I have no problem that EDC making comment here. After all, everyone’s entitled to their own opinions. You may or may not agree, but personal insults are simply uncalled for. Plus, EDC provided us with some great video/audio links in the past, IIRC. If that’s the case, people here need to show some appreciation, if not, respect. BTW, I do NOT agree with EDC. I don’t think JVG should be fired. However, I know my opinions right now are heavily influenced by the fact that we are winning games. When we were losing at the beginning of the season, I was disgusted by his style of offense and screaming for his head. I am sure if we go on with a losing streak and finish the season in the lottery, I will probably switch my opinion once more. However, I am pleased with JVG’s willingness to change. Things didn’t work out at the beginning of the season, so he wiped it out and started from scratch. And guess what? It worked! There is absolutely nothing wrong with making a mistake. However, if a coach or a player doesn’t change for the better and correct their mistakes, then he needs to be fired/traded. In the case of Steve Francis, he was justifiably traded, because he was too stubborn to make a change in his game for the better. That brings up another point. I hate the guaranteed contracts in the NBA. When a player like Francis becomes stubborn, insubordinate and unwilling to change, they keep their paychecks and all the team could do was trading him. When coaches like JVG are unwilling to change, they are threatened to be fired. That’s the way it should be, the coaches are accountable for what they do. The same thing should apply to the players. BTW, EDC, if you were indeed the one providing those video/audio links, thank you!
Considering Kryzewski turned down the Lakers gig for huge money, I don't think he could even be considered half serious. Dunleavy and Harris have each made it to the Finals once as coaches, and neither won - and neither have done it in the last 10 years. Van Gundy made it to the Finals 5 years ago as a head coach. I don't see any reasonable measure they are considered "championship level" and JVG isn't. Mike D'Antoni? Talk about revisionist history. The guy who "led" the Nuggets to a 14-36 record in his only NBA coaching experience. Revisionist, please. You could make a good case for Rick Carlisle or Paul Silas, or that we should have pushed for Larry Brown even harder (who was rumored to be our #1), but these names are pretty weak.
The question is a comparison to JVG. The "championship-caliber" issue is not being asked here. I absolutely would've preferred Phil Jackson, Rudy T., Pat Riley, or Gregg Popovich.
The coaches that you listed who were available: Del Harris Mike Dunleavy Mike D'Antoni Can you please elaborate why you want them coaching the Rockets over JVG? I'm just curious.
off the top of my head: (1) I prefer coaches who played the game at the professional level (D'Antoni and Dunleavy). (2) Harris and Dunleavy both were/are in the Rockets family. (3) Harris and Dunleavy both succeeded in the West. (4) D'Antoni would've been a newcomer and a gamble, but understands the NBA and the International game, the differences and similarities between them. (5) D'Antoni was well-rounded, having not only played and been an assistant coach, but scouted, and spent time in the front-office at the NBA level. (6) The Harris/Yao Ming relationship is well-established.
LOL.. pathetic.. allow me: 1) In no way does that guarantee or assure NBA success. 2) No argument. I didn't care who we brought in, as long as he was a good coach. I'm happy. 3) And both were also fired after under-achieving. 4) You would never have known who D'Antoni was 2 years ago at the time of the firing. And the only reason you mention him now is because of his success with the Suns. Nice. 5) Carrol Dawson did that too. I'm surprised he's not on your list Once again, trying to pick out a successful coach now and act like you endorsed them two years ago. Nice. 6) Well established.... this summer? PS: We hired JVG 2 years ago. But nice try!
Bzzt. D'antoni was the head coach of the Benetton team, and I read up on him (and his desire to get another NBA head coaching job) after the Nachbar draft. He wasn't on the radar for the Rockets, but he should have been. For the money alone, I would've preferred his hire (as more or less an unknown) to Van Gundy's. As to the "playing doesn't guarantee success," one only need look at Magic Johnson to see that. However, success is never guaranteed. Given equal (or more or less equal) resumes, my PREFERENCE is for former players.
oh pleeze... D'antoni has a LOSING career record. He's only decent this year because of one guy... STEVE NASH. Hell, he's even winless without Nash this year. Plus, he has no idea of what a "defense" is... he may be a great assistant coach (which is what he's been most of his career), but never a head coach... and we'll see that play out in the playoffs.
Uhh... right now, that would only be you. If a guy can coach a team to a playoff series win.... at any point in the playoffs... he is a competent HEAD coach. D'antoni has barely even experienced the playoffs in the NBA, as a player or an assistant coach, let alone a head coach.
edc you may have some nice looking paragraphs here and there but you're not even halfway out of the quicksand yet... its up to your neck and just about to float up over your lips just give it up man.
i am laughing at you. i will say you are a blithering idiot, not to insult you but to state a fact. the rockets are currently being coached and playing as well as any rocket team ever. i guess you are carrying on about JVG just to get a rise out of people, but like i said, you're an idiot and you make me laugh, thanks.
Two Words: Chuck Daly. Face it, people, some individuals are so determined to be "right" that they will arrange the facts, statistics, logic, etc. in whichever way suits their fancy. No one is ever, ever, ever going to change EDC's mind except himself, so it's really an exercise in futility. I tell you what, the Rockets could win two championships in a row and EDC is STILL going to want Van Gundy replaced. It's so obvious that it's pointless to try to convince him otherwise. I'm sure that, given the opportunity, he would argue that 2+2 doesn't equal 4. So, why waste time trying to prove your point with him except to satisfy yourself? Bottom line is, sometimes, we'll never really know the #1 reason behind team success, if there even is one single factor. I think the only thing you can reasonably say, or hypothesize, is that you have to have a pretty decent set of players to win a championship. Sorry, but I don't think K.C. Jones was a great coach, yet he led the Celtics to two championships. Phil Jackson? What about 1994? How come no one brings this up? Why couldn't he "lead" the Bulls to the finals that year? A lot harder to do without MJ, huh? What about Byron Scott? Didn't he lead the Nets to two finals appearances? A lot different now that he's in New Orleans, huh? I can take every single coach that has led his team to a championship and show you a year that was unsuccessful for that coach. The one thing I can say with certaintly is that the degree of separation between champion and non-champion is highly exaggerated. Sorry, but anyone who thinks Popovich is a better coach than Larry Brown because he has two rings to his one is, well- again, people are gonna believe what they want. Anyone remember Game 5 of the 1995 Western Conference Semifinals? Wesley Person takes a 3-pointer right before the buzzer goes off? Does anyone remember the shot? The ball circled the cylinder twice before it rolled out? What happens if that shot goes in? Were the Suns really that much worse than us?No. Barkley, Ewing, Reggie Miller- these guys are just as much "winners" as Pippen, Olajuwon, etc. So the "championship-caliber" coach argument is pretty silly, in my humble opinion. Van Gundy seems to be doing a reasonably good, if not great, job. I support him 100%.
Damn JVG and his 361-266 career NBA record (to date)! We could have had Mike D'Antoni (74-87), Mike Dunleavy (480-499), or Paul Silas (362-406)! Losing coaches for the win!
That was just a layup. ...and now you want D'Antoni because of what he did at Benneton? Uh, yeah, I read the ESPN article on him too. Ever think he left the NBA because the demand for him wasn't there following his 14-36 performance as the Nuggets' coach? Both McDyess and Van Exel played every game that year, too. You're just reaching for ways to not like JVG. If you stopped trying so hard not to like him, you may actually like what you see. Harris and Dunleavy "succeeded" in the West before it was the tower of power it has been the last few years. The last time Harris coached a team into the Finals was before MJ even entered the league.
JVG just doesnt have that championship look about him. Only if he could have the golden smile of Rudy T and grease his hair like Pat Riley and have a tan, then you know, mabye, just maybe the gang of fathheads who dislike vangundy would come around. and its not just edc, you know who im talking about 4 am posters.
[sarcasm alert] If you genuinely believe that, then you are the most ignorant warm-blooded creature in the several-billion year history of the planet. I say that, not to insult you, but to state a fact. [/sarcasm alert]
