Rockets name Kelvin Sampson as lead assistant, hire J.B. Bickerstaff as assistant.

Morey hired him

 

<!-- http://twitter.com/#!/clutchfans/status/90840018716852224 --> <style type='text/css'>.bbpBox90840018716852224 {background:url(http://a0.twimg.com/profile_background_images/7924268/cfans_twitter_back3.gif) #A60522;padding:20px;} p.bbpTweet{background:#fff;padding:10px 12px 10px 12px;margin:0;min-height:48px;color:#000;font-size:18px !important;line-height:22px;-moz-border-radius:5px;-webkit-border-radius:5px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata{display:block;width:100%;clear:both;margin-top:8px;padding-top:12px;height:40px;border-top:1px solid #fff;border-top:1px solid #e6e6e6} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author{line-height:19px} p.bbpTweet span.metadata span.author img{float:left;margin:0 7px 0 0px;width:38px;height:38px} p.bbpTweet a:hover{text-decoration:underline}p.bbpTweet span.timestamp{font-size:12px;display:block}</style> <div class='bbpBox90840018716852224'><p class='bbpTweet'>That's a potent 1-2 punch for the <a href="http://twitter.com/search?q=%23Rockets" title="#Rockets" class="tweet-url hashtag" rel="nofollow">#Rockets</a> star search: Sampson recruits 'em illegally and McHale signs 'em illegally.<span class='timestamp'><a title='Tue Jul 12 17:48:42 +0000 2011' href='http://twitter.com/#!/clutchfans/status/90840018716852224'>less than a minute ago</a> via web <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=90840018716852224'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/favorite.png' /> Favorite</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=90840018716852224'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/retweet.png' /> Retweet</a> <a href='http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=90840018716852224'><img src='http://si0.twimg.com/images/dev/cms/intents/icons/reply.png' /> Reply</a></span><span class='metadata'><span class='author'><a href='http://twitter.com/clutchfans'><img src='http://a2.twimg.com/profile_images/127917670/cfans_twitter2_normal.jpg' /></a><strong><a href='http://twitter.com/clutchfans'>ClutchFans.net</a></strong><br/>clutchfans</span></span></p></div> <!-- end of tweet -->


Haha

 

This offensive/defensive coordinator was fun to bs about when Van Gundy was coaching, but this really sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen if coordination and communication aren't perfect.

 

We are building a powerhouse with coaches from TWolves, Bucks, D league and players from Nets, Kings and Grizzlies.

 

This is the trend in which many NBA teams are heading.

If anything, I think communication will be one of McHale's strongsuits.

If McHale listens to Sampson and Finch about their defensive and offensive ideas, respectively, I think good things will happen for this team.

On Sampson: Take a look at how the Milwaukee Bucks have done defensively the last couple of seasons. Now, I realize some of that is attributable to Andrew Bogut and Scott Skiles, but Sampson certainly deserves his share of the credit for coaching up a very mediocre team to being one of the top defensive teams in the league.

 

What other teams are doing it? I was under the impression that we were one of the few teams trying it.

 

i lol'd


then i

 

Ok...so you seem to be credible with your previous posts. I asked earlier about why/how Kelvin Sampson is considered a good strong hire?

Would you be able to educate a person not so keen on the matter like myself?

 

Train wreck like when Tom Thibodeau was the D-Coordinator in Boston, or when Dick Harter and Rick Carlisle were the D-Coordinator and O-Coordinator in Indiana?

 

http://twitter.com/vgoodwill/statuses/90841618839646208

 

http://twitter.com/vgoodwill

 

will Sikma be retained? or KMac will just be the big man coach?

 

I'm with you. He's getting some love with regards to head coaching opportunities... AND from a coaching perspective, he was definitely successful at the collegiate level... BUT, I don't see how hiring Kelvin Sampson and Bernie Bickerstaff's son all of a sudden makes it a great coaching staff?? It's certainly not because Morey hired him... that's r****ded reasoning.

Add in the unlimited out clause, and it doesn't make a ton of sense, outside Sampson being head and shoulders above everyone else.

 

Without going into too much detail (sorry), Sampson has been largely responsible for turning the Milwaukee Bucks into one of the league's best defensive teams. Also, based on anecdotal evidence (many, many reporters, players and coaches saying so), Sampson has become very well-respected around the league. I do not have articles to which to cite for this. It also appears that, at least within NBA circles, he has been forgiven for the "improper texting" NCAA violations.

Based purely on coaching ability, Sampson is viewed by many as excellent. I'm actually sorry to see that he has an out in his contract to get a head coaching gig (although I fully understand why). I could see Sampson being an NBA head coach in the next few years.


robbie, the most notable team to use the coordinator approach is Boston. Tom Thibodeau was the defensive coordinator and was largely responsible for the smothering Celtic defensive schemes. Doc Rivers let Tom run his defense. I also think the Grizzlies did this (to some extent) with Johnny Davis running the offense and Dave Joerger running the defense in practices for Lionel Hollins.

 

Jim Boylan has been the Bucks lead assistant the past 3 years and in charge of defense. He just turned down the Suns "defensive coordinator" position. But I agree I think Sampson will be a good defensive coach for the Rockets based on reports.

 

Thanks for the explanation. I was reading on here that many wanted Dave Joerger as the defensive coordinator. Does Kelvin trump or equate Joerger?

 

Not to speak for Bima, but Sampson is apparently very well respected around the league and has been assistant on a Bucks team that went from ranking 15th in defensive efficiency in 08-09 to 2nd in 09-10 and 4th in 10-11.

Personally, I think from an outsiders perspective both Bickerstaff and Sampson are good hires, but, really we won't be able to judge those hires until we see results, similar to players that just got drafted.

I worry a bit about the 'out-clause' Sampson has and maybe would have preferred Joerger, but again, it's hard to judge from the outside and I'm more than willing to give Morey the benefit of the doubt.

Preview EDIT: I see Bima beat me already to the punch.

 

Any time a team hires both (a) one of the league's most well-respected and highly-regarded assistant coaches AND (b) one of the most highly-regarded up-and-coming young assistant coaches, most critics will generally categorize that as a "win" for the franchise.

Now, don't get me wrong. Hiring a couple of assistant coaches doesn't mean that the Rockets all of a sudden have a better coaching staff than they had last season. But to expect that to happen is pure fallacy.

The Rockets were never going to get a better coach than Rick Adelman; and having Rick Adelman (IMHO), in a vacuum, is better than having McHale and "better" assistant coaches. (And CH, save the inevitable "Adelman in a vacuum" jokes!)

But, unfortunately, the circumstances seemed to dictate the Rockets moving on from Adelman. We, as fans, just need to get over it. Given that it's already happened, these hires at least soften the blow somewhat.

 

That's why you need Morey the wall street guy who can hide the turd.

McHale and Sampson both succeeded in getting their guys. The failed the cover up.

 

This seems like quite a stretch. Yes, all of their defensive stats have gotten much better.

BUT, they also scored the fewest points in the league and were near the bottom with regards to FGA per game... which indicates to me pace is probably a big factor as well...

not the only factor, and I'm not a stat whiz like some here, but one of the best defensive teams seems like a stretch.

again, I'm not a stat whiz... where are those numbers from? do they take into account pace, changes in team pace, etc.?

Also, Bogut only played 36 games in 08-09