I haven't been a fan of McHale in the past but this year he's on a short list of COTY candidates. What he's been able to do this year losing Parsons/Asik and having Dwight injured most of the year has been impressive. I still question his ability to lead them past the 2nd round (heck even 1st round) because of his over usage of Harden during the regular season, but maybe this year is the year
With the roster so broken, can you imagine next year we'll be getting new players and starting the chemistry thing all over again? Rinse and repeat. Morey should start being held accountable. I can't help thinking it was really Hinkie who was the genius at making trades and innovative contracts.
We're winning in spite of McHale. Harden has been saving his ass. Positives: Early season improvement of JSmith but now he's back to normal. DMo only broke out after McHale was forced to play him. He's also back to earth. Negatives: Iso'ed Canaan out of the team by not playing him. Insisting on playing Terry as a PG. Not giving PT to a healthy Papa and now Pablo, when we need them. Playing short rotations in the regular season. The rest are Morey's blunders.
^Excuses start here. What's the point then why even compete we might as well blow it up. All this effort and the team is going nowhere.
I agree & stand by this. People give credit to morey about brewer but mchale forced that, brewer is mchale's guy, he desperately wanted a trusted player off the bench that could get buckets and play D, he was tired of the vet min. Signings at back up 3. I have no problem with moreys 3s and layups, but you need guys who like to attack and finish well, bev & Ariza may be the worst at doing that if all starters in the NBA at their postion. If we had guys who could launch the 3 at a high clip like clippers, Warriors, Spurs, I have no dobt the system woukd work and we would be the right up their with the Warriors HOWARD- since he's came rockets record has improved, but we have never blew out teams like we did 2012-2013 season. We use to roll over teams even contenders at times, that fast pace rockets 3 ball system with PPAT shooting a few midranges use to work and was fun as hell to watch. Even harden didn't look for foul as much before howard came, he use to always try to finish strong TUCK THE BALL like a running back lol. We just needed a few tweaks and had plenty of cap room to do it. But we went and spent it all on a guy who likes to post up who slows that all down. LES - tickets sales have went up like crazy since we went to playoffs that first yr, they knew getting howard would put it over the top, rockets are easy to market with stars and they can raise prices, that's why they wanted MELO vs LOWRY they had dreams of being able to charge $50 for upper levels instead of getting a player without a name as big that would fit our system Better.
I would say there is definitely a disconnect between the front office and the coaches right now. No way Morey trades TWO second round picks for Prigioni, and a Second Rounder and Canaan for a potential expiring contract KJ McDaniels if he didn't think McHale was going to play them. Also... what happened to Josh Smith "playing downhill"? Looks like the same ole Josh Smith from the last year in Atlanta. He's been great for the Rockets, but he continues to believe and is obviously being told to let it fly from 3, and he STILL looks for that shot first. I don't think that's what Morey brought Josh in for. I think McHale has done a terrific job this year all things considering, but the disconnect between the front office and coaching staff is really worrisome. If Terry gives the Rockets a better chance to win than Canaan or Prigioni than fine, but at least have a line of communication with the front office so they don't blow through all of the teams 2nd round picks for no damn reason.
Kevin Mchale 2011-2012 last ten games:3-7 (6 game losing streak) --> 2012-2013 last ten games:6-4 2013-2014 last ten games:5-5 2014-2015 What to expect for the last ten games: 4 games in 5 nights plus another back to back; current playoff teams in bold @ WAS -->0-1 previous meeting (W) --1st game of 4 games in 5 nights @ TOR -->1-0 previous meeting (L) --2nd game of 4 games in 5 nights vs SAC --> 2-0 previous meetings (W) --3rd game of 4 games in 5 nights @ DAL --> 2-1 previous meetings (L) --4th game of 4 games in 5 nights @ OKC -->2-1 previous meetings (L) --current 9th seed in West @ SAS --> 1-1 previous meetings (W) vs SAS (L) vs NOP --> 0-2 previous meetings (W) --1st game of B2B @ CHO --> 1-0 previous meeting (W) --current 9th seed in East; 2nd game of B2B vs UTAH -->2-1 previous meetings (L) --expecting to rest starters Expecting to go at least 5-5, but even that will be a tall task considering that the Rockets have to integrate Dwight back in the fold...Wont be surprised if the Rockets collapse to the 5th seed or 6th seed.
I don't think it matters what seed you are in the west. Look what we did with home court advantage last year. we r in a slump right now but we will get out of it.
If Durant comes back to get the Thunder in the playoffs and Dallas gets some issues fixed, there will be 4 teams eliminated by mid-April that all have the talent to win the NBA Title. When everyone has a puncher's chance of getting out of the West, it's better to step in the ring and take your chances than it is to be on the outside.
Look here lady I don't't complain much. Especially when it's concerning Mchale. So get off my back. But if you don't see are understand we have an coaching issue. Well madame that's on you. You can tell these players doesn't listen to Mchale. That's why we see a lack of focus in a lot of these games this season as well as last season. We have a high winning percentage because our team is actually talented and Harden is a beast. Mchale is always getting out coached in big games. One of the main reason why we lost to Portland in the playoffs. Like I said before go back and read this entire thread and you will see this is my only negative comment about Mchales coaching.
This I agree with. I can't stand this philosophy. It's like playing at the rec center , better street ball. Imo of course. But like you stated , you have to have the personal for this offense. You need sharp shooters , play makers and a stretch 4 or two.
All great points. The excuse for Ariza is he is a consistent above average individual defender, so he gets somewhat of a pass.
