Fox: Rockets Already Interviewed Van Gundy & Dunleavy

I'm not sure why everyone worries about Brown leaving prematurely. The average coaching tenure in the NBA is about, what, 5 years? I just don't see this as an issue.

Besides, if he manages to lead your team to a championship, that is the only thing that matters. I'd suffer though just about anything to have that kind of success again.

 

Larry Brown has a track record that is rarely touched by any coach in the sports world:

He is a proven winner wherever he has coached (college or pros).

Hell he even led the lowly Clippers to back-to-back playoff berths!


Anyone who does that deserves a medal of honor.

 

The bottom line is this: the Rockets are a team of players who don't know how to play basketball, and Larry Brown is a great teacher of the game. He's perfect. If he leaves after 2-3 years, so what? He'll leave behind a team that does know how to play, and then the Rockets can bring in a "players coach" to get out of the way and let them play. Someone like Rudy T.

 

Yeah, but that's what people fear, Jeff. This guy leaves winning teams! It's not like he's had the modern-day Clippers. He leave leaves 45+ and 50+ win-level-teams. His average tenure is about 3 years, I think. I love the ability of the guy but worry about the longevity. That being said, I'd still love to have the guy given the other choices out there.

 

i rather him leaving us when we're doing good than leaving us when we're like 18-64

 

Personally, I don't think you could ask for much better candidates to be available at a time when the Rockets have an opening. Or at the very least it's a very good group of candidates to have out there. And when someone like Brown "makes himself available" a couple of days after the Rockets' job comes up, that's got to pump you up even more if you're a Rocket fan! It feels really great to know this job is a really desirable one among reputable NBA coaches.

This at least provides some excitement and hope for next season...to go with the arena and the uniforms. That's three exciting offseasons in a row. Now if we can just turn that into regular and postseason excitement!

 

I'm with DoD on this one. He left Sa when they had a young Robinson,Elliot and Anderson for the Cilpps. He left a Clipps team after 2 yrs when he still had Manning,Harper,Jackson among others to go to Indy. He left Indy with Miller,Both Davis boys,Smits and Jackson along with a 43 win team. Larry came in and took them to the finals in less that 4 yrs. He's been in Philly for 6 yrs and has them competitve, but limited and is leaving that team. How long will he coach here?

Lets be realistic as Rocket fans. I don't think its a coach in the world that can lead this team to the conf finals in 3 yrs, much less the nba finals. Looking at the other young team we will have to battle in not only the west, but just in texas, it will be nearly impossible feat. After those 3 or 4 yrs when Ming hits 26 or so and shaq has realy slowed down, this team will be ready, but Brown would be likely ready to move on. Is that really the stability that Les is looking for?

I will not dispute the fact that Larry Brown is a really good coach, but what if he was a little more patient with Tim Thomas and Coleman the first time around? What about Harpring when he was there considering the scoring droughts they have? Snow,Iverson,Thomas,and Coleman as the 1,2,3,4 would have been very nice. Since Larry has been in Philly, how many trades did he make getting rid of young,good talent for older marginal talent? I mean think about how that team was put together, torn down ,then put back together. I mean he had a rookie in Thomas avg 11ppg w/45%, and Derrick Coleman at 17ppg 10 rebs and Ratliff for a then departed Jerry stackhouse, and Jim Jackson at 15ppg and 5 rebs. The next season during the strike season, he traded Tim Thomas and Scott Williams for Ty Hill and J.Honeycutt. Also gone were Jim Jackson and Derrick Coleman for some combination of Aaron McKie from Portland and Matt Geiger and Lynch form Charlotte. The next season, a player who was drafted in 98 by Brown in Larry Hughes, is traded for Toni Kukoc and someone. The next yr Ratliff and kukoc were gone for Mutombo who helped them get to the finals no doubt. The next season, Geiger,McCulloch,Jones and Lynch are all traded with Harpring coming in. The next season, the newly signed Mutombo is traded, Harpring leaves via free agency and McCulloch and Van horn comes in. In a span of those 6 yrs, look how many times he's overhauled that roster and left .

He doesn't worry me a a good coach, just as a personnel man and his scorch the earth trades he make during those runs.

 

Did anybody see Steven A. Smith on The Best Damn Sports Show Period? He says that Brown may return to the Clippers. His wife likes LA. Brown likes Sterling. They have talent. Sterling might open the purse for Brown, too.

 

How is Van Gundyball better than Rudyball

Rocket River

 

Larry Bird once said that, after 3 years, the players begin to tune any coach out, no matter how good he is.

for that reason, he said he'd never coach past about 3 years with any one team. I think he made it 4 with the pacers.

I've never heard Brown say it, but it wouldn't surprise me if he feels the same way, and that's why he moves so much.

I pretty much agree with both of them.

 

1 to 3 years with Larry Brown teaching our Rocket-kids would be just what the doctor ordered. Win or lose.

 

If Larry Brown develops this team into a contender, and is crazy enough to leave afterwards, we can just call on the services of Phil Jackson, and he'll bring us home.

 

4-5 years. The optimal length of a NBA coach's tenure should be between 5-6 years. Why? Because as you stay in a job for too long, you get lazy and you lose your edge. Your assistant coaches become complacent.

So if Brown is willing to stay for 4-5 years, it is not a bad deal. He will teach Rox's players a lot of things, and it is a sure thing that he will lead Rox to a NBA final or a conference final. Whether win it or not would depend on the talent of the team instead of his coaching. Pacers can not beat the Bulls, 76ers can not beat the Lakers anyway.

So after 4-5 years, players become veterans, they have been to the final at least one time. If Brown leaves, it is not that bad a deal.

The bad thing I don't like Brown is that he is trade-happy. But with this Houston team, I don't believe he is going to trade SF or Yao.

 

that's funny, look what Shaq is doing to P. Jackson.

 

Why is it that so many of you say "Gosh, I wish we would trade:Mobley, Griffin, MoT, SF, Rice, Cato" and then say "I don't want Brown because he's trade happy!" isn't that kind of hypocrytical?!

 

Hypocricy is part of fanhood, don't you know that by now?

Somebody suggested that Les should hire all the members here to be the new coach, because all of us know exactly what the Rockets need.

 

Just heard the last part of Bermans interview with Dunleavy. Dunleavy did say 'he had a good meeting yesterday with Les and he really hopes he gets the job.'

So, to me, it is obvious that Houston is Dunleavy's first choice.

 

Even though I'm sure he would like the job, what else would you expect him to say?

 

Berman did not ask him if he wanted the job. He only asked him about the interview. But hey, it was just a little update, dont feel like debating what you feel he's suppose to say in that situation or whatever.

 

Gotcha.