
So this is still just one columnist's opinion. But when a hometown newspaper man makes this strong a claim, it's worth listening to. John P. Lopez, in the Houston Chronicle:
Jeff Van Gundy will be out as Rockets head coach by the early part of next week, if not the end of this week.The rumor mill over Van Gundy has been buzzing ever since the Rockets' demoralizing loss to Utah. First he was out, then he stepped and said he was definitely in. In other words, Lopez's column might have seemed less strange last week. But with the clock ticking on the Yao/T-Mac combo, and JVG's style of play not getting postseason results, can we really rule out a change? The coach is up for an extension, and it wouldn't be too messy for him to walk away--could that be what he was priming us for with his gentle dismissal of Bonzi?
Rest assured the Rockets will call it a mutual decision or something of that sort. The front-office team and maybe even Van Gundy will stand together, smiling, talking about moving in another direction. They'll thank one another for jobs well done and talk about no hard feelings.
Lopez thinks this would be a mistake, and pins the blame on Rockets owner Leslie Alexander. I'm not so sure that Alexander would be making the wrong decision.




