I believe this forum needed a cogent base on which to expand their arguments. Certainly a "Fire McHale" thread did not provide that.
??? This isn't true at all. It's because they have a better understanding of the players and their talent, and usually results in better chemistry. I don't see how McHale can be classified as a hands off coach when he will bench a starter for 3 quarters if they aren't playing well. Matt Bullard has stated multiple times that McHale and the players have sat Asik down and talked to him, and ever since then he has seemed happier. It is extremely common for a team to start out inconsistent when they have a new superstar or team. The Rockets were (and really still are) experimenting at the beginning of the season- with Howard and Asik, and then with T-Jones. It's difficult for players to stay in rhythm, when they don't even know who they're going to play with in a game until hours before it's start time. Plus, I think you're exaggerating a little. Garcia was cold for a long while, but he was sick for that entire duration- and almost as soon as he got better, he started getting back into rhythm. Parsons and Harden have been dealing with nagging injuries as well, and yet have still put up very good numbers- and I'd say Parsons has been consistent for a few weeks or so now. At least a couple of those games have been lost by bad coaching The Rockets were like that for the first 8 or 9 games (and it was largely because the team is fairly new and the lineups were inconsistent- by no fault of McHale's), but have picked it up since. You make it sound like this has all been going on all season. Harden's had two "bad" (by his standards) games all season long, and he's been dealing with a nagging injury for most of that time period. I hardly think that classifies as "Sometimes he's up for it, sometimes he's not". Same goes for Howard. The Rockets are selfless, which is why they all do a lot of passing. Overall, I can agree that it might be too early to say that McHale is a top 10 coach- but he still might be, and certainly in a year or two from now may be put in that category. Either way, I do think he's a very good coach.
Yes, Morey makes the trades, but the fasted pace style is a direct result of McHales as a coach and his time as a player. All the great teams of his generation played the fast paced style. He experienced success playing that style, so naturally it makes sense for him to coach that way..watch some old NBA films and see for yourself
If you disagree so strongly please explain why Phil's system and great coaching did not allow the Kobe led Lakers to be more than a barely above .500 team. Please tell me how Pop's ridiculous personality could turnaround the Washington Wizards. Here is perhaps the best example. Rudy T was a great coach in terms of rotations and just managing player matchups. He was not a great Xs and Os guy. But he led a CBA team to a bronze medal in the 1998 World Championships and the 2000 Dream team to a gold medal. The world was already catching up by then. In 2002 and 2004, George Karl perhaps the best NBA tactics coach and Larry Brown in my opinion the best basketball mind of his time, were not even able to coach their teams to medals! Larry Brown is as good as it gets. At 74 he is at SMU now trying to turnaround their program and recruited one of the best players in the country. Meanwhile the younger Phil Jackson is retired and Pops doesn't have the patience to coach once Duncan is retired. Roster, Roster, Roster equals 90% of the wins! James, Shaq, Kobe, Duncan, MJ, Dream, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird along with their great teammates are responsible for the majority of the NBA championships in the last 33 years. The NBA is the opposite of the NFL! The best players make all the difference. NFL success depends on an army of coaches and players along with a great QB or defense or both.
This. Insert scene from the movie Moneyball where the coach gets all the credit for their wins when in actuality they didnt start winning until the GM traded away the ineffiecient "star" players so the coach HAD to play who the GM wanted.
This is what many fans miss. The most important part of coaching is to ensure that the roster plays to its talent. That players are happy for the most part and play together. Last year the Lakers faced adversity early in the season and it festered. This year the Rockets faced adversity early in the season and have since been destroying everyone. We overcame our issues and have gelled. That's what coaching in the NBA is all about.
We certainly appeared prepared and motivated out there tonight... Phenomenal substitutions to close the game... Yet an opposing wing player somehow managed a career night... What anomaly...
Hilarious that you're giving McHale credit for the team not taking mid-range jumpers when it's obvious that command came from Morey. Did the T-Wolves do the same when McHale was coaching them? With Vinny Del Negro finally out, McHale is basically the new version of him. If you look at the top teams in the league, if you asked which coach is most likely to coach his team to elimination, I'd say McHale.
You mean the issues that were CAUSED by McHale for stubbornly sticking with the Twin Towers lineup for more than 10% of the season?
So basically it's McHale's fault that Asik demanded a trade every week in the offseason, lowering his trade value to nothing, and forcing the Rockets to try something so that Asik doesn't quit on the team? Is he to be blamed for not trading a certain player now?
McHale is the best coach but not the worse either Pop is the one that can get the best out of his players He knows how to spread mins between his older vets and newer players
McHale has players in their first 1/4 of a season together. Pops has players with the corp in their 12th season together. They should both have the same amount of cohesion on offense and defense because?
Strange rotation, little trust of players except for a favorite few, no x o, no in-game adjustments, clueless as can be in end-game situations, wear player completely down increasing chances of 4Q and end-season collapses, does not hold players accountable on the defensive end, never is accountable himself.... Not a very good coach.
Can anyone explain why Harden was playing 43mins against weakest team right after he came back from injury? Is this the very good coaching you guys are talking about? http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400489132 And 37mins against Spurs: http://espn.go.com/nba/boxscore?id=400489118
Are you serious? The Rockets dressed a total of 10 players last night and they were trying to pull out a win in a close game, both times. Perhaps you would prefer McHale had played Ronnie Brewer? That would have netted us two losses instead of just one.
