Exactly. These guys get paid millions of dollars to play basketball. But they also get paid millions of dollars to listen to the coach and run the system he has in place. Now JVG may not make them run laps, but watch him yank someone out of the game and sit him down when he dribbles out the shot clock and does not pass once. That is a manager.
And we probably could have got her for less than what it's gonna cost us to get JVG. Why didn't she give Les a call? "Hey you cheap b*****d, I could coach this team."
I totally agree. There is a management training class that I recently attended entitled "Twelve O'Clock High". This class teaches that every employee you have requires handling in different ways. If the individual does not know what is required or how to do something then micromanagement is the way to go. As people begin to show competency in what you are asking from them, you start to shift to a more team oriented (we're all in this together) approach, and then finally a hands off approach when the individual knows what to do and does it well. According to this model, JVG should come in here and set down his rules and expectations immediately. As both the team, and individual players grow, his style should change accordingly. NOTE: He can and should treat the team as an entity seperate from the players. i.e. The team may need very strict supervision while Glen Rice (the veteran) may not. The training class uses the old black and white movie "Twelve O'Clock High" starring Gregory Peck. This movie is a terrific example of what is necessary with these Rockets. The movie is about a WWII Air Force outfit that starts out very shabby. The commander of the unit is replaced with Gregory Peck and he shapes them into a top flight unit. When he first arrives, he is barking out orders, everyone is scared of him, and some even want to quit. But as people buy into what he is trying to do, they start to tast sucess. Over the course of the movie, Peck changes the way he manages the unit several times. This movie should be required viewing for any Rocket fan that wants to see what can happen with the right leadership. In fact, I might pick up a copy the next time I am at Best Buy.
That was a great movie! We used the movie as a case study in business school as part of a Leadership course. 2 thumbs up!
I made the argument that this team needs discipline but I too share Pat's and others's concern about JVG having to tight a reign that might throttle the players' creativity. It's very hard to find the right balance. We can only hope JVG is the man for that job.
I understand what you're saying, but you're talking about a young team that hasn't won anything. Of all the players on the Rockets team, besides Glen Rice, no one has contributed on a winning basketball team. Mobley played on the last playoff team for the Rockets, and Cato rode the bench in Portland, but everyone else don't know what it takes night in and night out. Either you have veterans to help or the coach to which the Rocket had neither. The buck stopped with Rudy and even though they had talent, it was young undeveloped talent molded into a team. The 45 win season didn't really get going until Rudy started playing Hakeem in the 4th qt's , and Hakeem started b****ing about team ball and execution. The young Rockets, Francis,Norris,Mobley,Taylor and Anderson took a step back and had to listen to the icon. Once he was gone and the injured Rice came in , the Rockets new captains looked different at leadership. Hopefully the Rockets don'tjust give up their young talent for some guy who will only play 2 or 3 yrs to say the y have veterans. I think JVG attention to detail, much like some of the other good coaches will take the place of adding these type of players. Rudy would do better on a team with good veterans already in place instead of a team like the young Rockets or Clippers.
