I always thought once we get a good center, then Rudy can coach like he did with Dream, Cassell, Maxwell/Drexler. But now we have Yao and I have no idea what the hell Rudy is doing. I'm a big Cutino fan, but if Cassell is out of the Bucks next year, we can get him and move Steve to the 2. Cutino can go somewhere, maybe we can trade him to Philly for Kenny Thomas!
The problem with the Rockets stems to back to the 3 seasons prior to this one, in which Mobley and Francis had the green light all the time. Now that we have other weapons, there selfishness has not changed, and no one else can establish an identity. Two both of them a pass is an after thought and by the time they get done molesting the ball, the defender has already figured out that they arent going to shoot because they havent, so they telegraph a pass that gets picked off. To be effective they need to attack the defender with the dribble while looking for the open passing lane. Please trade Steve's boyfriend already....we dont need two of them. I hate watching the Rockets right now & dont get me started on lethargic MoTaylor. When does he ever get himself involved in a game? never. If he doenst get the ball from the guards just watch his body language, its all quit. He never boggs down and grinds it out like real PF bringing his work boots every night. Where is Otis Thorpe with his one handed power dunk when you need it? Where are the outlet passes. Eddie Griffin needs to hit the weights even more...can this guy even dunk. There is nobody in the league as athletic as Griffin that is so soft and content hiding behind the 3pt line.........Who's next?
Seriously the game has passed Rudy by. When the entire ESPN announcing crew is calling you out for bad decision after bad decision it is time to move on. Rudy should be sent out in style at the end of the season the question is who could we get to coach here that will actually put controls on our guards so we don't wind up with another 0.31 assists/turnover ratio. If that doesn't beg for Rudy's dismissal I don't know what does.
topfive, While I do not agree that would be necessary, that is some damn good work and funny on top of that.
I heard that Rudy was a "players coach." Player coaches don't grow pairs. They are too nice. Discipline and nice don't mix.
Heh heh...great "rebut..." "I don't have to explain my theory. It's just fact because I will it so...." Sigh...
And what happens when the boss is too "buddy-buddy" with the employees? The boss get's taken advantage of, that's what. There has to be some distance. Some firmness. Else, the boss is a pushover. Thus, no respect. Being "too nice" is the issue here. I'm not talking about just "saying Hello" in the morning. And then working on some drills. That's simplified. It's like saying, "You can be nice in a war." Yes, you can. But, it will haunt you in the end. The players wont respect you if you allow them to walk-over you. Managing the egos is the hard part. There's lots of kids these coaches get fired for. Therefore, Dicipline and nice can't mix! Man, you'd get eaten alive in military training! "Come on guys, please! Attack the hill? Purdy please? With surgar on top?"
Fire him now! Just kidding... I thought he did all right today. Nothing stupid...But we will lose against the Mavericks and this message board will be ROARING again with HATE.
Nice does not imply pushover, either. You have an antiquated view of management. 'Yell! whip! intimidate! Manager's can be quite successful w/o being jackasses. I always got along with my employees, but that didn't keep me from setting expectations and demanding results. I never have had to treat them like children. And 'respect' does not come from being as ass.
"Nice does not imply pushover, either." Rudy is. And being an "ass" wasn't what I had in mind. Being "too soft" is what I was talking about. I can't believe you actually think that the Rockets show discipline.
First off, I am Rudy fan and will continue to be one. The issue I have with Rudy is of the lack of consistent discipline and structure on this team. I truely belive that Rudy is a great player's coach but I think this strength has with recent times become a weakness that needs improvement. Entering NBA players are getting younger every year, and with their lack of maturity, player's coaches like Rudy need to shy aware some from being their friend to being a disciplinarian who demands focus and respect (much like a college coach). What makes Rudy special is that he can relate very well to mature, veteran NBA players; he needs to enhance his skillset to relate to younger, less mature players that are flooding the NBA scene.
Originally posted by DavidS "Nice does not imply pushover, either." Rudy is. How do you know? Have you been in the L/R? Who's had a rep for complaining in the L/R? OT? Rhodes? Horry? All got the boot. He has a rep for treating his players as adults...but how do you know he's a pushover? And being an "ass" wasn't what I had in mind. Being "too soft" is what I was talking about. The corollary to your argument that a nice boss cannot effectuate discipline is that it takes a not-nice boss, i.e, ass. Either that, or you think no one can effectuate discipline. I can't believe you actually think that the Rockets show discipline. There's a little leap. I say: 'A nice guy can create discipline' Therefore, you reason that I also argue 'A nice guy will always create discipline'? I don't think so. Give it up already.
There's a leap? Huh? Uh, yeah. Ok....whatever...what team are you watching? Not "always." Most of the time, they wont. See Lenny Wilkins. Good teacher, but bad disciplinarian. Same with John Lucas. Great mentor. Too nice. With all the flack that Rudy is starting to get now in the press/media, maybe he'll wake-up. Anyways... We'll have to wait and see.
