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NYT: A Taste of New York, With a Southwest Spice

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by SamFisher, Mar 14, 2005.

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SamFisher Contributing Member

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Hope this hasn't been posted yet:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/sports/13hoops.ready.html

March 13, 2005
INSIDE THE N.B.A.
A Taste of New York, With a Southwest Spice
By LIZ ROBBINS

In the move from yo to y'all to Yao, Coach Jeff Van Gundy has eased his transition to the Southwest by insulating himself with fellow former Knicks.

His Houston Rockets roster has a distinct New York look: five former players and four assistant coaches, including a legend who played for Van Gundy.

The Knicks alumni have taken hold in a place that does not always take well to non-Texans.

"There's this joke," said Rockets General Manager Carroll Dawson, who was born on a farm in Alba, then a town of 192 in east Texas. "What's the difference between a Yankee and a damn Yankee? A Yankee just comes down to visit."

He laughed and said, "My dad told me that a few years ago."

Dawson said Van Gundy had laughed when he heard it, too.

The famously intense Van Gundy has earned job security in directing the Rockets, who were 16-17 on Jan. 7, to a 12-4 record over their last 16 games, the latest victory a 127-107 thrashing of Pacific Division-leading Phoenix on Friday night.

The Rockets (36-25) have found success through trades to balance their roster, bringing in the shooters David Wesley and Jon Barry as well as Mike James, the seventh point guard to wear a Rockets uniform this season.

"Jeff and his coaching staff have to be commended," Dawson said by telephone on Friday. "We've changed this team a few times and they've adjusted each time."

The biggest reason for the Rockets' surge has less to do with the additions or the former Knicks and everything to do with Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady's play. Yao scored 14 of his 27 points Friday in the fourth quarter and had a career-high 22 rebounds. McGrady led the Rockets with 38 points, bringing his average in the last five games to 32.6.

Veteran leadership has anchored the Rockets, the oldest team in the N.B.A. Starting with Dikembe Mutombo, who is 38, the five former Knicks have raised Houston's average age to 30.7 years and given Van Gundy comfort.

"You don't know someone until you coach them, and once you know them, you believe they can help," Van Gundy said Thursday in a phone interview. "Some have worked, some haven't."

Charlie Ward, who signed as a free agent, has played only 14 games, and his season ended Friday because he has a blood clot in his right calf, a result of intense rehabilitation from December knee surgery. He now joins his former Knicks teammate Patrick Ewing, who primarily coaches Yao, on the Rockets' bench.

The first player Isiah Thomas traded when he became the Knicks' president in December 2003 was Clarence Weatherspoon, who went to Houston for Moochie Norris. A little more than a year later, Thomas sent Norris back, along with Vin Baker, for Maurice Taylor.

Norris was placed on the injured list Friday. Baker, who secured a two-year, $7 million contract from the Knicks last summer, has all but disappeared.

An Olympian in 2000, Baker had the size, talent and determination as a recovering alcoholic to persuade Thomas to gamble on him. But Baker has seemed out of sorts all season, and the Rockets may waive him.

Van Gundy cannot focus on the newest Knicks refugees because his rotation is set. Of all the former Knicks, Mutombo is working out best in his limited role as a backup to Yao, providing the size and defensive skill that seems to fit Van Gundy's version of the Knicks better than Thomas's.

Mutombo was the key to the Knicks' deal to acquire Jamal Crawford last August; Houston acquired Mutombo when Chicago waived him. He is averaging only 4.5 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 14 minutes, but he has come to terms with his role.

"I reached the point where I want to pass the torch and let the young guys play," Mutombo said.

Van Gundy said, "He's played well beyond what we could have imagined."

Mutombo, who played 65 games for the Knicks last season, does not spend much time thinking about the Rockets' links to New York.

"It's like a homecoming," Mutombo said. "But it's not like guys sit around and talk about New York. Only when Moochie came back we said, 'How's everything going up there?' "

Van Gundy, who spent seven seasons as the Knicks' coach after six as an assistant, has acclimated to his friendly neighbors and a less corporate working environment.

But he has not lost the Knick identity either. "I think once you lived in the New York area and coached the Knicks, you're always going to miss the area because it's a great area to live in," he said. "But hey, time marches on. Now I'm with Houston, and we enjoy Houston."
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#1 SamFisher, Mar 14, 2005

edc Contributing Member

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But he has not lost the Knick identity either.
Click to expand...

JVG may "enjoy Houston," but he is "a Knick at Heart."

#2 edc, Mar 14, 2005
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Originally posted by edc
JVG may "enjoy Houston," but he is "a Knick at Heart."
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you've really become a caricature of yourself

#3 codell, Mar 14, 2005
MadMax Contributing Member

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Originally posted by edc
JVG may "enjoy Houston," but he is "a Knick at Heart."
Click to expand...

kinda like our owner.

#4 MadMax, Mar 14, 2005
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Houston acquired Mutombo when Chicago waived him.
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Um, what? Guess they don't keep up with the transaction wire on a regular basis.

#5 mogrod, Mar 14, 2005
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Originally posted by edc
JVG may "enjoy Houston," but he is "a Knick at Heart."
Click to expand...

So is PJ.

#6 DeAleck, Mar 14, 2005
edc Contributing Member

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Originally posted by DeAleck
So is PJ.
Click to expand...

Perhaps, perhaps not.

#7 edc, Mar 14, 2005

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Originally posted by edc
Perhaps, perhaps not.
Click to expand...

Here, we should bring PJ in as an assistant to JVG, then everyone here (even including you) would be happy.

#8 DeAleck, Mar 14, 2005
moligity Contributing Member

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Originally posted by DeAleck
So is PJ.
Click to expand...

Slam!!

#9 moligity, Mar 14, 2005
edc Contributing Member

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Originally posted by DeAleck
Here, we should bring PJ in as an assistant to JVG, then everyone here (even including you) would be happy.
Click to expand...

#10 edc, Mar 14, 2005
Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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Philly J did bring some of his former bulls to the lakes, no one pissed on him for doing so, i see that JVG deserves the same courtesy.

#11 Pizza_Da_Hut, Mar 14, 2005
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Originally posted by moligity
Slam!!
Click to expand...

A magazine nominally about basketball and the NBA, but more about culture and language unfamilar to most head coaches in the league.

#12 edc, Mar 14, 2005
edc Contributing Member

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Originally posted by Pizza_Da_Hut
Philly J did bring some of his former bulls to the lakes.
Click to expand...

"Philly J?" Is that anything like a Philly Cheesesteak?

#13 edc, Mar 14, 2005

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hey ecd, what happen to the "FIRE GUNDY" thread man ?

#14 vtkp99, Mar 14, 2005
edc Contributing Member

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Originally posted by vtkp99
hey ecd, what happen to the "FIRE GUNDY" thread man ?
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I don't know who you are asking (unless you are dyslexic, in which case I apologize) but if you are asking me that question, Someone just bumped the "FIRE GUNDY!!!" thread.

#15 edc, Mar 14, 2005
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Originally posted by vtkp99
hey ecd, what happen to the "FIRE GUNDY" thread man ?
Click to expand...

It's on the first page, and edc jumped on it as soon as he saw it.

#16 DeAleck, Mar 14, 2005
Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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Originally posted by edc
"Philly J?" Is that anything like a Philly Cheesesteak?
Click to expand...

It is, its twice as cheezy, but suprisingly less filling.

#17 Pizza_Da_Hut, Mar 14, 2005
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Well.
looks like edc has managed to piss on yet another thread.

why dont you guys just ignore him?

#18 Rockets2K, Mar 14, 2005

Pizza_Da_Hut I put on pants for this?

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Originally posted by Rockets2K
Well.
looks like edc has managed to piss on yet another thread.

why dont you guys just ignore him?
Click to expand...

WE would, but his font just looks so sexy I can't turn my eyes away, damn, look at those D's, lordy have mercy on me!

#19 Pizza_Da_Hut, Mar 14, 2005
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Originally posted by Rockets2K
Well.
looks like edc has managed to piss on yet another thread.

why dont you guys just ignore him?
Click to expand...

OK, i will do it (nothing too much against edc, just want to save the thread). Anyone else's with me?

#20 DeAleck, Mar 14, 2005

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