Macbeth........thats was really good........you have a great talent at writting............you should be the houston chronicle............ever thougth about that?
Great piece, MacBeth. It got me thinking again about Rudy and what joy he had coaching the team and being a Rocket his entire career. You evoke his spirit very well. I think Brown is just what this team needs.
Macbeth, It's been uneasy for me the last couple weeks, I can't say that I feel Rudy deserved a chance to coach forever as a Rock, But I know I couldn't ever tell him to his face that he is not my "Coach" I feel in your recent posts this same line of thought, and I have to say these are comforting words to an old Rock-Fan like myself. Keep the posts long and heavy, brutha!
MacBeth, you're beautiful, man. Sincerely. Here's the saddest part of all: If you're right, it may mean that a coach like Rudy will be less effective in the NBA from here on out. The reason being that more and more kids are jumping to the pros after only a year or two in college (or no college at all) -- meaning that they're arriving in the league with more need for a teaching-style coach than ever before. Using the Rockets as an example, many of the players we've brought in over the last half-dozen years have been early pros. Especially the ones we've counted on the most: Stevie, Eddie G., etc. A Rudy-style coach would only be effective on a team which is laden with vets and doesn't really count on its youngsters to produce. As weird an idea as this may be, I would love to see Rudy take over as head BB coach at UH. He'd get to remain a fixture in the city without having to give up head-coaching, which he obviously loves. His inspirational style would be great for college players, and my guess is that he'd be a monster recruiter. Sure, it'll never happen, but I love the idea.
MacBeth, I'll wait for the movie to come out! Seriously though, great post. Keep up the good work, I really enjoy reading it.
MacBeth, Bravo!! Beautiful job of capturing the essence of Rudy and of Larry Brown. If the Rockets were a business, they would be looking for a "turnaround CEO" to kick ass, take names, and hold everyone accountable. Larry Brown is pluperfect to fill that role for 4-5 years.... and that is his usual MO. He is the antiRudy in terms of skills and attributes, but that's what is sorely needed RIGHT NOW! Love reading your stuff. Dallas Rocket
Does anyone here doubt that Rudy T will coach again? Highly unlikely it would be for the Rockets, but if he does return to coaching...I don't think it would be difficult to persuad a certain 7'5" guy to come join his new team.
great work macbeth! i finally finished it, and might i say, GREAT work! this captured the essence of what we call "change" in basketball! bravo!!!! i truely enjoyed reading it!
Let me jump on the bandwagon. That was the most insightful and well written post I have ever seen on this forum. Thanks, MB. While being excited about the possibility of bringing in a coach of the pedigree of a Larry Brown, it is the recruiting aspect needed to a degree in the NBA that scares me. Rudy seemed to have a knack to get players to want to come here to play for him, or at a minimum, to stay. I think most NBA players are so egocentric that they do not believe they need much understanding (they think they know the game); they want the love. I think there was a good chance a Gary Payton would have come here this summer for the MCE if Rudy was here; now, look for him to take the same offer from the Lakers. Perhaps a player like a Jermaine O'Neal could be coaxed into demanding a sign and trade from his team, to come play for Rudy (like Pippen did), which type of player deal we will not see under the new coach. Free agent moves are tough under the current CBA, but not having a recruiter could still mean losing out on that one player that is the missing piece to complete the championship puzzle. Larry Brown may have done more with the talent that he had than any other coach could, but he might not have had as much talent because he was Larry Brown. This is analogous to a degree to the example of a Bobby Knight being unable to recruit today's players. And more often than not, talent wins championships. Talent, plus a little love.
Larry Brown may have done more with the talent that he had than any other coach could, but he might not have had as much talent because he was Larry Brown. This is analogous to a degree to the example of a Bobby Knight being unable to recruit today's players. And more often than not, talent wins championships. Talent, plus a little love. Good point, I'm thinking of that, too.
Thought about the love vs understanding thing again. On second thought, I liked the writing, but I think the point is way overblown. I agree that they both love the game. Rudy understands the game. Rudy is responsible for two major offensive schemes which changed the game. (not necessarily for the better). The dump to Hakeem with the possible pass out for the three or the ISO with the one on one talents of Steve and Cuttino. I really don't think the same can be said about Larry Brown, who can be said to have a great command of all the fundamentals. The chanpionship Rocket teams played championship level defense. Larry Brown would not have done better. Rudy's problem was that his motivational style and attachment to his young players made it impossible for him to get through to the present group of players and or promptly trade them.
Same here...but I think he deserved a full season, the benefit of training camp with all his players, and a Center that had some time to rest before diving into the NBA. But what ya gonna go..people want blood and they want it yesterday. I'm going to Stucchi's
