Please notice the IF in the thread title. I just want to get feelers on who would be the best coach for the team IF Rudy does leave or barring a disaster, gets canned. Van Gumby? Mike Fratello? Calvin "pimp" Murphy? (You can tell the dude wants to coach bad) Doug Moe? Post your nominations and more importantly WHY they would be a good fit for the Rockets.
Larry Smith, no doubt in my mind. Reason: he is a solid coach that has been there during Rocket success, it's not a huge blow to the team and he was a mad rebounder.
Calvin gots my vote few people know this team better than him. Best short guy ever to play? he has to know basketball he deserves a shot some where if he wants it
Calvin Murphy by far. Did you see beat the robotic arm made by NASA. He hit more free throws. Seriously, he would make a good coach. I believe the Rockets will let Rudy go through one more year though.
I believe someone from the NCAA who knows how to handle a skilled big man while running a motion-oriented offense will be the best. THe other fired NBA coaches never had a skilled big man except for Rudy T, (but you see how that worked out)
Bobby Knight so he can choke Steve and Cat when they play like dumbasses...ok, so choking them wouldnt happen, but at least he'd bench them.
I go with chingchingyao all these NBA Coaches previously mentioned are not geared to the Big Mans Game. A fresh face,with diciplin and an open mind from the NCAA might be the answer. If Rudy shows signs of a major overhaul of the Roster, then he still might be the one!
oOOoOOooOo... Donnie Nelson would actually be kind of a cool hire. No idea what he's picked up over in Dallas, but he definitely seems to be a more respectable type than Don Nelson, and he has experience in the front office as well... I can't really imagine the Rockets going this far out on a limb, but if they did, it'd be interesting. Run-n-gun with a guy that hopefully has a bit of hard-assness thanks to his dad.... not to mention a coach that's already wildly popular in China.
I still want RT but "if" he had to go than I like Lucas - He seems to get Francis attention and respect, has coached or worked with Francis, Mobley and Posey in Houston during the summer, made a great point guard out of A. Johnson after rockets let him go, he has coached David Robinson during his prime(could help Yao), seems to get the best out of players that are mentally out of it or underachieving(Griffin), knows how to get players that used drugs(loyd) before to stay away from it(Taylor) and he likes to work on developing young talent. How bout K. Smith - He likes Yao and understands that the offense must run through Yao, he also was our PG during the championships and he can have an influence on Francis and Mobley; they could be our next versions of Smith and Maxwell with Yao being Hakeem. Come to think of it SF and CM are kinda like them besides being both 6-3 PGs and 6-4 SGs, Both Smith and Maxwell didn't know how to play with Hakeem when they came, Smith was a PG that was quick, a shooter, and a dunker and was in the all star dunk competition, and Maxwell was SG that was very streaky and talked alot of smack. Both thought they were the team and both were scorers and not until a couple of seasons later did they calm down and began to pass to Hakeem.
Larry Brown. Perect teacher for team. Contract would be just right. Could even work with Rudy, if he'd move upstairs. off topic. - Did hear Calvin on Espn radio today. Did a good job. Don't remember why they had him in studio? Nat pub is usually tied to an agent or event?
I wouldn't mind Van Gundy... I never thought about Calvin Murphy, but who knows? Rudy has consistently failed to implement a fluid offensive scheme for the last who knows how many years. It just might be time for someone new.
Calvin Murphy might be a good man for the job. Seems to know alot about the thing and more importantly thinks the way we do on this board: "Get Yao the ball" "The Rockets need to tighten there defensive effort" "Pass the ball" and "The Rockets really need to work on their free throws" Dude is a good motivator, and who could deny those pimpin' suits he wears. Ugly as sin, but a statement nonetheless.
