Does Van Gundy Have All His Marbles?

[4everwarriors]

The dude goes from not playing Money at all, to starting him vs. the Suns this evening. What's up?

[mu_hilltopper]

I'm guessing he was trying to make a point .. there was that article today about not playing him.  So he started him.  Stevie played under 10 minutes, went 1-3 for 3 pts, and so far, hasn't gotten back into the game.

Way to grow your talent.  Not.

[WashDCWarrior]

Can you link the article?

[DoubleMU0609]

It was posted in a previous thread.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=515.0

[WashDCWarrior]

Nevermind, I found it.  Good read, but doesn't answer any questions on JVGs state of mind.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4366180.html

Van Gundy ready to lean on his subs

By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

When Jeff Van Gundy mentioned he played Steve Novak just a bit Saturday to bring some energy, he beat the usual questions about Novak's role with a declaration about his rotation.

``We're playing everybody, everybody,'' Van Gundy said. ``Everybody is in the rotation. Because you know what? That's what they do in Greece, so we're going to do it in America. Everybody plays. Everybody plays equally. That's what we're going to work toward. We're just going to play everybody equally.''

Van Gundy said he was pleased with Novak's readiness, though he added that should be expected.

``Before I praise them, shouldn't they be ready? It's their job,'' Van Gundy said. ``Are we just paying them to show up? That being said, now that I've been cynical and critical, my praise is those guys work extremely hard to be ready. Novak, John Lucas, Billy (Spanoulis).They have worked hard to try to get ready.

``I'm happier with Novak today than I was Oct. 28. Everybody was happy with him Oct. 28. I wasn't. I didn't think he had one clue about what it was going to take to be successful in a regular-season game.

``Since everybody was overly and overtly praising him, all I saw was danger signs. Since he hasn't played, I've been much happier with him because he started to get much better mentally, so when he is put in, I feel he is going to make less mistakes. It's not just make-or-miss, because I'll bet on him making.

``Novak has never felt sorry for himself. There have been a couple of those young guys I've been disappointed with at times in that they think they've had it hard in the NBA. They have no idea what hard is in the NBA.  Novak, to his credit, has never had that woe-is-me attitude. From Oct. 28 to Nov. 28, I love what he's done.''

[spiral97]

ohh!! so he FINALLY tied his shoelaces!!!  that can trip some players up *nod*

but why couldn't van gundy just have told him so to start with?!

[StillAWarrior]

I've had a difficult time taking Van Gundy seriously ever since seeing him gnawing on Alonzo Mourning's ankle in 1998.   

Also, his "shopping" quote in the article linked yesterday (http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=515.0) wasn't exactly the epitome of male enlightenment.

[HoopDreams]

It surprises me that Van Gundy cannot see Novak as a role player for that team..I do not see why Novak couldn't come in mid-game during a poor offense stretch and simply put some points up for the Rockets. Starting him is Van Gundy's sorry excuse/response to the press. Give the kid a chance to play and do what he is good at..find a place in the offense that he can make an impact, because he surely has a great ability to shoot the rock.