Can anyone tell me what exactly Rudy did wrong in the last 4 years to merit sacking? I mean Rudy's not prefect but nobody is. I don't feel that he did something major wrong.
carayip - I think you already know the answer but are creating a rhetorical question. Here is my opinion. The foundation for dissatisfaction with Rudy has it's roots in individual expectations for the team. Some (but by no means all) of the factors include: 1) 45 wins without injuries or Yao 2 seasons ago. 2) The inability of the Rockets to run some basic plays such as a PnR or a post entry pass. Imbedded in this is an offense which appears to have only about 3 plays. 3) Player and ball movement...which most of us will admit has improved markedly since Yao's 1st game. 4) Losses to sub .500 teams where the Rockets were favored and just did not put forth much effort. 5) Substitution patterns such as Glen Rice on the court in an obvious defensive situation. 6) Team meltdowns, mental breakdowns (Harprings 3 for example) and games where they put forth little effort. 7) Fan perception of whether Francis and Mobley are running the team or Rudy is (ie "Why don't the pass to Yao", "They are selfish", "Rudy needs to bench them until they learn to pass", etc.). 8) Rudy is great with vets but this team is young and not responding to him. Again, I honestly feel that we as fans are reflecting our expectations of the number of wins and whether or not the Rox make the playoffs and equating that with god or bad coaching. I'm not saying it's right or wrong...just that it is what is occuring.
As Gater pointed out, the anti-Rudy faction has some legitimate reasons to be disappointed. I personally dont care whether Rudy is retained or let go. The bigger problem imo is the mix of talent on this team. If this team stays intact, I just dont see any coach being able to make a significant push with Francis, Mobley and Moochie being together in the backcourt. The bigger issue imo is addressing this point in the offseason. Luckily, from what has been stated on this board, the Rockets were interested in making a move at the deadline but simply could get the financial part together. Hopefully, this offseason, with tons of FA options and a bargaining chip in Rice (only 1 yr left) along with players like Mobley and Eddie who have cap friendly contracts, the Rockets will be able to complement Francis and Yao with the appropriate talent. I honstly feel that if you can plug in an Andre Miller or Tony Parker next to Steve Francis, this team is capable of a 50 win season next yr. This team as is will be mired in the low 40s at best imo.
I'm completely shocked that so many people would support the complete moron known as Rockets-R-Us on this. He is one of the stupidest most freakishly annoying posters I've ever seen on this board, and you're encouraging him. Rockets-R-Us, please go straight to an unholy place.
Both 'Rockets-R-Us' and 'Heypartner' are a valid part of the 'clutch bbs'. I respect both of them. I like to hear what they have to say. It is fun, and both of them are right! It's alot of fun. 'Go Rudy' and 'Rudy you suck'. I feel it!
CriscoKidd - heyp uses the term "stupid-ass" and in defense I ask him not to be so malicious and I'm the one being pissy? Please. heyp, CK, et al - In hindsight I guess I could've mentioned the petition, but to be honest, it just did not cross my mind. There were so many questions I wanted to ask and ultimately I felt that given my position on this, that I should ask the question most pertinent to the discussion we're having. Incidentally, I asked the question and then said I would hang up and listen. I can understand why it might appear to some that I might have avoided bringing up the petition, and if I thought I had more time, I might have done so, but when you call in, you never know how much time you're going to get. Also, had I done so, I think that I would have been more or less shut off/out by the hosts as they probably would have thought bringing up the petition on Rudy's own show would have been classless (as do I). And to answer a different question about this issue, I did send the petition to Sports 610 and followed with a call-in to Charlie Pallilo. And no, it did not garner a "laugh" but rather a decent discussion regarding the merits of a potential change of coaches, which my most recent call did as well - in fact my question prompted the hosts to essentially ask the same question using different language. Yes, I have stated that Rudy is an "idiot" (but only in relation to his coaching) and I have may have used some other euphemisms, but my position on his coaching does not relate directly to what I think of Rudy as a person. However, regarding you're response: Far from being sardonic and witty, you are at best a hypocrite. BTW: I have some history with Rudy that far outdates his ascension to the coaching ranks. And, while I can say that he did not always merit such, I do now respect him as a person. I just don't think he's a very good coach FOR THIS TEAM at THIS TIME. This has been the basis of my posts and petition. And to repeat the final qualifier which seems to have eluded you: I recognize that I may be wrong about my opinion and would ultimately be willing to admit same if I am proven so. If I do, there's no doubt that you will be there waiting for me. Take care, RRU
first...notice I respond to you instantly, and here again (which places me in the context of chat-mode, and you seemed to be playful at first), then you take multiple hours after my second post (and, in this case 36 hours) to remove the back-n-forth from a chat context, and then it is all about...what? "stupid-ass petition" that is my "cursing" and going passed the line of moral terpitude?? that is what you are getting pissy about. please. that is the cursing. you spent all this time to come up with a super long response to say that you weren't just saying, "heypee, I'm not gutless...your mean" that's it...that's all. dude,,,,you were just being pissy, and you are trying to pull some lame ass ace card about "heypee is such a meanie" to say I cursed at you and got malicious. Why don't you just say. "your mean."
heyp - Sorry for the delay. My server has been down for the better part of the 36 hours. Also, I don't wait with fevered brow and baited breath for your every response. I don't think you're mean (well, maybe a little). I do however think you're a little petty. Having said that, if I thought you approached the entire CC.Net BBS thing as pure entertainment, then I would probably be amused. On the other hand, if you do not, then I don't think you're mean, I think you're sad. I'm going to bed. Goodnight!
I thought it was pretty clear. If the team can win 45 games without Yao (and without Griffin) and with less experience, then why are they on a pace to only win 42 games this year? Critics would take that as a bad thing. No one fires a coach for what they did 2 seasons ago...they use it as reference point to demonstrate there is a lack of improvement.
Yeah, I figured you were getting at something like that after I processed the whole post. Hehe, sorry, I'm a bit slow. I thought at first you were saying somehow that it was shameful that they won only 45 games that year.
Rockets-R-Us, have you ever played basketball or any team sport for that matter? I don't mean with some elementary school kids down the block, I mean serious pick up hoops or league.
Vibe - I played on the high school varsity team ('79), and then graduated from U of H Downtown (no team), so no college experience. I have played in many leagues since then, (mostly in Houston) including a team at Fonde that had Rodney McCray and a few other guys with some NBA experience. It probably goes without saying that I was not a starter on that team. I was the backup point guard and my highlight of that season was a fall-away bank shot over a legit 7 footer who tried hard to block the shot and eventually landed on me (ouch!). I was still in my mid 30's then and that was before the 2 ACL surgeries I've had. I still play full-court once or twice a week and I'm just now getting my game back after long rehabs due to the ACL's. Why the curiosity?
Interesting thought. But a more accurate comparison would be if you had an associate or employee at your firm who has missed major deadlines for 4 years. Each year, this associate comes up with new reasons as to the cause of failure. At some point in time, it would be in the organizations best interest to hold this individual responsible. With that said, I agree that the tone of the question could have been improved but the underlying message of the question was more than valid.
You make a lot of strong comments. I wanted to know if you had the experience to back it up. As you apparently know, team sport chemistry is very dynamic. In my opinion, Rudy has done a good job of winning championships, trying (but failing IMHO) to extend the life of that team, and then rebuilding. He's done it faster than most organizations have done it. That being said, this Rockets team is very immature. I can't tell if Rudy is failing to teach this team how to play/win or if certain players on this team aren't listening or both. The backcourt players play like they are the best players on the team and that they can win it themselves. Stevie and Cat play some ignorant and selfish ball. But who's fault is that? I can't tell. Rudy deserves this year and next to prove his plan for this team. Only one team can win the championship, and the Rockets obviously won't be that team this year or next. It's not their time yet. However, Rocket ball is very frustrating to watch right now.
Vibe - With regard to Rudy (and CD), I do agree that the rebuilding has been done in less time than many organizations are capable of. However I don't think that it's been THAT extraordinary. Some teams never seem to be out of contention, (like Utah, L.A., Portland, Indiana, etc.) or if they are, they're not out of the playoffs for more than a year or two. Re: Rudy - I understand that his style of teaching is VERY hands off. I just don't think it's helping us get where we want to be as fast as we could otherwise. In other words, a more confrontive coach would probably have helped to eliminate some of the truly stupid things the Rox do, such as: S.F. dribbling into a crowd without having a clue what's going to happen, or Cat continuously shooting without even looking to pass, or Eddie's lack of energy on the court, horrible post-up defense, and flat-line shot from the perimeter, or Posey shooting anything but lay-ups. Anyway, thanks for the explanation. Yeah, I know that many of my statements can be seen as strong, or aggressive, but I try hard not to tread on other BBS Posters in the process. Keep the peace. RRU
Why is it that when players get the boot, it's "just the business." But when the coach's time is up, its "why the rush," "he's done so much for us," "have some respect" yada, yada. Here's who I had respect for: Kenny Thomas, Sam Cassell, Robert Horry (kinda)...you know, those guys who now play on playoff/championship teams and/or avg 20 pts a game. Where's all the respect for those guys? All good things must come to an end (reference Dream's exit). Now Rudy needs to put up or get out...just like his players do. "We're so young" is...well...so old. Props to RRU. G-Nads in full effect.
"Moochie won't let Rockets buy him out!" "Glen Rice won't play his last year for free!" "Kelvin Cato refuses to renegotiate his contract!"
1. You can trade players, but not coaches. (OK, the Raiders traded away their coach. But that's football.) 2. There are a lot more players who can play than coaches who can coach. 3. Players have much shorter useful careers than coaches. 4. Coaches have much less impact to the team than players. (You might not agree with that. But compare the average salary of coaches with that of starting players--not that this is the only proof of players' impact over coaches'.) 5. It is a lot easier to evaluate a player's performance than a coach's.
