You people made it sound like Van Gundy suspended Snyder for 2 years. It's a one-game deactiveation to get Kirk to clear his head.
Reminds me of Bowen logging minutes while better players were rotting on the bench (cuz he worked harder in practice?) lol. This season reminds me of 2 seasons ago. JVG gathers players he likes, all hard work, little talent. In regular season we beat teams we were supposed to beat. We had an eye opener in the playoffs which finally forced JVG to consider getting players whose personality he may not like, but have the skills we need. Apparently he is reverting to his old ways this year. I fear we are going to be surprised in a bad way again this year. Oh, and for those drinking the JVG kool aid, 2 things: - If you have to put players in the doghouse every time to gain their respect/compliance, you have serious issues - I'm not buying the JVG is a genius coach thing. We beat most of the teams we should beat (if you have a team with tmac, battier, bonzi ,snyder and Mutombo playing like a 25yr. old you better). Our record against quality determined teams sucks.
Van Gundy is a good disciplinarian, I like the way he handles most situations. When I heard that Snyder was in the doghouse I was a little worried, but it looks like it was just temporary to let Kirk know he isn't bigger than the team and all that. I think it was the right move in the situation, especially since it wasn't a long term grudge type thing. I think JVG just had to let Snyder know what he thought and let Snyder cool off and get back to work with a clear head.
What are you...stupid? We competed hard against a lot of good teams, beating the Spurs, giving Phoenix a run for its money, and mostly winning against anyone decent ( Jazz, Lakers, Wizards, etc. ) to maintain our lead. To say we should be third place in the West is absolutely greedy. It's an honor to be the fifth seed in the West...a seed that easily can be better than the number one in the East. When Yao went down, our talent level fell to the equivilant of the Wizards or the Magic, yet we played quality ball for the most part. Why are you against this? Why do you reject coaching as part of the reason for this success? Why do you possibly want JVG fired? I'm not saying he's perfect, but he's a damn fine coach, better than most coaches currently in the league. Give credit where credit is due. I really hope you're not a Rockets fan.
Our talent level without Yao is probably as bad as the Celtics. Only a JVG hater would fail to realize this.
Got to disagree with the poster, you got Boki, Snider, Bonzi, Vspan, and probably many others all have some type of disputes with JVG? Are you telling me all those 4 are wrong??? JVG always right?? I don't think so. Never in the history of NBA there is a team that have a coach that have problems with 3 players in the same season. I think there is some thing wrong with JVG, no wonder he won't be here next year, we need a fresh start and get rid of all the family fight which I am sure it all started by hard head JVG. Boki becomes better because other coach knows how to play and train the Euro player which JVG system is listen or you bench..
Sam Mitchell, Isiah Thomas, George Karl, Jerry Sloan, Larry Brown, Kevin McHale, Phil Jackson(Kobe, Shaq, rookies and everybody else), Rick Adelman and anybody that coaches the Jailblazers, Dan Issel, Dunleavy, Jim O'Brien, Eric Musselman, Mike D'Antoni.
Can't speak for Boki and V-Span, but Snyder, Bonzi ( and Steve Francis ) are head cases. The players who seem to generally like Van Gundy are ones that are team players and good guys. T-Mac, Yao, Jon Barry, Allan Houston, Ewing, Shane, Juwan, Camby, Oakley, Marc Jackson...list goes on and on. Now THAT'S a pattern that should favor Van Gundy's case.
I do not want him fired. I'm only speaking for myself-I want all the success for my team and consequently - this coach. I can be critical of this coach and still love this team. I have been a season ticket holder since 2000 and have supported the team when we did not have much talent. I'm really proud of our team and how they have done-esp. while Yao was out. A lot of that credit should go to the coaching staff and Van Gundy in particular or the defense he has developed for his team. I do not like how some of the players get handled- but really it is of small consequence compared to how well the team is performing. Go Rockets!!!!
I aplogize if this has been mentioned before ( I am to lazy toread the whole thread), but here are two cents on JVG- The only problem I have with him and his leadership is that he has different rules for different players. Remember when Bonzi was "not in shape" and all JVG said was that as soon as Bonzi is in game ready shape he will play, if he is not, than he is not playing. JVG also stated that Bonzi will not be "playing himself into shape." Contrast that to Yao when JVG stated that Yao will have some games to round himself into game shape. Completely opposite of the Bonzi situation. I understand it is heresy to compare the value of Yao to Bonzi but I always thought being a good leader meant treating everyone the same. That being said, to a man, most of JVG players swear by him.
Look at Yao. Look at Bonzi. Yao's version of "not in shape" is a long way from Bonzi's version of "not in shape."
Disagreeing with some of your boss's decisions, and the way he's using you, does not equal telling him to f*&! off...
I think JVG's trying to let you know with or without Bonzi, this team can succeed, but without Yao, we're screwed. JVG has always been hard on Yao because Yao had the furthest distance to come to be where he needs to be. Think about how much his demeanor, style of play, and approach to the game has changed since he came from China. He's being drilled and drilled. With people like Bonzi, you're not going to change them as much this late in their career. If you notice, JVG does something completely different with TMac - he babies him. TMac's ego is fragile and he tends to withdraw at times. JVG plays a psychologist role with him by complimenting him at every turn. He could go 0-50 and JVG wouldn't tear into him. Pretty much every coach treats their players differently. You really can't treat them the same. Being a good leader is recognizing every player is an individual human and for them all to come together as a team, you have to treat them individually, but for the good of the team.
