Let me help translate this article for you guys... Translation: These changes are conditions to remain as coach. Translation: He's going to tell the coach how to coach a team. Translation: He is very concerned about his future. Translation: He thinks about it every minute of every day. Translation: Van Gundy is very much referring to the team's determination to avoid paying a luxury tax. Translation: "I think it's all Les and CD's fault," Van Gundy said. "I deserve a free pass because of the crap you gave me to coach this year." Hope that helps.
Agree, Josh McRoberts was one of the first guys I thought about in this draft that was a legit long range 4 guy. Hopefully he comes out.
Of course, they could get in on the Lamar Odom/Carlos Boozer trade. (Here I go again; where's hottoddie to propose even more far-fetched trades than I ever could?) The Spazz needed to evaluate Boozer when he returned but might still look to trade him in the offseason. Odom was on the block, although he and Showbe have coexisted a little better since no trade went down at the deadline. Lamar Odom at the 4? Passing, 3 point shooting? (Making a lot of money, more than our trade assets---Luther, Mooch trade exception, Top 10 Lotto Pick, Juwan, Stro---can add up to?
It's dissapointing because I hoped Chuck Hayes would have a bigger role on the team next year. But if JVG only wants to play PFs that can shoot from the perimeter, he may not even be back. I think, in theory, it might make sense to have a PF that can "spread the floor" on offense. But, in the actual games, Yao hasn't been noticeably less effective with Swift or Hayes alongside him compared to Juwan -- so maybe it really isn't that big a deal. And when you have a player (in Hayes) that does so many other good things for you, he should be given a chance to contribute.
I actually think this is really, REALLY significant. JVG is NOTORIOUS for not being fan friendly. Guys have joked that if he could play ballgames in an empty gym, that would be fine with him. They have often had problems doing marketing things with players involved because of the JVG veto. I hope Les explains to him that making players less accessible to the public when the team absolutely SUCKS is not going to help anyone. It still pisses me off that they built that practice court with windows out onto the street and JVG has it blocked off with huge curtains. Just annoying.
Am I the only one who, after reading that article, thinks JVG is on his way out? Talk about a misleading article headline...
I agree, JVG is a stubborn a-hole. I tryed to get his autograph after the open practice a couple of years ago and he rejected.
I have nothing against the journalism by Feigen, but the fact that Les wants Gundy back as coach deserves a middle-fingered salute from me (one star)
That practice court JEff, they block it off because other teams would send their spies/scouts to watch us practice and they stole all our plays and stuff like that. It was a bad idea from the get-go. I don't know who thought of that. Westside Tennis Club had much better security.
And also, your statement is misleading. He won't get fired. He might resign or play out his contract, but he won't get fired. So you'll never go to a Rockets game ever.
Padgett was not half the player that Marshalll is. I hope that that our sights are set higher than a scrub like Padgett!
Forget all these high profile players. Robert Horry is who we need at the 4, and V-span and Cassell should round out the 3 pg's.
You guys know I've been a big Van Gundy defender. But I have to say, this is a lot of buck-passing. Notice the difference between what Alexander said ("I'm going to tell him, not you") and Van Gundy taking his case to the media.
Buck-passing? Perhaps, but that quote goes to the gist of what's wrong with this team. Certainly the injuries this season have taken a huge toll but this "team" should not be this pathetic. IMHO, the onus should be on Les and not JVG simply because JVG tells it the way it is (one thing can say about JVG - he's brutally honest). Les is the owner and he has been content to accept those years of lotto basketball from his organization without lifting a finger. Now he thinks that he can use marketing and spin to blow smoke up the noses of his season ticket holders and it may continue to work well for him but know this: this team is 26th in attendence because they have and continue to put an inferior product on the court. Even with a healthy Yao & TMac, this is a team that still does not measure up against its competition in the West. And NO amount of spin can change that fact.
The onus is on MISTER van gundy because these players are his. This system is his. Le$ signs the paychecks and has (for the most part) steered clear of the "basketball operations." There is no "five out of the last seven years." Tomjanovich, Carroll Dawson, and Le$ Alexander had no problem finding "championship-quality-type players." If the current head coach CANNOT, then something needs to be done sooner rather than later.
