Chronicle Next step for Rockets: 2nd interview for one By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle With their search over, replaced by a choice, the Rockets took another day to consider whether to call back Mike Dunleavy or Jeff Van Gundy for a second interview. A week after he and Rockets owner Leslie Alexander began their interviews with meetings with Van Gundy and Dunleavy, Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson said he would ask one of the remaining coaches on the Rockets' list to another round of talks. He said the interview is not yet scheduled and that he was not sure when he would try to get together again with either candidate. The Rockets also had met with Paul Silas and Larry Brown. Silas on Monday was introduced as the Cleveland Cavaliers coach and Brown officially became the Detroit Pistons coach. Dawson had said Sunday he and Alexander considered the initial interview process over. "We're happy with where we are," Dawson said. "We just have to make sure we find the right guy for this young team. "The second interview will be more specific. When we decide on the guy, we'll bring the guy in and talk about some other things and see if we can get it done. We talked a lot of basketball, their philosophy, how they like to do things. But there are still are a lot of things to talk about." The next interview likely would concentrate more on specific plans for the Rockets' roster, coaching staff and salary. Dawson said he and Alexander had not made an offer to any coach or discussed salary as yet. Dawson is scheduled to attend the start of the NBA pre-draft camp today in Chicago. Former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, director of player personnel Dennis Lindsey, assistant coach Larry Smith and scout Brent Johnson also are scheduled to be in Chicago scouting. A member of the NBA competition committee, Dawson said he would stay at least through today's committee meeting, but could leave the camp, which runs through Saturday, whenever necessary for the next interview. "(The selection of a coach to succeed Tomjanovich) is the top priority," Dawson said. "But right now, I'm going to have to concentrate on (today's) meeting. We'll get that done and go from there."
Why is Larry Smith going to Chicago? I get the feeling the Rockets are looking for the opposite of Larry Brown. Somebody pasive that will not make to many changes or try to control the organization. The opposite of what this team needs!
The fact the Rockets are not even interviewing Carlisle is a travesty. We just fired the best coach in the Rockets franchise for who? Mike Dunleavy? Ridiculous. I could understand firing Rudy for someone like Larry Brown but not a career .500 coach.
What interests me is that CD still thinks he has all the cards in his hand. This is really weird. Hurry up!!
I go back and forth. Honestly, neither JVG or Dunleavy thrill me. I'm holding out a little hope on Carlisle, despite CD's quotes. Carlisle was just on Outside The Lines, and he said he's talking with 3 teams at tomorrows Chicago pre-draft camp. Earlier in the day, he said 2. CD is going to be there, as is Rudy T. Sounds like an opportunity to me. I've been looking hard at these 2, and neither is pulling ahead in my mind. Dunleavy has worked with 2 great foreign passing centers, and did a better job with Portland than anyone else. But, that was a veteran team. I just see him getting walked all over if we don't bring in a SIGNIFICANT veteran piece, not just Glen Rice playing 20 minutes a game. And I don't see how to get a significant veteran piece without mortgaging a piece of the future. Catch 22? Maybe. Van Gundy is the primo defensive coach, and I don't see him getting walked over. But, there are serious questions about his offensive developing ability. He did what he could with that Rice-Houston-Sprewell disaster in NY, and perhaps could provide a unique solution to our guard problem. But, I don't see the Rockets going anywhere until they can develop an offense devastating enough to match the Dallas, Sacramento, LA, San Antonio, or at least the current Utah attack. With Yao and Francis, that should be possible, but can JVG do that? Maybe.
NIKEstand do you have any thoughts on why all these teams are passing on JVG? Sounds like he has not done good at any interviews. Far as Dunleavy, how come with the original 8-9 vacancies, no body has any interest in him outside of the Rockets and his incoming friend McDavid? If he was that good, then people would come out and say they want him, or want to interview him. I have not heard his name mentioned with any team.
I saw that show too and Im convinced that Carlisle can do wonders with this undisciplined squad. You take a 32-50 team and in 2 years take them to the NBA Eastern Conference finals without a legitimate superstar player. That's unbelievable. Imagine what Carlisle would do to Eddie Griffin and Moochie Norris. Carlisle wouldve stomped on them the same way Brown wouldve. The fact a man is known for his fantastic offensive schemes as an assistant goes to Detroit and instills the toughest defense in the league is amazing. Maximizing Ben Wallace. maximizing what you have. What coach did a better job than Carlisle the last 2 years?
I agree, it sounds like he hasn't done well in interviews. At the same time, the only teams that have chosen so far are Detroit and Cleveland. One took Brown, and the other Silas. Brown over JVG is pretty well documented, and Silas over JVG in Cleveland makes sense to me. JVG would be way too abrasive for a team with Lebron, Ricky Davis, and Dajuan Wagner. Silas has made it to the playoffs 4 years straight, as well. So, to this point, I don't think it's as much of a case of teams passing on JVG as it is a testament to the quality of coaches in need of jobs. Being passed on for Silas and Brown isn't exactly being kicked to the curb. As far as Dunleavy, no clue. He's more of a guy that's in the running because he's believed to be a "fit" here. We'll see.
This is the reason I can't believe Brown wanted to coach in Detroit. Does he think he can get any more out of freaking Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Cliff Robinson etc. That team is maxed out even with getting Darko. No 17 year old rookie is going to lead any team to anything even in the East. The Pistons are already at their ceiling while a talented team like the Rockets is so incredibly inefficient and undisciplined that a guy like Brown or Carlisle for that matter could turn it into something great in a few years. Unless it was just about the money I totally don't get Brown to Detroit. Carlisle is a freaking witch to do what he did with that team in Detroit. CD should be baking him cookies and sending him flowers or something. Get freaking Carlisle on the phone!!!!
Just remember that Larry Brown is not known for taking over "winning teams". So actually, this will be his best "start" ever. Understand that at 62, he doesnt want another LA Clipper situation. You have Jason Kidd who may or may not leave. So 1 potential opponent down. That would make the Eastern Conference even weaker, if humanly possible. You do have Darko who is supposed to be amazing. If he pans out, you have a superstar in the making with a veteran team who's used to working hard (thanks to Carlisle). Also, keep in mind Tayshun Prince and Mehmet Okur both started showing their potential in the playoffs. You can blame Carlisle for not playing them enough early but on the flip side, you can also say he nurtured them along until they were ready. The Pistons had the best record in the Easter Conference during the regular season so it's hard to imagine what either player couldve added. In the postseason, Carlisle took a chance and they responded. Brown will be the benficiary of Carlisle's patience. I AM SO MAD the Rockets are not even considering Carlisle. Of all the coaches available, he is probably the best X's and O's coach out there. And are we not all complaining about schemes? He's also a strict disciplinarian. And are we not all complaining about immaurity? Style over substance. Safety over Risk. Once again, the easy way out. The path of least resistence.
If Les wants to sell tickets, he better get Carlisle. He is not going to sell those luxury seats without a big name. Dropping Rudy and bringing in a 2nd rate coach is going to be a real wake up call for him. At least Carlisle will have the league talking about Houston. Most people want to see if he will make a statement, to Dumars, on what he had (long term).
I'm with all you people who want Carlisle! And who don't really like either candidate..... Neither one was appealing to any other teams really.....not all the teams wants them... Oh well! We're stuck with them. I'm hoping for Poppovich... Or Pat Riley. Maybe Carlisle. And then maybe Van Gundy. But it will probably be Dunleavy.
Sounds like there is still no urgency. Im not really fired up about Dunleavy or Van Gumby. Where is this freaking "big splash" I keep hearing about. Are we going to sign Shamu to be an assistant or something...... Ok bad joke......
Well, ragarding hiring Carlisle, there is this thing: Rox went after Brown, but lost him to pistons. Brown replaced Carlisle there, and you think Rox would pick up Carlisle? I am cool with that, but Les and CD may feel otherwise.
again, but most of those people probably are the ones who already have tickets and are interested enough already to follow stuff like that or care about stuff like that. the fence-sitters are not eagerly anticipating the long term proving or disproving of carlisle's coaching skills to the gm of a team they don't care about. and i'm not trying to be overly sarcastic when i say this, i'm just saying that's the way i feel it is, carlisle is not a big name.
of course, which coach did a better job of pissing off his players, rubbing management the wrong way, and making the owner mad? apparently no one. since all the threads seem the same, i have no idea where it was posted but regarding rick's firing dumars said the exit interviews from players were scathing regarding carlisle. apparently he also made management mad. and what probably got him fired, he rubbed the owner the wrong way. lets face it, everybody on this carousel is looking for a job for a reason. none of them are perfect. the one who could be said to have left on his own, brown, is not perfect for that very reason, he leaves. carlisle pisses people off. dunleavy may be too much of a players coach and didn't do well in milwaukee. jvg doesn't know offense. silas, i'm not sure, but even with injuries, the hornets are quite talented relative to the rest of the east and have never gotten real far. and the owner is stupid. everyone has a flaw, you just want the guy whose flaw is minimized on your team and whose strengths are maximized.
There are some damn good takes in here. Faced with who is left (with an always possible super-secret surprise choice like Riles or someone else), Carlisle can have a good case made for making the cut. I would prefer him to DM and JVG, but he's not going to juice season ticket sales. Neither are the other two. So we get back to, "what the hell is going on??". Why not seriously look into Carlisle? Why not make a run at Don or Donnie Nelson? One of the Nelsons would get a splash. The controversy and pub from stealing one or both from Cuban would be priceless. I'm used to CD's obcurations. That's his style. Then you get the big, stunning surprise. Or the rediculous contract for 50 years to a "CBA project" that drives us nuts. I think we're going to be surprised. Let's hope it's the "big, stunning" type that has us buzzing in a positive fashion. Just don't hold your breath. So far it doesn't look promising.
