Please people stop using the Spurs and Tim Duncan as an example of something that the Rockets should just wake up and be all the sudden overnight. There will never be another Tim Duncan, and there will never be another coach that is able to do what Popovich has been able to do with a superstar like Duncan. The fact is 95% of superstars that you can even HOPE to attain the NBA are going to have flaws like James Harden and Dwight Howard. But you are still lucky to have them rather than not have them. Oh, and the Spurs are out in the first round, and the Rockets are not. They've had a great historical championship run over the past two decades but basketball is about here and now. Just look at the 2011 Dallas Mavericks and the 2004 Detroit Pistons. Hell I'm already willing to say that the 2015 Golden State Warriors exemplify Here and Now. One more reacurring Curry ankle injury, Bogut injury, salary cap roster depth implications, etc. and this dynasty is done with.
Great to be players' coach, but if you are too buddy buddy with your players, it's hard to act out when you are mad at their performance. Needs an element of awe on top of the respect.
Exactly, the coach should know his own personnel. You know Harden can be careless with the ball. Dont make him the pg. You know Ariza and Brewer aren't good 3pt shooters. Why make them shoot it. The list goesnon and on. We can say every game we lose that we didnt have energy or they shot better. To when is it an excess?
In Mchale's defense, he is doing exactly what management wants him to do, and thats execute moreyball aka entertaining basketball.
I think your confusing entertaining basketball with effective regular season basketball to be fair. Some folks might not find their style of play that entertaining. The purpose of their style of play is simple. It manufactures wins. It relies on the theory that from a percentage standpoint, even bad three's taken at high volumes will outscore a traditional NBA team using traditional NBA sets designed to get 2's at an average percentage. And there is nothing wrong with pursuing that theory with this team. It has allowed this team to overachieve two years in a row and go into the playoffs with homecourt advantage. The philosophy has paid off because at the very least... this team has a "chance" at going deep in the playoffs with the right matchups, increased playoff defensive intensity, and good shooting. As the team continues to improve around James Harden, you might need to see changes that puts Harden and co. in better positions to succeed in the playoffs. But right now while your leaning on guys like Trevor Ariza, and Jason Terry as support players next to Harden you HAVE TO manufacture points with a system like this or you aren't winning jack S#%$ in the playoffs in traditional half court playoff-type sets. Add another reliable play-making PG to the mix, and they might be able to start incorporating more half court sets that aren't relied upon jacking up 3 point brick after 3 point brick. To McHale's credit though, he's at least added some stuff to their sets to allow their 2nd best play-maker (its sad that he is but...) Josh Smith to do some interesting things with the 4/5 p&r, and such. I don't think people truly realize how limited the Rockets offense really is given the personnel. Given the personnel, I have no problem at all manufacturing wins with this system in the regular season in order to get good playoff positioning. You still at least have a CHANCE in the postseason if everything clicks right.
Interesting post. So what addition or what draftee do you thin would correct the problem? I think we need a true scorer at the other guard position since James basically plays point guard.
A 30 yr old Jason Terry vs. the 37 yr old version (which is still quite useful) would've been a great combination.
McHale might not have the X's & O's of the other coaches, but Players love him & want to play for him. My biggest knock on him is how long he waits to insert James Harden in the 4th Quarter.
He's had the luxury of resting Harden until this series. We'll see how he handles the minutes tonight.
In hindsight, taking a flyer on Isiah Thomas would have been awesome. Our defense would have been worse, but having a "good" playmaker to come off the bench or play next to Harden would have been great in hindsight.
Jones and Smith should get 0 playing time together, yet they always get 7 minutes or so in a game. Awful.
His decisions just leave you clueless. Leave Harden on the bench for 5 and a half minutes while the Clippers turn an 11 point deficit into a 2 point lead. Don't call a timeout until they've gained all the momentum on their run. CONTINUING WITH THE SAME *****ING STUPID DEFENSIVE SCHEME WHEN IT IS GETTING YOU BURNED TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I hate this guy.
Here's my problem... "McHale needs to make an adjustment." "McHale doesn't make any adjustments." "Where are the adjustments?" What adjustments do you want? They ran the pick and roll. When LA stopped that, they got out and ran. When LA stopped that, they went to Dwight down low. What else do you want?
Doc Rivers has absolutely destroyed McHale. Wonder if Mr. Morey still believes that coaching hardly matters.
This is a complete McHale outcoaching. He has no plan to stop a hot player. He is calling offensive plays that just can't work with this personnel.
How about some adjustments on the bloody defensive end so they don't abuse us time and time again? How about some adjustments with the rotation when one of your starters is doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING POSITIVE out there. How about.. I don't know. Not sitting Harden for 5 and a half minutes while the Clippers turn an 11 point deficit into a 2 point lead. Any of these adjustments sound good?
