And that is supposed to be good somehow? Why play your starters with a 20pt lead. That's idiotic. Notice Popovich got fined by Stern for NOT playing his starters. Plus, did Sampson do that every time on back-to-back away games? The Dallas game was a back-to-back away game, and McHale also decided to send Lin a message by benching him, apparently.
Excellent post. Greg Smith, Terrence Jones, Donatas Motiejunas should be getting more chance If Patterson and Asik can't hang. Play BIG...
Though that's the case where Houston went small and failed miserably, there are other factors that affects this team's success. The Rockets offense was just stagnant in the 4th and the coaches didn't adjust it at all. It was constant Harden bringing the ball up and everyone just stands around watching him go one on five. The Rockets definitely needed Asik's size in the 4th. What baffles me is that Patterson is struggling so much, not being aggressive at all and yet he played mostly the entire 4th. While the Mavs double team Harden and left Patrick Patterson open, he still didn't take advantage of the Mavs defense on Harden and continues to take open mid range jump shots instead of taking it strong to the hole. McHale needs to understand that the Rockets cannot keep overusing James Harden and expects him to do almost everything. James Harden has to score a lot of points to keep the Rockets in the game, also be a play maker for everyone else. Asik would have been a big help over Patterson in the 4th. I believe that Omer Asik would take the ball to the basket instead of taking and bricking wide open mid range jumpers like Patrick. While the Mavericks adjusted their game in the 4th quarter to counter James Harden and the Rockets, Houston did not adjust their game and continues with the same game plan. There was no adjustment in substitutions or any plays on the offensive end. It was either have Harden handle the ball at the very top of the key or get the ball to Harden on the block and everyone just spreads out and watch. The offense is just horrendous because of how stagnant it is. Even worst than Lebron's Cleveland's stagnant offense. There has to be a change. The Rockets cannot keep this up. They are continuing to wear Harden down because of how talented he is, they are expecting him to do everything. The Rockets have to take advantage when teams double Harden, especially Patterson, who has been just as frustrating to watch as McHale's coaching. Patterson needs to take the ball to the rim instead of continuing taking wide open jump shots..
There are good reasons why going with four guards isn't the norm in the NBA: It's a lot easier to guard 4 guards with 3 guards and 2 bigs than it is to guard 2 bigs with 4 guards and 1 big because the paint has two post sides. This is why smallball has always failed in the NBA and why when the opposing coaches go 4-deep small you pound him into the ground and remind him why smallball doesn't work. The sad thing is, last season the TOR fans made the same apology for Casey when he jumped off the cliff with smallball when the opposing coaches feigned jumps and this season they have a sig with the pic of 5'5" Earl Boykins and Dwayne Casey on the side facepalming "****! They just played the trump card. We have no fair matchup." The big deal is that McHale is starting to make Casey's rotation look good in comparison. It's like, "Oh, I'm sorry. It has to be Harden-centric! We can't have our bigs take easy shots and touches away from Harden!" In case they haven't noticed, the team is better when they play teamball, not defer ball. This is not even defer ball you can blame on the players anymore; this is systematic coaching-enforced defer ball. And it sucks ass.
Really? You're asking why we're using the dictionary in regards to the validity of a word? I'm really hoping that's sarcasm.
Agreed. McFail is beyond pathetic with his idea of game strategy, which is to have none and just improvise from game to game.
gotta be kidding During that 7 game losing streak we had to end the season, we had a game where Camby had 18 rebs and I want to say 7 blocks in the 1st half and doesn't play in the 4th Quarter. When McHale took over his 1st complaint was that he was the tallest member of the team and we needed some bigs. Morey got Dalembert & Camby, 2 veteran 7 Footers that can play defense. We lost to Memphis last year with Patterson and Parsons at the 4 & 5 while Memphis was rolling with Gasol & Randolph. If you go small your small lineup has to be exceptional on offense since high percentage shots aren't available. Does anyone think Patterson or Parsons are exceptional??? It's weird that McHale is all about small ball as he stands 6'11. We're going to lose a lot of games if this continues and Les doesn't fire coaches at the drop of a hat. Morey brings in Talent and our Coaches bench them.
Is it February 2013 already? In February 2013, I expect the Rockets will have Jones or D-Mo playing solid minutes at the 4 and closing games...unless they trade for a PF.
It's ok talking theory like this. But I'm not talking theory, I'm talking reality. I see you have no interest in discussing the matchup that you blasted so profusely. Once I remind you who Carlisle had on the floor, you no longer want to talk about that specific matchup, you backpedal to talking about theory. Here is reality of the McHale lineup you blasted: First, McHale only did the Lin, Douglass, Harden, Delfino lineup for 3 minutes in the game (to end the 3rd period), and you are yelling about it without describing Carlisle's lineup. B) Carlisle substituted Elton Brand for a 6'7, 2nd round pick, rookie SF who shoots threes. So they had no PF on the court, either iii) Delfino is actually listed as a SG/SF for a reason. He is fully capable of covering and exploiting a match-up with Jae Crowder. That is the matchup you are screaming about. Dude, relax. Dallas had Bernard Jones at C. So what. Patterson can matchup with him Delfino vs Jae Crowder (6'7 2nd round pick rookie who shoots 3s) Harden vs Vince Carter (it's Vince Carter for christsakes) Lin vs Dominique Jones 6'4 Douglass vs Darren Collinson 6'0 bottomline: Those matchups for 3 minutes is not worth yelling at the TV over....lol. Relax, dude. But, I know you won't say, "Oh, you're right, nothing to see here." You will forever bring up this lineup as a way to blast McHale. But I will forever know you are exaggerating every time you do so.
No you are! Nice debate tactics. Where did I exaggerate in that post? No need to answer...that's actually a rhetorical question, because I know I didn't exaggerate at all in that post. move along
Here we go yet again. People riding their emotions into town and just nuking (ineffectually, verbally) McHale and his coaching staff. Pulling out specific circumstances in specific games to "prove their point". It is so wrong. You don't know what was happening, who was gassed, who was sick, the players the other team had on the floor, who was running cold at that moment. And about a dozen other factors. For instance: Did it even occur to you to check Asik's minutes? Could the big guy even get up and down the floor? That if Mchale had a choice, he would play Asik 48 minutes? Coaching in the NBA is a deep and complicated game and probably everyone on this bbs should take a look at their own qualifications and experience level, and ask a simple question. "If I applied for an NBA coaching job would tears run down Morey's face from laughing at my resume?" McHale had about the same record last year as Adelman had in the previous one. About the same talent level too. So can I assume that McHale is as good as a coach as Adelman? I would not even go there. Not enough information.
Size does matter in the NBA. I wish we had one of the most legendary big men to ever play the game as our coach to truly be able to grasp that concept. No idea what McHale is doing.
You contradict yourself, but I agree with you that McFail is an utter joke and should have stayed in broadcasting.
