With every passing day it gets clearer that Rudy T had to go.

I wanted to say it, but Ijust couldn't bring myself to it.

 

I think, with the passage of time, memories and opinions tend to polarize as the details are lost in the fog of time. In retrospect -- especially with BBS repetition -- Rudy will tend to look worse and worse. I don't think much of it is deserved though.

 

It can be argued he deserved one more year, he didn't know what he had when the season started, and no one else did, and you can't say there was any coach who would have made better adjustments.


On the flip side, Van Gundy has improved things that have less to do with Yao and more to do with fundamentals, like defense and ball movement.

 

Listening to what Steve said about the Bulls, it almost sounded like he was saying that's how the Rox use to play. As in back when Rudy coached. The Rox needed someone to kick some tail, just like the Bulls will need in a year or two.

 

I agree somewhat. It was different, though, when Pippen was here. We were still a veteran team and the offense still ran through Hakeem and Charles. Pippen was in the wrong and also was classless about the whole deal.

Boki was recovering from a hernia and we were trying to make the playoffs. I can't fault him there. A guy shoots 4-4 and now one should think he would have been last year's saviour? Not likely.

I do agree with your assessment of the RT-SF relationship. He should have been the one holding the reins and it never really seemed that way. I do think that RT and the Rockets are better for making this change.

 

Its disappointing to me that people can't compliment JVG without giving a back handed slap Rudy at the same time.

 

"I think, with the passage of time, memories and opinions tend to polarize as the details are lost in the fog of time. In retrospect -- especially with BBS repetition -- Rudy will tend to look worse and worse. I don't think much of it is deserved though."

Agree. I don't even know if its worth defending of Rudy anymore.

Just a reminder. Rudy's championship offense was feed the post. Post scores on the single defender passes out to a three point shooter on the double. If all esle fails have a least one guy that score on his own.

Worked pretty well. Sounds like what many posters want to do with Yao and Steve.

 

It is impossible to know how much Rudy did that contributes to this year's improvement. How much "maturity" in Francis we see now has something to do with Rudy's past coach? How much development in Yao should be credited to Rudy?

And how much Rudy could have done with some of the players we have now: JJ, Pike, A. Griffin?

The only good thing so far that can solely be credited to JVG is Cato's performance at the 4. Rudy didn't have the imagination to experiment on Cato playing PF. JVG has done it--perhaps by default due to Taylor's injury and Griffin's trouble.

Even John Gruden freely admited that he was building on Dungy's great defensive team. And look at Gruden's team this year. Football coaches are far more important than basketball coaches, imo. I wouldn't say it is at all clear that Rudy had to go.

 

rudy's laid-back approach worked great with our 90's team, because we had a lot of well trained veterans. That method worked perfect for that group of guys. Brought us 2 rings. But when our team became young, he continued the same approach. That method does not work with a bunch of kids. Kids need discipline. It was time for him to go. Van Gundy=discipline. Van Gundy=what we needed. I love Van Gundy. He's a bad, bad man.

 

That appears to be an accurate assessment. What I have been thinking lately, and different from what I felt before Rudy left.



Fast forward... what happens when all these guys are experienced Vets.

 

And now you will never know, will you? Stop bringing RUDY up just because JVG coaches them to 2 wins. ROX are great when they play good BB, not when a certain coach is there. Whenever JVG brings you 2 championships, then talk to me about Rudy.

SHUT UP already.

 

Finally.....I'm glad someone said it

 

Definitely, That's what I was thinking also. Sounds as if Stevie is getting it and getting it fast. There were many times rockets would come out to a fast break opportunity but the transition defense would get back. Usually stevie would ride it all the way in but he pulled back a few times to set up the offense.

 

Technically Hakeem brought us two Championships. I always said there was not much coaching needed for this, as with the current Lakers not much coaching is needed. I give 90% credit of our 2 championship rings to The Dream. Period. I dont think many can argue with that, he was a DOMINATING factor.

 

As in the way all young teams play.

 

JVG can

this from the chron Sept 28th in a Q and A at training camp

Q:
From what you've seen studying the Rockets this summer, what have you learned that differs from what you might have thought or might be widely thought about the team?

A:
The more you watch, the more impressed I was with Rudy (Tomjanovich) and what a great job he did. I didn't just watch last year; I went back and watched several years, and he did an incredible job. Two, the more I'm here, the more I've found that these players have staunch supporters in Carroll (Dawson) and Les (Alexander), who have given them another opportunity to keep the core together.

isn't it amazing the way people can't compliment both... stunning but completely unsuprising from some on the board.

 

Let's praise both the Soup-Commander-In-Chief and the mutha-f-in mutha-f-a!!!!!

 

The Lake Show was a no-show before Phil Jax got them in a championship mode. Kobe was growing and Shaq was dominating, and maybe they would have succeeded anyway. But, they didn't.

Rudy did a heckuva job for years. He is worthy.

This team did lose focus and stopped paying attention to Rudy and staff last year. They needed new blood. Rudy is still terrific.

 

Let's be clear about one thing. Most of what you see right now on the court is the result of Rudy. That is the good the bad and the ugly. Most of what you see on the court is Rudy. This is not a knock on JVG. JVG from what I can see will be okay. And in time what you see on the court will be his doing. But he is not implemented his philosphy and his style in this team yet.

But if JVG was so great a guy that he could come in and make such an impact in such a short time than the knicks would have won more than their fare of championships. They certainly had enough talent. But they didn'twin the championships and Rudy did. Yeah I know you will all say that Rudy was lucky to have Hakeem and that's the only reason we won. But what about all the years before Rudy when Hakeem was a star and the Rockets flopped. Yes he wouldn't without Hakeem. But Phil wouldn't have won without MJ and Riley wouldn't have won without Magic.

This year the biggest differences are the play of Yao and Steve and most of the work which occurred last year. I know you will all disagree but no coach comes in and magically transforms a bad player into a good player overnight. Look how good the grizzlies are playing but they sucked when Hubie first took over. And now Hubie has managed to input his style and philosophy and it has changed the grizzlies.

If Jvg deserves the credit than he also deserves the faults and the game against the Grizzlies was pathetic. But in reality it's not his fault. Steve and Moochie and Cat still haven't changed completely. And they still under pressure play this one on one still regardless how much Rudy tried to change them. As for Boki there just wan't any room for him with Rice Morris and Posey. And he neede time to improve and that time needed to be in the preseason and not in the games that we need to win. But last year he was injured during preseason. So this year was his time to shine and I can assure you Rudy had every intention of giving him that opportunity. Why do you think he drafted him. As for Cato, he looked good last year and showed a lot of improvement and his improvement continued this year. So say what you will but as far as I can see this is still Rudy's team. As for Eddie he was the pick that everyone wanted and Perhaps if Rudy washere he would be playing as opposed to being a total waste.