Todays interview with the Coach on the local sports station. I think this is the best interview I have heard him give. Everything from what he thinks of the team to the NBA in general to a small jab at his old mentor. Two things that stick out... 1) The same man crush I have for him he has for Battier. He truly loves him on the team. 2) (This is for you, Clutch ) Pay attention towards the end of the interview and see what he says about our boy Pippen. I can only say...hint...hint...!!! Can't wait to hear how the haters will pick apart the one part of the interview where...well, lets see if DaDakota picks up on his recent pet peave. I could only do it via the podcast. Their realplayer link is not working. Hope it works. The Coach
awesome interview! I love Van Gundy's thought on T-Mac and Shane...i was surprised not to hear anything bout V-span or Novak tho.
JVG with Mike & Mad Dog: -Credits Rocket's first half with player's professionalism and being ready to play most of the time. -Thinks that Tracy McGrady had an MVP type first half and that team would not have won as many games with any other player. -Wants to Marry Battier! Haha, seriously though, has a big man crush on Shane b/c of his bball IQ and will to play the game the right way. Said it was just as hard to find players like Shane as it was to find 'special talent'. -Thinks Dallas and Phoenix are cut above the rest of the West. Dallas is the most versatile of the teams. -Doesn't worry about playoff matchups and is trying to focus on getting there and getting as highest possible. -Believes Miami will make a push for a top 4 seed, and that D-Wade is the reason for their success. Also wasn't sure if Riley left b/c of health or b/c they weren't winning. -Would def take a look at Pippen to see if his body could hold up. Likes that he's a defensive perimeter player, and knows his history here in Houston. -Thinks that if the Lakers land Kidd then they could go all the way to the championship if healthy. I'm sure I missed some, great interview though.
i'm not Clutch, but for once, i agree with Gundy. i would not want to find out how much Pip could help a team like Miami, L.A., Utah, Detroit, or Denver, let alone Dallas or Phoenix.
As a last resort? If no deal can be made for a backup PG and Steve is left languishing in NY, I wouldn't object so much. If his knee's are fine I'm willing to bury the hatchet and bring his experience here for the playoff's.
Nice scoop Almu ... thanks for posting this. Here are some of the quotes from JVG about Quitten... http://www.clutchfans.net/news/1392/van_gundy_curious_to_see_pippen/
don't have time to do a full recap, so hopefully others can add details. There was a lot. - Dallas and Phoenix are the best, but San Antonio has been there, and is right there with them to win. Houston, Utah and Lakers are knocking on the door, but an injury could keep them from succeeding. - No player in the NBA could have played better for Houston than TMac has since Yao went down. - If Kidd goes to LAL, they could win the championship, because he's still an incredible player. He's one of the great competitors and high IQ. He would help them shore up their team defense, their individual defense, rebound the ball, busting out in transition, with their deep team, they could win it. Any team that adds him, that's close, has absolutely a chance to win it. - Battier is not only his perfect kind of player, but any coaches favorite kind of player, because he is a professional every minute of every game, comes prepared, and even though others have greater talent, he works to reduce their advantages by outsmarting them. He believes that he's the biggest difference between this and last year, because he has an intensity level every night, and is always ready to play, and that is caught by the other players on the team. He said a player like him is extremely hard to obtain, just like the top talent is hard to obtain. - He feels we are doing better this year, even with injuries, because of McGrady and Deke playing at a higher level, and Battier, Howard and Alston playing professional almost every night. - He feels that Pippen had the highest perimeter basketball IQ of anyone we ever faced, and if he still has the physical ability, and his knees aren't shot, would be a major value to any contender, especially with team defense, and his IQ wouldn't dissappear. He said he probably would want to play for Miami or the Lakers, but he's put his recommendations into management to at least check him out, even though he knows things didn't end well in Houston. - I'm not sure what Almu meant about his new pet peeve, since I've heard JVG talk about this a lot, but it sounds like he was showing value for players who bring it every game, every minute, who get better and better each game, each season. But, maybe Almu will expound on his point. - He believes Nash is playing offensively as well as any PG that has ever played the game, is the most important player in the league, and should be the MVP, although you can't go wrong with Nowitski, and would have to consider McGrady and Wade. - He believes Miami will win the East.
I would love to have Pippen back. I know he's had a bad history with us, but can you imagine Pippen, TMac and Battier as our perimeter defenders against Dallas and Phoenix.....me like!!!
Can someone please explain to me why Pippen's year here in Houston was so bad. I mean I know he underachieved, but why do people call him a quitter. Was it something he specifically said or did?
