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NY Post: Van Gundy Might Take Shot a Rockets Coaching Job

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Free Agent, May 25, 2003.

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  1. Free Agent

    Free Agent Member

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    VAN GUNDY MIGHT TAKE SHOT AT ROCKET COACHING JOB

    http://www.nypost.com/sports/58007.htm

    By MARC BERMAN (The REAL Berman) :)
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    May 25, 2003 --
    Even before the Cavaliers won the LeBron James lottery, Jeff Van Gundy was on the verge of entering final negotiations with the team to become its head coach. But after Rudy Tomjanovich resigned from the Rockets on Friday, a Memorial Day Weekend wait is in place for the former Knicks coach.

    It's known Van Gundy long had his eyes on the Rockets, with Rudy T's status uncertain. Though the Rockets are interested in Van Gundy, Houston might wait until Tuesday to request formal permission from the Knicks to speak with Van Gundy. The Knicks own his contractual rights until Aug. 1 and will be looking for compensation, an NBA source said.

    Rockets officials, out of respect for Rudy T, didn't want to begin their search on the day he resigned. Larry Brown and Mike Dunleavy also have been mentioned as candidates.



    Van Gundy's coaching search began when he rejected the advances of the Raptors and Hornets. Neither franchise has displayed an ownership willing to do everything it takes to win; that's Van Gundy's chief criterion.

    Van Gundy started to be intrigued with the Cavs' situation after conversations with owner Gordon Gund, even before Thursday's draft lottery gave Cleveland the top pick, likely James. Some were surprised Van Gundy would have been interested in a such a rebuilding project.

    "In my opinion, he's very willing to take a rebuilding situation where ownership wants to win," said Bill Van Gundy, Jeff's father, who will coach a U.S. college select team in Italy next week against the country's club teams.

    "Where winning is the important thing, I can't believe there's any place Jeff wouldn't be interested in.

    "All Jeff wants to do is win games," Bill Van Gundy added. "The question is, will the Cleveland Cavaliers have the resources to win games and will the effort be put in to do that?"

    Van Gundy hasn't seen James play but the coach seemed enamored with Rockets center Yao Ming. Though the Rockets didn't make the playoffs this season, they are on the verge of a breakthrough with guard Steve Francis and Yao in place for the long haul.
     
    #1 Free Agent, May 25, 2003
  2. getsmartnow

    getsmartnow Member

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    Interesting that Mike Dunleavy's name should get a mention. So far, on this board at least, only Van Gundy and Larry Brown have been mentioned. What's everyone's opinion on Mike Dunleavy?
     
    #2 getsmartnow, May 25, 2003
  3. 1aggie02

    1aggie02 Member

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    I think Mike Dunleavy is the ideal coach for the job. He already has experience in forging a team where existed a bunch of individual players. He was able to make the Trailblazers work together, and if he can do that it should be no problem to get the Rockets to pass the ball.
     
    #3 1aggie02, May 25, 2003
  4. Shark44

    Shark44 71er
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    Before Larry Brown's name was mentioned, I thought Mike D was a good fit for the Rocket's. As a former Rockets player and now an established winning NBA coach he has the creditability the team needs to build a new era.
     
    #4 Shark44, May 25, 2003
  5. Pat

    Pat Member

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    Is anybody in the Van Gundy family not a coach?
     
    #5 Pat, May 25, 2003
  6. JPM0016

    JPM0016 Member

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    Jeff Van Gundy
    Paul Silas
    Mike Dunleavy
    Larry Brown

    One of these 4 coaches will most likely be on the Rockets bench next year. We can throw out a lot of other names but these are the most likely. I will take any of the 4.
     
    #6 JPM0016, May 25, 2003
  7. Sane

    Sane Member

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    Can someone explani to me Mike Dunleavy's style of coaching?

    I didn't quite follow Portland during those years where he actually made a name for himself.

    Is he a mainly defensive guy? Offensive? Is he what we call a "player's coach"?

    Please, if someone can give me some details on him, and maybe give the name of a similar coach, that would be great, thanks.
     
    #7 Sane, May 25, 2003
  8. Free Agent

    Free Agent Member

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    Not true...Dunleavy has been mentioned in other posts. One mentioned that Channel 2 interviewed him the night Rudy was canned, er, stepped down. He said Les had called him that day and he was interested in the position.
     
    #8 Free Agent, May 25, 2003
  9. LAfadeaway33

    LAfadeaway33 Member

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    Van Gundy is the coach for us. He knows how to play with a big man (Ewing) and is an exceptional defensive coach. Defense is what wins games and that's the only reason New York got to the Finals that year against the Spurs. Ewing was injured and their only real talent was in Allan Houston and Latrell Spreewell but they played great defense. There is no way they were the best team in the east that year but JVG got the most out of his players.
     
    #9 LAfadeaway33, May 25, 2003
  10. dragon167

    dragon167 Member

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    For those of us who are tired of ISO, most of the knicks plays were ISO for Spreewell and Allan Houston under Van Gundy.
     
    #10 dragon167, May 25, 2003
  11. Oski2005

    Oski2005 Member

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    The more I think about it, the more I want Dunleavy. I don't want to give up draft picks for a coach who quit on his team or one who doesn't stick around for more than 6 years.
     
    #11 Oski2005, May 25, 2003
  12. OUTITAN

    OUTITAN Member

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    Dunleavy knows big men, Sabonis.
    Dunleavy knows pain in the neck players, Wallace, Pippen, J.R. Rider, Damon Stoudamire, Shawn Kemp
    Dunleavy knows guards, Stoudamire, Rider, Bonzi Wells, Stacey Augman, Greg Anthony

    No arguement about another coaches experience with talent will override what Dunleavy has had to work with. He made all those guys real, real good at one point. He got that group of loud mouthed, ego-driven individuals to sacrifice PT for the good of the team. The fact that he didn't win it all might have had something to do with Bulls, then the Spurs, then the Lakers. A lot of really good teams didn't win championships because of the Bulls and the Lakers...

    He's not without flaws but this guy knows basketball, he knows his players minds and he's available...
     
    #12 OUTITAN, May 25, 2003
  13. jo mama

    jo mama Member

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    exactly! plus, everyone says how he did not properly utilize his post players (sound familiar?).

    how about paul silas? i cant say i watched too many hornets games, but they did very well in the regular season and just had bad luck in the playoffs w/ all their injuries. not silas' fault there. he is supposedly a good big-man coach, who will garner player respect cause he played (unlike JVG). and he always seems like a really cool guy in interviews and stuff.
     
    #13 jo mama, May 25, 2003
  14. OUTITAN

    OUTITAN Member

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    When you're talking about player respect and JVG you don't have to have played to get more than Jeff. No one will ever forget his hanging from the knees of Zo... ever...
     
    #14 OUTITAN, May 25, 2003
  15. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Member
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    Mike D might be better than Larry Brown, becaue Mike D, would probably be willing to stick around longer. Other than that I would prefer Larry Brown.

    Here's my order.

    1.Larry Brown/Mike D
    3.Doc Rivers
    4.Jeff Van Gundy
    5.Paul Silas.
     
    #15 FranchiseBlade, May 25, 2003
  16. OUTITAN

    OUTITAN Member

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    I've got to move Silas up to the second spot. I've got more faith in him than rivers and really don't like Van Gundy at all...
     
    #16 OUTITAN, May 25, 2003
  17. chow_yun_fat

    chow_yun_fat Member

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    Paul Silas...he made a bunch of underachiever overachievers!!
    He can do the same for the Rockets!! =)

    No JVG

    Mike D. will work too.
     
    #17 chow_yun_fat, May 25, 2003
  18. SLA

    SLA Member

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    1. Larry Brown
    2. Pat Riley
    3. Jeff Van Gundy
    4. Mike Dunleavy
     
    #18 SLA, May 25, 2003
  19. jo mama

    jo mama Member

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    yea, ill never forget it. i like him for doing stuff like that, but to the media it was a big joke. he was kind of teased for it. still, he never played in the nba and i think as a coach it makes a big difference.
     
    #19 jo mama, May 25, 2003
  20. reptilexcq

    reptilexcq Member

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    No way Houston should get Dunleavy. So what that he can mesh the players together. He's winning with Portland cuz they have a lot of talents there...period. You want a coach that prove to be a leader and motivator and smart. Pat Riley or Van Gundy for me.
     
    #20 reptilexcq, May 25, 2003
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