VDN

[illastrate]

As critical as many of us were with his hire, I like Vinny for a couple of reasons

- He plays his young guys. Dunleavy would've left Bledsoe/Aminu at the end of the bench.
- After 7 years of non-imaginative, iso heavy offenses, VDN's lack of a playbook actually works with this team. They're allowed to improvise and let the game flow. Baron is a veteran PG who plays on instinct and has embraced this.
- His teams play hard. Certainly Blake is a big part in this, but the rest of the guys play hard. VDN deserves some credit.

[thanumba2clippersfan]

You make some very good points illastrate. At the beginning of the season I thought we were going to see more of the same from Vinny as Dunleavy. Dunleavy would never play rookies and never really changed his philosophy to fit the team. The only thing that I don't like is that we started 1-13, but I'm sure that team just had to make an adjustment to him.

The one thing that I don't understand and that I don't like is that Rasual Butler has just been sitting on the bench. I can't even remember the last time Rasual played. I thought he was going to get some playing time when Aminu got 3 fouls in the first quarter for the Lakers game. But besides that I like where this team is headed.

[PlinkingPanda]

I'm confused with Rasual as well. He's never seemed like the type to be a nuisance in the locker room so it's weird how he's riding the bench next to Willie.

His rotations can be a bit questionable at times, but overall the team is looking superb now. The slow start can easily be put to blame on injuries and adjusting to the new system. Once Kaman and Craig some back to help the bench we'll be even better.

I believe Vinny will keep DeAndre as the starting center once Kaman returns as well.

[mkwest]

I voted B, but it's more like B-. I did not want Vinny and was disappointed that he was the hire. He has grown on me quite a bit, although his rotations and use of time-outs can be annoying. I was so pissed at him when he EJ almost the entire half and Blake most of the 2nd quarter against Houston. They both had a combined 2 fouls the rest of the way. Had they played their regular minutes, that game could have been a win instead of a 5 point loss.

Rasual has been a team player despite getting DNP-CD for the last 9 or 10 games. He seems to stay positive. I understand the need for a consistent rotation, but would like to see some of other guys get occasional minutes. We need to blow someone out so that Sual and Willie can get into the game. What is going to happen when Cook, Kaman and Rhino return? Will the rotation expand or is somebody going to be planted on the bench?

I love the coaching staff that Vinny has brought on. We have specialists for bigs, our guards/wings and on defense. You can see growth in our young players to where you can honestly say that the coaches are definitely helping. I'm very glad to have Iavaroni and Pack on board. I like that the mood is so different than when Dunleavy was here. It's more laid back, but you're getting much more out of the players in terms of energy and hustle. The guys keep fighting. Vinny put Baron on blast for his conditioning, but has Baron playing very well with a reduced role (less minutes, more of a distributor). If Dunleavy were still here, we'd probably have won more than 1 game in our 1st 14, but I doubt that we would be on the tear that we are on right now.

To sum it up, his coaching habits have ticked me off at times, but I love the atmosphere and the vibe that he has helped bring to this young Clipper team.

[PG3]

LOL im the only one that voted A.

[Recently]

I was thinking B- myself.

Main pros are that he isn't afraid of playing the young guys (something i really hoped he would do, i wanted him to develop them alot if the season turned bad). Main con i think is he plays gomes wayyyyyy too much despite gomes not offering much of anything most of the time. Either more aminu or more rasual.

There's some questionable rotation issues, and lack of playcalling, but i kinda knew that would happen before the season started, and at least he isn't o'brien/westphal bad so its tolerable.

[PlinkingPanda]

Man... I just realized that if Blake didn't get injured last year, Dunleavy would still be around.. Remember how we were close to .500 mid-season? I don't even know if I'd call that a blessing in disguise or not.

[mkwest]

Man... I just realized that if Blake didn't get injured last year, Dunleavy would still be around.. Remember how we were close to .500 mid-season? I don't even know if I'd call that a blessing in disguise or not.

Camby would probably still be here too. No Aminu, maybe Bledsoe and probably Warren.

[TheNewEra]

I want to know what is going on with Butler

[Leor_77]

Look, I just don't think it's fair. Dunleavy would have had a much better record if Blake was playing last year. I would probably give him a B-

[mkwest]

I want to know what is going on with Butler

Vinny told him that he was going to play the kids. Butler has been supportive and a good sport about it. He's been putting in work with the hopes that his number will be called eventually. I was disappointed that he didn't even get in during garbage time against the Wolves.

[mike3]

I like Vinnys playing time of the rookies and hes obviously helped a lot in some areas, dont understand suals deal cause i don't see Gomes being that consistant.. obviously hes better for his D but i can't help to wonder what'd be like if Gomes went down or something (not hoping he does) and how Butler and Aminu would share the rotation, i actually think we might go better.. who knows though

[Sofia]

High C+, just short of B- for reasons above.

He would score higher if we didn't always look so confused in the half court. That leads me to believe he hasn't done much work in half court sets. Some of rotations and help on D are suspect at times, but this will improve over the next few seasons as we get some slightly older heads.

[cpta2020]

I was a huge fan of VDN in Chicago, and I really like what he has done with the team, he seems to be a players coach. be careful! he does call stupid time outs, and hes not much of an offensive coach.

[PlinkingPanda]

I was a huge fan of VDN in Chicago, and I really like what he has done with the team, he seems to be a players coach. be careful! he does call stupid time outs, and hes not much of an offensive coach.

i don't think his timeouts have been bad so far. Maybe a little trigger happy at times when things slightly go bad, but I like it for this team because the squad is known for turning super hot to ice hot in an instant. I also like how he talks about the negative side of the games even when we win. Goes to show that he always wants the players working hard no matter how big the lead is.