It doesn't matter you like JVG, or not (I don't), but you get to root for the team. It doesn't matter whether he is a ass/jerk, or whatever, what counts is the end result. If the team improve their playing consistently, wins more games, then all is good. There were excuses made last year that most of the players were not JVG types. Now that one is gone, let's see what he can do with HIS type of players by all-star break, by the end of this season.
Yes, Jvg micromanages a lot, but that is the kind of coaching that everyone will do in the playoffs, where every possession is critical. This team is not built for the regular season, it is built for the playoffs. When we get there, we'll be used to low possession games, where defense is key. We'll be more accustomed to that style of game. Other teams, like the Suns, or Nuggets, or Grizzlies might get to the playoffs and flounder because they are used to playing uptempo, and they neglected their halfcourt game during the season.
The rebounding thing rings particularly true; anybody could have told you that was going to be a problem and it was. We lost our only PF who was decent at it, and we lost the top rebounding PG in the league. It remins to be seen who's going to fill that gap, thus far the answer is no one.
We all agree the losing PF part, but losing rebounding at PG is made up by the increased production from SF.
Van Gundy comes from the Pat Riley school of coaching. Riley used to do the same thing. Lots of coaches have and continue to do so. Larry Brown rips guys in public and he is widely considered the best coach in the game.
Hell no! I remember asking Calvin Murphy when Van Gundy just got hired what he thought, and Calvin said that he did not like him at all. Why? Because, if you remember correctly, Van Gundy QUIT on his team when times were tough. That's right, he quit on his team before the season was over. So there is no way that his players were "fiercely loyal" to him! I wish he'd quit on us!
I think Yao would be the last person on the rockets to be mad at JVG. T-Mac however would let his coach know right away, if he doesn't like him(JVG).
Just because Larry Brown or Pat Riley do it doesn't make it any classier, or any more "correct." If a head coach wants to use the media as a pawn, the players have every right to do exactly the same thing.
It isn't true that he has no personality or can't get along with his players. In the article this preseason during the trip to China, Yao took JVG to visit his old primary school, and the two were ribbing on each other the whole time. If you've ever read or heard any of his candid comments or listened to him when he was a broadcaster, JVG is actually a funny guy. A dry sense of humor, shockingly, but funny. As far as losing Yao or T-Mac because of him, I'm fairly certain that even in some wild scenario in which this would be an issue, I'm fairly certain the Rockets would ditch Van Gundy before either of the stars. TMac is locked up for 6 years, so that's not an issue. Yao has already declared his intention to remain a Rocket for the duration of his career. You really think Van Gundy is the worst coach Yao ever had? Please. We've all seen Chinese basketball at this point. If anything, JVG is the BEST coach Yao's ever had. JVG's slow-down, half-court sets are specifically designed for a 7'6" guy with endurance problems. There are better and worse coaches out there than JVG. This organization is committed to winning, and if they could ditch an icon like Rudy for underachieving, you can believe that JVG knows very well he can't afford to do much losing himself.
Why do you have such a blind faith on what Calvin Murphy says? Murphy and Rudy are good friends so obviously he wanted Rudy to come back and coach the rox.
Good assumption, but that is not it. Rudy had already been let go for "Cancer Recovery." He could not come back. Mainly, its because Murphy is a pretty credible source that supports what I have to say. Anyway, Is Del Harris Available? Didn't he coach Yao in China? I could have sworn that they fell in love with each other.
