Being willing to change roles and being willing to put in the mental effort it takes to understand those roles and as such play within the offense are two different things. It isn't just about how many shots you take, it's about when and how you take them. He has repeatedly shown...irrespective of his role...the tendancy to get carried away with himself and launch up illadvised solo effort shots, often at coslty times. I give him a lot of credit for doing what you do...which is why I think his head, not his ego ( as possibly with Steve) is the issue. He has shown himself to be class in that respect...but will he ever do what it takes to be a 'smart' player...which any coach will tell you is part ability, part mental effort. Have you ever heard Cat called a 'smart' player by anyone? Is n't that surpriseing, considering that he is our most senior and long serving significant player?
Just one question, what do you guys propose to do if players don't listen to you? Copy the Rudy route and get fired, or take a hard nosed approach?
Who, me? First question...what am I offered, salary wise? But I don't think you can reduce this to a single reponse, as ir depends on so many things...how did you go about things in the first place...what players don'rt listen...how do they not listen...how do they deal with it if I address it...etc? I will say this; lashing out in the press is, IMO something to use very sparingly, if at all. I am hoping that JVG is using it no name, no blame just for now...if he continues to use it during the season...or worse, gets specific or uses it more due to games, etc...it's rarely long term effective.
i think no one can question jvg's commitment to winning. and as professional ballplayers making millions and millions of buckos, they should respect his commitment to winning and get with the program. and if feelings or egos get hurt...F#@% 'em! God, if i was making 10 million a year, you'd think i had a little thicker skin. Hurt my feelings? I'll just buy myself a new porsche. bottom line: jvg has always commanded respect from all his past players. his commitment to the game and to winning is unquestioned. i'd say, in this case, the means definitely justify the end.
I will say that JVG has shown from the out-set that he has some serious gold slingers to go along with that ogre frame.
Having personally never responded well to the authoritarian management style, I ,am worried about the glorification of that management style by most on the board. However, let's don't anticipate problems. I remember having some very good teachers who started off perhaps overly strict at the beginning, established order and than really were quite reasonable after that, thereby winning respect and enthusiatic support, not just sullen obedience due to fear. I also remember the overly authoritarian types at work who accomplish little but high turnover and tension. As another poster mentioned, despite the tough guy image, the players seem to like JVG, so there is more there than mere authoritarianism as a life style. I don't remember JVG constantly running off players. In fact we can all remember him getting along well with Spree, who couldn't stand the authoritarian approach of the GS coach. When it comes to Rudy, I always remember Riley, who is a big disciplinarian of the JVG school, saying: "No one gets their players to play harder for him than Rudy". Of course he was referring to the Championship teams. Hopefully JVG is just using the media to set the tone initially and will slack off on the constant using of it to criticize practically everyone on the team. That gets old, and support or not from management, or even a fair amount of winning or not, is problematical. It can lead only to constant dissention, trades that you better hope work out and restarts yearly with new players, which doesn't build championships either. I'm still hopeful, but it is not because I long for the authoritarian approach of the 1950's NFL.
So If we 20-21 at the all-Star Break THe complaints will be. . . . yao can't handle the load or more likely . . .33 shots a night is not enough for YAO Steve still hogging the ball etc By and large as I stated before Van Gundy is in a Plum position he can DO NO WRONG If we 20-21 at the break there will be 3 types of people. 1. It's the Players 2. Wait and see Van gundy will bring us back . .. gonna have a monster second half 3. Let's TRADE ANYONE BUT . . . [or the modified SOMEONE is a CANCER] Rocket River People felt Rudy got a pass because of Francis' headaches and other injuries I think Van Gundy gets a pass at least for this year from most fans
