I'm sure most of us have seen High Noon, but for those who haven't, it's a real time western starring Gary Cooper as a respected, tough small town sherrif who gets word that some of the baddies he's dealt with in the past are on their way to town to exact revenge. As there are several of them, he spends much of the movie going around town asking for back up from the people he has protected in the past, and one by one they turn him down, saying it's none of their affair, they have families to worry about, etc. In the end, all anyone offers is adive that Cooper should get out of town. Jeff Van Gundy has come to town firing from the hip like any old Western gunslinger. He has already questioned players' comittment, work ethic, and said that if the team of the past underachieved, it wasn't because of coaching. He has sent out a clear 'no crap' messge to the players, and has already criticized them more in the press...without a game or practice in the books...than his predecessor did in his entire career. Most of us wanted a change from the practice of coddling players and cushioning them in the press...we wanted accountability. Clearly JVG sees the same problem. But the assumption that it will work is premature; doing the seemingly 'right' thing does not always work. But more to the point, JVG is going about this in a way most of the chore players on this team have never seen." That's just the point!" many will respond, and I agree, but with each shot at the players in the press...with each shift in club priority towards defense and team play, Jeff Van Gundy may be taking the right step, but he is simultaneously stepping a little it further out onto a limb. He is gambling that he won't alienate several of the previously coddled and cushioned players by so doing, or that if he does alienate them, he will have support from the organization. But is that a safe bet? Yao will likely not utter a word of complaint, even in the unliekyl event that it occurs to him, but Steve, Cuttino and Eddie Griffin, to name a few, have never been coached this way before. Others, like Mo Taylor came here with Rudy's soft handed apprach as among the attractions. Remember that in JVG's one and only previous head coaching experience he was largely taking on veterans and guys who had been through the wars with the likes of Pat Riley, so his heavy handed coaching style would not come as an affront, but that is not the case here. You and I would support him, no doubt, at least this early in the honeymoon. But if push comes to shove...and it just might...will management back the coach, or will Steve, Cat, Eddie, and Mo get their way? We've all heard the old saw about firing 12 players. Remember, other coahces have been fired for doing the right thing to. I am wondering here about the dpeth of Van Gundy's organizational support should things erupt before his tough cop method has had time to pay off. I am not saying it will happen; far from it. I am hoping and thinking it willl work...because it should. But I think that any Rckets fan with open eyes, seeing the stark contrast between what Steve, Cat etc. are used to and what is coming must admit that the possibility certainly exists that it won't go well...and what will happen in that eventuality? Will CD and Les bite the bullet, and tell Francis to shut up..or even further, trade the malcontents no matter their profile? Remember the new arena, etc..Will they back the coach... ...or will it be High Noon in Houston?
They will except it IF they win. If they start out slow, it could be Mutiny. However, I think the brass knows that the players are the problem, and will make moves to get the right players in there. The onus in on the players....... DD
Jeff Van Gundy is No Gary Cooper Super Duper Puttin' on the Ritz No high noon in H-town. I think it will be a this is my way or the highway type of deal with the new coach.
This is so important for the success of the team. Do not overlook the gravity of this situation. I do not think Steve and any of the other Rockets that are close to him really will like the new direction of sacrifice, discipline and authority that JVG brings. It is the right thing. And I personally will support JVG to the end on this one. But reality is that there will be some major battles on this team during this transition. I for one believe Steve has hinted as much in several interviews that he is not coming in to embrace from his heart the new style Rockets. If it gets personal from the players perspective, expect there to be some big time dissent that will effect the potential of this season. This bothers me more than anything this year. When Steve or Cuttino don't do in the game what they have been told to do, expect JVG to deal with it. Straight on. Then the fireworks may start. In all of my own speculation, I hope we win early. Because winning will help JVG with some of these players more than anything else. If we fumble out of the gate.... look out.
I'm on bored with other prognosticators that, when the trade deadline looms, some of these players will be shown the dough. Oops... On board / shown the door
MacBeth- Management will back JVG if there are people in the seats in the new arena. I think the real trouble for JVG would come if the players mutiny and the fans don't show up. Wow the pressure would be NY like for him.
Mac Beth, You just have to be the first to bring this up, dont' you? I was expecting this talk after we'd under achieved for 2 yrs but not now. I hope management backs JVG. This management stayed out of Rudy's way for a long time so I think they will for a little while with Jeff. Jeff also put himself in a good situation. The coach will be let go if management can't move players without detrimental effects to the team. Our star player Yao isn't likely to make trouble. All new players are professionals that will back Jeff up. Others are expendable. Steve included, Houston had not identified with him yet since he had not won anything. What more, other teams like him, you can get very good return.
i really can't decide what i think. i've been pondering this myself for some time now. part of me wants to strangle stevie at times- but he is our boy. i don't like all this crazy trade talk- i think you need stability and commitment to succeed. there may well be some kind of confrontation between francis and van gundy, but i hope not. i don't think jeff is a hard-ass just for the sake of being one (ala jerry sloan). i think he uses humor well and is a good leader of men. maybe it's just wishful thinking but, he will get through to steve and we will all be very happy campers. or maybe not. p.s. i like the high noon analogy
Good post. However, I've seen the "hints" also but IIRC this time last year Stevie was "hinting" that he didn't agree with us taking Yao at #1. Now they are practically best friends. I really think Stevie will jump on board.....eventually.
Management will back JVG and together they will build a team with Yao as the focal point. The current cast will be evaluated and their value to the team determined. If their value to the team is greater as trade bait, they will go. However, I think the main players will buy into the JVG system and disipline because they know they have been a flop so far as a team,
JVG is a very intelligent coach, and correct me if I'm wrong, has always commanded a great deal of respect from his former players. His players seem to always go the extra yard for him. I liken what JVG is doing right now, by calling out his players, is similar to what Bill Parcells does and what Buddy Ryan did with the Houston Oiler defensive players when he came to Houston for one season. He is trying to break the players down and build them back up again. Remember that Parcells called Terry Glenn "she" and has constently bashed his players openly to the media when he first goes to a team. But everywhere Parcells goes to coach his former players follow, including Terry Glenn. Likewise, defensive players followed Buddy Ryan everywhere he coached. I think it will all work out for the current Rocket players and if it doesn't then they aren't worth keeping around.
You don't think JVG has the green light from management? IMO, that's the reason he was brought in as head coach. You don't think that management knows that we have a group of soft, underachieving players? I don't think the Rockets are worried about Yao Ming. I think this is directed toward Steve and Cat and Mo T and Cato and the rest of the bunch. If this bunch is not with the program I honestly believe they will be shipped. Management knows that Yao Ming will bring us championships. Management also knows that JVG will coach this team in a manner in which Yao is the centerpiece. For the Rockets to win championships the existing players have one of two options: 1. Play to the style in which management knows that WILL bring championships. OR...... 2. Don't, and be gone! It's very simple. If theses current players do not adhear to JVG, they will be traded for players that will. I think this includes the likes of Francis and everyone not named Yao Ming. What I believe the organization has done by hiring JVG and given him the "green light", is they have simply drawn thier sword and put the line in the sand. Go Hard or Go Home!
