Here's the article. Sounds like VG is going to be tuff on Steve and Mobley - see the few marked quotes June 24, 2003, 10:35PM Van Gundy: Rockets' elements in place By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle In his first efforts to determine what the Rockets need, coach Jeff Van Gundy has begun to study what they have. He has not seen enough, Van Gundy said Tuesday, to be satisfied his research is complete, or initiate major roster moves. But as the Rockets head to the draft Thursday and free-agent negotiations next week, their coach completed his second week on the job by declaring the Rockets' rebuilding over. As with so much about the Rockets, that begins in the backcourt of Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. Van Gundy met with Mobley on Thursday in Houston and Francis on Friday in Maryland. And after four up-and-down Rockets seasons, Van Gundy said the Rockets and their top scorers are ready to do more -- and should be. "The pain of it was going through young players getting a chance to play," Van Gundy said. "They've gone through it, now. Now we have to take it through that step into winning. It's not anymore about building or being young or inexperienced. "Really, like Steve and Cuttino, they're neither young nor inexperienced. They should be in their prime. They're both fully aware of the fact that to achieve any real significance in this league, no matter who you are, you have to win. You have to win, be it a coach or a player. I think right now is the time for them, going into their fifth and sixth years in this league, they're hitting their prime." The Rockets had to send their first-round pick to the Memphis Grizzlies to cancel the last bit of debt from the 11-player, three-team deal that brought them Francis in 1999. But Van Gundy did not lament what the Rockets lack. "I like how our first-round pick this year was used, (on acquiring) Steve Francis," Van Gundy said. In addition to Francis' talents, his acquisition gives Van Gundy a player he knows something about rather than a choice between prospects he must learn. Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson and vice president of basketball operations Dennis Lindsey have worked to familiarize Van Gundy with the prospects the Rockets cannot expect to find available when they select with the draft's 44th pick. But armed with only a relatively rapid study of the top picks, he is unlikely to be ready to direct a move high into the first round, particularly if he is unsure about his roster. "I've watched a lot," he said. "I'm becoming more acquainted with the players. I've talked with a lot of them, seen a few of them. I can give my input. As far as the draft, I think coaches make mistakes if they don't study it like Carroll, Dennis and the scouts do and give input on it, when you have very limited information." Given the far-flung nature of scouting with the large number of international prospects flooding the first round, many coaches have had to take similar positions. But Van Gundy, having spent all of two weeks as Rockets coach, has especially been limited in how much scouting he could do and did not seem in a rush to draw conclusions. "As you watch more, you know more, you speak to more people, you know better what you need to try to do," Van Gundy said. "The good thing is, we have a lot of time to think. When you have a chance to think, you don't have to make quick decisions. Hopefully, we'll be ready to give them the right plan in September." Van Gundy and Dawson did not rule out making a move into the first round Thursday, though that seemed unlikely. Dawson said there is no deal on his desk waiting to be made, but that could change. "We never give up," Dawson said. "A lot of times we made the trade, got in (the first round) or moved up at the last minute. These are always last-minute things. You put the options out there. People look at the options. Sometimes you get a place they don't like where they are and you get a chance to take their place. We're always ready. We're always trying." That said, Dawson sounded as if he and Van Gundy were more likely to hold on to the commodities it would likely take to move up. For all his tape work, Van Gundy can learn much more by coaching the Rockets' roster himself. Eddie Griffin is expected to practice with the Rockets' summer league team next month, and Bostjan Nachbar is expected to play. And if Van Gundy does eventually want changes, he would seem more likely to use his more coveted players in trades or sign-and-trade free-agent deals than to move up in the draft to take another young player Thursday. For now, he was more compelled to study his hand and determine what he is holding besides a pair of aces that should be ready to enter their prime. "You don't really know anybody until you coach them," Van Gundy said. "As I get a chance to meet more with these guys, it will be good to see how they see themselves as well as how I see them.
These three quotes caught my eyes. First it Steve/Mobley - grow up. Almost saying time is going to run out to create their legacy. Second one is - if we want to make some changes (trades) we will see that by August/September. Last is one is that JV is expecting some challenge coaching these guys. Happy reading and sharing your thoughts. "Really, like Steve and Cuttino, they're neither young nor inexperienced. They should be in their prime. They're both fully aware of the fact that to achieve any real significance in this league, no matter who you are, you have to win. You have to win, be it a coach or a player. I think right now is the time for them, going into their fifth and sixth years in this league, they're hitting their prime." As you watch more, you know more, you speak to more people, you know better what you need to try to do," Van Gundy said. "The good thing is, we have a lot of time to think. When you have a chance to think, you don't have to make quick decisions. Hopefully, we'll be ready to give them the right plan in September. You don't really know anybody until you coach them," Van Gundy said. "As I get a chance to meet more with these guys, it will be good to see how they see themselves as well as how I see them.
I'm always really ecstatic for a Rockets season - I can't wait at all. The wait for the upcoming season under JVG is killing me!!! As long as he doesn't trade 1 of our young guys for an old guy, I'll be happy.
Good article! Glad to see that JVG feels that enough with this "inexperience and too young" excuses. He recognizes that Francis and Mobley are in their prime and have to execute like stars in thier prime. Excellent tone to set from the outset. I think JVG will add a lot to this team! I am going to look forward to what JVG has to say after he has coached a few of our Summer League teams in July. Get his feelings on Nachbar and Griffin. BTW, in that article it said that "Griffin will practice" and "Nachbar will play" on the summer league team. Does that mean that Griffin wil ONLY practice and not play in the games!? Someone please clarify! Griffin really needs the game experience. He needs time to work on his dribbling and low post moves. Practice is not enough.
True that. The elements are definitely in place. I am sure JVG is telling himself that this team should have had homecourt advantage in the playoffs. As I go back over tapes, I am feeling increasing satified that the change at coach was the only one needed to be made. The team is the most talented team JVG has ever being associated with in whatever capacity; and we will see him act accordingly. The respect JVG has for the owner and the front office will be matched by his respect for the talent he now has at is disposal and what can be accomplished by that talent.
Deuce, EG does not need to play. Certainly he does not need it anymore that MoT does. The program set up for EG will do more for him than to have him in the SL action itself.
When I read this article and got to thinking, I think the lineup will stay the same at least until by the all star break.
I respectfully disagree. I think with having a new coach and the fact that Eddie did not improve last year means he needs floor time to display his new skills. He needs time this summer in the summer league games to display the skills he is working on during his summer training. That is the best way to apply the skill you have learned is on the job training against players other than the people you are practicing against.
Yeah, and besides, if he doesn't have a monster summer league game, how does he expect to sign a Cato-sized contract extension?
Nah, I'm not expecting any trouble. I got the impression from the article that we definitely are not trying to move up in the draft. Thursday should be unexciting.
It sound to me that JVG either didnt see the obvious, while viewing the tapes or he just is being diplomatic about what he saw. If he wants to give it a go with the same Roster then more the power to him. If this is the case I expect more of the same with a slight improvement. This article is another expression of the writers views of things and logically should not be considered the absolute truth. The reason I say this is because what ever happened to Les and the BIG splash going into the new Arena? Is JVG the big splash?
Of course JVG is the big splash. Deuce, I hear what you are saying. I just want to get people off of EG's back. I see improvement from last year and it is that kind of thinking, thinking that there was no improvement, that is running rampant about EG and unjustifibly so. As I review the tapes, I am seeing things from EG that no one is giving him credit for. First I am not concerned about his rebounding and defense. In fact he stole the ball more than you would think suggesting quick and long hands and good anticipation. I have seen him drive hard on Sheed going to his right and getting fouled; and I have seen him post up Sheed and complete a baseline turnaround jumper. Both of these he did not do last year. More consistency with those moves are going to come. I have seen him cut, I have seen him feed the post, and I have seen his outlet passes. Then there are games like the one against Atlanta in Atlanta where he got out of the gate early and just left people in awe. I am willing to wait on this kid. All together, using his first two years as a body of work. I say we are in for a treat from that boy and JVG will ensure that. Remember, anyhow you cut it, his development is ahead of Jermaine O'Neal. Also when you adjust for minutes played EG is not too far behind Brand in all of the categories. These are the kind of things that would make CD and JVG keep EG around.
Maybe he's just equivocating because no trade has happened until it happens....and few proposed trades ever get done anyway, which would leave us stuck with a guy we didn't want. The Rockets were adept at this long before JVG came along. Robert Horry for Sean Elliott. Horry sitting in a Detroit hotel. Finds out the trade was rescinded. Back to Houston. And don't get me started on the nixed Toronto/Orlando trade of 5/6 years ago.
"EGYPT!!" - (just a euphemism for B.S.) This regarding the "only thing we need is patience statement above!! If the organization does not believe that MoT is going to step up on defense and rebounding, then we will absolutely need to make a trade...(And I, like the Rox, doubt that E.G. is the short term answer to meet that need...) And, regarding the "Big Splash" issue... There will be a trade!! No way are the Rockets done!! Why do I say that? Because there has been no corresponding "Rox Sales are booming for season tickets and suites" story in the Chron... If you don't believe they would be tooting their own media horn if JVG was having that kind of effect, then you don't know PR... I definitely see a Kurt Thomas or Dale Davis thing happening to give the Rox some more experience, depth and muscle in the front court!! If that happens, I like our chances in the west!
