OK, I haven't posted many times, nor have I posted in ages, so I'm not sure where everyone is on this matter, but as a lifelong Rockets fan, I thought I'd share my thoughts: First off, I love Rudy T. Always have. It was Rudy who made team harmony and chemistry a premium almost a decade and half ago when the Rockets drudged through the Bill Fitch era and the non-sustainable Don Chaney flash in the pan. I adore the only coach that not only brought a title to Houston, repeat titles. Based on his public appearances/relations, it seems like Rudy is a nice guy. Next to Hakeem, he's a Rockets institution, but alas, it looks like he's run out of gas. I can't comment on the cancer he's dealing with, because I'm not abreast on his physical condition, but will comment on basketball. Rudy still belongs in the Rocket organization, maybe as a consultant or head of basketball operations. This team, mainly the primary ball handlers, needs a shot in the arm in terms of offensive and defensive strategy and here's why Van Gundy is the man for the job: Offense - Van Gundy says it over and over in his telecast and I agree with him: it's very difficult to cultivate 3 scorers. Particularly 2 perimeter scorers and a post up player. Van Gundy did this effectively with 2, equally if not more scoring oriented guards, with Allan Houston and Latrell Spreewell AND Patrick Ewing in his days with the Knicks. Ever since he left, that offense has never been the same. Van Gundy knows how to expose matchups, particularly in the low post. He did this time and time again with Spree when he was with the Knicks and most importantly in crunch time, he went to Ewing over and over again. He understands that you play inside out. I think Rudy understands this too as he did it with Hakeem back in the day, but clearly some of that thinking has been lost between Rudy and guys like Steve and Cat. Defense - The trademark of all champions. Van Gundy's defensive schemes came from the defensive master himself - Pat Riley. I know I'm probably going to get slammed for plugging Riles on this board, but all his theatrics aside, the man knows defense and Van Gundy learned first hand how to build defensive schemes to stop primary scorers, taking away 1st, 2nd and 3rd offensive options from teams and most of all maintaining a low field goal percentage, which the rockets failed miserably at down the stretch this year. When the Rockets won their titles, they played great defense and didn't turn the ball over. They also had responses when challenged in games. Getting crucial stops and having defensive resiliency was their bread and butter in the early to mid-90s - Where has that gone? Discipline - Is there anything more frustrating than watching Steve or Cat dribble the 25-30 times in the half court set, watching the shot clock run down and jacking up some nonsense? Or worse, turnovers in crucial situations because they want to play 1-1. Now don't get me wrong - I love Steve. I drafted him 1st in my fantasy basketball league (and still won) . Cat's also a good scorer in any offense as he's got all the tools - long range J, lefty driver and has a pull up J. Problem is, these guys don't create for other teammates on a consistent basis, are turnover prone and not only shoot ill advised shots, but shots at the WRONG time. Again, Van Gundy reined in the most undisciplined player in Spreewell and made him into a prime time player. Stevee is twice the player Spree ever was and Cat is much more coachable than spree and versatile than Allan Houston. These guys are young, erratic and there games are based on athleticism and not their brains. They need a leadership and direction from a hard nosed guy like Van Gundy, not a companionship from Rudy. The Rockets have more tools than most NBA teams. They have a back to the basket center, an athletic point guard and a legitimate 3rd scorer. Although Eddie Griffin isn't a great offensive player, yet, he blocks shots. Name 5 teams in the NBA that have shotblocking 4s? They just lack an offensive and defensive scheme that fits their strengths and most of all they lack discipline. The Rockets lost at least 7 games this year, just on stupid plays (turnovers), defensive mixups or simply not getting the ball to Yao in the 3rd and 4th quarters. Instilling discipline, defense and maximizing a post offense is what Van Gundy does best. Hire the man.
Great comments. Although I feel you are making Van Gundy out to be an elite coach (which he isn't). Only 2 problems: 1) Van Gundy has already nixed the idea of coaching any team that a) is located in the south and/or b) dismissed their coach for reasons unacceptable to him and most importantly, 2) Rudy will be back next season.
Great post, oh ! and by the way, Van Gundy said that he's 2 choices are b/n Houston and cleveland. check out www.hoopsworld.com, on the daily article.
This is why hoopsworld.com is not a very good news source. Hoopsworld states in their daily that Van Gundy is "considering Houston" and cites the N.J. Star-Ledger as their source. Yet in the article that they cite, found here, it is clear that Van Gundy never said this or insinuated it (there is no direct input from Van Gundy anywhere in the article). It is obvious that the writer feels Houston is an option, not Van Gundy himself. I doubted this story from HW to begin with since it would be very odd for Van Gundy (who seems to be of sound character) to comment on his desire to coach somewhere where there isn't even an opening. I rank Hoopsworld right up there with Peter Vescey.
. I disagree with a portion of this, Van Gundy's knicks were as painful to watch offensively as Riley's were. Furthermore, they had their greatest success, getting all the way to the finals, when Ewing was NOT in the lineup. They were never as good when he played and the guards had to give him the ball. That does, however, validate his '3 is too many scorers' theory.
Here's the Star Ledger article that I believe the hoopsworld.com site is referencing: Van Gundy has a talk with Cavs From the article: "The Cavaliers job is considered perhaps the most attractive of all the NBA coaching vacancies, given that Van Gundy's primary criterion is stable ownership. But that would immediately slip to the second-rate status if the Houston Rockets position became available: Owner Leslie Alexander is believed to be considering a change, and he can use Rudy Tomjanovich's health as an excuse to make one."
You beat me to it codell. This is exactly how rumors get started. It doesn't matter what ends up happening - if Van Gundy comes to Houston or not - it's that a conclusion was made from the original Saturday article, and only from the original article, that Van Gundy wants Houston when the article said nothing more than what options may be left for Van Gundy to coach next season.
Even in this article, the writer is speculating as to what Alexander's thinking may be. I don't think Les would fire Rudy because of his illness without Rudy being in total agreement (i.e. this sickness has taken too much out of me and I don't feel I can physically keep up with the demands of being a head coach). Saying that Les will use it as an excuse, seems to insinuate that he would let Rudy go even if Rudy wants to stay on and feels he has the health to do so. If Les were to fire Rudy (which according to DocRocket isn't going to happen), then I don't think he would use Rudy's illness as an excuse, but rather, would cite his coaching ability. That would be the only professional way to handle it.
I just saw "Pardon the Interruption" on ESPN and Van Gundy was the guest. Gundy talked about 3 teams (Cleveland, Toronto, and New Orleans), no mention of Houston. He said all 3 teams were a good situation if the right coach came along. Gundy played it cool and indicated that he might want to coach if an organization shared his goals which was to building a team not only to compete for a championship.
I, like Tranmerica34, haven't posted in forever. However, whether or not Van Gundy is or is not considering Houston as a viable coaching option, I agree with Tranmerica34's points. Rudy has all but handed all play calling to the players in allowing and perpetuating the one-on-one style of play. Problem is, the players on this team are too young to run the offense. Stevie's got one year of decent college experience under his belt, along with Eddie. Yao's, what, 24? With this dearth of institutionalized knowledge (save Glen Rice), the offense is bound to suffer for extended stretches, as it did during the entire season. Did anyone else notice that, in almost every game, the Rockets offense would just disappear? With young players, it makes sense, to me, to structure an offense. Provide a framework in which the players may thrive. One-on-one isos are great for the end of the game, last second plays, but what about the other 47:30? Start with the simplest play in the game: the pick and roll. Instead of using this play through out the game to provide offensive options, the Rockets save it for the end of the game (used at the end of several games where Francis comes around a high screen for an open three). If Rudy is here next year, establishing an offensive framework must be key. Without it, this team is doomed. If he is unwilling or unable to provide such a framework, it's time to look for a new coach. I agree that Van Gundy would be excellent in this capacity.
Van Gundy is a pretty good coach but don't forget he left the Knicks in the middle of the season when he thought that they weren't competing.Sprewell and Houston are experienced players unlike Francis and Mobley.I think it's going to be difficult for him to get though to them.
First of all, Rudy T. is the Houston Rocket coach until he chooses another position or Les Alexander moves him to something other than his coaching spot. There is no job opening, currently. With that said, Van Gundy would never mention Houston as an option. That's NBA head coach 101, regardless if he's interested, not interested. He said himself, he'd only coach where the current coach wasn't unfairly forced out, why would he even sneeze at mere mention of Houston? Personally, I think Rudy is tired and he gracefully went into the front office, no one would blame him and he'd go out a hero. The truth of the matter is, JVG the best option that out there to make this current team improve next season and for the next crucial 4-6 years. Outside of a brilliant trade, one that could net an allstar PF (elton brand?), while keeping the nucleus trio in tact, Van Gundy is Houston's ticket to immediate improvement and the next step that they must have - the playoffs. To the point about Van Gundy's offense in the Knicks seasons being unwatchable, that's fair - I despised the Knicks vs. Heat games - Horrible. However, they still executed offensively in the final 2 minutes by going IN THE POST and making DEFENSIVE STOPS. The truth is, Van Gundy would have more tools with Steve and Cat - both players have the ability to penetrate, shoot the long range 3 and get to the free throw line. Spree can drive, but had no range and Al Houston was/is one dimensional. I'm not so much worried about the fluidity and assists numbers of the offense as I am concerned about the current guards completely leaving the post for long stretches of the game. Van Gundy would demand that Steve and Cat feed the post, move the ball and get a high percentage shot particularly in crunch time or suffer the consequences. I just don't see Rudy T. doing that - if he hasn't, i don't think anyone disagrees that he needs to or someone needs to, if he has, they are not listening and won't listen. I sit here and watch Portland and all their headcases make the playoffs and teams like Utah, who the Rockets should exploiting the hell out of with their matchup advantages and think this is an execution problem, not a talent problem. These guys have the physical ability to can make hard cuts, jump out of the building, fight through picks, beat teams on height, length, speed, quickness and defense, but don't do it. It's just inexcusable that a team loaded with as much talent as the Rockets to not be in the playoffs.
We dont have a Houston or a Spree! We have very different problems. We have a Center with great potential, who needs to stop thinking Chinese Basketball and move permanently into the NBA. Without a Big Mans Coach its a difficult task. We have a score first Point Guard, whos game leaves the rest of his team wanting and without a playmaker! We have a Shooting Guard who thinks hes a Star and when the ball is in his hands he becomes a black hole, the ball never to see another players hands ever again.(in that play) Also the Shooting Guard doesnt believe in the potential of the Center. If this combination is ever going to work as a Team playing Team Basketball, a team of Psychiatrists who can Hypnotize will be needed to realign the thaught patterns of all three players. Also the Trainee Coach Assistants need to be returned to their origional jobs.[Tape Room] Experienced NBA Coaches should be their replacements.Not Jeff Van Gundy!
Tran-34 - You are absolutely right in every aspect of the word. The best coach for the job is always a toss up. I never saw anything big in Van Gundy, My favorite coach, coaches for the team I hate the most (JAZZ). Wish he were available. Anyway, you are correct from the Coaching aspect all the way to the talent aspect. Any decent B-ball fan recognizes the problem we have here. If you ask any fan (who is not a rockets fan) what they think about our team they all say the same thing. We have a talented squad we are just very un-organized and lack leadership and direction.
I like Van Gundy, I think he could fit in if Rudy gets out... but im afraid of the turnovers of the team... because the Knicks did lead in turnovers when Van Gundy was in.. sooo.... JMO... good post btw.
Van Gundy will most likely end up coaching the Cleveland Cadavers. Case Closed. Uncle Les has $12 million reasons not to can Rudy T. Rudy T will be back next year, the player roster will be "tweaked" slightly but there will be no change in their style of play.
Van Gundy had tight control of knicks offense. He called every single play and there's no freedom for the PG to make the decision. Some players even voiced their pleasure about the freedom when Chaney took over. Anyone think steve would work well with Van Gundy?
