3 Coaches the New Orleans Pelicans Should Avoid

Head coaches the New Orleans Pelicans should avoid: Jeff Van Gundy

Jeff Van Gundy

I am old enough to remember Jeff Van Gundy storming the floor to break up a fight during a Knicks/Heat playoff game, and latching onto Alonzo Mourning’s leg like a 120lb. limpet trying to hold onto a rock in a raging ocean.

He also got decked by his own player (Marcus Camby) who misfired with a haymaker intended for Danny Ferry. Those were the days.

Back then, Van Gundy was an up and comer, a wunderkind, a guy who looked like he would be in the coaching ranks for a long time.

He won everywhere he went and did it with passion, often racking up fines for disparaging the referees or getting into the middle of a brawl.

Van Gundy may have been the best coach the Knicks ever had, he took them to the finals as the 8th seed and amassed a 248-172 record overall.

He went 182-146 with the Houston Rockets in four seasons before being fired in 2007. He’s been in the broadcast booth ever since.

This is why the New Orleans Pelicans should avoid Jeff Van Gundy. He’s been out of the game for 13 years and while people can still observe and learn as announcers, there is no substitute for being in the trenches.

It wouldn’t be long before JVG started wondering why he gave up his cushy job on TV to work 18 hours a day and take all the blame when his team loses.

Also, are we even sure JVG likes basketball? He complains nearly non-stop about the refs, the soft play, the new generation of players, especially young ones, and is generally a grumpy old man who shouts out “It was better in MY day!” several times a broadcast.

That’s not the guy to lead the Pelicans team of youngsters who love to run, shoot three’s and not punch people.

Hard pass on JVG.