My goodness... The tunnel-vision associated with "DMo fandom" is becoming ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad he's back with us and there is arguably a great deal of potential in his game, but as of right now, DMo isn't this all-star that we've been keeping under wraps since he became a Rocket. If you overlook the injuries, his relative inexperience and inconsistency in a statistical sense are something to consider. DMo can be an important guy on our team if he doesn't get injured, but I don't understand why some are ready to throw the keys to the franchise to guy who is simply unproven. As for DM, he may have made mistakes, but all of these theories about his inability to understand chemistry or the significance of coaching are false. His implementation of analytics as a GM is just ONE of many tools he uses. Morey is one of the great basketball minds that we have in the NBA. It's easy to be frustrated with him because of our current record, but if you're objective or look at the broader picture, he's pretty damn intelligent when it comes to managing a team. He's taken some huge risks to improve the franchise and many of those, like trading for James, acquiring role players/draft picks and signing Dwight(he was the most sought after FA at the time, and he's had some good years with us), have paid off. It isn't logical to blame Morey for all of the chemistry issues we've had this season. In some instances, it's hit and miss altogether. Chemistry is usually developed through the coaching staff and the players, too. I don't even need to address how our head coach (Mchale) situation has negatively impacted our roster and the entire season. When you have a group that isn't very tight off of the court, or when your mediocre record is a shock to guys who are unfamiliar with losing situations, there are going to be growing pains. I'm not Morey's biggest fan, and I agree that there are areas where he can improve, but he's well above the average GM. Some fans just cannot separate the team's record when analyzing his strengths and weaknesses.
I'm a big Morey fan. But he should hire a different coach. It's not even Bickerstaff's fault, maybe he is good at X's and O's. But it is quite clear to me that he cannot be the disciplinarian coach this team desperately needs. You cannot have the inmates running the asylum. It never made sense to me to promote the defensive coach to head coach when your problem has been terrible defense all along.
I think that's a fair point. I really do like JB, but he was doomed the minute McHale was fired. It was too late to start fresh, create a stronger offensive/defensive system or develop chemistry. JB is another underrated, talented basketball mind, but his association with McHale does not lend itself to creating the new identity that we so badly need. He'll do well in a different situation. You can tell that he wants to switch up the offense, but with what our guys are used to at this stage in the season, there is just not enough time. Once he is hired by another team-- and I strongly believe that he will be a head coach again-- he'll be able to put his touch on a team. It sucks that he had to, essentially, create a "voice" on a team that was completely lost with McHale in control. JB is a much better coach than Kevin, but we're seeing him coach in a way that is familiar to the team, probably with Morey's blessing to simply keep the team alive and competitive. I hope we make the playoffs regardless, but for JB's sake, I hope he has the chance to make an appearance and show a greater range of tactics and strategy.
This is frankly where i'd disagree with you. The GM's responsibility is to keep bringing talent on reasonable contracts and provide the pieces that necessary for the Rockets to compete against the very best in the league. After a run at the WCF, the Rockets clearly overachieved...But how did last year's team have more chemistry than this year's with basically the same cast??? The Rockets failed to integrate the pieces they acquired...and put them in positions to win basketball games. Morey's inability to value elite level coaching led to this result. How was Adelman able to over achieve decent success with a bunch of nobodies? It was a system of offense that allowed everyone to equally contribute to the game at ALL times. Watching the Warriors play last night, they embody TEAM basketball every night. Yes, they have better shooting talent, but they play as ONE cohesive unit. They understand each other's strengths and weakness...and look to make each other better on the court. Bogut and the other bigs, look to set screens/back screens/cross screens on offense...and play adequate defense. Their bench wings consist of streaky shooters (ie. Andre Iguodala, Barbosa)...They have a back up PG that stands at 6'6 and runs the offense well when the starters need a breath. Their coaching pairs players that play well together ALL the time. The Rockets have enough talent, but lack the visionary to make that talent work. The Rockets need an new offensive system as other NBA teams have now adeptly learned how to guard our team...If you want every player in the offense to be involved, the offense has to have multiple options created by motion/movement. The Rockets this offseason needs to reevaluate what they want to do on offense and defense...and hire someone that can make that a reality. David Blatt would be nice...but the players have to buy in. I like Ed Cooley...not sure if he would leave Providence, but he is really a good coach.
I too think JB can be a better coach, but when u are coaching for your tenure as a pro head coach...you always want to find ways to optimize your lineup either on offense OR defense...Everytime he puts together a lineup that features TJones, Brewer, Terry, Smith and Harden...I want to cringe...And statistics back up how bad they are on defense as a unit. Fine keep the offensive system, but the offense is really not as much of an issue as compared to our porous defense. The Rockets are atrocious on that end of the floor...and it really started towards the end of last season, continued throughout the playoffs, and became this seasons never ending joke...Defense is about effort and repetition...They dont practice it well, and it clearly shows out on the court.
This makes no sense. He's coaching the way he wants to coach.. .nobody is forcing him to coach one way or another. The way he's coaching is likely going to get him fired. That was clear early on. He had every opportunity to change it up. Principally, he's only changed things by mixing up his lineups and rotations. There's certainly an argument that he's coaching one way and the chemistry and situation is so toxic that it doesn't matter how he's coaching or what he's coaching, the players are just going out there and doing their thing. But I don't really see that. He may be a talented basketball mind, but he is nothing special as a coach. The Rockets offense isn't really the problem. Maybe he should focus on the defense. Maybe you're right. To me, he seems to be in the exact same category as McHale. On "ok" coach, like so many other "ok" NBA head coaches out there - Skiles, Whitman, Gentry, McHale, etc, etc. Give them great players their teams do better, but they might just be better assistant coaches than head coaches.
JBB is not coaching up the defense. They're still dumpster fire terrible. What's the excuse on that end?
I think there is a legit case to be made that the players are simply not committed to playing defense and it doesn't matter what JB says, they aren't going to do it. The defense last thrived by using a system that everyone had to contribute to. Lots of switching, covering up the 3, funneling people to Dwight. It falls apart though if guys are not going to hold their responsibility. Harden has flat out not tried on defense most nights and the PF rotation is a disaster. It makes the system useless. You combined that with guys who are not strong individual defenders and it all collapses on itself. Fluke defense last year built on a try hard system. Need better individual defenders AND a better scheme next year.
Sorry Codman...but its not a compliment when you say Jb is a better coach then mchale...half the world probably is But JB is still a very bad coach, maybe its due to his inexperience, but you can tell he still doesent do the little things correctly (rotations, matchups, timeouts) he is atrocious in all 3 of those things. And then when you factor in the big picture (system) we still have no identity except for harden ISO and our defene is still bottom 3, i agree the situation he was put in wasnt ideal , but he still inherited a roster that went to the WC finals last year, and us being worse now then we were with mchale really tells me JB doesent get it as a Head Coach, a good assistant but never a head coach
I don't always agree with BBholic but when I do its about this pathetic excuse for a defense. I see no changes under JBB, only hear the same rhetoric about effort. Enough with the lazy switches already and have the Rockets fight over/thru the screens more. Whatever happened to Mr. 94 feet and that kind of junkyard dog pressure from end to end?
was it too late to bench players when they weren't giving effort? was it too late to inject a steady dose of try hard with young guys wanting the burn? was it too late to tell dwight that he stands the best chance getting a max contract if he buys into the team concept and focuses on defense and rebounding instead of playing flat footed until he got the ball in the post? was it too late to set up some plays that we could run to get other players than james open? my god - you're coming in coaching for your career and he just stayed status quo. he was a yes man that the guys liked and there was no one left to say yes to other than the players. yes james, go ahead an iso. yes dwight, let's get you that low percentage look in the post. yes ty - let's go drink tonight since you'd rather do that than hoop for the team. don't worry, i'll still get you minutes. yes tjones - by all means go for a layup from shoulder height instead of dunking a ball. It probably won't get blocked every time.
JBB is a very nice man, and Codman is spot on, he was essentially doomed the second McHale was fired. He was part of the same personnel, if McHale (being respected around the NBA) couldn't command the respect of the players it hard to believe that his subordinate would. Leslie and Morey have themselves a scapegoat, JBB is not nearly as bad as our record would indicate.
I think JBB's going to be a fine head coach for many many years, but I just don't think this Rockets team is a great fit for him at this phase of his career. I see him doing well with a younger team like the TWolves to get their young guys some confidence, and grow with the team. The Rockets are just too complicated for a young coach like this. You are talking about some of the most unique players who can be very hard to coach anyways without the personality issues which can be a coaches nightmare as well. I'd love to keep JBB beyond this Summer as an assistant, but I have a feeling that at this point he's going to have better opportunities this Summer anyways than he would otherwise just going back to being the apprentice. The Knicks, Nets, Wolves, Wizards, Magic, etc. would be great JBB type of teams for him to get a great headstart with, and grow with a young team. The Rockets need a Tom Thibs type who can walk in from day 1 and command respect, and knows how to coach defense the right way. Maybe keep solid offensive talented coaches like Finch around to help infuse some offense so its not a slog fest next year, but overall this team needs a major identity change, and I think JBB might just be the wrong fit.
It is not about basketball it is about style and human nature - and I don't know if Morey knows a pin down from a pin up - I do know he can crunch some mean numbers - and work a good contract. And JBB is not ready for this job, otherwise he would have put his foot down and coached this team - no matter what the consequences. DD
I am in the camp that JB had no chance of turning the team around no matter how good his basketball mind is. The minute they fired the head coach 11 games into the season, it was doomed. You wouldn't find a great coach wanting to jump in. And any assistant promoted would not have the respect from the players. The best he could do was make marginal improvement. And I am not sure if he got the memo from above that he was not allowed to tank (meaning: benching more talented but less cooperating players in favor of younger more hungry ones.) If he did, there is really not much he could do to change the team's culture.
