Western Conference Semifinals: (1) San Antonio vs. (5) Portland

Exactly. Our offense is way too predictable. They didn't sweat much defending us. Up against these Spurs though, it's a whole lot different story.

We are stuck with Mcfail. So we are going to be exactly what we are even with the addition of another star.

 

I agree, I don't even think it's the coaching that's the problem with the Rockets failing in the 1st round. The matter of the fact is, is that our players aren't that good to begin with. Harden/Howard/Parsons/Lin/Asik are just above average players. The coaching sets the foundation while the players look to build upon it. I blame the players for not succeeding, not the coach.

 

If Harden/Howard/Parsons/Lin/Asik are above average, LMA and Lillard are no better. They look below average vs Spurs. Then how come these guys won.
Still comes down to coaching. What foundation has Mcfail set other than being a player coach?

 

They struggle with explosive scoring wing players a la Durant, Ellis, Harden. Spurs were completely healthy during the first matchup and the Rockets won handily without Asik and Lin off the bench. Spurs had injuries in the other games but Rockets also had injuries, Harden was out one and the Rockets still won. It's all about match ups. I think the Blazers are a better team than the Mavs but they don't match up well with the Spurs at all.

 

I know there is an entire half of BBall left, but this series is all but over. Truly remarkable what defense does to a high scoring team...Cant believe Mchale will return..

 

Man... This series continues to make McHale look even more incompantant (who knew that was even possible lol)

 

Talent and skill set is on the floor, that's all that matters though. Why should we blame the coaching staff for the performance of the players? Also keep in mind that the only veteran that we have is Howard. Everyone else is young and inexperience, is it fair to blame the coaching staff on that?

 

Why don't you guys want to blame the players? It's always the coaches fault but never the player?

 

Portland is absolutely being destroyed, decimated, pulverized….it is embarrassing for them, but also for the Rockets. How did the Rockets struggle so mightily with this team? The Spurs are making child's play of them. The Rockets obviously have serious issues.

 

Yes. The coaching staff is responsible for offense strategy, defense strategy, game plays, player rotation, style of play, timeout management, time management, player management, bench management, developing player skills both mentally and bb, and so on.

Or, we could have no coach and just play street ball.

 

If you can't understand how bad Mchale is then you haven't been watching the games. Mchale could have yelled timeout if one of the Rox couldn't but had possession, yet he didn't. The team just doesn't have the coaching and it is wasting their best years because McFail will be back again....

 

fun to see the blazers getting destroyed and possibly swept. i hope they do get swept.

i really would rather have seen what kind of success the rox would have had vs the spurs. i know the reg. season means nothing, but i still think we could have beat the spurs or at least make it a series

rox need to ramp up their defense, get a 3rd star, swing ball (less iso play) and get some better assistant coaching help.

 

So you guys think Terry Stotts is a better coach than Mchale?

 

Pop did the right thing, calling the timeout to stop POR's momentum. He is smart. McFail would not have called timeout and continued the play, thats why it keep giving momentum to Portland. I never liked McFail.

 

I don't understand why Morey didn't do that to begin with last season. If we're going to blame the coaching staff, also blame the GM too.

 

he's just as bad

 

Because it's the coaches who hold players accountable. Do you for a second think Harden would dare do as much iso, dribbling, or ball watching as he does if Pop were his coach? And do you think he would get away with not playing defense if he played for Pop? I rest my case.

 

if you can't see the rockets are a poorly coached team then i don't know what to tell you.

there is no structure on offense or defense. mchale gets by purely off the talent of his players.

 

Officials can only keep portland in it so long, they have to take advantage.

 

wtf was Lopez complaining about? I thought it was a foul before the ref even blew the whistle. It was obvious.