June 4, 2003, 10:53PM Van Gundy negotiations begin Dawson says Rockets have made up their minds on a coach By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle CHICAGO -- Jeff Van Gundy will arrive in Houston today to see what is awaiting if the Rockets can close the deal to make him their coach. The Rockets' recruiting effort will take him around town, with contract negotiations to follow. But while Van Gundy checks out what he is offered, the Rockets have decided what they want. "We made our minds up," said Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson, who returned to Houston on Wednesday night. "Nothing is done until he looks at the situation and sees what he thinks about our operation, the city and franchise. It's kind of like recruiting now. I told Mike Dunleavy's agent (Warren LeGarie) this is our next step. We'll show him (Van Gundy) the arena, Westside, our operations. "I like the way it's going. But it takes two to tango. Just us wanting him won't get the job done." Rockets officials and Van Gundy's agent, Jim Ornstein, began contract negotiations Wednesday, although they are not expected to be completed until Friday at the earliest, sources familiar with the talks said. "In talking all the time," Dawson said, "I think that will go smooth when we get to that point." But before Van Gundy considers what he finds today in Houston, his former players and assistants had no doubts about what the Rockets could soon find in Van Gundy. From Don Chaney, Van Gundy's successor and former assistant, to his former and possibly future player Glen Rice, Van Gundy was described as a stern teacher who has earned players' support, a driven "student of the game" and an ideal fit for the Rockets. More than anything, those who have worked with Van Gundy said things would change almost as soon as Van Gundy blows a whistle. "Right away, it's going to be different," said Rice, who played for Van Gundy for one season before he was traded to the Rockets. "Jeff has a very different approach to the game, different from Rudy, a very aggressive approach. "The defense will be much better. Practice will be totally different. There won't be any slacking off. Anytime you have a young team like ours, discipline and direction (are) very important. Jeff will change things. He will be very demanding, but the players will want that." Van Gundy has said little publicly about his interest in coaching the Rockets. But his brother Stan Van Gundy, a Miami Heat assistant, said Jeff Van Gundy was determined to carefully choose where to resume his coaching career. Stan Van Gundy said the Rockets' roster, led by Yao Ming and Steve Francis, would be attractive to his brother, and that his brother could be right for the Rockets' roster. "He is in a situation he can take a good job," Stan Van Gundy said. "He's not like a lot of us that have to take a job. ... They have very good players who are young and will continue to get better. And I think he is a very good coach. That fits. They were a good team, over .500. They just had a hard time making the playoffs in the West. I think he's proven he can coach. He definitely wants to be in a situation (where) he has good players. They definitely have them. "They have the biggest of the big men. That certainly makes the job attractive. Anybody that goes into that job, having Yao and Steve Francis, to have two pieces like that, you look and see what the Lakers did with Shaq (O'Neal) and Kobe (Bryant) -- and I'm not saying they're on that level yet -- but that's sort of what you're looking at. You got a good perimeter guy and a good big guy, and he's a good coach to put talent together." But when talking about the Rockets' roster, and particularly about Yao as he heads into his second season, those who coached with Van Gundy or played for him said Yao would be going to school. "It will be a great fit with Jeff and the Rockets," Chaney said. "He'll be ideal for Houston. Yao Ming will need a lot of teaching, and Jeff is a good guy to do that. And Jeff is a winner, a proven winner." Said former Knicks guard Johnny Newman:"He's a great teacher. He's a student of the game. And they have a lot of talent there. He's a great teacher of the game, very enthusiastic. If you don't have any energy when you get to the arena, he will have it and you will, too. He's going to put the guys where they need to be and control the guys. He's not a control freak. But he knows how to control the game and get guys the best opportunities." The questions about Van Gundy are about what the players will do, and how quickly they will do it, once he puts them "where they need to be." With Patrick Ewing, Larry Johnson, Anthony Mason and Herb Williams, the Knicks were a slow-down, halfcourt team. The Rockets already are a low-possession team that would seem to need a more up-tempo style. But Stan Van Gundy and Williams said Van Gundy can make, and has made, adjustments. "Any of these guys that are good coaches, you give them good talent and they'll put it together, whether you're talking about Jeff or Rick (Carlisle) or Larry (Brown)," Stan Van Gundy said. "I don't think there is certain types of teams they can coach and certain types of teams they can't coach. I think they are all smart enough to coach them differently. I don't think with Steve Francis there my brother would have him playing like Charlie Ward. Yao Ming is a great player, but he is a different player than Patrick Ewing. Good coaches are going to figure that out."
See, that is what I am talking about, I mean, everyone who did see JVG's coaching in New York will make a conclusion like that. I cannot guarantee his successin Houston, but he will definitely put 100% effort to approach the success. Soon you guys will find out. One thing left, I am praying the negotiation goes well.
I like what JVG will bring to young Rockets team. Discipline. Defense. The last season was pathetic. Half of time Rockets players don't know what they are doing on the court. They never seem to have any game plan except for a few games. I like JVG's "student of the game" approach. His experience with a big-man is a plus.
I'm not completely sold on Van Gundy but I feel he's a better fit than Dunleavy. Van Gundy supposedly works his butt off. We'll see how good he is at recognizing the fine details. If you can't correct the little things, I don"t know how you can solve the bigger issues. If we're down by 4 with 35 seconds left in the 4th quarter and waste 5 seconds dribbling to half court before calling a timeout, he's worthless.
That one article makes me feel a whole lot better about JVG then the thousands of posts supporting him. While it may just be protecting himself it sounds like even Rice, who didn't get long with him last time, is looking forward to JVG. That they all recognize the need for intense, controlled practice is reassuring as well. I'm still a Dunleavy guy but it sounds like JVG will make me a happy fan as well. Happy = winning...
I second OUTITAN. I just hope Van Gundy can implement a good offensive system. But I'll be more than satisfied if he can bring order and energy on the court. It'll be interesting to see who he brings on as assistants. Heck, every change he makes to the team will be interesting. Going to be an interesting year. One thing Van Gundy has over Brown is that he doesn't have any summer commitments (i.e. - Olympics). I didn't like the idea that Brown might not be here all of the summer he starts a new position. Van Gundy will be.
There's another good thing: Van Gundy has been resting for almost 2 years. He quit because he got burned out. Hopefully his sabatical will rejuvenate him. It didn't help Doug Collins but who knew Kwame Brown would be one of the worst #1's ever. Larry Brown just looked tired and bitter at his press conference. He was happier to get out of Philly than he was joining the Pistons. It's like going on a first date and the other person can't stop talking about their ex.
Now the questions is .."HOW MUCH IS ACCEPTABLE TO VAN GUNDY?" good team/good coach combo =lucrative $$$$$$$$ paycheck just ask Larry Brown.....
I've been on the bubble about most of the coaches to pick from but I have to admit that article does make me feel better. Let's hope we get him and we'll see how things go throughout the summer.
I've felt good about getting Van Gundy since I first heard his name mentioned after Rudy left. Sure he might be a small nerdy man with a bad combover but he seems like a real nice guy with a lot of heart.
This quote by Rice stands out to me. First time I have heard a player indirectly criticize Rudy T. "Right away, it's going to be different," said Rice, who played for Van Gundy for one season before he was traded to the Rockets. "Jeff has a very different approach to the game, different from Rudy (Tomjanovich), a very aggressive approach. "The defense will be much better. Practice will be totally different. There won't be any slacking off. Anytime you have a young team like ours, discipline and direction (are) very important. Jeff will change things. He will be very demanding, but the players will want that."
SJC, I was just going to say the same. I 100% expect Rice to be moved, as he was going to be moved before, and now they have a reason to move him, lol. Maybe Rice wants out?
Yeah,I agree. Every body talks about JVG's defense,but what about his offense?That the main reason why I leaned more towards Dunleavy.But if he has good assistant who can implimant a good offense,I'm all for him. ALA
Didn't Doc say Rice was expected to be moved before the end summer?More importantly didn't he say that before Rudy T stepped down? Speaking of moves,was JVG know for making some?Cause we can't go into the next season with the same roster! ALA
JVG certainly won't have the power over personnel that Rudy had, so we can't be sure about the roster going into next season. I know they said they'd move Rice, and also move Steve to SG, but that may not be the case now that Rudy's gone. However, since CD has more power over personnel decisions now, maybe these moves will be made regardless of the coach we choose. Hopefully, we WILL make the moves we were planning on making. I could've seen Larry Brown working with such a roster and getting it to work, but with Van Gundy, we may actually need to implement those changes. Does anyone else have a feeling that we'll be the best defensive team in the league with a frontline like this: Yao/Cato Griffin Posey Mobley is pretty damn good too, but as of now, we don't know if he'll be with us. We also don't know if JVG can get Steve to play some real defense. What we do know is that we have two excellent shotblockers who are taller than everyone at their position (Yao and Griffin), as well as a perimeter defense guy in Posey who puts in all the hard work, and of course there's Cato who grabs rebounds like a madman, and roughs it up a little.
Rice said it all. I like the fact that Rudy is gone and JVG is coming. It is universally known that this is a very talented team and with discipline and organization we should see great things happen. I cannot wait. Could you imagine a coach that would bring MoT, Cato, Boki, Tmo, Rice, Mooch to be a top 5 bench in this league? And at the same time improving the games of EG, Ming, Posey, Wink and Mobes?
