David Blatt is someone with YEARS of coaching experience. It's insulting to even compare him to McHale. Brooks was at least a guy with coaching experience that worked his way up. Excusing the coach is a cop out. Especially when it's known by many that the Rockets play freelance pick up ball. They don't even look like a NBA team. You say it's not the coaches fault then why is every single player under performing? It's not even just Harden? How does Coach K get Harden to play a 3 and D role but McHale can't have him play that role for even 5 mins in a game?
Very complicated situation. The personality of the players is such that they do not seem like the Spurs or Warriors. That is to say that they do not seem to be consistently motivated or disciplined. That isn't a coaching issue, that is a players issue. It makes perfect sense, Morey didn't build this team through the draft, he had to trade/sign flawed stars. Second, the players don't seem to have the ability to execute simple rotations on defense or space the floor on offense. They had the same problem at times last year, and it was a serious problem 2 years ago. The cast of players changed but the issues remain, that tells me coaching plays a big part. Not just McHale but his assistants. The Assistants are as important as the head coach. The Rockets lack really good experienced assistants. Third, the system they are running isn't thr system they want to run. You can have a head coach that isn't an X's and O's genius... but you better have assistants that are and the Rockets don't have that. The offense has not been smooth under Finch/Bickerstaff. The Rockets defense crumbled after Sampson left in the playoffs two years ago. They fired a coach as the fall guy and brought in a veteran coach with a mediocre track record, the defense improved but it was the entire focus by McHale and his assistants last preseason and it wasn't even that good by the end of last season. At this point who are you going to hire? There is no one on McHale's staff to be the interim coach, no one strong willed and experienced enough. You cannot interview and hire an assistant off another teams staff. Thibs is an elite coach but he wouldn't take the job as he wants full control. Also there is no way Thibs talks to the Rockets about the job as long as the Rockets have a coach. Hme would view that as back stabbing a fellow coach. The Heat fired SVG but had an top 5 all time coach in Riley to take over. There is literally no one for the Rockets. Ultimately (for this season) it all comes down to what McHale (a former player) said in the pre season, the players will play hard and give effort when they feel like it.
The players have completely quit on him. If Houston makes no move coaching wise they are essentially giving up on the season. Morey needs to cut ties with him right now put out a feeler to Thibs and if he doesn't bite just promote Finch or JB and pray the team gives one of them the time of day
It's been really disappointing watching Harden play this season. And as much as people blame McHale for what's happened, he still has a track record for being a decent coach and a decent man who by all accounts has commanded respect from his players.
Why do people say McHale doesn't hold Harden accountable, yet think benching Harden is risky? How can McHale hold Harden accountable if he can't send a clear and loud message that his performance is unacceptable?
People who say that we need a coaching change because the players quit on him, please tell me why are the players suddenly quitting on him this season? Isn't McHale supposed to be a players coach? Don't the players all say how they like to play for the coach? Why do they suddenly decide to have a mutiny? I am not defending McHale. I've had my share of criticism against him. But some of the logic here has me scratch my head.
If McHale benches Harden you can forget about Harden staying or KD coming. Ty Lawson needs to be 6th man and stagger their minutes like we did with Lin.
i dont care. harden isnt getting you a championship. not as an alpha. can morey effectively evaluate heart and mental toughness? maybe its time already to admit the failure of this harden experiment.
It only takes your Superstar to mutiny (using your word). And in this case it is both Harden and Lawson. If a Coach loses his Superstar and PG, he's lost the team. But I guess that's what you're saying. If it just Harden and Lawson quitting and causing the chaos and disarray, try benching them.
i have had the same doubts. what possibly can get harden turn onto mchale if that is indeed the case? as to lawson, he's too new to have turned onto anyone, one would think?
Failed experiment?! Don't get too carried away. Harden is still first team All-NBA and a perennial All-Star. All OKC has to show for that is Steven Adams. The "experiment" was one the most lopsided trades in NBA history. We just need to surround Harden with personnel and teammates that compensate for his weakness. ie plus perimiter defenders, rebounders and 40% 3pt shooters.
I'll be upset if McHale coaches another game. He's not a coach! He does nothing to try to manage a game!
You guys are crazy if by benching Harden this will fix itself the goal is to win a championship. In my opinion Beverly should be starting. We need great defenders to surround James at all times! if anything hurt Ty Lawson's feelings nobody should really care how he feels. But seriously I think Ty should come off the bench and trow lobs to Capela and Montrezl and that's it! that's his job.
Lawson got absolutely dumped by Denver after getting embarrassed watching them pick Mudiay as his replacement to loud cheers in the Denver papers and by fans. Let's not assume he didn't come here with a little butthurt. Then if Coach doesn't set him up to succeed in his usual role, and he starts off poorly, the Denver fans are going to be loving that. He could mutiny against his new role very fast. Then add to that that we were humiliated twice already by Denver on opening day and again a few days ago.
It is both. Blatt wasn't very good last year and they threw out a majority of his plays when they started winning last year. It was also after LeBron took control of the team. He even talked about running the plays he wanted and he often times turned to Lue and not Blatt. Let's not rewrite the narrative. Having said that, McHale isn't an X's and O's coach .... and that is fine IF you surround him with lead assistants that are and the Rockets didn't do that.
