The last few years have been quite interesting and we seen so much change. From Rudy stepping down, the trade for Tmac and the emergence of Yao as a real star last year. Which started me thinking. If Rudy was here do you think we would have been better off? Would we still see way too much ISO or was that a product of the players he had available? If Rudy was our coach would we have kept Rudy Gay? The two caveats being Tmac still gets traded for Steve Francis since Tmac came to Houston to play with Yao regardless of who was coaching since he wanted to play alongside a dominant big man. The players are able to stay healthy. My poll question is this. If we still had Rudy as coach would we be better off or worse off right now? and why?
Rudy T seems to have a problem with stress management, which makes coaching an unsuitable profession for him. But he was always positive! I seriously doubt this team will go deep into the playoffs with JVG's eternally pessimistic attitude that now permeates the entire organization.
I wonder if Rudy could have done better with the talent we had on this roster after the Tmac/SF3 trade. At least we wouldn't have wasted our time with useless ex Knicks Charlie Ward, Marc Jackson, Charles Oakley, Rod Strickland, Weatherspoon etc. I think Rudy would have done a better job utilizing players and developing better offensive sets. I think Yao would have developed sooner under Rudy as he would have been creative in helping him develop. If Rudy was still coach im almost 100% positive we would have kept Gay as RudyT doesnt seem as shortsighted (win now at all costs mortgaging the future) as JVG does. J
You guys are just dead wrong on Van Gundy. Van Gundy is the reason we made the playoffs in 2004. Francis and Mobley ran all over Rudy because he let them and in letting them he LOST CONTROL OF THE TEAM. Van Gundy came in and reestablished control at the top and FRancis and Mobley did not like that. Thats why they got traded not because Van Gundy didn't like but because they wanted control and they weren't TEAM PLAYERS. Sura,Tmac,Wesley,Barry,Padgett come in and we win 51 games and take Dallas 7 games in round 1. WE SHOULD HAVE BEAT DALLAS IF NOT FOR THE REFS BUT THATS A DIFFERENT STORY. So get off Van Gundy he's a great coach and this coming season we are going past round 1 and forceing someone 7 games in round 2 if we get some good luck conference finals. Go Rockets!!!
So . .Rudy nearly Dying and forcing Larry Smith to coach [or not coach] those last games that kept us out fo the playoffs is Francis and cuttino's fualt? mmmmmmmmmmmmmkkkaaayy Dallas was the Ref's fault? is that right Mr. No Excuses Rocket River
Rudy was great in his day- he was not a great coach but was a great manager of talent. It was only a matter of time before Rudy retired or was canned. He had lost control of the team to Steve Francis. He showed little ability to get Francis into supporting the development of Yao Mings Game Rudy's illness was a fortunate but sad and convenient point to bring his great career to a close. Others will say differently, but I was following the senario from a different perspective than most fans. So I say that Rudy would not have done any better than JVG, My opinion of how JVG is coaching is that he is getting away with too much- especially all the old players that have been brought on board since he arrived and seems to avoid any young player/star development. I almost think that JVG would not have selected Yao Ming in the draft of 2002, if he had been given the chance. So far I consider that in some ways JVG has been to the detriment of the career of Yao Ming and others, I always get the feeling that JVG thinks he is still coaching the New York Knicks . JVG is a very knowledgeable defencive Coach, but just so so in offence.
Rudy T never had a problem playing rookies. If you could play you could play. He started Horry his first year and we made it to the playoffs. Cassell was in our rotation his first year ,we won a championship. Rudy T would of kept Gay or at least force the grizz to give up more than just Battier.
