Finch is in sync with Moreyball. It was one of the 'baggages' McHale has to carry in becoming a headcoach. Something Adelman wasn't willing to do. Adelman wasn't fired; his contract just wasn't extended. What we are seeing is Moneyball II. Beane wanted to extend his sabermetric into management on who played the first base. Art Howe wanted none of that and neither did Adelman on Moreyball. Finch is the direct link from Morey to the coaching staff. It doesnt surprise me if most of his gameplans or offensive plays come straight from Morey. How many of them were implemented by McHale? We don't really know. To this day, I believe McHale was Les' hire. It would be stupid if Morey fires McHale before his contract expires. Only Les will do that. Why would Morey take the risk and stick his neck out? If my belief is true, Morey is blamless if McHale becomes 'McFail.' Besides they have a pretty good ongoing relationship, where Morey can implement his advance stats and Mchale gets to be an NBA headcoach instead of a courtside analyst. It's Win/win for both!
At least Finch played NCAA basketball. While Sampson has never played any basketball game. I usually have problem with a coach who has never been a basketball player himself.
If Finch is such a great offensive coach, why does our offense look stale. Most of the time its lin or harden with the ball iso play, or pick n roll while most of the other players standing around. Little off ball movement. Maybe they just need more time practicing together or maybe his plays aren't being used. Idk but the team looks lost a lot of the time.
You must have the right personnel on the court. The offense we were running in the preseason before Harden came, and the offense we ran last night vs. the Pistons are more of the motion offense that we want to run. Last night the ball wasn't sticking with Harden but often after several passes and offball movement, the ball ends up with Harden or Lin or those who are open to take the last shot. It's when we play without pace or our shots are not falling that we resort to hero-ball to try to jumpstart the offense. One remedy is simply to make substitutions. We have talent on the bench. Cook can hit the 3; both TJ and DMo can score on the inside. We just were not using our bench properly in the beginning.
Finch is a hell of a coach. I watched him take the Vipers to the D-League Championship and the Finals the next year with talent that was often outmatched my their opponents. He got players to believe they were playing for something more than stats and the chance to be called up. He will be a NBA Head Coach soon. I would love to see him as head coach for the Rockets but McHale should be given the opportunity to make this a playoff contender this year. Let's be realistic, the talent given McHale is not top level by any stretch of the imagination. Even with Harden, this team will be a 7th or 8th seed at best. We need upgrades at both PF and PG. I'm sure Morey is not done upgrading the roster.
It´s very different to coach young players in the D-League and Harden-type players in the NBA. He is unknown, not highly rated in Europe as never coached a top team there, and Morey´s spy on the coaching staff. Sampson is an established and respected coach. Enough sad.
I agree completely. Especially with the "not much change" comments. I am pretty sure that McHale is a moderator, a company man, and delegates authority well. I believe that the Rockets fans do not want an egomaniac like JVG, no matter how much they beg for it. There is a balance to the coaching staff, an equal focus on offense and defense that is refreshing after Adelman and JVG. . Besides, who knows if Finch would even want the stress, the blame, the attention and the headaches of a head coaching job?
Looking at his GB team this summer, they lost all but 2 preparation games for the Olympics. Even lost to teams such as Tunisia and Belgium and only beat Portugal. In London they lost all games and won the meaningless last game with the outsiders China. And his team was not that bad - Luol Deng, Pops, Joel Freeland, a few guys from top Euro clubs. The guy has been pushed hard by Morey but does not deserve it. There are many better coaches out there.
My guess is it's all Mchale. IIRC, Chris Finch was someone who "unofficially" (I say that because he isn't a protege of RA) copied RA's RnR offense. I say this because when the Rox bought the Vipers, they said they would be installing a coach who also runs the same offense as RA in order to see which guys would thrive in it. Last year though you had stories of players proposing RA plays then Mchale turning it down because he wanted to do his own thing. Considering how discombobulated the O looks right now I don't think Finch has any say.
I am not sure if this is correct as in some interviews they explained that Finch was responsible for the offense amd Sampson for the defense in principle. They are the people teaching the players at practice and must take responsibility if it does not work. I am sure that they are not playing RA's offense now, maybe some elements from it. It looks like a real mess.
They might be running the offensive and defensive gameplans, but it's McHale who is choosing who will and will not play. His rotation is indicative of someone who is trying to squeeze every last win out of this squad, at the expense of the knees of our veterans and the development of potential in our young players. Let's take the pressure to win now away from McHale. Depose him and put Finch in there, someone who can grow with the team and knows with certainty that he can set up a rotation that fits all the needs of this young, emerging team.
I don't know what veterans are you talking about?! This team is row and needs a good leader, not a young coach that is learning on the job. This is not a college team but the NBA and millions are spent on players and staff, there is no time for learning, we want winning!
if Finch is the offensive coordinator RIGHT NOW, then hell no to being the coach, this offense as is, is hot garbage
Veterans? Did Delfino get cloned. He is playing a lot of young guys to develop them. Harden, Lin, Patterson, Parsons, Morris, Douglas, Smith, and Aldrich are all seeing minutes. Jones is very close to getting minutes.
If he's responsible of the offense after the first 2 games, he should never be promoted to head coach.
