Look man, you're just mad because we've lost 2 in a row. You genuinely have an issue with McHale as the coach of a contender, and so do I. But in reality he has won more games each season he's been here than he would win if he were the totally ****ty coach me and you expect him to be. He has done a tremendous job coaching, and his team hasn't been overflowing with talent to make up for shortcomings. He's taken teams to a higher spot than 99% of "experts" predicted, that's something we have to give him credit for. As for Harden's defense, it improved last season from the season before and McHale said publicly that Harden needs to work on it. I imagine he had something to do with it, and I think the same will happen this season. As for the offensive freedom, I think that's a matter of opinion. The fact that players can do whatever they want is not an oversight, it is intentional so I don't know why you expect McHale to interfere with it. He has pulled players before for making stupid plays and while that has its downside, it has also led to the emergence of D-Mo for example. D-Mo's number one issue was that he couldn't get into a rhythm and learn because he was being pulled after every single mistake a couple of seasons ago. In last year's playoffs, McHale benched Harden. I don't have the patience he has, but I can see that his patience has led mostly to more positive results than I was expecting. Think about it man, if his team underachieves this season, it will be the first time since he joined the Rockets. I really think we can get a better coach, but I give the man his credit, he has earned the right to do what he does without me flipping out each time I think he's screwing up. We can't jump to our natural instincts 2 games into a season after our instincts have been proven wrong over the last 250 games. Like I said, he is not the best tactical coach, but he clearly has no problem walking in and telling someone to get their ish together. In fact, it's one of the FEW things he does well. But at least he recognizes his weaknesses and defers to the experts around him on other stuff.
If it's our plan to switch every screen, and I mean every single screen. Then the coaching plan sucks. There needs to be much better recognition In those scenarios as we keep getting killed on mismatches.
I should've known those offensive sets we saw so much in the pre-season with Brewer coming off curls at the last second for unopposed darts to the rim - were not going to be implemented when games matter. Happened last pre-season. Happening again. Fool me once McHale shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
The reason why we've done better each year is because we added Harden, then Dwight, then got deeper last year. 3 successive years of improved talent. McHale has done alright. The thing I don't understand with Morey is that he doesn't settle for a mediocre roster for continuity sake, but he's settling for a mediocre coach.
How convenient for McHale, the only coach in history who takes credit for the wins and has zero responsibility for the losses, lol
I agreed with the hiring of Mchale. Money knew we needed a coach players like to play for, in hope that we could lure in a big name free agent. What I don't agree with is the extension. It feels like jb bickerstaff runs the team. Morey has assembled so much talent it would just be a shame if they can't get to their full potential because of the lack of quality top level coaching.
I don't know what I'll do if Mchale gives terry rotation minutes again this year when we have Thornton and mcdaniels. Listen I love terry but at this point he's here for leadership and a last resort. Mchale put him in during the Denver game as a spark plug and I hope that isn't what's going to happen regularly. Thornton has just so much more offensive potential to add to this team right now and mcdaniels needs to see minutes to improve and at least can play d. I can understand no minutes for kj but Jesus Christ don't let it be because Jason old man terry is getting minutes over him. So frustrating.
He's a horrible game planning coach, lets be honest. He abides by Morey's philosophy so he's not at risk of being fired. I wish someone would get Les involved here, the question is who is his replacement? McHale is a stepping stone coach. We've made that leap into the upper echelon, it's now got to be the coach who can close the deal. McHale against the top 3-4 teams is dog ****. The aggregated look against the other 29 teams is great, cause the other 25 can't hang with our talent & pace.
I never have liked McHale as a coach but getting beat by Denver at home shouldn't happen if we only played our second unit. Its going to take time for everybody to get used to playing with each other. I don't think this all falls on the coach.
Adelman couldn't get Tracy to fall in line and play in the system, what makes you think he can control Harden and Dwight?
My biggest complaint is the lack of adjustments for who we're playing. Isn't KJ a good defender? Maybe he could limit an effective opposing backcourt. Trudging out the same units over and over without consideration (so it seems) to limit the other teams' strengths is what frustrates me. This statement isn't only with regard to these last 2 games but it seems in general that we are the most predictable team in this league. I'd like to see some variation and situational use of our depth. When taking on a juggernaut like GS, I don't understand why you would roll out the same starting lineup which has struggled defensively. Seriously - KJ can D up. Put a guy like him in to not give Curry and breathing room. Hell, it might not work. BUT AT LEAST TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT! We're predictable just like the Astros were. Come on! 6 outs from the ALCS and we're up by 4 and you put the setup guy in that KC is WAITING FOR. **** man, you're up by 4 and need 6 outs - SHAKE IT UP. Easy as a fan to say, but all these players are pros. They're in the league because they belong. Use your players to suit their strengths and to mitigate the opponent's strengths. Don't be so stubborn and predictable. We can't outplay the opponents every night. Some nights we'll shoot lik crap, some nights the opponents will be on fire. Play some D, change it up a bit so strategy and using players to their strengths can overcome a hot opponent or a bad shooting night.
My issue isn't so much with McHale, but the rest of the coaching staff. McHale shoulders the blame for the woes of the rest of his staff, which is unfair. Developing a fluid offensive scheme isn't something that happens overnight or mid-season, you make all your headway in the summer months. It's up to the COLLECTIVE coaching staff, not just McHale to institutionalize a scheme. I will admit though that the stickiness on offense has been a systemic problem since McHale's been the Rockets HC. But, admittedly McHale has never been an Xs & Os guy, so it's paramount he's surrounded by coaches who are. Chris Finch gets a lot of hype here, but what has he proven? A whole lotta nada. I still support McHale being the HC for the simple fact that his players respect him and would run through a brick wall for him. Him being a HOFer and one of the best big men in history commands a lot of respect from the tight fraternity of the league. Dwight wouldn't been here if it weren't for McHale. With that said, his tactical skills in-game leave a lot to be desired, which is why we need a guru offensive assistant.
There's a reason Thornton has been on 6 total teams in 7 years. Dude can light it up, but the issue is consistency. Hopefully, being on a playoff level team (best team he's played on) helps him be a more consistent, spark off the bench.
Doesn't matter, I don't care about a player's past. I care what I see on the court and he's producing.
