Truth & Rumors > NBA

Will Van Gundy replace Nellie?

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Warriors coach Don Nelson, profoundly unhappy with the way his contract negotiations are going, plans on flying home to Hawaii after having spent several weeks in the Bay Area hoping to cement reworked details for the two years remaining on his deal. Jeff Van Gundy, fired by the Rockets in May, is unemployed, but he would most likely require an outlay of $5 million or more.

Contra Costa Times

Jeff Van Gundy, Jeff Gross/Getty Images Jeff Van Gundy, Jeff Gross/Getty Images
September 10, 2007  08:25 AM ET

Couldnt be two more different coaches. I doubt the Warrior players are too exceited about this

September 10, 2007  08:40 AM ET

wow, the warriors would go from one of the most exciting, progressive, young teams in the country to THE slowest, most boring, and probably if Gundz has his way, oldest teams in the NBA. Being from Houston, I think Gundz is one of the most overrated head coaches in the league. this would kill them right as they were about to get good.

September 10, 2007  09:18 AM ET

NBA is apparently trying to go green as well...recycling old coaches that could otherwise decay and contaminate the atmosphere.

September 10, 2007  09:23 AM ET

Van Gundy teams need to hold the opposition to below 90 to win. The Warriors are built to score 110 and hold their opposition to 113.

September 10, 2007  10:07 AM ET

So, Nelson is flying "home" to Hawaii. And he's even thinking about coming back? If I'm Nelson, I made my point last season, plus pointed the franchise in the right direction, and I am so done. Golden State back in the lottery if they hire Van Gundy, and Van Gundy would be taking probably a decade off his life expectancy. Those guys would drive him insane.

September 10, 2007  10:38 AM ET

Bamasback, Van Gundy is actually a freakin' genius.

September 10, 2007  11:30 AM ET

And the Warriors will continue to be a 40 win team scratching to be a 8th seed in the west

September 10, 2007  11:37 AM ET

That would be a bad move even for Chris Mullin

September 10, 2007  11:48 AM ET

Don't even consider this!

September 10, 2007  12:29 PM ET

and Van Gundy has done what?

is there that much of a shortage of NBA coaches?

September 10, 2007  12:54 PM ET

Don Nelson hasn't done anymore than what Van Gundy has done. Van Gundy is a better coach. The Rockets couldn't play defense before he go here either but he turned them into the second best defensive team in the league. As for the scoring, he had T-Mac and Yao as his only two consistent scoring threats. No one else on the team could score so if one of those 2 had a bad night, they weren't going to score many points. He'll have more than 2 offensive weapons in GS. With him, they go from the 8th seed last year to the number 6 seed this year.

September 10, 2007  02:58 PM ET

This would be a huge mistake. The Warriors as constructed are not designed for Van Gundy's style of basketball. The Warriors under Nelson is a run the court score buckets team. Van Gundy is a slow down grinder, defensive minded coach. If the Warriors want to move on from Nelson that is their perogative but they need to replace him with a likeminded coach. Someone who believes in the same philosophy.

September 10, 2007  04:10 PM ET

Why should Jeff Van Gundy coach the Warriors they are an offensive team not a defensive slow-down team. They play w/passion & want to move the ball up & down the court. Gundy stiffled the Rockets offense & team chemistry by pushing hard for defense & lost some of the members of the team!! Golden State will eventually pay Nelson more if they are smart. As long as Don isn't asking for Phil Jackson 10mil/yr type dough that is!!

September 10, 2007  08:36 PM ET

chalklounge R.I.P. #10 | says
"Van Gundy teams need to hold the opposition to below 90 to win. The Warriors are built to score 110 and hold their opposition to 113."
I agree.
Nelson has never taken any team anywhere - as a head coach. He is a great interim coach - a seemingly perfect fit for a perpetually interim team like the Warriors. Van Gundy would be a better long term coach. No D, No rings.

September 10, 2007  09:01 PM ET

Why would the dubs pay Van Gundy $5 mil but not Nelson? Makes no sense. The current Warriors are built for Nelson; if he doesn't come back expect Keith Smart to take over but continue in a similar playing style (a la Avery Johnson).

September 10, 2007  09:04 PM ET

That's the trouble with the warriors, they way they are built. Run and gun, with no defense. This is not championship material. The whole culture of the franchise will never change until they can understand this. Fundamentals, man, fundamentals.

September 10, 2007  09:27 PM ET

I agree that van Gundy is probably not the right coach for this team, but I'd certainly consider hiring another coach before paying Don Nelson another dime.

September 10, 2007  11:31 PM ET

Please! Nelson did more with less last season. The trick to winning big with the dubs style is to play a deflection oriented switching defense. Remember, PHX was a few gambling induced bad calls away from proving once and for all that a running team can win the title.

Also consider the dubs didn't and don't have much choice; you roll with the squad you've got, not the one you wish you had. The dubs TRIED to be a traditional half court team; hence DunMurphy, JR, Foyle. We saw how well that went. Just about the most fun team in the league to watch, plus Bellinelli and Wright will make them that much more enjoyable.

September 10, 2007  11:49 PM ET

RIP#10-
Gundy may be a strategy genius, but since when does that make him a great coach? that is one aspect, but he must also have his players believe in him, like him to at least a small degree, and buy into his plan. Gundy is a lifeless sack of !@#$ on the sidelines, and he does hardly anything to try and motivate his teams. And to the person who said he had nothing, he was here with Franchise(when he was All-Star debateable), Cuttino Mobley, and Yao and he STILL did nothing for us. That trio would wreck shop with any coach who knew a scrap about offense. I never denied his genius #10, and I think he would be absolutely perfect for a broadcaster/analysists role, or an associate head coach, but GS isnt built like he likes, and he is NOT a good head coach.

 
September 11, 2007  02:26 AM ET

doesnt nelson have a bloody 2year contract in place? what has he done to deserve more money on an existing deal to begin with. he has only ruined that franchise a decade ago!!! coach next year and prove that it wasnt a fluke, then they can talk increase and extension. as far as i am concerned, nelson still owes GS

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