Obviously, there are differing opinions on the abilities of the Rockets' coach. So... Who exactly would you put in his place? You can't pick coaches currently under contract like Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, etc. It has to be someone the Rockets would have a realistic shot at getting. Good luck.
Jeff!!! Where have you been????? Where's the inside info you use to post like Popeye? To answer your question, I don't know anyone better at rebuilding then Rudy becuase he's a true scout coach. Maybe a few years down the line we could have Dell Harris? He was a well-liked coach on the Lakers. Didn't he work with the Rockets before?
If there was a vacancy to fill......... Mike Newlin Del used to be the Rockets coach back in the early 80's. Mango
Or, we can wait a year and pry John Stockton away from Utah after his retirement and put him at the helm. As much as we hate him, you have to admitt the guy's got brains and I can't help but see him as a coach in the near future. In all seriousness, I honestly think Rudy T will resign long before management even considers firing him. You can tell coaching and its stresses has begun to take a toll on him the past couple of seasons and he might just go back to a front-office job, probably as a full-time GM, IMHO. Azim da Dream ------------------ No guts, no glory, no brain, same story.
Based on the venom with which Rudy's been attacked on this BBS, I'd say the next steps after firing him-- if those who want him fired get their way-- would be to string him up and then hang him.
I think either Bill or Calvin said this the other night. This season has been Rudy T's most fulfilling to date, after the two championships. He is coaching almost a whole new (new being the operative word here) group of guys, most of which have never played significant minutes in the NBA, and he has been relatively successful. If you can't see improvement in this team, and the impact the coaching staff has had on it, then you are watching a different Rocket team than I am. I have never seen this much motion in a Rockets offense ever. Remember that my first memory is the coin flip, so don't rail me. This shows that Rudy is conforming this team into a running, moving team. They run the fast break with almost deadly precision now. But I guess the coach never has anything to do with that. I guess Lenny Wilkens is a bad coach too? He took team turnover, and look what he has done. And he's the winningest coach in NBA history. I say Atlanta should fire him. [This message has been edited by Rocketman95 (edited January 27, 2000).]
I think Rudy T is starting to get his vindication. But I agree with Azim. I think the man looks like he aged 10 years in the last 3. And Brian Kagy made a good point also. Many people wanted to hang the man without giving him a chance. I think that hes a hell of a coach. He will be better as a scout or GM, though. He just has an eye for talent. ------------------ Live Rocketball. Breathe Rocketball. Die with Rocketball.
jeff... thanks, that's one of my "support rudy" arguments. there isn't anyone available that's anywhere as good as rudy. del harris? the guy had the most talented team (the Lakers) in the league and couldn't take them anywhere. and now that a real coach replaced del, they're the best team in the league. john stockton? so he can teach the guys the proper way to flop and play dirty? Rudy's the man for our team!
Every Rocket Coach in the history of the franchise has had to deal with the same criticism that Rudy has only not as bad because after two championships we've come to expect a little more from Rudy T and the Rox. Don Chaney was brutally criticized during his tenure with Houston and he was fired just one season after winning coach of the year honors. Bill Fitch took us to a championship as did Dell Harris. They didn't stick around for long. I admire Les for sticking to his guns and giving Rudy a chance rebuild this team. I love Rudy T for what he's done for the Rockets organization and for the city of Houston and I firmly believe that we can once again rule the NBA. To answer your question, you can't fire Rudy. For one it would be a public relations nightmare and two there isn't anyone out there to replace him.
Rocketsfan34: thanks for noticing I was gone. Unfortunately, my "inside info" has all but disappeared. I have been so busy running my own business that I haven't had any time to do anything but that. As for Rudy being burned out, he has said repeatedly in the papers and in tv interviews that this has been one of his favorite seasons as a coach. Think about it this way. Rudy took over the Rockets like an artist taking over a half-finsished painting. The basic player structure was in place and he just found the right mix of role players and system to make the whole thing work and win a couple of championships. Over the summer, to continue the artist metaphor, he was staring at a blank canvas. He had Hakeem for a couple more seasons and Barkley for one more, but everything else was different. That has got to be exciting. As a coach, your primary job is teaching: putting your players in the right situations in practice so that it becomes instinct when they are on the floor. The difference between previous teams and this one for Rudy is like the difference between teaching graduate school and elementary school. He has the ability to mold players and to develop his own style around theirs. For him, it must be exciting and he has indicated as much in interviews.
Jeff, I do not have any desire to see Rudy T. vacate his coaching position. However, since you've asked, I'd like to throw out a couple of names. I don't think they are currently employed, but they may be. In any case, I think they have talent as coaches. Here they are: Mike Fratello, Dave Cowens.
I have to take back my comments about Rudy. The way his coaching this young guys now in a lot different than the inside-outside offense. I thought Rudy is inflexible in his game plans. I was wrong and I think now that he is doing a great job.
No, DCab, I think you were right the first time: Rudy T is inflexible in his game-plan. Now I have always been a Rudy T supporter; I have never wavered in his defense. And this here is not an attack on Rudy's coaching. Quite the opposite, I want to praise him for sticking to the basketball philosophy he's always had. That philosophy is to exploit double-teams by getting the ball to the open man. He used to create double-teams on Olajuwon in the low post who would kick the ball out to be swung around the perimeter until someone has an open shot. Now he runs isos on the perimeter to draw double-teams. The strategy has become inverted but the philosophy has remained the same. So I'm extending my praise to Rudy for sticking with this philosophy even though it hadn't been working too well in more recent memory.
I cant think of another coach in the NBA that has the job security that our very own Rudy T has.he has done a good job this season with a team that could have completly fallen apart.Look at what he has had to deal with: Change to offence that won 2 NBA Titles Biggest trade in NBA history to get our star Rookie. Huge infighting between players that ended up in another huge trade. One star player has career ending injury. One star player lost for nearly half of season. Team is now lead by a a rookie and multiple new,young players. Ref's still screwing us. Man he has had to deal with alot!!! Now you tell me is there any other coach in the NBA that could run this team and Still have a Glimmer (as VERY small as it is) of making the playoffs? most teams who had gone through this would be on course for a record low win total in nba history. ------------------ Your Starting Power Forward for the Clutch City Allstars My Expert Opinion Of Steve Francis:Mate he is a special player!
I have been a critic of Rudy in the past and thought our team the last few years have been stagnant and lackadaisical (perhaps a change would have helped). Just like when it is time to have a new mentor or boss, some times new blood and insight is helpful in the growth process. However, since our team is full of new blood and we have a need for adding more pieces to the puzzle, I can't think of many guys I would rather have then Rudy in this situation. And none, off the top of my head, are available.
