Monday Insider

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Can Van Gundy help Rockets avoid disaster?

By Chad Ford

NBA Insider

Send an Email to Chad Ford Monday, October 20

Updated: October 20

1:49 PM ET

Chat wrap with Chad Ford

Welcome back to the NBA, Jeff Van Gundy.

It was a little less than two years ago that Van Gundy took a walk after practice, came back awhile later, and suddenly and unexpectedly resigned as the head coach of the Knicks.

He cited fatigue, discouragement and a lack of passion for the job in his resignation speech. Just below the surface, you knew that Van Gundy kept looking at his aging, declining Knicks team and wondered to himself, why bother?

Fast forward to this weekend, when Van Gundy had to indefinitely suspend one of his best young players, Eddie Griffin. It was the last in a long series of indignities in Rockets camp that has to have VG asking himself yet again -- is anything worth this?

Why bother? Weren't the Rockets that hip, up-and-coming team with a young all-star point guard and center? Weren't they the team that was just one step away from being a real playoff contender? Wasn't Van Gundy's tough approach supposed to be the perfect medicine for what ailed this soft, but talented team?

While I'm a firm believer that the preseason means nothing (see Around the League), if this were NASA, the engineers would be screaming "Abort!" right about now.

What's Houston's problem?

Start with injuries that have kept key players like Cuttino Mobley, Eric Piatkowski, Maurice Taylor and Adreian Griffin on the bench this preseason.

Injuries and an AWOL Eddie Griffin have slowed Jeff Van Gundy and the Rockets this preseason.

Mobley is expected back today, but the loss of four key players has hindered Van Gundy's ability to put in his new offense.

"It is important," Van Gundy told the Houston Chronicle. "We need to have our guys back so we can figure out our rotation and how we're going to play. So that's important."

Next, put a dash of tired Yao Ming, who was worn ragged by the Chinese National Team this summer. False news reports out of China this summer breathlessly reported that Yao was suffering from some sort of fatigue syndrome. That's bogus. But he is exhausted and the Rockets are genuinely nervous about how their star center is going to hold up this year.

Throw in an AWOL Griffin, who skipped the game on Wednesday and then didn't show up for practice Thursday morning either.

The Rockets are trying to play down Griffin's absence, claiming that he'll be back with the team soon enough.

"We're going to see this as a very short-term blip on the radar and get Eddie back as soon as he's ready to conform to what he is expected to do, which starts with showing up to work every day, on time, ready to play and perform well," Van Gundy said.

However, he didn't show up to camp in shape and struggled when he was with the team. Something else is going on. This weekend, the Philadelphia Inquirer (Griffin's from Philly) claimed that Griffin was considering quitting basketball.

"All anyone cares about right now is that Eddie is all right so he can play," a Griffin confidant told the Inquirer. "He wants to quit playing basketball. He doesn't want to play anymore. He's just drained by all the responsibilities in his life and he can't take it anymore. Some, you just know he'll get past. There's too much to lose. But that doesn't mean he isn't going through some tough times right now."

If Griffin really did pack it up this season (physically or mentally) the Rockets will really struggle in the paint. With Taylor out and Griffin on vacation, the team would be forced to play Yao more minutes and pair him alongside Kelvin Cato in the frontcourt.

Cato? Here's all the proof that you need that Van Gundy is losing his mind.

"I keep talking about this -- when you're surrounding Yao and Steve, all you need are tough, smart, hard-working professional players who know who they are. They're not confused," Van Gundy told the Chronicle. "So he (Cato) is not going to jack up perimeter shots. He's going to shoot a high percentage, he's going to rebound, he's going to know coverages, and he's a very smart player."

Then to top it off, Van Gundy is already butting heads with star point guard Steve Francis about the team's new inside-outside offense. Van Gundy wants Yao to be the team's first option in the paint. Van Gundy's experience, from his days with Patrick Ewing, is that big centers get higher percentage shots than shot-happy point guards.

"Steve offensively, right now, is trying to hit the home run every time down," Van Gundy said. "Steve is sometimes so great he can hit a home run. To shake somebody and take on another guy and take tough shots . . . the game's got to be easier. We're not playing team offense the right way. Blown play after play, assignment after assignment."

"We're not adapting to change. There are a few pockets of resistance."

Francis' experience, forged in the infamous Kelvin Cato era, is that you never, ever give the big guy the ball.

"I've been playing the same way for five years," Francis said. "The part of me going one-on-one when the shot clock is going down, that's what I've got to do. I'm not going to throw the ball to a 7-foot guy on the three-point line if I can do something at the end of the shot clock."

Van Gundy also wants Francis to step up and set the tone on the team. Every coach needs a star player who buys into the offense and sells his teammates on it. Of course, Yao's on board. But Van Gundy needs Francis to set the example to get the others to follow.

"It wrenches my gut to say that right now we don't play hard," he said. "Until we do - and that's the foundation for every good team: giving an honest day's effort every night and being unselfish - we're going to struggle."

Francis's response?

"Whatever," he said. "As a team, we just have to get on the same page. We're straight. We're cool."

Cool? If I'm Carroll Dawson, I'm making sure that Van Gundy doesn't go on another one of those soul searching walks after practice this week. If VG does, I'm not sure he'll like what he finds.

Around the League

Danny Ainge finally decided to dump Antoine Walker.

A Celtics source told Insider Monday morning that the Celtics were sending Walker and Tony Delk to the Mavericks for Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills and a future No. 1 pick.

WalkerIt's a head scratcher for both teams.

The Mavs were looking for a tough, blue collar center to do some banging in the paint. Instead, they get Walker, a power forward in name only, who prefers, like the rest of the Mavs, to launch from the perimeter.

The Celtics get a guy who could be a legit center in the league in LaFrentz. But at what price? Paul Pierce was already doing too much as it was? Now he's the only threat on the Celtics to score 20 a night. LaFrentz can average roughly 15 and eight in Boston. But those aren't close to Walker's numbers.

With guys like Allen Iverson and Kevin Garnett signing big extensions, the Celtics were feeling pressure to either pay Walker or dump him now. Considering they had no intention of signing him to the "max" extension he was asking for, they thought a trade was the best course of action.

Welsch is a nice prospect -- down the road. Mills is a salary-cap dump.

Did either team get better? I don't see how. The Mavs are now clearly the most lethal offensive team in the league. But there really can be too much of a good thing going on in Dallas. I wouldn't be shocked if they followed this trade up with another move. You've got to have a role player or two on your team.

As for the Celtics, I'm not sure where they go from here. They don't have a ton of tradeable assets. They'll need to find another scorer. Vin Baker? Kedrick Brown? Marcus Banks? Someone will have to step up for the Celtics to improve because of this trade.

The preseason is supposed to be a time of hope and joy. The slate is clean. Everyone's a contender until opening night. Miracles still do happen.

Right.

Need evidence that the preseason means absolutely nothing? Just look atop the standings in the NBA's four divisions.

The Heat lead the Atlantic with a 5-1 record. The Raptors (4-1) are atop the Central. The Jazz and Grizzlies (4-1) are sitting pretty in the Midwest. And the Warriors' 4-1 record gives them top honors in the Pacific.

Considering that all five teams have a slim to none chance of making the playoffs (with the possible exception of Memphis) don't get your hopes up too high.

Van Exel

Nick Van Exel is thinking about having surgery again . . . or is he just trying to push the Warriors into trading him?

The last time Van Exel considered surgery on his always shaky left knee was two seasons ago, just before he was traded from the Nuggets to Mavericks. That time, Van Exel marched into Kiki Vandeweghe's office and dropped the gauntlet -- either trade him to a title contender or he'll have season-ending surgery.

Vandeweghe traded him and, miraculously, Van Exel was able to play through the rest of the season without the surgery. With the Knicks trying to pry Van Exel away, don't put it past him to use the surgery as a bargaining chip.

With that said, read into his comments about the potential surgery all you want. Warriors doctors prescribed rest for the sore knee. Van Exel decided to get a second opinion from the Mavericks team physician.

"I'm not really concerned, just that if I have to have surgery, I'd rather get it done as soon as possible so I can get back quick," Van Exel told the Contra Costa Times. "If it's going to take rest and it will go away, then that will be good. But I don't know what's going to happen. I'm not concerned because I don't think it's season-ending or anything like that. I don't think it will be any more than three weeks. I'm just guessing, three or four weeks. But you never know how things are."

Harrington

The buyout frenzy continues. The Knicks look like they're the latest to jump into the fray. The New York Post is reporting that the team is considering buying out the last two years and $6 million of Othella Harrington's contract. The Knicks currently have 16 players with guaranteed contracts.

The Bucks reportedly struck a deal with Jason Caffey on Saturday. Caffey had two years and $11.8 million remaining on his deal. There's no word yet on what the buyout actually was.

"It was kind of a mutual agreement," coach Terry Porter told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I think he wanted to try some other team, maybe. It was a mutual agreement, based on what happened last year. The most important thing for this franchise going forward, is we're trying to set a mind-set, a tone, an energy level and approach that is appropriate and conducive to winning. We thought we should go our separate ways."

Caffey hadn't played all preseason. Once the Bucks bought out Anthony Mason, the writing was on the wall. Dumping Caffey completes the Bucks complete makeover from playoff contender to lottery fodder. The team now has just one player, Toni Kukoc, over the age of 30. Even Kukoc may not be around for long.

The word around the league is that the Bucks have been shopping Kukoc, and his expiring contract, to teams trying to cut payroll. The team is looking for first-round draft picks and at least one young prospect in return. While nothing is imminent, look for something to go down closer to the trade deadline in February.

Griffin too lucky to throw in towel

Stephen A. Smith / Philadelphia Inquirer

Mobley's return charges up Rockets' practice

Michael Murphy / Houston Chronicle

Griffin too lucky to throw in towel

Stephen A. Smith / Philadelphia Inquirer

Van Exel may have surgery

Matt Steinmetz / Contra Costa Times

McDyess Clears Another Hurdle

Marc Berman / New York Post

Caffey's release a 'mutual agreement'

Tom Enlund / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Peep Show

By Terry Brown

NBA Insider

Monday, October 20

Updated: October 20

9:46 AM ET

Los Angeles Lakers: Phil Jackson knows a motivated Shaq is a dangerous Shaq, even if it means the center gets a little angry at his head coach. "I've been with Shaquille for four years," Jackson said in the LA Times. "We've grown used to the nature of the beast. We enjoy him when he's humorous and fun and laughable and clowning. And we put up with him when he's the other side. I'm really pleased with him, actually, to be honest. So far he's done a great job getting in shape, in the best possible shape, and physically I think he's coming into the season in good condition. After the workout this morning, he said he feels better. That's all we're hoping for." O'Neal, verbally upset with Jackson, decided to return to action early Sunday despite a bruised left heel.

McDyessNew York Knicks: According to Antonio McDyess, it's only a matter of time before he's back on the floor for the New York Knicks."[Today] I could do cutting, tip drills, post moves - pretty much everything one-on-one, but not five-on-five," McDyess said to the NY Post. "I definitely have to get comfortable with five-on-five." He is expected to have a final CT scan on Wednesday and then be cleared to scrimmage with the team in 7 to 10 days.

Houston Rockets: Eric Piatkowski, Maurice Taylor, Adreian Griffin and Eddie Griffin may be sitting on the bench for various reason, but you can scratch Cuttino Mobley off that list today. "I'm going to try and come back (today)," said Cuttino Mobley in the Houston Chronicle. "I worked out (Sunday), doing some dummy offense and running up and down a couple of times, so I'm feeling a little better. I'm just excited to get back to practice. Basketball is me. I love basketball; you know what I'm saying? I love basketball, so I'm just happy to be back." Mobley has been suffering from a strained left hip for the last week.

Miami Heat: The doctors tell him it'll be one, or two or maybe even three weeks before he can return from his knee surgery, but Caron Butler can hardly wait another minute. ''It's rhythm that you have to have out there on the court,'' Butler said in the Miami Herald. "I think it's one of those things where I'm going to have to play in practice for like a week and maybe even longer just to get a rhythm back. I still shoot every day and try to do little things, but if you're not out there with the fellas and everything, you lose rhythm. But I watch all the games and definitely watch the practices to see what everybody does and where I would fit in. Hopefully when I get out there, everything will click a little bit.''

New Orleans Hornets: First it was Dajuan Wagner with the knee problem. Now, it's Ira Newble. "I'm worried; he's a big part of this puzzle,'' Cavaliers Coach Paul Silas said in the Akron Beacon Journal. "He's my best defender at that forward spot. I need him.'' Newble has already sat out the first two weeks of training camp with knee problems and will see a specialist in Cleveland as soon as the team arrives home.

O'Neal Unexpectedly Returns From Injury

Tim Brown / Los Angeles Times

McDyess Clears Another Hurdle

Marc Berman / New York Post

Mobley's return charges up Rockets' practice

Michael Murphy / Houston Chronicle

Injured Butler awaits first day of work

Israel Gutierrez / Miami Herald

Newble's bothersome knee bothering Silas

Brian Windhorst / Akron Beacon Journal