http://www.nj.com/sports/ledger/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1055657439261470.xml BY DAVE D'ALESSANDRO Star-Ledger Staff You don't doubt for a second that Jeff Van Gundy knows what he's getting into, because this is a man who does everything with meticulous preparation, the lone exception being his daily choice of wardrobe. Having stated the obvious, you do wonder whether the Rockets know what they're getting into, because Van Gundy is going into this job with a laserlike focus on what he has to do with this team -- specifically with regard to its style of play and its roster makeup. Okay, we'll come right out and say it: We hate the way the Rockets play, and they have more players whose games we cannot stand. And if he is honest with himself, Van Gundy undoubtedly feels the same way. This isn't about his coaching style, which is a proven approach, if not a textbook example of how to win with flawed rosters. It is about getting an utterly clueless, impossibly young nucleus to learn on his timetable and having the leverage to make changes if the players do not meet it. "It's going to be interesting to see how he feels things will work with this team," his boss, Carroll Dawson, said. "That's why we're getting a lot of film together for him. He has intensity to win, but he finds the right button to push for each team." About that film stuff: Van Gundy said that before he makes up his mind about anything, he is going to watch every minute of every game the Rockets played last season. Typical. But probably a waste of time. What he will discover is that he has inherited a team with enough physical talent at the skill spots to compete with anyone in the West. What he will also learn is that none of them really know how to play, and it will come across with painful clarity before he gets through his second or third videotape. At the top of his list of Things To Do, after he hires a staff: 1. Discipline. He'll make it clear to every player how to conduct themselves as professionals, because they don't know. Some have grown used to Rudy Tomjanovich's laid-back methods and have abused it to an absurd extreme in terms of their practice habits. With Van Gundy, they'll come early and leave late, or they'll be left behind. 2. Defense. It will take them one day of training camp to recognize that there will be a system for the first time, and if they don't adhere to it, they'll be of no use to him. He is a hard man with whom to negotiate a second chance. Guesstimate: More than 80 percent of the first two weeks of camp will be dedicated to putting in his defense. 3. Establish Yao is the Man: As Van Gundy put it, the best thing about Yao Ming is that he wakes up every morning at 7-foot-5. Such a weapon cannot be limited by the amateurish whims of two guards who don't like to post the ball regardless of the physical mismatch staring them in the face. He'll demand 30 touches per game, minimum. 4. Bring in a point guard: It's nothing he has said, but Van Gundy values point guards who pass first and shoot second. It is the primary tenet to his overall coaching philosophy. So, a hunch: He will tell Steve Francis that he sees him as a shooting guard, and try to convince management to make a move for a traditional point, such as Eric Snow -- a doable deal, if Philly wants to bring Eddie Griffin home. 5. Changing the culture: If he fails to enact No. 4, he'll have to find a way to get Cuttino Mobley out of the starting lineup, because he will impress his coach as a player who is far less interested in winning than he is in padding his stats. Mobley would be a good choice for sixth man, but he'll start pouting the moment they change his role. 6. Getting the Franchise on his side: If he fails to enact No. 4 and 5, he'll have someone do it for him. If Van Gundy has a singular talent, it is attaching himself to power. He will build Francis up as the leader of the team, he will have him at the top of his game, and then he will stand by with a safety net on those nights when Stevie starts to break down. Francis is undoubtedly one of the five most talented hybrids in the league, but he has to be comfortable with his role, and Van Gundy may have a sales job to do here.
No Houston sportswriter would have the courage or insight to put that message out there with such brutal clarity. I don't agree with all of it -- especially the Snow-Griffin trade and the Mobley pouting -- but the message is clear.
This is about where he makes an ass out of himself. He obviously has never seen more than one or two Rockets games. If he had, he would have relized that Mobley has changed his game every single year since his rookie season. I doubt he would put up much of a fight if he knew that the coach thinks it's in his best intrests for him to be a spark plug off the bench.
I liked the stuff about the wardrobe. Also, I agree with everything except the bit about Griffin for Snow...pleeeaaaaase.
Mobley to the bench? I'd love it, but remember how we heard from Doc Rocket that Mobley thinks he's a star and actually deserved more than he was getting? Francis averages 40 minutes, so unless Cat would be happy with about 30 minutes, this idea is flawed. If you're telling me Cat will sit on the bench for 18 minutes a game, regardless of win-loss record, then I guess we'll just have to agree to disagree.
Absolute laser beam accuracy. It's also an exact run down of what many posters (including myself) have been saying for months. Congrats Stevie. You took Rudy's nice guy approach and abused it by turning the Rockets into your own little stage, and now you get JVG as a reward. I hope you enjoyed your last 4 years of ball hogging, because those days are gone for good. Raven
How does a New Jersey columnist know about the Rockets' practice habits? My guess...he doesn't. Eric Snow for Eddie Griffin? There is no way I do that trade until Eddie has at least one year with Van Gundy. Trading young and tall for old and small is usually not a very wise practice.
What do you mean? I think everybody (not necessary be a H-town guy) know that these rockets players were spoiled with Rudy's laid back style.
Wow, what a great article! Amazing to find such a good ROCKETS article but in a NJ newspaper and NOT in the Chronicle!? This is the type of article (from the Chronicle) I had hoped in seing after JVG got hired. Basically what we can expect JVG to do with the Rockets. I thought for the most part the article is right on the money. The Eric Snow for Griffin deal is a ridiculous trade example but I understand where the author is going with that. The idea is not so much the ACTUAL deal but trying to bring in a PG. I think more than anything the DISCIPLINE brought in by JVG will do wonders for this team. It will be that DISCIPLINE that will improve our late game decisions on the court and by default will probably win us at least 5 to 6 more games next year alone. Roles will be established on this team. DISCIPLINE will be instilled. This team will come together and hopefully all of its potential will be realized!
Obviously I liked the article enough to post it. However, asseveral have pointed out, EG - ES is wrong. But, what will the guard set up be? I have stated for months (before Rudy's regrettable health turn) that JVG was likely to be new Rox coach and that Spree was likely to follow. So, how will the backcourt shake out I wonder if JVG thinks Moochie is salvagable (he will need to be due to unlikely trade prospects for him and his salary). I wonder if he will seek out the likes of Ward (NO, please no) or even Brunson (cheap, available and therefore possible). What becomes of Cat? Trade bait (Clip scenario still in effect with JVG and 'dre?)? How will JVG's discipline work with front court space eaters like MoT and Rice? It will be interesting. It may take til January or ASG for the pieces to start to mesh, but maybe next year's Rox team will be the team no one wants to face in the play offs? Go, JVG. Kick some arse royally. The guys need either your boot or to be booted out of here.
This is the newspaper I get every day. It's easily the best newspaper (IMO) in the New York/New Jersey area. I was about to post this article, but what do you know, you guys already found it. It's right on with what I've been thinking ever since Rudy T got fired. The three things to take out of it are: 1. One of the three big guys (Taylor, Cato, Griffin) will be dealt either during the season or after for a PG. 2. Mobley's role will be diminished. 3. This team needs discipline.
First Francis its okay for Steve to average 40 minutes. Hes certainly good enough for that. You know what ype of people average 40 minutes, Kobe, Shaq, Mcrady, stars like those. Mobley is no where near that. Trust me if we had a back up gaurd that was decent Mobs minutes would go down hill.
I'm now convinced sportswriters get their Rockets' material from this website. This is a Clutchcity.Net Greatest Hits compilation.
I'm sure the author just used the Griffin-Snow trade as a quick and dirty example. But (assuming the Sixers would do some form of the trade), that specific trade could put Griffin and Kenny Thomas in a similar competitive position as they were on the the Rockets.
