. "But I do know he's a helluva coach and anybody would be lucky to have him as their coach." Suns coach Mike D'Antoni had a question of his own. "The guy almost won coach of the year, didn't he?" D'Antoni said of Van Gundy, who finished fourth in the balloting. "That's tough. I hate it for any coach. But he's one of the best coaches that I know. It's just too bad. That's our wacky business, isn't it?" Alston credits Van Gundy for his own personal development in the NBA. "Not only being a solid point guard out there on the floor, but also in helping me understand what it takes to be everyday player in the league, to be accountable for all of my actions," he said. "Jeff gave me a chance to run the team, and even though I didn't always shoot the ball particularly well, he always complimented me on the way I handled the offense, ran the team. "I'm glad I had him as my coach, and he deserves a lot of credit for what was accomplished here. He doesn't deserve the blame for what we didn't do." fran.blinebury@chron.com I like Alston's quote at the end. I hate to see Jon Barry not saying much good towards Adelman. I hate to see Pop and D'Antoni praising JVG too. I hope the Avery Johnson rumors are false. Marc Iavaroni imo is the best option for this team.
The comments by the players, JVG, Jon Barry, Pop, D'Antoni, other NBA figures and the press are exactly what Les doesn't want to shoulder responsibility for and illustrates why he is a coward. BTW, what Avery Johnson rumors are you talking about?
Rumors have been mentioned up here in Dallas that he could be targeted by the Rockets, offering more money to drag him away.
It was nothing substantiated, heard it on sports radio up here yesterday on the way home from work, probably just random wild rumors
I don't think the players should be blaming themselves for Van Gundy's departure. Unless they went to the championship, I don't see it working out any differently.
I do not like the comments and praises about JVG. He is not that good at all! Four years is not a short period and didn't he should shoulder the responsibility for losing game 7 twice in three seasons (and with HCA this season)? I understand why Alston said about that, coz he's afraid about his starting position next season. He's not qualified as a starting PG in other teams or under other coaches! When the new coach leads Rox to great success, I think all these comments would disappear by themselves!
"Not only being a solid point guard out there on the floor, but also in helping me understand what it takes to be everyday player in the league..." Did Alston really say that? He considers himself a solid point guard? That's gotta be a joke or he was being sarcastic.
So what are those guys supposed to say in the public eye AP? Let's get real, Pop doesn't throw bullets at anyone. D'Antoni probably thinks he deserved COY. Rick Carlisle took the Pistons to the ECF twice and got fired, Byron Scott the Nets to the finals twice and they both lost their jobs. Phil took the Lakers to the finals about 4 of 6 years and the Lakers let him go for Rudy T. Don't sit here and tell me how wonderful Assistant coach is when he hasn't sniffed round 2 in Houston. It doesn't take long to figure out that he isn't the man to take this team to the next level and by Rafer shooting out things like he let me run the team although I shot like garbage tells you alot about his confidence in the wrong players.
Not sure about that ... the first round upset was probably big in the decision, and all the Rockets underperformed in the first round. They should definitely be looking in the mirror.
Why so many our players shot so poor in playoff? I blame coach, if just a few players or a few nights then blame on players but the whole serias, we have to blame coach. His playoff and regular season stratigy is same and not brave enough to make adjustment. That's why we lost two times after we run 2-0. Blame coach.
He also couldn't pull done a single crucial rebound in the last second of game 7, let's not forget that, blame JVG indeed, esp. since the Jazz were such a push over to begin with.
Actually I heard he may get a promotion, to a job he so desperately loves: ballboy. Think about it. All the balls, all his responsibility. He would just adore that position!
