Yeah and continue allowing Yao to regress would be a great idea. College and Pro ball are very different... The refs call the game very differently. He was a good Pro coach. Phil Jackson has never come into a lottery situation, which by what your saying is what would more than likely happen if we just ride this out.
And Van Gundy could guard someone?... LOL Did JVG ever even play? maybe a Jr. High girls church league ... I'd go with Kenny "The Jet" Smith because he's been there and assisted in winning two Championships. He's also familiar to Houston. I think he'd have a much more positive attitude and I think he'd earn the players respect by showing them respect. The biggest problem with this team is the attitude (similar to the Astros before the all-star break). The team has just pretty much just given up because of Van Gundy's dictatorship style. He changed the team from Cato, Mobley and Francis because he didn't like the chemistry (now he's threatening to do it again). A great coach should be able to adapt his coaching style to that of his team's talents - Van Gundy wants to change his team to match his coaching style.
Sports management cliche rulebook rule no. 101.14A states that every time you get rid of a "disciplinarian", you follow up with a "player's coach", and vice versa. Please make your suggestions accordingly.
Do you ever listen to Kenny? He brings up excellent points. When he mentions that the Rockets need more possesions. Kenny would make a great coach, he is well liked and is a former player of the Rockets. Hey that sounds like some dude named RUDY. KENNY!! KENNY!!
Fair point about JVG not being a basketball star. I don't think you pick your coach by how good a player they were in the NBA anyway. My larger point there was that being an announcer on TNT shouldn't qualify you to be considered. Kenny has never coached. I like Kenny and he was a big part of our championship runs. But, he was not the superstar player. More of a role guy. He's got a mouth and some decent opinions. He's great for TNT. No need to elevate him further.
no but when Sura took the charge late in the game and they called him for a blocking foul, I yelled out BS ... and also started screaming Fire Van Gundy... I was in row 20
Coaching Replacements 1. Phil Jackson (if available)- 9 Championships speak for itself. 2. Del Harris- Good guy, has already worked with Yao quite a bit. Deserves to coach again. 3. Donnie Nelson- Don't know much about him. Seems to know the game well and sticks up for his players. He's always the 1st to get a tech for yelling at the refs, not necessarily a good thing, but its nice for players to see their coach has feelings.
I agree that being an announcer should not qualify him for the position and neither should playing, but let's look at what does qualify - 1) He was a Rocket is familiar to the area and team 2) He was part of several Championship teams (that were built around a team philosophy, with only one real superstar, Hakeem, and many great role players - until year two with Drexler) 3) He has a positive attitude and seems to be liked by most of the players 4) He brings up many points on TNT that make me believe that he understands the game. The bottom line is the Rockets need a coaching change, because the talent is there. I really don't think being a superstar player qualifies someone as a good coach either - if you look at most of the successful coaches in the leage most were role players, ala Phil Jackson, Rudy T., Don Nelson, Pat Riley, etc. Most were never even the best player on their team. We all saw what happened when Magic tried to coach the Lakers, although Bird did a great job, he never won it all with the Pacers.
With all of the heat starting to get to Gundy, Im not too sure if he will be able to try and make it through December like I originally thought would happen. With that said, I'm voting either for K.Smith or Donnie Jr. to come in and coach out this season as a benchmark for the next year. Kinda like the 'Stros did this season. Awefully similar to thier season so far.
