I had given Mchale the benefit of the doubt but I just can't ignore his shortcomings he needs to be gone once we loose this series. Bring SVG to Houston Dmorey.
I'd like to hear what the McHale apologists who have insulted me from the day I started this thread have to say now. What excuses do they have??
I can't wait to hear his post-game conference. I also can't wait for Morey's excuses after a first round boot!
"I don't know what to do" "We can't double team" "Just go guys, play hard" This sounds like the coach of a YMCA team not a team of professionals playing at the highest level aspiring to something more than just an unceremonious exit in the 1st round of the NBA playoffs. Kevin McFail indeed.
He was thinking we were going to suck for three years no matter who the coach. McHale was the perfect coach for that. He was a popular icon and had a charismatic personality that could be a players coach. Then we got Harden and Howard and we got better fast. Now we need more than a face.
So I guess this is what a no-off ball screen, no-PnR, read & react, free-form offense looks like when it faces playoff defense... I have a quick question...why aren't we running PnR for Harden & Lin with Howard & Asik? Why is that not a default play when we get stuck? Why do we have 3 of the best PnR personnel in the league and instead prefer Lin dribbling around in circles, Harden chucking 3's and Howard posting up with variable outcomes and high TOs?
SVG George Karl Or any new coach capable of making adjustments, holding players responsible for stupid decisions, and keeping a team from losing its composure.
Guess what McHale is going to do in Game 3? He's going to stick to his same 8-man rotation and he's going to continue to watch LMA make a bunch of crazy shots instead of mixing it up with some double teams or uding a different player like Dmo whose good at face guarding players and putting his body in position.
"I coached a flawless game. The kids you know, they just need to follow the gameplan better. I tell them, 'run it down their throats' and 'play harder' but you know they're kids so what can you do. I tell em 'we're tryin to win here' but you know it is what it is. By the way, tell Ernie and Chuck to save a seat for me at the table--"
It was a catch 22 though. You could've theoretically fired McHale 2 years ago when they choked away a playoff spot, but that would've been knee jerk after 1 season. Plus the Rockets didn't get Harden til the last second before the 2012-13 season, so it's not like you were gonna convince a quality head coach to come here and preside over what looked like a Top 3 lotto team. Then you obviously couldn't fire him heading into this season since he helped lure Dwight to the Rockets. And canning him during the season wasn't an option either since they actually did finish with a respectable record in a tough conference. Now however there are no longer any excuses or lifelines. McHale's shortcomings as a coach were on full display in this series and helped cost them a playoff victory that even 90% of the media most of whom hate the Rockets thought was all but guaranteed. We've wasted an entire season of the Howard-Harden era and arguably took a step backwards by performing worse than last year in the OKC series, despite having home court and a healthier and more talented team. McHale needs to go. The day after the Blazers eliminate the Rockets. If Morey wastes even one week mulling over this decision, he needs to start look for another job as well.
No doubt in my mind Les will fire McHale, even if we get it to a 7th game. McHale is coaching for his job on Friday.
I liked JVG. I always thought with the right players he could bring it home. He knew how to run a defense, that's for sure. He never had the right players. I think he'd tear it up with this crew... But that ship has sailed, I think.
