Thanks for the report, Codman. That confirms what I had been thinking. I would say McHale has lost the team, but I question if he ever *had* the team to begin with.
Assuming the season played out the same way had they not extended McHale back in December, he still would've gotten a new contract during the offseason. You don't fire(or not resign) a coach who just took your team to the conference finals for the first time in forever. Well, not unless you're the 1999 Lakers or 2003 Pistons. And go figure, both of those teams won a title within a year of replacing Harris and Carlisle respectively. Hmm, maybe someone should pass that along to Morey and Les.
As per others' statements, and probably re-hashing my own, I was never McHale's greatest fan but the team was winning in spite of his non-game management. This season his heart just does not seem to be in it at all. At least before in his own laissez-faire style he seemed to give half a s**t. But what used to be an expression of slight befuddlement has become almost a stricken gloom. For whatever reason, he's lost the locker room. Maybe some combination of last-season hangover / not enough bodies on the floor and the shuffling of lineups / Lawson looking completely lost / Harden wanting Lawson to pick up some slack so he doesn't have to carry the team again / Harden's head is ensconced in Khloe Kardashian's ass / whatever... Flip Saunders' passing might have put a heavy shadow on McHale's heart and he just isn't up to a big challenge right now? It could be so much. Of course it would be a huge challenge. But this team was obviously not ready to start this season, and the more they fumble about, the worse they seem to get. I don't hate on McHale personally, but Les and Morey need to bite the bullet and hire a take-the-reins coach, whomever it might be, rather than a nice-guy rubber-stamper. McHale is fine for a youngish team. He'd be okay for Minnesota as is right now. But he isn't the coach for what was supposed to be a team vying for a championship.
Thanks for the well-wishes, guys. Seriously, I really appreciate the support. Still heated from last night.
hang in there bro im still pissed from us losing to the nets at home, that has to be the worst loss we have ever had while morey has been gm here
Also not playing Howard back to back might backfire. In the western conference he needs to play every game or they could be looking on the outside when the playoffs start.
Something tells me everyone will hate whoever coaches this team, when they lose a game or two that everyone thinks we should win... sucks for McHale as he can't get credit when they overachieve, and takes all the blame when they underachieve. What would some of you call legitimate options if you were to get your wish? How do you explain last season's record in the regular season and playoff run? Just curious... I don't see things being as bad, or able to be greatly remedied, as most folks... at least the vocal ones. Lastly, anyone wanting them to lose in hopes that leverages coach being fired comes off as miserable to me.
I wish people would read threads before they post. At least read a couple of pages back. Hell, there are several other threads that answer all your questions which have been discussed ad nauseam on this site over the last two weeks.
Every year teams lose a few games they should win. It happens in an 82 game regular season. You assemble as much talent as possible and it's the coach's job to put it all together. This start is inexcusable and coaches should absolutely get the blame when a team underachieves. I wanted McHale gone after that embarassing performance in the 2014 playoffs. He got better the next season, but it's clear he is not coaching at that level anymore.
The bolded point is where you lost me. What did he do last year that was so great? Really, the only thing that's changed from last year to this year, is that Harden isn't putting on. Seriously, that's the only difference. I've noticed no coaching difference, for better or worse. Can people please explain to me what was different about the COACHING last year? I'm talking defensive rotations, strategy, easier offensive execution? Again, only difference I remember is a pumped up Harden. And yes, he should've been canned after the playoff series against the Blazers.
