well . .I'm in the crowd that thinks the problem with the NBA is OVER COACHING Coaches want to Call every play down . . . let the PG BE THE QUARTER BACK and call a few plays... Rocket River
How has he 'earned' anything? Last I checked he's never even been to the playoffs. Has Rudy earned the right to be listened to by his players yet?
This was only one play, but I wonder how often the guys on the court *wave off* Rudy's plays. How much of this one versus five, dribble for 20 seconds, is Rudy's doing?
Okay, I posted this in the other thread about this topic. 1st Quarter (5:44) [HOU] Team Timeout: Regular 2nd Quarter (5:24) [HOU] Team Timeout: Regular (0:05) [HOU] Team Timeout: Short 3rd Quarter (5:22) [HOU] Team Timeout: Regular 4th Quarter (7:24) [HOU] Team Timeout: Regular (3:01) [HOU] Team Timeout: Regular (0:34) [HOU] Team Timeout: Regular The official rules allow for 6 full timeouts per game and 1 20 second timeout per half. If the timeouts from the official play-by-play are correct, the Rockets did have a 20 second timeout left. If you were watching Bill and Calvin, I think Bill thought the Rockets were out of timeouts, but after the game when he interviewed Steve he (Bill) realized there was one left. B
Jeez, overreact much? Here's what happened: Francis took the ball up the court. Rudy T wanted a TO. Francis either didn't see it or ignored it. Francis hit the game winning shot. Rudy T and Francis made the appropriate comments to the media. Rudy T took Francis aside and probably explained why Francis' course of action, while successful, should be be the exception rather than the rule. Idiots on Clutchcity.net overreact. If you think Francis is the first or last player to ignore his coach in this, or any other situation, then you're mistaken. Everyone has done it, and 99.9% I guarantee have been just fine doing so. It's not going to become the norm. Some of you just can't get over the stuff Francis has done in the past to see that.
Rookie of the Year, All Star Starter, Team Leader in Points, Assists, Rebounds regularly, singlehandedly led the team to 45-37 record last year, has proven that he is the key to the Rockets on court success. The play could just as easily be seen as a sign of Rudy's success in teaching Steve to learn how to exploit situations on the court.
Exactly! a timeout request is different in my mind than a specific play call. If the coach calls a play and you completely ignore him, then shame on the player. But, a ignoring a timeout call in that situation when you are the captain running the floor, I would say it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission at that point in the game. If we were down and you ignored it, then a different matter!
Ignored it: "That was great. It felt good to knock a shot down like that, knowing the game was on the line," Francis said. "Once I saw the clock getting lower and lower, I wanted to get the last shot off. Coach was signaling for a timeout. I told Kenny (Thomas) to throw the ball in. I just wanted to get the ball up and get the last shot. I milked it just right."
2 championships, 2 championships, 2 championships. I would say that trumps anything Francis has done. Rudy deserves to be listened to by his players. I think Francis just wanted to hit a game-winner. He didn't think he had anything to lose since the game was tied. Had the Rockets been down, I bet he doesn't ignore the coach. Just a hunch.
The problem is that in almost every case, the coach is the one who is on the line. He is the one who will get fired if the decisions don't work out. In this case Francis ignoring the coach worked. The next time it may not. The key to the entire scenairo is did the situation get worked out behind closed doors? If so, great, it's over. If not, then it WILL happen again. Next time it may be Moochie or Mobley ignoring the coach. Francis would have made things much better on himself if he hadn't mentioned he saw Rudy signalling for the timeout.
You asked what Steve had done to deserve respect. I provided you with my opinion. I never said anything about Rudy T not deserving any. That's my point. He took advantage given the situation on the court. He knew there was nothing to lose (unless you count a desperation shot by Moochie following a timeout as something to lose) and that it would be unexpected. He knew we arent in the playoff race and the worst that could happen is he would get yelled at by his coach and possibly criticized by fans on the board. I think it was one of, if not the best, last second look we've seen all year. Wide-open, within rythm, taken by our star player (and not a bench one - regardless of how many Mooch may have made), with the defender playing on the heels of his feet...it was the decision nine times out of ten in my mind, make or miss, given or situation.
Steve hit the game winner. That's all that matters to me. From this picture below it even looked like he was fouled too.
I'm more pleased with the fact that he made the right basketball decision, as opposed to abiding to some unwritten hierarchy of command. It should be reiterated that, given the context of the situation, he made the right decision. People who feel this is an affront on Rudy's coaching are overreacting.
I didn't see the game, but I liken it to calling an audible...maybe he realized that the defense was setup in such a way as to allow him to go downcourt and get a shot, and he made a snap decision. Sometimes it's important to recognize that a play is there and available, and it's better to take advantage of it rather than call timeout and allow the defense to setup.
The picture is shown from a bad angle. Stockton was nowhere close to getting a hand on Francis or the ball.
