We have watched the Rockets lose without their star player for a little less than 25% of the season. Not Rudy's fault. We have watched management overpay several players who will never contribute to the level based on their salaries. Cato, Moochie, Glen, and Walt. We watched the $48 mil man, Get High Taylor, will he ever become an 18 point 8 rebound a game power forward. Where does Eddie play if he's a four. We have two players with good skills and several years of NBA experience, but run hot and cold on any given night. Cuttino and Kenny Thomas. Bottom line, Rudy is a players coach, however, so was Dell Harris and he couldn't lead Shaq and Kobe to a title. As a result, do we need a coaching change?
a) Who do you propose he play? b) Who do you propose coaches? c) Trying to slant the poll results, are we? Sheesh.
Yeah, nice wording on your dumbass poll. Rudy will win a championship. Rudy can't win a championship. You are familiar with the difference between can and will, right?
He's done it twice already, so this is a stupid question. What's with all you people that want Rudy to be fired? He's made the best out of a terrible, injury riddled season & has constantly been a class act. The vast majority of coaches would've been so worried about keeping their jobs, that they would've blamed & ridiculed just about every player on their team by now. But, you'll never see Rudy do that EVER!!! Even when the press tried to pin him down about Cato, he showed class by finding something positive to say. So, get off of Rudy's jock. He will lead us back to the promised land!
hmmm a few years ago Rudy was a genius that took us to two straight championships. Now Rudy is a bufoon who is reponsible for our dismal record. The truth is somewhere in between. Players don't balk at coming to Houson to play for him and that is a good thing. Is he too loyal to veteran players? Hell yes but that comes with him being a players coach. I do not have proablems with the man and even if I did who would be better than him? The grass is not always greener on the other side and if it is there just might be a septic tank underneath the ground. The Rockets can win again with Rudy T at the helm, it will just take time for the team to reload and find its new identity.
Rudy is a no win situation. Last year's team won more games than they should have given their talent level and bench depth. Rudy bashers would have you believe that the players despite the coach prevailed. This year, the team will be exceptionally lucky to win 50% of their games. I no idea what the Rudy bashers think about this. I suspect that they deep down believe that alll the players are faking their injuries to get rid of Rudy. Am I the only one that believes that this team over achieves? During their extended losing streak, how many of the games against superior opponents were close in the fourth quarter? Now think of the year in year out crappy NBA teams. How would they have fared if they lost their two or three top scorers? Now think about the middle tier NBA teams. Could Seattle win at all without Payton? I have to give credit where it is due. Rudy gets the most out of his players. Given time and some healed injuries, this team will start to play better and win the game we all think they should.
It's so good to finally read a bunch of positive Rudy comments. Rudy took a bunch of rookies and after a few weeks, they started being competitive with veteran teams that had played together for years. Rudy and his coaches are awesome and their track record is proven. To blame Rudy shows a myopic and simplistic view of the world, and a resulting desire to finger-point.
This is a messed up question to begin with, but I vote no...because I dont think Rudy can lead THIS TEAM to a title. For that matter, Im not sure any coach could...considering our talent level and injuries. I do think we may need some coaching changes though...dont ask me who a suitable replacement or addtion would be though...Ive got no answers.
no one could lead THIS TEAM to a title...this poll is flawed that way. but certainly rudy could lead the lakers to a title...he could lead a lot of teams to a title...but he's not working with title material right now.
Band Geek Monster "Yeah, nice wording on your dumbass poll. " I don't know you and don't want to know you. I was posing a question and trying to obtain intelligent responses to the question. I have a suggestion for you, since you sound like a english teacher, post something worth reading. There is always one village idiot with an ignorant remark!
I'd like to thank Rudy for going with his 3 guard lineup last game. You know I really enjoyed watching Moochie Norris at the helm during that 15 game losing streak, so to see Rudy have Mooch running the offense most of the fourth quarter while Francis sat on the wing with his hands on his knees reminded me of just how brilliant Rudy really is. If Rudy can keep utilizing Francis without the ball on the wing like so, and run the offense through Moochie late in games, then NBA finals here we come!
Granted, I don't see that many games, but the games that I do see Rudy looks like a deer caught in the headlilghts. Little or no innovation. Ineffective adjustments. Lots of losing. Goofy substitution patterns. Inexplicable benchings. Unbelievable starting lineups. He did squirrel out two titles (and I love him for it), but with the most dominant big man in the game at the time he came into the playoffs as, what, a middling seed? The Rockets had two good, no great, years and otherwise a bunch of underachieving years. If Rudy wasn't a lifelong Rocket he never would have lasted this long.
Rich -- two great but a bunch of underachieving years???? HUH??? 1993 -- Rudy had this team firing on all cylinders when most weren't predicting them to finish above the 8th seed in the West. 94-95 -- championship seasons...he got more out of less talent than I've ever seen from a championship team 96 -- team was finally run over by the team that was built to beat them, the SuperSonics 97 -- has a rookie PG in Maloney but gets to the WCF... last year he had a team playing way above its own capacity!!! the Rockets had no business winning as many games as they did last year. you dramactically underestimate Rudy's impact on this franchise.
Yes, I remember the good times and the competitive team put on the floor. However, we must remember that Dream was carrying the entire team on his back during those times. Rudy had absolutely zero to do with Dreams points, spin moves, rebounds, and block shots. I watched in horror as the Rocks ran a pick and roll with Eddie and Steve/Cat 6 straight times down the court. I think the Pacers caught on by the 3rd time and shut it down and we ended up with an L. I like Rudy as a person, however his game and matchup strategy is looking very weak. Most of the shots in the offense come from one-on-one, which worked BEFORE the NBA allowed zones. Wake up.
<b>MadMax</b>: Don't forget the dreaded word.... "asterisk." Look at the history of our finishes. Mediocre at best-- even in the years that we won the championships. Did the Pistons, who also won two championships, finish in the middle of the pack? Did the Celtics of years past? Do the Lakers? Spurs. I think great coaches always keep their teams competitive-- especially in this era when you can buy talent. Most of the above mentioned teams (except the Spurs) didn't have that luxury. I'm not saying that he is a horrible coach, but I do think he would have benefitted from a wizened head along side him on the bench a la Tex Winters, John Bach, or Dick Harter. All in all with a dominant big man Rudy's record is disappointing in my opinion.
We'll see what the Rudy haters are doing when Rudy T gets inducted into the basketball hall of fame...The guy has bled Rockets Red for over 30 years, and is not going anywhere anytime soon... Get used to him...
I'm used to him; I'm not a Rudy-hater nor is anyone else on this thread.... that I can tell from their input.
I think the most important question is, "Can <b><i>I</i></b> lead this team to a championship?" And I think the answer is an unequivocal, "<b><i>MAYBE</i></b>"
Didn't you post almost these exact same words about a month or so ago? All in all with a dominant big man Rudy's record is disappointing in my opinion What do you mean? He had a dominant big man, and he did the best you can possibly do, won the championship. Twice. Should he have won more or something.
