Chronicle Writer Addresses Rockets Coach Van Gundy’s Firing

Media Reactions Mixed Over Rockets’ Firing Of Van Gundy

The Rockets fired coach Jeff Van Gundy on Friday, and the HOUSTON CHRONICLE’s John Lopez wrote Daryl Morey, in his “first significant moment as new GM,” tried to “sweep up the mess ... with an abundance of spin.” Morey “merely did what he was told to do Friday, standing before the cameras, nervously explaining the biggest philosophical and public-relations blunder in the history of the Rockets organization.” Lopez wrote firing Van Gundy “was a mistake. ... Given [Owner Leslie] Alexander’s desire to bring a likable face and up-tempo style to the club, with [candidate Rick] Adelman they’ve only got it half-right.” Lopez added of Van Gundy’s situation, “Trust between all Rockets decision-makers vanished. ... Maybe the trust of Rockets fans isn’t far behind” (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 5/19). In N.Y., Peter Vecsey wrote the Chronicle “makes it appear [Van Gundy] was shafted by [Morey], claiming [he] knew all along [Van Gundy] wanted to continue for at least another season.” But Alexander “makes these types of command decisions, so if the newspaper is going to suggest someone at the top is lying, it definitely isn’t [Morey].” Vecsey noted Van Gundy quit during the ’01-02 season while coaching the Knicks and wrote, “Alexander’s firing of Van Gundy, I’m guessing, was simply a preemptive strike to avoid such a callous reenactment” (N.Y. POST, 5/20).

RAPTORS: In Toronto, Doug Smith reports the Raptors could sign coach Sam Mitchell to a contract extension “as early as Tuesday.” Sources said that Mitchell’s new deal has a base of US$12M and “could be worth as much as” US$13-14M over three seasons, which would make Mitchell the “second-highest paid coach in franchise history,” behind Lenny Wilkens (TORONTO STAR, 5/19).