Jeff Van Gundy to be on ESPN 790 with Charlie today (6/16/2006)

Sounds like when JVG talks your ears are on steroids. The NY Times has a job waiting when you graduate.

 

Maybe. But isn't JVG a workaholic? If so, why is he avoiding the homework on what could be the most important draft of his Houston tenure?

Yeah, sure.

 

Well you have to ask yourself some questions.

Is he required there?

Maybe CD didn't need him there?

His assistant coaches were there anyway. When I watch games, I usually see JVG talking to his assistants. I think they have alot of knowledge.

 

My bad. Clutch has a great writeup on the front page. I didn't hear the interview, but I don't see what people are talking about here and reading a bunch of stuff between the lines.

 

Read his quotes again Dynasty, he wants size and athleticism at SG. And you can't compare Marcus Williams w/ Redick because they play 2 different positions and have 2 very different playing styles.

 

You have to admit the 33" vert is pretty decent.

 

My take on JVG is that he's a micromanager, a very hands-on kind of guy. After all, he loves to call all the plays on offence. And he's supposed to be one of the most prepared coaches in the NBA. So I find it jarring that he's not doing the homework this summer. I can only conclude that he's slowly being eased out.

 

I don't think so. I think they are wanting to add offense to Van Gundy's defense and the only way to do it is to wrestle control of the draft away from him. They are taking advantage of the fact that they were right on Luther and Hayes to soften up Van Gundy and get him to accept their draft decisions. I think they are gonna find a way to give Van Gundy his defensive stopper and hand him a scorer along with it. And Van Gundy is a smart coach that will recognize that he needs both and needs to give minutes to both.

To me, this is make or break time for this organization for the next 5 to 8 years. If they do it right this offseason, we will be in great shape to contend for titles throughtout that time. If they mess it up, we could become the Timberwolves of the past 10 years, always fiddling with the roster and hoping to surround Yao and TMac with enough pieces parts to get us to a championship. This is the offseason where we build the core of our team up to 5-6 players.

 

I doubt he was there for some workouts last year. You're looking too into this or you already have your mind set on him leaving because you want him to leave.

 

A couple weeks ago Van Gundy said he didn't want Hayes and Head and that Lindsey wanted them, he also said he had no say in draft picks, it was even posted on THIS forum. Let's try to keep the insults to a minimum please.

 

Post the link. I don't remember this.

 

Ya it is. But JVG said he wanted size and athleticism at SG so I didn't see the point in comparing JJ w/ Marcus Williams.

It's like comparing Jason Kidd's vertical to Mobley's.

 

and u seem to think that MJ will take just 5 mil???

 

JVG is really getting old.

He has no business bad mouthing all the potential draft picks like that even if it was or is true as the coach he should not be saying things like none of them would ever start if they are there at 8.

That's just poor poor coaching skills.

What message does that send to those potential players? Yeah I'm sure they can't wait to play for someone like that.

Also if Jeff is so down and depressed and wants so much to trade the pick for a veteran because he can't get anyone good enough at 8 to win now, maybe he should have thought about that during well we all know how those last few games played out particularly that game against Minny.

JVG just sounds like a complete moron some times.

 

It is obvious you dont like JVG. If he gets fired so be it. I do not think that he will get fired because he prefers a proven NBA players over a young rookie. I think he is partial to veterans, but not to the extent you say he is. And his comment about the Rox 8th pick probably not starting, is a realistic comment. If the 8th pick is a starter right out of training camp, that is a big plus. It has nothing to do with negativity and all to do with reality!

 

Here's Clutch's summary of the interview:
http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1323/jeff_van_gundy_speaks_on_rockets/

Rockets have a top ten lottery pick. JVG is just being Captain Obvious.
Maybe you think Redick is only capable of being a rotational player (which wouldn't be a slight anyway) and are reaching out too far in thinking he's unwanted by JVG?

He made a point our SGs were undersized, again stating the obvious. As for his assesment on Luther, even CD had him down as a backup SG on that infamous whiteboard picture.

Redick at 6-4/5 is near enough, it fits with the "We need to get bigger there" quote, he's not dissing your boy.

Again this comment would make JVG more in favour of Redick than against.

JVG is more optimistic than CD and Morey that they'll land a starter. He didn't say he disagrees with their draft choices.


Remember Andre Barrett? JVG was the only NBA coach who gave him props in the media at the Knicks pre-draft/summer league workouts. He was undrafted but Rockets signed him when they were in need of a backup point and I think he even started a game for them. See JVG isn't the bad guy you make him out to be.

 

My post had nothing to do with Redick. I am simply sick of his defeatist attitude. In martial arts he could be referred to as a person that loses the battle before it is even begun.

There's no realism in those statements, unless he is NOSTRADAMUS.

Believe me there are players available numerous that could be starters at 8, what are the chances it's a "coup" one starts that none can start?

JVG just sounds more and more like a guy with the spectre of defeat around his neck, which is what Phil Jackson has said of him before, that it's his attitude that causes a negative vibe.

 

No insults, but JVG said when he came here that he didn't watch college ball, had no interest in being a GM, and said he was not involved or wanted to be in the process of the draft.

JVG speaks out of sides of his mouth that are almost surreal considering how most people here consider him to be always "honest" or a "straight-shooter" or whatever.

But, there is usually a lot of truth in what he says.

Let us please break down the innuendo and drawn inferences here. First and foremost if there's disagreement between Lindsey and JVG about personnel, then clearly now JVG is screwed.

The only basis for that would be rumblings both here and in the Chron. that JVG didn't like the guys we signed last year. And that Morey was hired and Lindsey had to be retained just to make our franchise to look stable (of course going by JVG's criteria, Stro is our man, think about it).

I know I read Lindsey agreed to a contract extension, but I never saw any financial terms. During the time of Morey's hiring I did think it looked like either JVG or Lindsey was going to go.

My best guess is now (and still is) that Les is determined to cash out, and he's hoping JVG is still an asset and that Lindsey is still highly regarded.

I do wonder what JVG or Lindsey truly wants to happen, though. They might even be on the same page.

JVG's comments about the epidemic of firing of coaches are epic. But it was only a few weeks ago that he was in the NY press talking about how he discussed everything with his brother, and Stan would not tell him anything about what happened to him in Miami.

Riley was JVG's everything once. I couldn't believe he made that statement to the press. Until I realized he may believe in his own row-boat and he knows that he's far too wealthy to have anything to lose. Stan, on the other hand, had a very brief, very nice payday.

Right now JVG's the last person I want to leave in the Rox organization not named Yao or McGrady, but if you haven't caught the whiff of mendacity, you probably haven't been a fan for too long.

 

Did it ever occur to you that perhaps Alexander made his fortune by demanding bang for his buck? If you actually beleve that JVG is saying things like that just to make a point then you don't understand there are millions of dollars being paid and millions more at stake.

JVG is getting paid a king's ransom to do precisely want Alexander wants, not what JVG deems his right.

I believe JVG is an excellent coach, probably top 5 or 6 in the NBA currently, but bottom line is he's not even close to earning his pay, nor is he doing a good job by ANY realistic measure.

And on the issue of being a fan long, well let me tell you Les Alexander is an extremely shrewd business man. You are barking up the wrong tree. He would fire JVG's a$$ in a hearbeat for something other owners would never even care about.

Les Alexander is a an elitist. He's also an extremely particular man when it comes to his employees and organization.

If you don't see this then maybe you haven't been a fan very long.

I mean why do you think JVG was hired in the first place?

 

I agree with dclan on one thing and that is Les Alexander is doing everything in his power to increase or maintain franchise value so he could cash out on it. I dont know why but I do get that vibe from him. I honestly think his days as an owner are numbered.