They may not have been the top choice, but when Carroll Dawson said Monday that no further interviews with new candidates were planned, the field to choose from became former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy and former Lakers/Blazers coach (and former Rocket player) Mike Dunleavy.
Rick Carlisle? Uh, nope. Don Nelson? Apparently not. The Rockets say they have no interest in interviewing new candidates, so it's Van Gundy or Dunleavy.
"It's down to those two and we haven't decided yet," said Dawson.
CD told the Houston Chronicle that the Rockets will be asking one of the two for a second interview.
"The second interview will be more specific," said Dawson. "When we decide on the guy, we'll bring the guy in and talk about some other things and see if we can get it done."
So who will be getting that second interview? Though it doesn't mean the job is his, two people tell us the second interview will be for Van Gundy, and according to the New York Daily News, Van Gundy is scheduled to meet with the Rockets sometime this week.
But the New York Post says it's Rockets-or-bust for Van Gundy, and the rumor is that the Rockets are leaning towards Dunleavy because of his close ties to Dawson, who was an assistant coach with the Rockets back in 1980 when Dunleavy was a Rocket guard.
"I've coached Dunleavy. I know Jeff much less," CD told the Post. "I just met [Van Gundy] really last week and getting to know him was very interesting. He's very personable and open."
