I wanted to chime in on the JVG debate. JVG is unlike any coach our franchise has seen. Rudy T was loved by fans and players because of his attitude. He was a players coach. He was not really hard on his players. He let them decide the flow of the games, even call their own plays. That worked then, but it won't work now. The overall basketball IQ in the NBA has fallen drastically. There just aren't enough smart players around. In essence, I don't think a coach like Rudy will ever be successful in this league anymore. JVG is a hard worker. He puts his players in the position to win. Even with the horrible season we have had, you can't say that our players weren't prepared for games. This is our first time seeing everybody healthy. You tell me what team can go through what e\we have gone through this year and be over .500... My point is, I think JVG is underrated as a coach. If we had somebody else in charge, we would be even worse than we are now. JVG takes the blame for most of our losses and even refuses to say that injuries have had that mush of an effect on us. He wants to win, and his players love him. JVG: UNDERATED!!!
I think that nationally, JVG is rated right about where he should be: As a good, tough coach capable of getting to the finals. Not legendary by any stretch, but by no means a joke, either. It's only on this board that people go nuts at the mere mention of his name.
I think our record with Yao/T-Mac starting should answer it. His style of hoops is tedious and boring, but he is a solid coach *puts on flame-r****dant suit*
I wouldn't call our last game tedious or boring. In order to run a fast paced game, you've got to have the personnel. JVG w/ Ewing and co. in NY didn't have a run-n-gun lineup. Arriving in Htown, you'd think Francis and Mobley were run-n-gun but the previous year, under Rudy, they were near last in the league in fast-break pts. JVG is finally assembling a team capable of taking advantage of fast break options. No flame here. I agree with you.
In general, I think he's underrated. I can't say I agree with everything he does, but I think he's really smart and he knows a lot about this game. Overall, I trust he knows what he's doing. He's not some one who's going to completely change his coaching philosophy or strategies if his team is struggling. He sticks to his principles, and he makes the players adjust to him. So, when the team gets in a losing skid, as a fan you kind of go crazy. "Why doesn't JVG change [this] or [that]?!" But ultimately, I think he gets pretty good results. He may not be a top-five coach in the league, but he's one of the better ones. Maybe top-10.
JVG runs this team like a child would. He badmouths his players to the media, he holds grudges and once you get in his doghouse, your tenure here is pretty much over. JVG is quite unprofessional and I don't like his coaching style at all. Also his offensive scheme is horrible. He sucks. If the Rockets perform well it is in spite of him, not because of him. Any team with Yao and T-Mac is going to be fairly successful. Other coaches could do a much better job though. Wish we had gone after Dunleavy instead.
If your asking about the views of the majority of the posters on this board, JVG is significantly underrated. Around the league, he's fairly treated. He's known to be one of the better coaches in the NBA . . . maybe not the best . . . but very well respected. I'd say he's a younger Larry Brown. I'd say most of the animosity directed towards JVG is a result of people who's favorite player managed to not make it under JVG's regime. He will not coddle these millionaires. Frankly, that's refreshing after the last several years of Rudy. Rudy was a very special coach, but the team grew up around him more than he built a team. JVG could replicate his talents anywhere with any set of players to start. He will be around the NBA for a good deal of time.
Personally I think he is highly "UNDER-RATED" One of the main reasons he has traded away the players he has is that they were knuckleheads, had not b-ball IQ and couldn't buy into a team system of play. He is slowly seeking out and bringing in the players who have these qualities and it is showing in our teamsplay of late. There was a moment in the game last night when the crowd was very quiet and the Rockets got the ball off a rebound (i think) and you could hear Jeff Van Gundy screaming RUN RUN RUN to the guys on the floor. I hope some of the nah-sayers on this board heard that as well and that it helps to difuse the misconceptions formed by some of the posters on this BBS.
OK, let me throw it out there and beat him to it: EDC: Jeff Van Gundy is neither overrated nor underrated. He is as his record stands: an under-achieving coach. LAST YEAR EDC: Jeff Van Gundy led his team to a 50-win record. This is what he was supposed to do, so in that sense, it does represent an achievement. However, in leading the Rocket team that had the largest collapse in a game 7 in playoff history, he must be considered a failure. My question is this: how do you judge a coach? Wins and losses? Improvement? Well, then, look at it this way: 1. Takes teams from non-playoff to playoff- positive 2. Team loses in 1st round- failure 3. Takes team to 50-win season and improvement- positive 4. Team loses in 1st round- failure 5. Has current team at losing record- neutral (yes, you are allowed to cut him slack due to injuries, plus the season's not over yet). So, he evens out based on win-loss record. I take the player's word for it- most say he has then extremely well-prepared for games, and although he can grate on their nerves, it's apparently not as bad as we're led to believe (source: Wesley). I mean, most coaches tend to be more of the get-in-your-face type,anyways (went to a high school BB game yesterday and sat right behind the bench- geez, the coach almost made me cry). You might be able to do a little better, but unless you're getting Phil Jackson (can't), Rudy (can't) Chuck Daly (unlikely) or Larry Brown (umm, what happened to his halo?), what's the point? There's more likely of a chance you'd get a worse coach than a better one, so you might as well stick with him. It's going to be the players who ultimately win this thing, anyways.
my assessment of him is simple: he is good when he has a completely full squad of players who do what he asks...... He sucks when he has injuries, just plain simply horrible in changing his system to address the personell that is missing........just terrible
If there was even an once of truth to this, don't you know that McGrady would let the world know it. He's never been shy to speak his mind. So I have to disagree. This "insight" you have is no more than speculation based on your own bias.
Everything in my statement is plainly visible to any objective individual. Guess you haven't been following this team much during the last two years. And when did I claim to have any inside insight other than my observations as a fan? If you're going to attack someone's post you really should show some intelligence whilst you do it. Otherwise you end up making yourself look like an idiot.
Looks like "a coach like Rudy" proved just last year to be as successful as Phil Jackson: Rudy w/LA : 24-19 Phil J w/LA : 23-20
i think our run and gun style is based on rafer been giving the reigns a bit more than JVG instilling it into our philosophy. Remember, the knicks use to suck balls till jvg let loose on the reigns for allan houston and i'll choke you coach spreewell. There was that whole dilemma about Starting Ewing while the Allan Houston, Spreewell + Camby paradigm got them to the finals.
I think Van Gundy is is respected in coaching circles on a national level-i.e.-he survived NY media pretty well. He is under rated on this board by some and over - rated on this board by others. I will not compare him to Rudy-pointless. I will not sing his praises blindly as some do. He is doing a better than adequate job. He gets a pass for this year due to injuries. I'm not going to dog the guy like some do. I never wanted to hire him - but am ok with him now. I support his efforts. I like how the Rockets can win now with everyone back. It may be too late this season, but I remain a fan of this team regardless of who is paid to coach it. I will attend 10 more games at Toyota this season, and will not give up. What if we could make the 7 or 8 spot? Unlikely, but fun to speculate and hope.
Per Pradaxpimp: "i think our run and gun style is based on rafer been giving the reigns a bit more than JVG instilling it into our philosophy" I agree with this wholeheartedly. Give Rafer much credit- he pushed like crazy to keep the flow of the game fast with few turnovers-good control to keep the Clippers on their heels. 13 dishes- 1 turnover-Out standing Rafer Alston-Our true point guard. I am soooo proud of Rafer Alston. We are improving in the back court right now.....
