Van Gundy resigns from the Rockets

[Ironman_8]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05062007/sports/van_gundy_retires___again_sports_peter_vecsey.htm

VAN GUNDY RETIRES - AGAIN

By PETER VECSEY

May 6, 2007 -- Jeff Van Gundy has taken another walk to that celebrated hot-dog stand.

The Post has learned the former Knicks coach, who quit 19 games (10-9) into the '01-'02 season, again is leaving the profession for the foreseeable future, and his decision has nothing to do with last night's Game 7 103-99 playoff elimination home loss to the Jazz.

According to an impeccable source, Van Gundy's mind has been made up for weeks, if not months, to distance himself from the stress of the sidelines regardless of whether Houston got bumped early on or took the season to the championship limit.

It's his choice. Given the Rockets' rude first-round sendoff, the third time in Van Gundy's four-year tour (and sixth of Tracy McGrady's 10-year career), it's highly unlikely owner Les Alexander would choose to re-sign the free-agent control freak, anyway.

As evidenced by how the Jazz beat their opponents to countless rebounds and loose balls, Houston is desperate for livelier bodies and a more "athletically inclined" coach.

In fact, a source reveals Alexander's emissaries already have spoken to at least one targeted replacement. Nevertheless, the timing of Jeff's departure is weird on two counts.

His brother, Stan, who quit as Heat last season, only just resurfaced as a candidate for various openings (Bobcats boss Michael Jordan and GM Bernie Bickerstaff interviewed him last week) throughout the NBA. And guess who was slapping five with Jerry Sloan after last night's upset? Assistant coach Scott Layden, the mortally stunned Knicks president when Jeff Van Gundy abandoned the franchise.

 

[sunnyblue100]

Time to make some change, good for the rockets.

 

[Journeyman]

Wow, kind of shocked after hearing all the nice things McGrady said about him...the writing must have been on the wall.....time for a Rudy T sighting.

 

[CAPNCRUNCH]

Lots of stress in coaching......especially with today's ballplayers. Alot less stress announcing!

 

[sunnyblue100]

Maybe it's the boss that should be blamed for. Yao and rockets already made you lots of :money8:, time to do some serious investment.

 

[2PLAYSMAX]

Get rid of Isiah and send him back to Knicks:aktion033

 

[knicknut]

Get rid of Isiah and send him back to Knicks:aktion033

 

[beefdiesel]

I just hope they get a coach that has some excitement to him, not defensive minded. I live in Houston and want a reason to watch them everytime they play. Van Gundy is blah in my opinion. see ya Van Gundy, now you can go get some sleep, ha ha

 

[bigtendominator]

I think a game played in the PHX tempo is better for an organization than a team that plays the current Rockets style even if the current style was winning while the run and gun was not winning as much.

Average fan wants scoring and entertainment.

 

[dougstewart]

Van Gundy just denied that NY Post story, saying he has not made up his mind yet. The Rockets have scheduled a press conference for tomorrow so we should learn his decision by then.

 

[sunnyblue100]

Looks like a fake news:missingte

 

[Extraordinary_5]

JVD is a OK coach. Look at all the players that he brought to Houston, he wanted 80% of his old knicks players, and they're so old and overrated.

 

[juice]

People tend to hate on Van Gundy because he doesn't play the up-tempo game that fans like to see.
Personally, I like seeing a grind it out defensive war, but I'm an old Van gundy fan from the Knicks days.
It looked like he basically had the pieces in Houston too, Yao just needs another year or two to develop and he would have thrived in that system.

 

[MrCleo]

You can say the Rockets didn't have a good enough supporting cast -- just don't free Van Gundy of the blame of that. This was his team, put together with the kind of guys he wanted. Van Gundy ridiculed everyone who were critical of Rafer's shooting through the media and failed to acquire point guard help at the February trading deadline, despite the obvious need.
It burned us badly.

In the end, I believe having a coach who has the respect of his players, preaches defense and gets defensive results is a valuable asset, so I lean right now towards the Rockets keeping Van Gundy and bringing in better supporting players who know how to score (something Van Gundy can not teach). However, the Rockets thought they did that this year, but JVG showed there is always room for one more in his doghouse. His stubbornness may have written his ticket out of town. I don't think he will be back.

pasted that from a Rockets forum

 

[WVU]

I cannot even picture Van Gundy without seeing him attached to Alonzo Mourning's leg while trying to break up the big Heat/Knicks fight several years ago. He looked like a little kid catching a ride on daddy's leg.

 

[lapdance]

didn't that little kid beat daddys team just about every time?

 

[maxdemo]

May 16, 2007, 2:29PM
Van Gundy to serve as guest analyst for NBA playoff games


By DAVID BARRON
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy will return to the airwaves this weekend, calling NBA playoff games on ABC and ESPN with Mike Breen and Mark Jackson as a guest analyst, the network announced today.

"Jeff is the perfect addition to our broadcast team," said Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president for studio and remote production. "In his previous work on television, he showed that he is a great communicator who can clearly break down the game in a simple and entertaining fashion."

Van Gundy, who last worked on television as an analyst for TNT Sports in 2002-2003, said in a statement issued by the network, "I would rather still be coaching in the playoffs, but this opportunity is the next best thing for me."

His first broadcast will be Friday, the network said.

Next year is the last season of Van Gundy's contract as the Rockets' coach, but he can terminate the contract up to three days after the end of the NBA season.

While the team has discussed "scenarios" under which Van Gundy could return, owner Leslie Alexander met last week with former Kings, Warriors and Trail Blazers coach Rick Adelman. Adelman is the only name to have surfaced as a potential successor if Van Gundy does not return.