"How much longer Smart, 33, will stay at VCU after leading the 11th-seeded Rams on a wildly entertaining, utterly implausible romp to the NCAA tournament’s Final Four in his second season is anyone’s guess. Along with Butler’s Brad Stevens, 34, who has led the Bulldogs to their second consecutive Final Four, Smart is among the hottest young coaches in the nation, coveted by almost every big-name program with a vacancy."

In Smart’s case, he didn’t spring from a vaunted coaching tree, toting clipboards for greater men. In fact, Smart identified his mother, Monica King, as the best coach he ever had. Her lessons were indirect, he explained, because she never coached a sport. But they were no less powerful, teaching him about leadership — she raised four boys on her own — and about the sacrifice of putting someone else’s success ahead of yours.

“When he talks to us and he motivates us, he uses stories that pertain to stuff we know about,” said senior forward Jamie Skeen, a transfer from Wake Forest. “He relates to us — like stuff like we can understand, maybe a rap song — instead of an old coach who’s 60 and talking about stuff when he was young. We wouldn’t know nothing about that.”

“He is a great player’s coach,” said Rodriguez, VCU’s all-time leader in games and minutes played, as well as the No. 2 player in steals and third in assists. “He tried to tell me he is a better passer than me. I just tell him he went to Kenyon College, and we are in the Final Four.”

- By Liz Clarke

crzymdups wrote:I want JVG. The guy knows how to handle the NY media and the Garden double-talkers and back-stabbers. And he knows something about defense and coaching stars.

Bring back JVG. He gives us the best chance of winning it all.

Let's Not Revise History

JVG also nailed Camby to the bench, stubbornly refused to start Sprewell, and blocked the acquisition of a player who would still be able to help us...

Andre Miller.

Van Gundy was EXTREMELY fortunate to have Larry Johnson to support him in the locker room. The Knicks only chance of winning it all is to acquire two players over 6'11 who can play basketball. Otherwise, you can hire Red Auerbach or Red Holzman as coach and it would not help.

No thank you. The Knicks coach who did more with less was Don Chaney.

You could look it up.

misterearl wrote:No thank you. The Knicks coach who did more with less was Don Chaney.

You could look it up.

And look how he was treated in his last days by his superiors. Shameless.

grillco wrote:

SupremeCommander wrote:I've heard that Doc wants a year off.

Of the veteran coaches that will be available, Rick Adelman would be the most likely to come, in my opinion anyway.

I would offer Brian Shaw the job.

Adelman and Shaw out of left field. You think either of them could really come to NY and get a ring? Adelman's getting up there and Shaw's not a bona fide winner yet. Interesting ideas...

Shaw is my preference, as stated above.

I like the idea of Adelman because he's got something to prove and never had the benefit of the stars that are here now. His teams always seem to overachieve, look at Houston this year. He's had a great deal of success with Portland and Sacramento... his system is similar to the Princeton offense, which would be an improvement over the run-it-up-the-court-and-chuck offense

I wouldn't want to hire someone who just wants to get paid and will come in and half ass it. I would hope to find someone who will be around for 3-5 years. Not sure if either nets a chip... just think either could be part of building a "program"

CrushAlot wrote:

misterearl wrote:

crzymdups wrote:I want JVG. The guy knows how to handle the NY media and the Garden double-talkers and back-stabbers. And he knows something about defense and coaching stars.

Bring back JVG. He gives us the best chance of winning it all.

Let's Not Revise History

JVG also nailed Camby to the bench, stubbornly refused to start Sprewell, and blocked the acquisition of a player who would still be able to help us...

Andre Miller.

Van Gundy was EXTREMELY fortunate to have Larry Johnson to support him in the locker room. The Knicks only chance of winning it all is to acquire two players over 6'11 who can play basketball. Otherwise, you can hire Red Auerbach or Red Holzman as coach and it would not help.

No thank you. The Knicks coach who did more with less was Don Chaney.

You could look it up.

The year he nailed Camby to the bench and didn't start Spree he went to the finals. MDA defenders would say Camby wasn't ready. Real fans knew JVG hated Camby because he was moved for Oak but JVG recognized the talent of Camby in time to almost win a championship. I think JVG handled Spree perfectly. JVG was all about team goals and had a guy join his team that he wanted to work for team goals. I don't think starting Spree right away after his indiscretion would have sent the right message. Kill Jeff for being stubborn about the Oakley trade but I think he took a big picture approach with Spree.

On Leadership

CrushALot - The year the Knicks went to The Finals was also an abbreviated season with a roster stocked with elite talent. Van Gundy did not have similar talent in Houston and didn't last too long.

By the time our guys punctuated the 1999 season with an incredible 20 point comeback win in Miami, the team was jellin' like a felon. On its own accord. The internal leadership was provided by the rebellious slave himself, Larry Johnson. It was a thing of beauty.

I miss Andre Miller.