MDA before Game 4: "Let's get up 55 threes tonight"

Rockets under MDA:

Most regular season wins in franchise history

First #1 seed in franchise history

Two 14+ game win streaks

Presumptive MVP

Top 2 offense, top 6 defense

Successfully transitioned Harden from 2 guard to HOF caliber PG (last year)

Successfully integrated CP3 into the greatest PG rotation of all time

All time Top 10 offense

Broke Warriors 51 - 0 record under Kerr when scoring +15 in third quarter.

Broke Warriors 16 - 0 home playoff streak under Kerr.

Only team to get playoff Series back to even after Warriors took lead under Kerr (twice)

And you are complaining about what the man says in a press conference?

 

Kerr sounds worried

 

Nerves on your team? Better tell the players something that makes them even more nervous.

Didn’t shoot enough shots, and hesitated when open the game before? Tell them something that makes the hesitate even more.

If someone is in charge of a premier organization says something you think is wrong, odds are, you’re the idiot.

 

I don’t like it............I love it. Klay and Iggy are huge in the perimeter defense of the Warriors. Make them run.

Keep turnovers down while bringing the energy and the series belongs to the Rockets.

 

Oh cut the crap

Every coach has his own way of motivating his team.
This(ese) speech(es) or not, the team responded. They came up with a win.

He knows his players, any of you don´t.

Best regards.

 

How many banners are getting hoisted into the rafters for those accomplishments?

My point is - I want to win this! We will win this series on the defensive end of the court and smart shot selection - not by whether or not we chuck up 45 or 55 or 65 or whatever 3's...

12 points. We held them to 12 points in the 4th to end the last game... had we given up 16 points to the GSW in the 4th qtr of the last game - we'd be facing elimination tonight...

MDA needs to get out of this 1 trick pony mindset... we're not playing for his stat sheet and his reverence as an offensive mastermind - we're playing for a championship... That means stay focused and play with a sense of urgency (dont think the pressure is all on the other team), play smart (take what the d gives u and dont force ill advised shots bc u want 55 3 pt attempts) and work equally hard on both ends of the court (props to Biglydick - lol)...

We have a phenomenal roster that is capable of winning it all - we need to capitalize - not think we need to rely on gimmicks...

...jus my opinion...

 

How about 'We've busted our butts all season to get to this point. I aint gonna lie - it's gonna be a dogfight, but you guys have produced time and time again throughout the season - i have the utmost confidence in every player on this squad! You guys are smart enough to do the right things and talented enough to get it done!" ... I gotta think that'd be better than "Eh, the pressure is all on them - just go chuck up at least 55 3 point attempts..."

As for thinking something is wrong...
Ok...
Last year prior to game 6, MDA defended his short 7 man playoff rotation and not resting guys prior to the post season... and basically said people that expressed these concerns didnt know what they were talking about... i was in that group that he claimed 'didnt know what they were talking about'
Then we had the game 6 meltdown... one of the worst performances I've ever seen - albeit not the record setting loss we just endured a couple games back...
After elimination, MDA said he would have to reevaluate resting guys prior to the postseason to ensure better post season energy... and he started the post season with a longer rotation that has just now begun to shrink...

So if I thought he was wrong in his minute management during last postseason - despite what he said... and then he changes it this year... does that mean i'm still an idiot for questioning his greatness last year? lol

 

The way refs were calling fouls, you never know how it would have went down. The refs should have let the game end instead of calling a pointless foul.

 

If you think the Rockets under MDA are a one trick gimmick team I don’t think you are paying attention.

MDA routinely stresses defense. Routinely stresses free throws, driving to the basket and layups. He has given Paul an unlimited green light to shoot mid range. He has completely shifted his focus from 7 seconds or less to heavy ISO against his own inclinations in order to maximize the skill set of his star players. His players all say the exact same thing every time they are interviewed - everything starts with defensive effort and intensity. MDA talks about playing with force and getting the Warriors out of their comfort zone.

The quips about all the pressure being on the Warriors and putting up 55 threes are OBVIOUSLY meant to get people talking about him so that there would be less pressure on Paul and Harden who are regular media punching bags.

Give the man some credit.

 

Personally, I think that is the most valid argument against missing the shot on purpose... a bs foul call would have put them at the line to potentially tie the game... Very valid concern - I think far more than CP3 missing the rim all together...
I still think the greatest likelihood is CP3 hitting the rim and time expiring before GS can even think about getting a shot off... but a cheap foul call is probably #2 on likelihood imo..

 

Valid stuff there...

If you're saying MDA says stupid things to divert attention from the players... thats a real possibility... but dont blame me for holding his own words against him... maybe I just took the trollbait - lol!

Also the quote right before tipoff of game 4 when asked about saying 'all the pressure being on the warriors' from MDA was - "obviously that didnt work out" or something to that intent...

 

Appreciate the civil discourse.

MDA is one of my favorite coaches in interviews because he's like a regular dude you might have a beer with and argue about sports. So many coaches just say the same tired cliches over and over. MDA may say some weird stuff, but I think that's intentional and takes pressure off his squad so they can better focus on what matters.

Listen to his players - they are all on the same page and all focused on the right things. 1) Defense wins, 2) Take one game at a time, 3) We play our game not the Warriors game, 4) Team's win, not individuals, etc. You have to give MDA strong credit for that kind of consistent narrative outside the locker room.

As for not winning a championship, coaches can't play the game. They have to use the players they are given. MDA hasn't had a team capable of winning a championship since his days with the suns. But when he has real talent and the authority to coach his way, he's been amazing.

MDA's Rockets wildly outperformed expectations last year. They wildly outperformed expectations again this year. If they win this series, it will be seen as one of the greatest upsets in NBA history. My opinion, but I think he's the best coach the Rox have had since Rudy T.

 

he's right because of maths

 

Likewise! I dont come to troll or incite... I come for a free exchange of thoughts and ideas regarding our favorite team! Maybe I get a view I hadnt considered - maybe I give someone else something to think about...

I aint gonna lie... wasnt a fan of the MDA hire from the get-go. I wanted a defensive minded coach - Thibs, JVG, etc... i felt defense was our greatest opportunity to improve - and I didnt think it was gonna come from MDA... Honestly, I still dont know what (if any) credit he deserves regarding defense... I dont want to slight Biglydick or the defensive effort of the guys we brought in that have propelled the defensive effort by giving the credit to MDA for it... I mean he's never seemed to give a damn about D at any other point throughout his coaching career... so idk...

Then I thought he blew it last year with the short rotation and expecting Harden to defend LMA and Pau... and then when he got smug about it saying 'people dont know what their talking about' - he really got me pissed - lol!

For me, jury is still out on MDA... and it befuddles me that people are ready to praise him as great when he hasnt won anything... Kevin McHale took us to the WCF - and he was an idiot - so there's that - lol. Regular season stats are nice - but really irrelevant at the end of the day - and I've felt that MDA pads his stats by not playing a 3rd of his roster and keeping key personnel in long after the game is decided - to inflate the efficiency... so we'll see... I hope we blow the doors off of the GSW and win a championship - and i will reevaluate my opinion of MDA...

 

I hear ya. I think MDA's legacy thus far is as an offensive visionary. He's really the direct inspiration for the Warriors whole offensive philosophy. But yeah, he's fallen short of the ultimate goal in large part due to his team's failings on the defense.

I am not sure how we can deny MDA credit for the defensive improvement of this team. They held the greatest offensive team of all time to 92 points in their house in the playoffs. Morey gets credit for bringing in the right personnel (Paul, Tucker, Luc). But MDA is the guy that day in and day out has to get these guys to perform.

Let's see if they can bring it two games in a row.

 

Well tonight 55% of our shot attempts were 3s - and we won...
...but I'm gonna maintain my opinion that our tenacious defense and holding GSW to 94 points was more the reason for our victory than our propensity for shooting 3s....