We got him when CD committed another in a series of boners by not landing Larry Brown or Paul Silas. I mean Fratello out of the booth would have been a better choice. But he had to have a name to salvage the situation. And now the genius is stuck with JVG and an underachieving team that would like to see him fired. And still nobody in the league takes him seriously as a GM. Nowhere but up from here... Once an assistant coach, always an assistant coach...
if you go by the theory of once an assistant always an assistant, half the guys in the league would never have coached in the league...but i still dislike vangundy as well.
Seriously, as much as JVG has upset me this year, I still think he was the right hire at the time. Assuming 2 things: (1) Larry Brown was never an option and (2) Rick Carlile was never an option... JVG made sense. And he actually did what he was hired for last year, though there was some frustration with that season as well.
you are correct. THAT team needed a stren coach - someone to get the players focused unfortunately with the trades that took place over the summer (adding the vets like Howard, Sura, Deke) this is now a perfect Rudy-ball team !
Seems like you guys are right. What's interesting is that the implicit conclusion is that JVG should actually be looking for undisciplined, offensively inclined players who he can mold on the defensive end. Maybe a Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Paul Pierce, Antoine Walker, Carmelo, etc.
Interesting observation. But the fact that I don't think he could mold a Walker or a Carmelo because they're too far gone makes me wonder what JVG *is* best-suited for. (all purely based on that implicit conclusion. I still believe JVG is a good coach and that he can turn this thing around. though it's a valid point that he was better suited for last year's team than this year's)
What's also interesting is how dogmatic JVG is. The guy preaches one thing and one thing only--tough man defense and dump it to your best player in the post. His failure to improvise or adjust is incredible.
The next guy that JVG molds into a tough defender will be his first. Those Knick guys were tough defenders when he got there.
Bingo. This league isn't filled with Oakleys/Ewings/Larry Johnsons anymore. The closest players to them are Ben Wallace and Ron Artest. Get a coach that fits a system to his players, not a coach who makes his players fit his system.
You guys are kidding right? JVG is a great coach and I like him. This team's main problem last year was point guard and it still is. JVG put us in the playoffs last year for first time in 5 years. The season is young and this team will be alright.
Also, JVG just rode what Riley established until it was depleted (Ewing/Oakley/Johnson), then JVG quit.
I'll agree, but please don't include LJ in that line. He was an incredible offensive player in his early days pre-back-death. But he isn't a tough guy, and isn't an Oaktree/Ewing/Mason
I think both Houston & Detroit could benefit from a Larry Brown for JVG trade. Hell, we'll even throw in Patrick Ewing, Clarence Weatherspoon and all the other former Knicks for good measure.
Fratello is a less sexy version of JVG; another slow-it-down uglyballer. JVG was a much hotter commodity back then than either him or Silas, though.
Ya, I think people were interested in JVG coming back to the game, I just it wasn't with us. Silas would have an interesting coach for us.
Well, the story is, we could have had LB, but CD sat on his hands, and said, we still have to interview the other candidates . LB said, well, crap. Then Detroit called. Great bargaining, CD (or,rather, Le$). Really good job passing on the best candidate. Shove that trophy LB got up Gundy's a$x.
