Van Gundy's steadfastness is paying off By JOHN P. LOPEZ Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy has faced a number of unique challenges this season. His job description has fallen somewhere between that of Oprah and the banker from Deal or No Deal. Sit here, and let's talk. Or: Here's my offer. Take it or leave it. Van Gundy has had to deal with issues of weight (Bonzi Wells), wait (Tracy McGrady's eight games out), drama (Vassilis Spanoulis and spouting off) and heartbreak (Yao Ming's 32 games out). Constant improvement He's had staredowns or differences of opinion on playing time with Rafer Alston, Kirk Snyder and Juwan Howard. That's why Sunday night was a Rockets testimonial to what can happen when the most important voice doesn't belong to the star, the locker room attorney, the general manager or anyone else. Have you noticed the Rockets? Every time there has been a hitch or drama, an injury or bad effort, they have come back seemingly better. And always, Van Gundy's demand for perfection and straightforward approach has been part of the reason. Take Sunday's 103-92 win over the Orlando Magic. The Rockets didn't just win. They looked like they're getting better. They looked efficient and — here's that Van Gundy-ism — single-minded. Playoff test awaits Van Gundy likes to say it is about the results. The inference: No one will know how good a job he's done until the playoffs. If the Rockets get through the stumbling blocks but cannot find their way out of the first round, there won't be parades for the coach who reined in an Alston temper tantrum, sent messages to Snyder and Spanoulis, refused to buckle to the pouting Wells, and went 20-12 without Yao. Winning battles of wills in the regular season won't mean a thing if the Rockets are not rewarded with postseason success. Still, there were times in Sunday's win when it became clear the more Van Gundy digs in his heels, the more roles are defined. At least on the floor, the Rockets appear to be one, big happy family. That's a credit to the coach. And it's the only way this team can do what it has not done since 1996 and win a playoff series or two. Of course, playing from the No. 5 seed, where the Rockets likely will end up, will be the biggest challenge. But when a team plays like a team, good things can happen. Or haven't you paid attention to the madness every March? The Rockets were practically sis-boom-bah the way they played defense, distributed the ball and scrambled around Sunday. The players who found themselves in the middle of conflicts with Van Gundy were in the middle of it all. Snyder, who was inactive for the last Rockets outing because of a lack of effort in practice, knocked down a couple of big shots and logged 13 minutes. Alston, who had a sideline tantrum over Van Gundy's yanking him for a turnover, turned in some amazing no-look passes and reached 100 steals for the season. Howard, the odd man out of the rotation early in the season, was 5-for-5 from the field. Wells, who has a sore foot, and Spanoulis, not in the mix, were out. But in every way, this team clicked. Given Yao's injury, McGrady's missing eight games with a sore back, and all the drama, it could have unwound. "If you have weak-minded players, nothing can toughen weak-minded players," Van Gundy said. "If you have strong players, nothing can lessen their resolve. It's the fence-straddlers that you have to bring to the good side rather than let them go off to the dark side." Van Gundy can frustrate his team with his meticulous na- ture. He can come across dour and unhappy. He can cause millionaires to wonder if it's worth it. But when everyone understands, it looks like this. The Rockets had 30 assists on their 36 buckets. They shot 53 percent from the field and 80 percent from the line. They looked as good as they can look, and they should roll into the playoffs. "You get frustrated (with Van Gundy) sometimes and react to it," Alston said. "But instead of coming in every day just not knowing what's going on, you know exactly what's going on at all times, and you know what's expected of you." They're not the Mavs, Suns or Spurs. In order to get where they want to go, the Rockets have to be perfect. And perfect is all Van Gundy asks. Listen to John P. Lopez weekdays from noon-3 p.m. on 790 AM. john.lopez@chron.com http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/lopez/rockets/4621091.html
That is the sort of stuff you want to hear, regardless of whether or not you think the guy is a good disciplinarian, if everyone knows what is expected of them you have less problems working together. If a player on a team knows exactly what he is supposed to do in any and all situations, it is much more likely that they will have success when there is high pressure and more emotion on the line.
Jedi Knight TMac: So I am a Jedi... Master Van Gundy: Ohhh...no...Mavericks, you must face Mavericks...but beware of the dark side: anger, fear, aggression, and taking the occasional night off because you have the sniffles...if once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny... DaDa Binks: Mesa hava bad feeling about this...
LOL!!! The Rockets play the Suns tonight, yes? In Phoenix, yes? Wait til you see the posts if the Rockets lose tonight not to mention the articles. Fire Gundy, baby!
It's interesting that the players that have no ego (Yao, Tracy, Battier) also are the more successful players and the ones who don't have any quarrels with JVG. I really should add Howard to that list, too. I don't know why Lopez metioned him in this article as having differences with JVG about playing time. Howard didn't like going to the bench after being a starter for so long. But I don't remember him ever questioning JVG's decision on it.
They looked very good BUT...it was interesting that they looked so good and played a 9-10 man rotation last night. Steadfastness? Where was that 8 man rotation that he was determined to play? Either way, I am glad he is playing more people now and I hope he keeps it up, because that will make everyone more fresh for the playoffs.....and it will help us if there are injuries in that other players will be used to playing some. Funny how the Chronicle NEVER asks the tough questions, but is rather a rah rah for the Rockets. DD
DaDakota, We aren't New York. When the home team wins, we praise them and leave the tough questions out. The Chronicle can be notoriously mean...let's not forget how they drill the Astros and especially Drayton McClain.
I do think that JVG being consistent with his players is key to them understanding their roles and acheiving to their highest level possible. So, in that way, he is good for players...and this team. I just wish he was a little more creative on offense and defense. As in a playoff series team's get used to what others are doing and it would be nice to have a few different wrinkles to turn to. DD
Deke played 4 minutes/Jake played 7 minutes(blame it on Yao's early fouls) and JL3 played few seconds. I don't think you can say a few minutes are part of the rotation. I love the 8.5 man rotation.
Yes, but those minutes keep the players fresher...even just 5 of them give a break to some of our players. Really more of a 9+ rotation, and IMHO, that is going to keep more players involved and healthy. Box score from last night's game Off the bench yesterday: Head 29 minutes Howard 24 minutes Snyder 13 minutes Jake 7 minutes Deke 5 minutes JL3 1 minute DD
Over 9 is too much for a rotation. Almost all successful teams keep a 8 ( or 8.5 as they say ) rotation so that the starters are fresh. The only team in recent memory that got away with a large number rotation was Memphis. But yeah, rotation: Yao, T-Mac, Shane, Chuck, Rafer, Luther, Juwan, Deke and the elusive "9th" man ( Bonzi, Snyder, Lucas, or Jake ). V-Span is officially the 12th man and if Novak was actually useful, he'd be the emergency 3-point shooter you can use on the floor if needed, especially for a desperate comeback.
You play an expanded rotation during the regular season, and a small rotation in the playoffs. One other point, the Rockets are pretty much LOCKED into the 5th seed so I hope JVG takes some time to play some of the lower end rotation players and gives the starters - particularly, Yao, Tmac and Battier less minutes at least until the last 5 or so games of the regular season. There is no reason to kill the players legs for a few wins that are basically meaningless. IMHO, the bigger picture is more important. DD
I agree with DD. I'm happy that the Rox are doing well but I'm still not warming up to JVG. I admit to being biased against him and I think his past history justifies being skeptical about him. At the sametime he's producing results and I'm not going to bash him when he's producing results.
I sometimes get annoyed by the fact that we are up 20 with like 5 minutes to go and TMAC or YAO are still out there. But with the 20 or so games left, we gotta start oiling our machine and hit the playoffs on a LONG winning streak. I haven't seen enough of the Yao/TMAC duo these last few years than to even want a glimpse toward the end of the bench.
the one problem i have with OUR 8 rotation is that 4 out of the 8 players can only play pf or c. That leaves only 4 players cover the 1,2,3 postions. At the same time, snyder and wells could be starters for at least one third of the NBA teams, but they cannot even make into our rotation players. BTW, head should be used as a spot up shooters.
I don't know why Lopez metioned him in this article as having differences with JVG about playing time. Howard didn't like going to the bench after being a starter for so long. But I don't remember him ever questioning JVG's decision on it. yeah, i dont get that either. I even recently remember an interview on FSN when howard talked abuot coming in off the bench. he said that it was an adjustment but at the end of the day you have to look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself what is it i can do to help the team the most...for him it was being effective off the bench. lopez just trying to create more of a story than is really there, i suppose
Me too. I know JVG is good. I am willing to be open-minded and admit I am wrong about him once Rox does well in playoffs. I think I will do that if Rox makes Western Conference Finals this year.
