Everyone knows Rudy T. was forced out...Technically he wasn't fired...but most of us know what REALLY happened....
That is incorrect. Les did not officialy fire Rudy because of PR reasons. Firing someone who had been the face of the franchise for couple decades would not look good. Les wanted Rudy out and got it done in a quiet manner.
Your posts might have a bit more teeth if you can get away from the childish name calling. Putting Bowen in wasn't the reason we lost you moron. The reason we lost is because T-Mac couldn't buy a basket and hurt his neck appearantly and we had to rest Yao at some point, and thats when Phoenix went on the run. And for the record who else on the bench would you have put in the game? Its always easy to take the short bus and say he was stupid for doing something but yet you never seem to offer any ideas on what he could have done better or different. It just amazes me how you guys choose to take a blind eye to the lack of talent that we still suffer from on our bench. I think our starting unit is pretty sound but our bench play still leaves a lot to be desired.
okay.... Ever heard of Chuck Hayes and Jon Barry? We needed to rebound, hustle and shoot and yet Van Dumpy decides to put in the great Ryan Bowen. Why do we have a sucky bench? Our brilliant coach has had plenty of time to bring in players, but his love affair with older players and former Knicks is what is costing us games.
Sorry, the short bus is already filled with those who are in denial about how JVG is horribly out-classed and out-coached. JVG didn't learn from his previous loss before the ASG, his coaching is obsolete. Today's NBA players are physically superior to those of the JVG days--they can make 3ptrs at a significant percentage. JVG's archaic defense doesn't take that into account and focuses more in the paint, and we were blown away. It's unfair to say that we lost because TMac couldn't drop shots, the JVG system doesn't always get the ball to TMac in the right position at the right time. If TMac has to work so hard handling the ball and maneuvering around screens just to get an open look, of course his shot % goes down. JVG has a very inefficient offense, period. We don't dare have the audacity to say that we're better coaches than JVG. If we were, you'd be writing threads about how one of us is coaching the Rockets to their next ring. We're simply saying, there is a serious problem with this match up. And if the Rockets continue to have JVG coach, then that team will be out-coached and out-classed in every post-season of its existence.
No doubt Rudy was fired Per ZBoy: "That is incorrect. Les did not officialy fire Rudy because of PR reasons. Firing someone who had been the face of the franchise for couple decades would not look good. Les wanted Rudy out and got it done in a quiet manner."
Per Munco: " if we get rid of JVG, 1) who can we get? 2) who should we get " Mario Elie!!!!! Don Cheaney Paul Westphal Paul Silas Jimmy Leyman a bag of sand
And the source is ???? Look, I'm aware of the circumstances surrounding this- but isn't this the same thing we dealt with regarding the so-called "McGrady's fiancee had a baby with another man" rumor? Unless they're stating it publicly, and I'm hearing it from the principals involved (coach, owner, GM) we don't really know what's going on, including all the factors involved, what was said, etc. So unless someone produces a quote, I'm simply not taking it verbatim anymore. Same thing with Stan Van Gundy. Did he get squeezed out? Probably. Do we know absolutely 100% for sure? Well, actually, no, we don't. So I'd appreciate if someone had a quote regarding the "resignation" of Rudy T.
I really can not help to think Rockets is done this season, why? Look at our guaids, they can not hit 3s consistently from season start till now. If JVG could not solve this problem( I still do not see any hope soon) and Tmac not come back to fight. we are literally done. I really wounder why players play a while for JVG they are all hesitatly to shot, look at suns, no one hesitant to shoot and worry about the TO but they get good result. So our problem is JVG.
it's been eating away at me like those maggots in the potatos that i've left in my pantry for the last couple years. van maggot needs to go, he is eating away at the very fiber of the rockets organization. if they don't fire him soon i'm gonna kill myself.
i actually think he was forced out though...i mean why would rudy step down after only one year with yao the player he so wanted to draft and develop...and i remember hearing ppl on the radio talking about this back when it happened too...
The grass over "there" is usually not any greener than it is here. It's easy to get down on the team and the coach, given the situation we're in, but I don't think it's just a lack of coaching skill, or just a bad system, or just player's injuries or attitudes or lack of ability, that has gotten us here.... it has been more than all of that. Of course, there's always the people that just like to kick folks when they're down... I do wonder, like another post-er did, what Ewing is bringing to the table. Perhaps some of Yao's improvements can be attributed to his presence, but honestly I find that difficult to believe, reading some of his comments since coming here. I will say that TMAC's inconsistency of success, and seemingly effort, are concerning. I will bet that many of those wanting JVG gone are the same people that wanted RUDY gone (most wouldn't admit it now, but LOTS of people thought Steve's (and Cat's) ISO problems were RUDY related. This turned out to be mostly if not entirely untrue. Likewise, if Phil J. had come here, and we had TMAC and YAO etc. out for a quarter season +, you think he could fix this? Are you people that are calling for Rudy to come back the same people that wanted him gone? Probably more are than I'd like. Some things I see that alarm me in this thread. 1) All of the Phil Jackson support. Overrated, and the sight of him upsets me. They've (lakers) have been much healthier than the Rox this year, and they are what, 3 games up? Big Chief Triangle is not the answer. and 2) Someone suggesting Don Chaney or PJ Carlisimo as a replacement. Shirley, you CAN'T be serious?! Let's make the best of what we've got, make a run, and re-evaluate everything at the end of the season. Can't win 'em all. and you can't blame this season on Gundy. Not saying part of it isn't his deal, just saying this car wreck is not his doing entirely. All that said, I think if TMAC will come around, the others will improve, and we still have SOME shot at this (squeaking in the playoffs), with a bizarro magic number at about 7 more losses. This team really hasn't played together in a while, if at all, and you can't expect them to crank on all cylinders the way someone like Phoenix is.... yet. Give the JVG, Alston, Wesley, Howard, Tmac, Yao combination a while to gel, and let's hope they don't lose too many while finding their legs. I still have some faith that we can at least be better than this.
Per Crazy dave: "I will bet that many of those wanting JVG gone are the same people that wanted RUDY gone (most wouldn't admit it now, but LOTS of people thought Steve's (and Cat's) ISO problems were RUDY related" I will bet that many who sing JVG's praises had blind hatred for Rudy. Rudy has been villified here by many-for trades, for Steve's lack of maturity, for MO Taylor's & Moochies contracts, and being too nice to the players as a player's coach.
Every great coach has his strengths & weaknesses. Rudy's were eventually both exposed. And he did leave some problems here for the franchise and Gundy to deal with. So Gundy had nothing handed to him on a silver platter. Last year I would give him an A for personnel decisions. This year it just hasn't worked out and he gets at best a C especially for keeping Bowen and letting padgett go. With Barry getting hurt and Padgett gone our 3p shooting has been gutted until Wesley started hitting recently. My on-going problem with Gundy is the atmosphere that surrounds the management of the team - secrecy, a few posters here intimating they are with the org and can't say too much; and his use of players. Last year it was burning a few of them out like Sura and Wesley due to too many minutes. Now it seems like there is at least a fog of Pattonesque decisionmaking around the DA and Barry separations - ie your chance is gone, goodbye, period, but then in the press "hey these guys are my buddies". And his use of players/rotations just drive me mad. Why DA and JB are gone and Bowen is still here is maddening. Bowen's shooting has gone in the dumpster - down 16% from his career avg. - JJ was just cut for playing that poorly. JB was shooting 10% over Rybo and he is gone. And Rybo's stats show nothing of an amazing guy who shuts down the other team, steals the ball relentlessly and keeps the other team from scoring. His roland score on 82games.com is the worst of any Rocket. Rybo has spent more time playing with the 1st team vs. Hayes who gets much more 2nd team and garbage minutes, yet Hayes' stats just leaves Rybo in the dust on everything. Yet who plays more? This is not insulting anyone - this is just looking at the cold hard facts, and watching the games and saying "what the #@%& is Gundy thinking???" I understand there have been injuries but Gundy gets a big solid C or D for personnel moves this year, and he gets a D or F due to his overuse of Ryan Bowen.
