I've loved Gundy from the day he was brought onboard. I love his work ethic, his self-deprecating sense of humor, his intelligence, his irony, and the passion that he brings to the team. [Jeesh. Suddenly it sounds like I'm writing wedding vows.] I know that Almu has first dibs in the "I'm in loooooooove!" department, but I'm next in line.
He's really different from Rudy in style. That's his only problem in this market. Rudy won championships while being the kinda guy who would remember your name, even if he only met you two years ago for the first and only time. Rudy was a people-person, big time. Van Gundy is all business. He recognizes the importance of key relationships in his model...but he's tough. And he's no-nonsense. But at the heart of it, I hear he and Rudy ulimately saying the same things...being very much the same. When I hear Van Gundy say, "Hey everyone talks about how great they are in the league...let's be a team that doesn't have to talk about it, because our play speaks for itself," it makes me think of Rudy. That sounds like a sentiment that would come from Rudy. When I hear him talk about teamwork and chemistry, it sounds like Rudy.
When we ha a bad record at the beginning of the season, I thought the best option was that we should get rid of JVG, not because he was a bad coach, but because the situation demanded it(long loosing streak...). But boy has he proven me wrong! Like a buch of people here allready said, he knows how to get the best out of his players(motivation, chemistry, call it what you want!). Now we're in the playoffs fighting for the 5th seed, and with JVG coaching I think we'll go pretty deep. ALA
I was one of the people that sticked with JVG when all hell broke lose and I'm glad I did. I started a "props to JVG" thread a while back and its great get another one goin...he deserves it that much. On a side note, his substitution and rotation pattern were excellent in that game against Denver and was the reason we got back into the game. He's just a fine coach and will do well for many years.
I defended this guy back at the start of the season and I'm glad all that sillyness of wanting him gone are done, for this season at least. Ah those crazy day of 6-11 and all those crazied threads....
I've gone round and round with people on the BBS about whether JVG changed his style or whether players bought into what was his style all along. IMO its obvious he changed when comparing this teams offense vs. the way last year's team and his previous Knicks teams played. I agree that what sparked this change was getting in different players who JVG trusted enough to allow them to play to their strengths of running, creating shots or in the case of Barry and James pulling the trigger on an outside shot when the rest of the O isn't set. So I'll give props to JVG but I'll also give props to CD too for bringing in players who JVG can trust.
What happen to edc (or ecd..whatever) and his "Fire Gundy" thread? Who need Phil when we have Gundy !!!!!!!
I'm glad Van Gundy listened to McGrady. Probably he had no choice but to look at the team now you would have never really guessed there was any friction. If ya'll think he's a good coach now, let's see what happens in the offseason. If we can land that young stud PF that we need--and it's a tall order (Swift? maybe; Chandler? tough, tough!; Wilcox? be still my heart)--then we'll be in position to wreak some havoc next season. And JVG shall lead them. Note: I, too, was beginning to hate him.
Originally, I agreed with the need for us to get a new coach (post-Rudy). My first choice would have been Larry Brown, and close second was JVG. Knowing what I know now about Brown's lack of long-term endurance, JVG would be my first choice. I liked it very much when JVG came to the Rox, and I've regarded him highly, even while others here wanted him fired. There were times, earlier in the season, when I disagreed with some of his rotation choices. But those occurred at times when he was still trying to find the best rotation and trying to bring more talent to the roster. No crow for me, thank you. -- droxford
I am happy where we are in the grand scheme of things, but we are still far to fragile of a team for me to be completely satisfied. However, the team respects and responds to JVG, that is clear, and that alone commands respect. DD
Yes, didn't he say that JVG would have to win at least 51 games in order to save himself from being terminated? Or something like that? Well, he'll be here soon so we'll know for sure.
I think it was somthing about JVG needed 51 wins and some advancing in the playoffs or the Rockets should consider other options ... but that message was lost because he kept reviving the Fire JVG thread in the mist of a winning streak -
I've been a JVG supporter since the begining (even in those "dark days" when we scored like 10 pts a quarter). I watched his first game as interum coach on the NYKs, and my brother is a huge knicks fan and always told me about how good a coach he is. I love him. BTW, whatever happened to that "Fire JVG Thread"???
