Why Rudy is a Really Smart Coach...

This article from the Chronicle only confirms for me that Rudy has a long-term plan for this team. This is just plain smart...

Playoff focus aids Rockets' growth
By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2001 Houston Chronicle


DALLAS -- Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich really did not think he was taking much of a gamble. He did not intend to break any sort of paranoid coach's convention.

Other coaches have been loath to speak of the playoffs until their teams had qualified. Before reaching the NFL playoffs, Ravens coach Brian Billick banned the word "playoffs" from the organization until it reached the point that staffers had to substitute a Seinfeld-ian "Festivus" for planning purposes. Though Billick did not seem to enjoy the airing of grievances aimed at troubled linebacker Ray Lewis, the ensuing feats of strength ended with the Ravens as Super Bowl winners.

But Tomjanovich refused to give in to the pretense. He knew his players were thinking about the playoff chase.

There were times the Rockets considered themselves so wonderful they likely had skipped past the second season and directly to the parade. Tomjanovich decided to turn that to his advantage.

"You might as well deal with it, take it on, experience it," Tomjanovich said. "It's the only way you're going to grow up."

Tomjanovich said the primary goal was to attack the regular season's last eight weeks. He did not promise the Rockets would reach the postseason, but that had been the goal since training camp.

When he listed the playoff contenders before a Feb. 19 practice, the Rockets were in 11th place in the Western Conference -- four games behind the Suns.

Since then, they have won five of six games, moving to ninth place heading into tonight's game against the Dallas Mavericks.

They are within three games of Minnesota for the last playoff spot.

"I didn't do it in an arbitrary way," he said. "I thought it was time to let them know where they were at. There are always some games you say that shouldn't have happened. We know where we're at. We can't afford that. There are so many games in a season. You start just playing. That's part of the NBA. There's got to be a playoff mentality.

"If we were three games further back than we were, things I say wouldn't have much meaning. Now, they want to hear. They're into everything. It's good for our growth."

As much as Tomjanovich was hoping to instill a sense of urgency with time running out, he also had no interest in alleviating the pressure it might bring. Instead, he wanted his young charges to get their first taste, deal with it and learn from it.

He insisted the only goal was to motivate his players for a run this season. That seemed to have worked. After losing to the Trail Blazers, they mentioned their competition for the last playoff spot as much as the team they just played. After beating Chicago and Milwaukee in back-to-back games, Rockets players pointed to the Timberwolves and their win Tuesday and to Seattle and its last-second win Wednesday.

But as much as Tomjanovich mentioned the standings, he also hit on his team's potential to grow.

"When we talked about the playoffs before, it was `You act like we're just going for the eighth spot,' " Tomjanovich said. "I said I'll go for the first spot, but let's go step by step. Let's set realistic goals. Let's see what's in front of us, go out and take care of it, and then if we take care of it, see if we can go farther.

"I don't like the, `Let's play and let things take care of themselves.' You've got to know where you're at. You're going to have reporters coming up to you, asking about it. You think about it. You might as well learn how."

Having long since declared their playoff worthiness, the Rockets were more than happy to join Tomjanovich's sudden emphasis on the playoff chase two months before the postseason.

But the notion of growing from the experience did nothing for the Rockets. Preparing themselves for the next time they found themselves in a playoff chase really wasn't the point.

"I think every year, you gain experience," forward Walt Williams said. "You get your hard knocks. He becomes a more experienced, better player. But we all had it in our heads what our goals were. That's what this is about. This year."

Rockets guard Steve Francis went a step further. If the Rockets need to experience anything to better themselves for future seasons, it is not the playoff chase, but the playoffs.

"There's not any pressure now," he said. "We already wanted to get into the playoffs. We have to bring that attitude every night and get in and then get that experience."

Those that have been there believed Francis had a point. The playoffs are unique enough that there are educational benefits. But the Rockets were not about to extol the chase's virtues if it does not get them to the postseason.

"You want a clear goal," said center Hakeem Olajuwon, for whom growth would seem irrelevant. "We're so close. The focus is very clear. The goal is to be in the playoffs. Win this game. Win that game. Everybody believes we should make it. We believe we can make it. It is a realistic goal.

"To me, I think it is not a successful season if this team does not make the playoffs. We have too much talent not to. Playoff experience is different. You get that experience and then you can set the tone for the next year. But this year, if we don't make it, would be a disappointment. I think we're too good not to make it."

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