[USA Todays] Rockets' struggles put Van Gundy in jeopardy

I think JVG might have wondered why he hasn't been fired. After all, in NYC, it doesn't take much to fire someone and JVG is customed to NYC style.

 

That guy is a clown. JVG ain't going anywhere.

 

I agree

 

Looking at the team, the Rockets is in no position to really have a chance to challenge elite teams. Therefore, JVG is safe with his job; otherwise, it would have been another story. Because if you have a real chance, you can't afford to waste another 10 games. If that's the case, no matter it's coach's fault, some change has to be made. Firing a coach is always easier than move 5 players. So far, I don't see anything happens to JVG.

 

What you are saying is that the Rockets is a mediocre team no matter what JVG does, despite having 2 all-stars, and JVG won't be forced to go because there is no one as experienced in the current coach market.

I can't argue much on the first part, considering TMac's lingering back problem (boy I hope it's not a career hampering, on-and-off injury). As far as the latter, it's up to Les and CD to make a tough decision. I believe there are qualiefied guys out there as long as the Rockets extend an offer. For instance, Bill Laimbeer has proven himself to be a winning coach, despite not being liked by many as a player. Scottie Pippen may be another candidate.

 

You must be joking.

 

We all know JVG is a good coach, maybe not great. His record proves that, and the guy has passion for the game and the team, and is a workaholic. It's not easy to find a great coach to replace him. The discussion about whether to replace him, which I am also willing to entertain, is merely because whether his style is suitable for the current stage of this team, not because he's bad. It's a difficult and transition period, with TMac's bad back, and new players, bad contracts, there are lots of adjustment and fine-tuning to do. It takes time. If you have a legit chance to win now, you can't affort any experiment, and drastic changes are imminent. But given current situation, when we are even talking about tanking the season, why not give him more time? That's my thought, and I just figure it would be logical to Les and CD. The best case scenario is unreachable this season, then they should provent the worst to happen, which would be firing a good coach, replacing with a worse one, having your players upset, and missing the playoff but not bad enough for lottery.

 

Opinion from Readers.

 

I'd be surprised if JVG was fired. I doubt it will happen.

And, if they make Scottie Pippen a coach, I would like to punch the person responsible for making that decision in the nards.

 

You'd punch yourself in the nards if Pippen brings an NBA championship or two (or more) to Rockets.

Remember, even if Pippen had helped Rockets win the title in 1999, there would have been an asterisk right next to it.

 

How many college or NBA games as Laimbeer won as a coach?

 

One WNBA title as a coach for what it worths to male chauvinists.

To me that's both surprising and convincing.

 

Then why not Van Chancellor? He has won more WNBA titles as well as being a successful college coach. To top that off, he has had first hand experience watching the Rockets.

 

Did he play in the NBA and win a title or two as a key member of the championship squad?

 

The guy may be a clown, but on the matter of JVG, he is accurately reflecting what is becoming a glaring reality that is reverberating not only through Rocketland, but throughout all the NBA and that is this:

JVG has lost this team. He has several weeks to make changes and if those changes don`t show some significant improvement and he regain his grip on this team, he will be lucky to make it to mid-January.

You are naive if you think Les will endure the pitiful performance the Rockets have shown, particularly with the expectations that were on this team at the beginning of this season.

For most of us on this Board, being a Rocket fans is a pastime, albeit a passionate one, but for Les it is a business and when Les starts losing money no one is safe, especially the head coach whose negative demeanor, lifeless soundbytes and pouting personality has already soured with the fans and the players. When a coach loses the fans as JVG is currently doing at a break-neck speed, he has to be losing at least "some" of the players. Whatever JVG is doing or IS not doing, the quality of the product is not selling. All you have to do is have seen any of the last 9 or so games. Within the delicate balance of an NBA team "some" very quickly becomes too much. When fans stop being on Board, and players get uneasy and revenues go down, Les will be quick to stop the bleeding!

JVG is anything but safe and better be preared to go somewhere, because outside of a really rapid and really dramatic turn-around, it won`t be here with the Rockets!

 

How about Rudy T? He's been scouting most of the Rockets home games.

 

Exactly!!!....Opinions are like A$$holes; everybody has one and they usually are full of crap and stink.

 

As far as I know, Chancellor never played in the NBA.

In your original post concerning the virtues of Laimbeer, you didn't mention his playing days (except for the fact he was disliked) but you did mention that he was a winning coach. If that is your criteria, then Chancellor should be a better choice. If your criteria includes being a key player on a championship team(s) as well, what about Michael Cooper?

 

Many of the successful NBA coaches were not very good players themselves.