New Coach: You don't believe acquiring an elite coach such as Gundy or Brown will instantly make us a playoff team? Heck we almost made it into the playoffs without having an offensive scheme other then ISO's and little perimeter defense. Yao's Development: You believe Yao's development will be hindered/harmed some how because a new system, most likely a better system, will be instilled which will utilize Yao's skills more? As for Yao's attachment for Rudy, I can't comment on that but how do you know this? Trading the Franchise: Who knows, I still suggest giving him at least till next seasons trade deadline to improve. Perhaps it was the system.
HP, dont be shocked (again), but I agree with you 100%!! How about Franics and some big garbage contracts (Rice, etc..) for Garnett! Trade Griffin for a quality PG and keep Mobley (mobley, did I actually say that?).
And how does steve repay rudy? Fancy/dangerous dribbling, no defensive improvement, TOs galore, skipping up the court when you're down by 15, failing to start the offense with more than 5 secs on the clock. If Steve really wanted Rudy to keep his job why didn't he improve on the immediate problems that hurt this team time and time again? I guess 'the franchise' just doesn't see it that way.
Say it ain't so Rudy! ASSociated press link via ESPN.com http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0523/1558232.html
Wow, wow, wow. This is a big , big , big news and today is a big, big big day. I am shocked, it happened so sudden and so soon. We will miss you, Rudy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish JVG will be our next coach, hope it is not too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And no more Larry Smith, pls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Seems pretty obvious to me that Van Gundy is the top choice. It also seems equally obvious to me that Rudy will not be back. Why buy the guy out only to give him ANOTHER contract for another position within the front office? Think about the economics of the situation...Why pay somebody to leave and then turn around and pay them again to stay? Rudy is gone. RIP. I like the guy, I wish him well, but it was obvious to most that a change had to be made. The Rockets will make it appear that he is still involved in some capacity (See RC Slocum at Texas A&M), but make no mistake, the Rudy T era is OVER. And the chances of a single assistant coach staying are exactly NONE. As for the players, if they do not like it, they can go as well.
I don't see that happening. The reports are all about a buyout of the remaining contract. If the intent was to "Dierker" RT, then the organization would simply bite the bullet, move him upstairs, and pay out the duration.
No , Rudy is the best. I hope that is really what he wants. and all those out there that are happy should be shot becuz they are not real rocket fans.
Van Gundy blows!!!!!!!!!!1 He never laced up a pair sneaks to play in the pros. He will get NO RESPECT. L. Brown would be a nice fit or even better another Rocket-Man PAT RILEY. "He knows how to use a big men" --Dream
The last "on-court" piece of the championship teams is now gone. I'm very sad right now, probably sadder than when Dream left because that was a mutual deal. I know Rudy would have taken this team to the playoffs next year, and I'm going to feel sorry for him when the next coach takes what Rudy built to the playoffs. JVG is at best a parallell step for the Rockets. The only coach I'd be happy to see replace Rudy would be Larry Brown. After all of these years with the organization as a player/scout/coach, Rudy has finally been fired...what a terrible day this has become...
Van Gundy's nice, but the Rockets find themselves in the extremely fortunate position of having a coaching vacancy when the best coach in the NBA might be looking for a new gig in Larry Brown. If the decision has been made to look for a new coach, I would be sending gym bags full of money to Philly right now trying to pry Brown away. The man has a genius and track record unmatched by any of his colleagues: 1. Won Kansas' only national championship. 2. San Antonio Spurs went from worst to first (25 wins to 50+ wins) in Brown's and Robinson's first season. 3. The L.A. Clippers have been to the post-season only 3 times in the past 24 years. Two of those times were the only two years Brown coached them. Also worth noting that in those playoff appearances, the Clippers took the Rockets 5 and the Jazz 5 in the first round in best-of-five format. 4. Took the 6th seeded Pacers from the 6th seed to the eastern conference finals in Brown's first season as Pacers' coach. Before Larry Brown came to Indiana, the Pacers were a perennial first round exit. Without adding any players to the team, Brown had the Pacers in the eastern conference finals his first two or three years with the franchise before moving on which brings us to..... 5. Philadelphia. Brown came to Philly when they were one of the worst 3 teams in the league. After missing the playoffs in Brown's first season, Brown pulled a miracle in season two and had the Sixers in the playoffs. In year 3 the Sixers were in the NBA finals and are now perennial contenders in the eastern conference. There is NO ONE else in the league that has taken on this many coaching challenges without ever experiencing failure. So like I said when I started, Van Gundy would be a good replacement, but Brown would be a great one and the Rockets had better take advantage of the situation their in and try to use the lure of an immature Francis and Yao to bring the best coach in the league to Houston. There is never a better fit than Larry brown.
and so the offseason begins with a bang. will miss rudy but deep down think it was best for the team in the longrun. may not yeild better results next year but here's hoping for the best. good luck to you rudy.
im afraid that this will come back to bite us in the a$$...great coaches dont come a dime a dozen.....good luck rudy and thanks for the memories.... everyone seems to be jumpin on the van gundy bandwagon, and dont get me wrong, i love the guy as an announcer...and the whole "hanging on zo's leg" went a long way to show his toughness and team dedication, but correct me if im wrong, when he was with the knicks didnt he an EXCLUSIVE ISOLATION OFFENSE with houston and sprewell? isnt that what we want to get away from????????????? my preliminary vote is for paul silas, or anyone that can install a set offense....
To me, this is the saddest part of the story. Nobody has given the Rockets organization nearly as much as Rudy has over the past 33 years. Loyalty like that has all but disappeared from sports. It should be celebrated and rewarded. I don't want to see Rudy coaching another team. I don't want him associated with any other organization. He should be a life-time Rocket, in one capacity or another. Give him a front office job if he'll take it, and keep his talents in the family. Best of luck., Rudy. I hope the Rockets are still a classy enough organization to recognize your years of faithful service and treat you with the respect you deserve.
Well I wanted some sort of change in the offseason, and I got it. Pretty consistant with Les's notion of how great the talent on the team is. Unless the new coach wants to bring in a couple of "his guys", or there's a blockbuster deal too good to pass up, I don't think this roster is going to change much in the offseason. Sad to see you go Rudy, but also happy to see you go.
To me, this is the saddest part of the story. Nobody has given the Rockets organization nearly as much as Rudy has over the past 33 years. Loyalty like that has all but disappeared from sports. It should be celebrated and rewarded. I don't want to see Rudy coaching another team. I don't want him associated with any other organization. He should be a life-time Rocket, in one capacity or another. Give him a front office job if he'll take it, and keep his talents in the family. Best of luck., Rudy. I hope the Rockets are still a classy enough organization to recognize your years of faithful service and treat you with the respect you deserve.
Although I am sad to see Rudy go. I have said before that it is probably time for him to step down. He has done so much for the team and the organization and fans realize it. I hope he takes care of himself and stays with the organization in a different role. I am really liking the thought of Van Gundy or Larry Brown coming to Houston. This team needs someone that can put these boys in there places and have them play well consistently. I am not saying it was Rudy T that made them play this way. I just think they need a change and a different voice. Thank you Rudy T.
