http://espn.go.com/espnradio/grantland/player?id=7638949 Discussing basketball, NBA current events, as well as some Rockets-related topics (like his firing by Darryl Morey, coaching Yao Ming, what he thought of Adelm and McHale, etc.). Lots of interesting stuff (the Rockets-related things are toward the end of the discussion). One tidbit: Simmons mentioned that Morey said last night that he considered Van Gudy as a candidate this past off season, but "Jeff didn't want to coach." Simmons was surprised Morey would bring back a guy he fired, but Morey said a reunion "would have been great." Van Gundy also mentioned he has no issue working with Morey because Morey knows the limitations of stats and doesn't arrogantly think that stats answer all questions like some other stats-type guys in the league (who he said have egos as big as that of some star players).
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/wNQrvaBxSKQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Here's video clip of part of the talk re: being fired by Daryl.
Thanks for posting that video clip. In my opinion, Les Alexander made the decision to fire JVG, not Daryl Morey.
And here's the clip of JVG, after getting the call from Daryl that his services were no longer needed.
OK I'm getting kind of suspicious about the circumstances surrounding Van Gundy's firing. Why is it that the two get along like old pals from grade school and are open to working together in the future, however he fired him? There is some more to this story than meets the eye and something tells me it has to do with the league, as opposed to the Rockets organization. Either that or both are so professional that they refuse to burn bridges.
Well, he did say that he thought Daryl was probably following the organizations order more so. In other words, Les Alexander wanted JVG out.
I thought it was well-established that Les Alexander wanted a new coach. He wanted more positive energy and a faster, more fan-friendly style of play. Something like that. It really wasn't Morey's call.
I think Les and Jeff were getting on each other's nerves even before Daryl was hired (first as assistant GM). There was a report about JVG complaining loudly about Stromile Swift to CD. There was also reports about Les not liking JVG being too dour in interviews and JVG responding sarcastically to it (calling himself "Coach Happy" during one interview, I think). My guess it that both Les and Jeff has big egos and rubbed each other the wrong way.
Yup, so you can finally see it, how things would be under JVG Ugliest basketball I've ever seen from the Rockets was 05-06 and 06-07.
Damn. Probably the only name to follow Adelman that i would have been over the moon about. Van Gundy remains my favorite Rockets coach.
