It's like all the other coaches in the league- Unless you get cross with your star players you can do alright. JVG is a good coach when TMac is skying and hitting lights out 3's healthy and playing shut down defense. JVG is a good coach when Yao is playing strong in the paint, not committing stupid fouls, being aggressive to the basket, demanding the ball and rebounding. When TMac and Yao are hurt JVG is an over bearing, half court, totally controlling idot of a coach.
People change, and it's clear JVG has changed his offensive philosophy with respect to running the ball and giving players freedom. We all remember the infamous "talk" he had with Tracy early last season. It's a credit to JVG that he realized his slowdown system wouldn't work, yet the best you can say about him is he's not a "true idiot". Please forget what happened in New York. Bringing that up is so tired. And this stuff on "teaching the fast break". Fast breaking is about the least taught thing in NBA basketball. The main factors are the ability and intelligence of the players carrying it out. I have no comment on SF's remark about not practicing fast breaks. All I can tell you is the team ran them very successfully in the 2nd half of last season for a good stretch of games. So does JVG get ANY credit for that from you? Hmmm, I wonder how much they practiced it. (Please understand I'm not saying fast breaks are never practiced). If you still believe "the typical JVG basketball is to slow down the game and play half court offense" after JB's remarks then there is no point in discussing it with you. The NBA has changed a lot over the last 10 years so, yes, the last 1/2 of last season is more indicative of JVG than his years with the Knicks.
If JVG doesn't like to slow it down then why are all his teams slow, plodding, 'grind it out' defensive teams?
Lets see: Slow, plodding. He had Houston and Ewing, both are taylor made half court guys. Now he has Yao who needs set plays to get him the ball in good position. You play to your personnel. That being said, the pace has picked up significantly since Steve/Catino days. I think we were last in the league in fast breaks their last year here. Defense always wins championships. Virtually every championship team had stellar defense. Bulls: Jordan, Quitten and Rodman were all defensive studs Pistons: Bad boys ...need I say more? Rockets: Had the best defensive center who always shuts down the lane. They were a strong defensive team. Lakers: Had Shaq who shuts down the lane and Kobe who could defensively cover the best perimeter guy. I wouldn't call them defensive studs but they could turn it on like a light switch. Spurs: Perennial top 3 defensive team. Pistons: Another top 3 defensive team last 2 years, IIRC. Defense doesn't sell tickets ...until you win the champsionship.
His Knick teams ran at times- Sprewell and Starks ran some. Once Sura got healthy last season the team ran alot, they ran Phoenix out of their place on the road. Running teams like Phoenix, Detroit (Lakers of old) take 1. Rebounders who make outlet passes- rebounders that hold the ball don't get transitions going- that was one of Ewing's problems he would hold rebounds- 2. Wing players who run- they must push the ball 3. Point Guard who can push the ball and make good decisions. 4. Finishers who can explode to the basket or handle passes and finish. Yao is becoming pretty good at the outlet pass- but we lack the wing players to run and the point guard to push and make good passes. We also lack finishers. Don't expect the break to return until the talent upgrades and Yao and TMac are healthy.
I respect Jeff Van Gundy. I really appreciate the control this team has when everyone is healthy. By control I mean - low Turnover- efficient basketball.
Of course a good defense wins championships -- I also believe (as was said here before) winning wins championships and JVG has not won the big one with his style of play.
Defense always wins championships. Well, actually, no. It's the difference between the offense and defense that wins you the games. Most NBA playoff teams has enough offensive firepower, that's where the cliche comes from. The currently constructed Rockets won't win a championship even if they play pretty good defense.
How many current NBA coaches have won a championship? Pop, LB, PJ & Riley. What does that have to do with anything? The 3 that matter (Pop, LB & PJ) are very good defensive coaches. (I consider Riley almost a fossil). So you believe winning wins championships. That's a profound thought right there.
classic jvg bashing with nothing behind it. your knowledge of van gundy is limited to what you think you see on the television. i'm giving you a player's opinion who has been with the guy for nearly a year and you disregard it? you think you know more about van gundy's coaching than barry?
There is no point in trying to be rational with the JVG bashers. The fact that all but one or two of his former players say nothing but great things about him is meaningless to them. When Barry, Sprewell, and TMac all say he is the best coach they ever played for (Spree after JVG had retired and Barry after JVG cut him) that carries no weight.
So are you suggesting that the SINGULAR reason the Rockets havn't won more than 51 games (which is pretty good, btw) is his style of play. Or is it possible there might be other factors? Thanks Captian Obvious. There are and always have been a lot of high powered offenses out there (eg Suns) but unless you can match that offense with a good defense, it doesn't get you much. That's the point. Well, fine. But in the context of THIS conversation, folks criticize JVG because they don't like his emphasis on defensive. So do you think JVG should lighten up on defense?
What kills me is here's a guy that just got cut by JVG saying he's the best coach he played for, but that isn't enough for some people. "Nooo... but but.... nooooo... he suuuuxx"
So? He still works for Rox, right? What is he supposed to say? "I love work for you guys, but your head coach sucks".
But NOOOOooo you ARE WRONG Doc! Recall that many has argued that JVG screwed John BARRY by cutting him AND john was PISSED! But he said nice things afterwards only because he wanted a job in the Rockets organization remember? Hell I'm sure if you dig up that "John Barry cut" thread you'll find all those wise and reasoned response how Jvg was screwing JB and how Jb really hated him!
Yes, Jon really wanted that job with the Rockets broadcast team making 1/10th (or whatever) what he could've been making playing for George Karl. He said he turned Karl's offer for a roster spot down to join the Rockets broadcast booth. Yes, he reeeeally needed to kiss JVG's butt for that job he desperately needed... give me a break. And if he wants to join the Rockets team, he'll tell them JVG was a good coach... I doubt he'd also add that he was the best coach he ever played for when there's no need to.
Psst... what about the players that don't work for the Rockets organization that have positive things to say about him as well? Here's a confused face backatcha...
