From the Chronicle: Did you know? With a 96-68 record in his two seasons with the Rockets, Jeff Van Gundy's .585 winning percentage is the best of any coach in Rockets history. Last paragraph in Feigen's article.
Yao and Moochie (Sounds like an After-school special)! Listen, we may not have the brightest bulbs in the sack here in H town, but we have some of the funniest posters for sure ...LOLLOOOOll confidential to Tigermission..come down off your little high horse ,,,your no better then anyone else.. Can you believe that this guy Gerry up in Dallas writes a freankin article about how SHAWN BRADLEY can be a big factor...but doesn't even mention the number two MVP of this team, Dekembe Mutumbo ? Boy are they in for a shooker-roo...Rockets in 6..... My buddy is singing the national anthem Saturday, lucky me I 'm sitting down below ! Look for the guy with the Rockets hat that flashes Rockets on the front..a custom hat for a custom team..
Not rebuilding in the literal sense. Look, Rudy T rebuilt this team after the Dream era. He took a team that was declining and rebuilt it through a lottery - THAT'S REBUILDING. Van Gun did was different. He came to Houston to take a team that was young, rising, and ready for the playoffs - and indeed, he took the team to the playoffs in his first year. The core of the team was intact. He didn't change the core to get to the playoffs. He changed the core to get to a championship. I'm saying he's not willing to coach anything less then a playoff team. If Houston didn't have Francis in the first place, I don't think JVG would be here. That's my point. Once again, you miss the point and focus on semantics.
Not willing? Well, give the guy a chance first...he came to this team for a reason... He was brought in to change the direction of the team because of Francis/Yao and because Rudy wasn't cutting it. You are pointing out the circumstances that most coaches would make. A coach comes to a team that has *some* talent, right? How many coaches are lured to coach a bunch of scrubs? Usually a assistant coach or interim coach will take over when a team is that bad (Rudy took over Cheney's coaching spot -- Rudy was already w/the team). More on this later... After one year with Francis, Jeff knew that it wouldn't work (did Rudy?). Thank the basketball gods for him realizing this. The list I provided was posted to show HOW MUCH has changed (roster) since Jeff took over. Do you think that Jeff couldn't have rebuilt this team if he was here when Yao was available? As far as Francis? He probably wouldn't have taken Francis (via trade) in the first place. Something to think about. How ironic that it was Francis that picked (lotto) Yao which in turn ended up being his reason for the trade. Anyways... I just think that the changes that he's made *show* that he can rebuild. Jeff makes smart moves/roster changes. It just depends on what that coach does when things *are not* working that important. I think that Jeff is smart enough to draft the right players even if we didn't have superstars (your definition of *rebuilding*). Want proof? Wait until we we a few titles and Jeff is here for our next rebuilding era (6-7 years from now). When a coach is lured to a team, yes you are right, there is some talent in place (like Rudy and Kobe). But when you are already here. That's when you *have* to go through the lean years (rebuild from scratch). It's just circumstantial. Doesn't mean that he's not that *kind* of coach. But first thing is first. We must win a few titles.
I guess time will tell, but I guarantee you when it's time for this team to rebuild (go through the lottery), JVG will be gone. And that won't end up being in the classic moments area either. He wouldn't have come to Houston if he didn't think he could take this team far immediately. He saw Francis and Yao, and was like WOW. A lot of coaches walk into a crappy situation....Larry Brown doesn't mind rebuilding for instance, neither does Pat Riley...but JVG is a molder, not a build from scratch sort of guy. But JVG walked onto a team that was playoff bound the year before save for the head coach getting cancer and self-destructing at the end of the season. He knew the team was at least a good team. It wasn't the clipper or golden state, or atlanta. He came to Houston - to win, not to build. I think he knew Francis couldn't get it, and that's why he had to trade him. But that wasn't part of his original plan.
Larry Brown wants to win. And any coach will take the best option available for winning. Saying Larry Brown doesn't "mind" rebuilding is implying that he prefers to rebuild than to go to a team that has a core talent pool. Coaches prefer to go to teams that have some resemblance of a core. Riley w/Mourning/Hardaway in Miami. Ewing in NY. Iverson for Brown in Philly. Phil with Shaq/Kobe. Larry Brown has a long career. He's been around. His star was Iverson for a while. When that didn't work he changed strategies. Team oriented with an emphasis on defense. He made some key trades for Sheed and activated Prince. One year! And that's what Jeff is doing. He's made some quick changes in 1 1/2 years. That smart and efficient. He was hired for a reason. To coach Yao (and get Francis to buy into that), then later Tmac. He has a reputation of getting the most out of his players. He wasn't hired because we *want* him to trade everyone and then rebuild just to prove his can. You are taking the circumstances (opportunity to coach Yao) and then making an assumption on what coaches prefer: "Jeff prefers winning over losing (duh!). And because of that he's not good a rebuilding (wtf?)!" He could rebuild if he had to. As long as he's welcomed here. As far as Jeff being here after TMac/Yao. Time will tell. But YOU can't guarantee anything. Houston fans will welcome Jeff back for a rebuilding phase as long as we win some titles. That's just the way we are. I know you are out of that loop (always bashing Houston). When you say, we were not the Clips, or Golden State, or Atlanta. Yes. What coach in his right mind would take those team over Houston? It's not like Dunlevy wouldn't have taken the job if we asked him too. Jeff was taken over Mike. Some coaches take what they can get. It would be hard to belive that Dunlvey wanted to coach the Clips over the Rockets just because he *preferred* to start from scratch (relatively speaking). I mean, please...spare me the idealism. Why not? You already have a few classic moments. Why change now? Like you said, "Time will tell." NewYorkers classic moments....
When Pat Riley went to Miami, Miami didn't have Mourning. It had nothing, it was a crapola team. Larry brown always goes to non-playoff teams. He's KNOWN as a builder. Guys like Phil and JVG are guys who go to WINNING teams. They may RETOOL a team (actually CD has a lot to do with it too), but they don't want to go through the 50 loss season, or even the 40 loss season. They could never stand it. NEVER. Anyone who thinks JVG could stomach a 40 loss season or more is crazy. He'd rather retire. It's not about what Houston wants, it's about him. And I only have one thing in the classic quotes....are you envious?
Pat traded players to bring in Mourning/Hardaway. That's why I mentioned them. Not because of some pipe dream you have with a coaches *desire* to rebuild for the sake of rebuilding (that's your frame of mind). As far as Larry Brown...He's been coaching since 1976! That's why he's "known." Give Jeff some time to get experience. Brown had to start somewhere. He's coaching his 7th team (29 years). Jeff is coaching is 2nd team (10 years; 1 1/2 with is 2nd). So, don't tell me what Jeff isn't "known" for without first letting him head coach more than 25 years (like Brown). If the coach has control of some of the decisions he'll be able to make the changes necessary to for a winning team (as did both Jeff, Pat and Larry). That's what it's all about. Jeff has the same type of situation except that Yao was a mainstay (rebuild the rest of the team). Riley would have done the same thing. You take advantage of the roster and then fill in weak spots. I mean, what? Are you trying to say is that Jeff is selfish? By the way, Pat did go to Miami also because that city had a larger market (like LA and NY). It wasn't all just for Miami's fans. It was for *him* too (a bit of pride). And he was also lured to Miami because of his past successes. That's why other coaches weren't taken over him. Other coaches that probably didn't have the same amount of experience -- one being Jeff Van Gundy -- just incase you would say that Jeff wouldn't have taken the job in Miami for selfish reasons of losing. I mean, maybe he wouldn't have been asked in the first place. Everyone has to start somewhere and Jeff is getting more experience as the days go by. The reason some coaches get their good name is because they have a way of making teams better. And that probably why they are asked to coach a team with an established star or big market. They've proven themselves in the past. Next... Did you even read what I said about the lean years? If Jeff wins a few titles then he would be allowed by the fans to rebuild the team. He'd have the city's support. What's funny is that you accuse him for trying to *win* for selfish resons, instead of enduring a losing season for a *rebuilding erea*.... Then you imply that Houston fans don't want the same thing: to win (?). Heck, we wouldn't stand too many losing seasons. We'd demand his job if it went on too long. But with some titles...we'd be willing to give Jeff some leeway if he already won a few. I don't see Jeff leaving just because we get a 42-40 season when it would be KNOWN to the fans that we were rebuilding after TMac/Yao. In fact, I don't see us losing that bad when he's at the helm for long. As long as he has time to get the right players (1 1/2 years). Our "rebuilding" wouldn't take that much time; he would have support and proved he can make good decisions. If a coach has to go though two or more seasons of 42-40, that should say something about the coach, ownership and management. No coach would last very long if the ownership doesnt give the coach something to use. It's about give and take. So, no coach could stomach losing season after season. They'd get fired before long. One season of mediocre players?....Well, Jeff could "stomach" 42-40 as long as he was welcomed and already won a few titles here. It's not going to be a 4-5 year rebuilding process with Jeff. He's already shown me that. He'd have the team winning again before you'd know it. That's how he is. He has a that skill and knowledge.
JVG is kinda like a durian (http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~durian/ , for those who don't know). Really really unpleasant on the outside, but for those who realize its wonders... an oval-shaped piece of heaven. Truth be told, I can't stand durian. But I love JVG. He is the man.
I was really excited when we hired JVG.... then the ugly basketball came. It was miserable to watch. By the 6-11 start this year, when even a Tracy McGrady lead team was horrible to watch, I was ready to see him fired. But damned if JVG didn't seem to have a plan all along, it's like he had to get them playing the defense he wanted them to play before he loosened the reigns offensively. Sorry for doubting you, JVG. You're a freakin' genius. The Rockets are not only playing great, but they're playing basketball that's fun to watch. Thanks.
Thats the one......lol JVG is a mistro. I don't think there are many coaches in the league who can compare with the preparation that he puts into each and every game and especially the playoffs. Once he got rid of the lugheads we had and brought in the type of player that excels under his type of coaching it was only a matter of time.
