I know the Rockets just picked up the option on MDA. I thought it was interesting seeing the Rockets commit to MDA when they had time to pick up the option. What was more interesting was taking a look at the past coaches when they win back to back 50+ seasons. After coaches posted back to back seasons of 50+ wins, they have a subpar season or get fired. It will be very interesting to watch what happens after Rockets had a great year last season. I think if Harden and MDA can continue to make it work and have another strong year, MDA could be the best coach that the Rockets have had since Rudy T.
MDA is the 4th Rockets coach to post back-to-back 50+ seasons. You listed the 2nd and 3rd. The first? Was there a reason why you didn't post what Rudy did after his only back-to-back 50+ seasons in '93 and '94?
I was going recent because of the fact Rudy T had a longer rope than most of the coaches. He did win back to back titles 3rd and 4th year and also won 50+ in 96/97. I am pretty sure they would have had a good chance to win it if not for Stockton shot. I think it is safe to say that Rudy has a wide margin for the being the best coach of the Rockets. Coach Sleepy and McHale were more of a recent trend. MDA is in a great spot to become one of the best. It will go as far as the Harden/MDA paring will work.
Not sure this data size proves anything except teams change. Adelman fell off because McGrady and Yao got hurt or left the team. Good time to change the coach. If I remember right, I think he wanted to leave. McHale was brought in as the team was rebuilding. Had Dwight and Harden. Then the in-fighting started, team was not living up to expectations so they let him go. I don't know if I would put that on McHale. He was an OK coach, we could do better anyways. This year, I think it is safe to say, we will still when 50+ games. Maybe not 65.
I thought McHale should have gotten let go after the WCF trip because it looked before the miracle of game 6 happened, he was not a good enough coach to get the Rockets to another level. It bought him time but then the Harden/Howard fighting happened. McHale was great with big man and was a no nonsense type of coach but he was not good creating a system. It would have been interesting to see if the Rockets would have gotten to playoffs without James Harden during Mchale second year. I honestly don't think it would have happen. The craziest part about it all is that Harden had a career high win shares during the 14-15 season. Adelman and JVG both had teams marred with injuries. If I had a choice to pick who was the worst coach, McHale is probably the worst one in recent times.
