Not a player. But a coach. If the rumors are right and Gundy is the coach, thats another lottery pick...hell, a top 3 pick. I have seen this guy coach for 8 years. He is the goods. Not only are people going to be in love with this guy after a couple of months, but the players will see what discipline is all about. Not to knock Rudy T. But this is a TOTALLY DIFFERENT SPECIES in coaching. He is old school. He is tough. He is hard-nosed. And there will be some busted up mouths when they try to come in the lane on the Rocks. In addition, this sets up some lovely matchups in the West for many years. This guy cannot take losing. He isn't going to take the b****in and whining of Cato and Mobley when it comes to the refs. One thing that will happen, some softies are gonna be traded on this team. I could see some shakeups and that includes Mobley, Cato, Taylor, Griffin and maybe even Francis who tends to be a little bit of a baby. Maybe he will love the is tough love thats coming. Cuz its coming. Just sign him after July 1st if possible. The Knicks are looking for compensation and I don't want to give these mofos NADA. Oh, man. I haven't been this happy since I found out I was going to be a daddy! Oh baby! I can't wait til next season. IF!
WOOHOO!!!! I agree. He is as good as a lottery pick! I'm still missing Brown... Your source was kinda wrong... But Jeff Van Gundy will be great! And I don't think Cato whines that much to refs...Francis is the major whiner. I heard Van Gundy likes to argue too... The Rockets should have a successful season and make the playoffs! I think Van Gundy likes Mobley too...
Um. Err. No. JVG is an adequate NBA coach, nothing more. He has never won anything. Looking at his Knics record, you get one 51+ win regular season ('96-'97), one finals appearance in a lockout-shortened season ('99), and a whole lot of .540 basketball from a veteran club led by Patrick Ewing. http://www.nba.com/coachfile/jeff_van_gundy/?nav=page
I hope you are right! I was not a big JVG fan, just becouse he was the Knicks coach. But now that he is in Houston I will back him up. Welcome JVG, I hope you bring us some rings!
If what you're saying about trading softies is true, then I wouldn't be opposed to letting Mo Taylor go in return for a tougher, meaner PF.
edc, What are you smoking... I want some. He's been to the playoffs every season. What else do you want?
A whole lot of .540 basketball? Year Team W L Pct. 99-00 New York 50 32 .610 00-01 New York 48 34 .585 Those are his last 2 full seasons.
Since when did the regular season matter anyways? Rudy T took the #6 seed to championship. Jeff took the #8 seeded Knicks, and put the hurt on the heavily favored Miami Heat (with Zo).
If we didn't land Van Gundy or Brown this could've been a very uneventful/depressing offseason since we don't keep our lottery pick. This definitely provides excitement and hope for bigger things this year. Jeff Van Gundy! Jeff Van Gundy! Jeff Van Gundy!
What I find funny is how some people mention that he never won anything. But, I understand. I said it before. Rudy T came to the Rockets with a ring, 2 WCFinals and taking a 9th seed to the brink of an NBA Championship...TWICE. I guess I am going to have to stop laughing. That immeasurable resume Rudy T. brought did make all the difference in 93, 93, 95, 96, 97, and 98. Yep.
Almu, I Like your Van Gundy comments, but don't trash Cuttino unfairly. Yeah, Cuttino is such a softie. He plays 40 + minutes per night on bad ankles. He has the greatest talent in the league and is the tallest SG. He is always afraid to take the big shot and never tries to be a leader. He would be so much better and first team NBA if he wasn't a softie. Cuttinos a tough guy. BTW do you notice that Van Gundy always refers to Cuttino when talking about the good nucleus of the Rockets? Van Gundy realizes a kindred spirit when he sees one.
This is what I hope will happen. Even if we have to trade Cat and/or Francis and say we're now beginning rebuilding, I don't care. Hopefully we can surround Yao (and Francis?) with some brains and bulk. This team is sorely missing both.
I don't think Francis is going anywhere. Why would we trade him? Yao and Francis could dominate the NBA with the right coach and supporting cast.
Not that I really think this will happen, but if Van Gundy turns Yao into a thuggish player I will never forgive him.
Francis isn't going to get traded. JVG said we had a center and a PG which are the two hardest positions to fill. I could see Maurice Taylor get shipped off. Posey will be resigned. TMo, Maddox, and Collier will not be resigned. Griffin will have the disciplinarian he needs to develop. JVG will likely try to bring some role players (in the mold of Juaquin Hawkins) to be defensive stoppers. Rice's days are surely numbered regardless of who was coaching the Rox. Maybe Nachbar will finally get a chance to play.
I think he's negotiating a 2003 Accord LX into his contract as we speak. Welcome to the good life, Jeff.
