[Chron] Camp Van Gundy offers no room for overconfidence

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3380991

Camp Van Gundy offers no room for overconfidence
By JOHN P. LOPEZ
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

RESOURCES
HEAR IT NOW: The Justice & McClain Show: • Yao's long-term deal works for him, Rockets
• Should Rockets sign Sprewell?
Requires the free RealPlayer or Flash.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ROCKETS BY THE NUMBERS
• Schedule • Movements
• Roster • Depth chart
• Chronicle story archive
• Live NBA scores at a glance
• NBA Playoffs 2004

SPORTS POLL
Your thoughts on the Rockets latest acquisitions


No big deal:
6%
Swift is questionable; Anderson's average:
11%
Swift a good move:
58%
Anderson a solid acquisition:
25%

Total Votes: 6936







--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE STANDINGS
Team W L PCT GB
San Antonio 59 23 .720 ---
Dallas 58 24 .707 1
Houston 51 31 .622 8
Memphis 45 37 .549 14
New Orleans 18 64 .220 41
As of Apr 21 2005 8:29 a.m. CT



Jeff Van Gundy grimaces and looks as if he's writhing in pain when someone asks about so much talent coming together for the Rockets.

"Talent is such a nebulous term," he says.

He curls his bottom lip and squints as if he just drank a glass of sour milk when the word "championship" is mentioned.

When asked about one area where he'd like to see improvement in 2005-06, he responds, "I've got eight."

And Van Gundy proceeds to recite from a list he is holding. Drive the ball better, one-on-one. Get better help from perimeter players. Pick-and-roll defense. Shot transition. And so on. Who brings a training camp plan to media day? Van Gundy does.

He is the one who all but turns green and loses his breakfast when something is mentioned about some within the Rockets organization predicting things like 60 wins or a Western Conference finals appearance.

You know the look. That excruciating look that suggests, "You've got to be kidding me."

It is neither an act nor some kind of safety net employed to cover his behind, should expectations not be reached. This is what Van Gundy becomes every October. This is what he obsesses over for eight months out of every year.

It's about how, not who.

And this is why these Rockets could and should become the best basketball team this city has seen since the NBA championship squads of 1994 and 1995.

You'll never hear Van Gundy say such a thing. After about a week of two-a-days, you won't hear many Rockets say it, either.

"Champions don't make bold statements," Van Gundy said. "They don't need to. Some of the things that were said this summer — we're as good as any team in the conference? I'm like: 'A, not true. B, stupid statement. And C, who cares?' "

Welcome to JVG's bliss. This is how he has become one of the best coaches in basketball and why these Rockets won't be just another team of talented underachievers.


Team concept stressed
He will strip this team of everything remotely associated with ego, selfishness or self-importance, like he did last year's group, and instill a kind of oneness.

If Van Gundy cannot "re-create chemistry," as he put it, and the upcoming season ends with another first-round exit, then it will be all on him. This team is talented enough to contend with the San Antonio Spurs and Phoenix Suns.

Whether it becomes good enough to do so depends on Van Gundy successfully delivering the message to his team he delivered Monday.

"Everybody has great summers and great media days," he said. "The differential in talent is much smaller than people would want to believe. When everybody says the Rockets are talented, well certainly. What separates a championship-caliber team is different."

Those who don't get what Van Gundy is preaching or offer it only lip service like Kobe Bryant might will find themselves traded. Or lost on the bench.

It took two seasons for Van Gundy to find a core of players who understand roles and embrace broader goals.

Remember when Tracy McGrady was known as a sullen superstar in Orlando who didn't care and then seemed lost in the early going under Van Gundy? It seems like 10 years ago.

But it was just one.

Remember when Rockets guards were selfish, Yao Ming didn't rebound and bench players thought they were mistreated superstars?

There were deals that brought in David Wesley, Jon Barry and Mike James — prototypical Van Gundy players. Bob Sura got healthy enough to finish the season, though he's ailing again now. Yao became an overwhelming presence, and today, McGrady and Yao are Van Gundy's biggest advocates.

Asked what he needs to do to improve this season, Yao said Monday: "Do what coach says."

McGrady's endorsement of Van Gundy was the biggest reason Stromile Swift and Derek Anderson — integral parts for this season — decided to sign with the Rockets.

"That's always the first call, to other players," Anderson said. "The first thing you do is ask, 'OK, what's the coach like?' Is he a guy that's going to get emotional, hold a grudge or put you on the bench if things are not going well?

"They said (Van Gundy) would be honest. Other teams wanted me to play for them for more money. I wanted to come to a winning situation where it will be fair."


Found his niche
Van Gundy will writhe. He will agonize. He will huff.

But this should be his happiest year in Houston.

"I know who I can coach well and I know who I want to coach at this time in my career," he said. "I know every player is not for me and I'm not for every player. One thing I vowed to my players is not to ever infiltrate the locker room with any knuckleheads. My time with knuckleheads has come and gone."


Lopez really seems to love Van Gundy.