[Urban Myth] Jeff Van Gundy Doesn't Know How to Coach Offense

People talk a lot about JVG not knowing how to coach offense, yet we've all seen the Rockets take a time-out on offense only for the coach to design a play for them to score immediately from out-of-bounds. Is that not coaching offense?

The Van Gundy haters have talked a lot about how they despised the fact that Van Gundy ran too many set plays on offense, allowing for too little creativity. NOW, they say the improved offense production, the result of a less structured offense, is proof that he can't coach. Isn't that what you WANTED?

Van Gundy is a hardcase. That's just his style. He's not a hand-holder, he's not a words-mincer. I can see how some would prefer a more genteel, flowery, only-gives-the-press-cliches coach.

He's got a lot to prove in the league. But he's earned the right to prove he's elite or fail trying.

 

Van Gundy IS having his way. He is still the coach last time I checked. Why do people try to argue that he isn't coaching the way he wants? Of course he is. He even got rid of everyone except Yao (and banning Mo to the IL) so that he could keep coaching HIS way.

The Lakers were killing us from the outside, and you want to try a zone? That would have probably given them even more wide open outside shots.

 

The only real complaint I ever had with JVG was that the games had ceased to be fun to watch. The games are fun to watch again, generally speaking, even when we lose. Hence I have no more complaint.

 

Have you noticed the sound bites that T-Mac has been giving JVG this year? About how he's the best coach he's ever played for. My favorite is when he said that he wishes JVG coached him earlier in his career, because he would be "a better player".

That's a heck of a compliment. And T-Mac isn't exactly the butt-kissing type. Guys like Sura, Wesley, Mutombo, and Barry might actually prefer Jeff's strictly business attitude. Yao seems to be non-plussed, but he's very non-commital on complimenting anyone. Maybe the players like Jeff, and that's why they play so hard for him.

 

Barry also said that Van Gundy is the best coach he ever played for.

 

I didn't know that about TMac or Barry...I like hearing things like that. Those are things you hear from cohesive units..especially ones that do well in the playoffs. Obviously not a direct correlation in that direction...but it's a good thing obviously.



I've always liked JVG. Defended him from DAy 1 of the bashing. But come on..."yeah he's awesome at defense, but his offense sucks" Oh wait, we're scoring now? hmmm..."i guess the players took over and shut JVG up. that's why the offense is good. OH, but defensively, everything is still his fault! They completely took over the offense so he gets no credit...but on defense, they listen to him 100% so he is fully to blame!!"

"oh wait, 1st half of lakers game looked good...I guess the players were just playing hard or the lakers sucked. Nothing to do with JVG. 4th quarter the lakers finally did something!! JVG's head should come off! He didn't run a zone!"

Sorry, I don't buy into it at all. Maybe if there was a consistent argument EVER, I'd listen. But having seen everyone find anything possible to complain about, and never give him credit after bashing him for something else before..it's just stupid.

JVG is solid, like I've always said. Better defensively than offensively. Fundamentally sound. Likes his players, veteran players, hustle players. Please don't argue with wins..

 

I think our defense is just fine. Teams are scoring more points but we're still number four in FG% allowed and also number four in points allowed.

It's just we're getting up and down the court more often like JVG wanted initially and it's giving the opponent more shots but it's still a low FG% the other team is shooting.

We just have players now that understand the system and know how to utilize it now. Unlike last year where the personnel had a hard time making the system come naturally to them.

Anyone else notice that we got all geeky people on our team? We replaced cool stevie franchise, and cool cat mobley and stuck Puff the magic dragon on the IL and traded away I'm the lady's man JJ for geeky players?

It's all appearance but Barry, Wesley, Padgett, Sura, Yao, and even t-mac aren't winning awards for being cool cats

 

Allow me to translate:

 

I had not heard the TMac or Barry quotes either, but am not suprised. As a rule ex-JVG players are very loyal to him. I saw Minnesota when they played here. Sprewell stepped awy from practice when the Rocket coaches arrived and hugged every one of them. One it looked like he did not really know, but hugged anyway because it was so emotional and such a lovefest. JVG was not there yet, but when he did come out, Spree went back and gave him the biggest hug of all.

OF course, Spree is well known for "embracing" coaches.