ESPN - Possible Coaching Changes : Rudy among them?

You want Optimus Prime??

 

The exclamation point made me think otherwise.

 

Changed title of thread from "VAN GUNDY= NEW ROCKETS COACH? ESPN" to the current one.

I nearly freaked when I saw the original title.

 

Heh.

 

Posted url properly.


http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/hughes_frank/1548350.html

 

So, Doc has spoken. But, to answer Deuce's question about who would be a step up, I'm not talking about X's and O's. In the basketball world, maybe Van Gundy is a decent coach, but it takes more than that to pick up after a guy who's synonomys with the Rockets as a franchise, let alone as the coach of the team.

To me, there are no coaches "available" that fit the bill but there are plenty who are currently working for other teams that do.

Personally, I don't think Rudy is going anywhere. I think there was talk, but that he's going to get one last shot and that will be the end of it.

Look, Les is a guy who gives tremendous freedom to his employees and trusts them to make the right decisions because he trusts his own judgement when it comes to hiring. However, if he has to come in and clean up a mess you made, it is going to be seriously ugly.

Up until now, I don't honestly think Les felt like there was a mess. He viewed the team as being in transition or as being injured out of contention. However, after this season, I think he feels like he needs to take tighter control over his business, especially with the tremendous expectations of Yao Ming and the millions upon millions he stands to make off of the arena.

What's more, he will be in the red for the next 5 or 6 years paying for all the upgrades and additions to the building, BUT, everything he and the organization do this summer through early next year will determine just exactly how much reward they will reap over the next 30 years from the arena. If you think it isn't important, you aren't paying attention.

As a result, the team absolutely MUST generate interest and it must appear that they are doing everything possible to put a winner on the floor. So, Les is going to make sure that happens. Period.

Does anyone think it is coincidence that a 40-year-old Comets player, considered by many an icon of women's sports, is coming back to play for the team after a hiatus coaching in Arizona??? Even though it doesn't come close to matching the exposure of the NBA, a successful and popular Comets team means more air time for the franchise and more chances to convince fans the new arena is the big deal they say it is.

Bottom line: the Rockets don't just believe they have to live up the slogan "Be Part of Something BIG," they KNOW that this is their one chance to become one of the most successful and profitable franchises on the planet and you can damn sure bet Les will not let them blow it, no matter what the cost or controversy.

 

Yep. Yao has catapulted Houston into the International spotlight. All eyes are on H-town. Bigger exposure than that big guy in LA.

I also think that after Les's comments regarding, "greatest team ever assembled..." he has to step in a "save face."

Which is good. The Rudy/Francis and staff made Les look like a fool.

 

Jeff lets say for arguement sake, that Rudy comes back for another season. Do you see any major changes in the remainder of the coaching staff?

I think Les has to do something to win over the fans, that want some kind of change next year.

 

I wouldn't get too excited about the new veterens whom the Rockets bring in. Remember how we were all excited when we brought in Pippen only to have everyone stand around the 3 point line while watching the guy with the ball?

I can see much of the same next year. With all of the new players next year, it will take Rudy another year to implement any thing that resembles an offense. Its not the players, its the coach. Remember Kenny Thomas who would never pass? He sure seems to pass when he is on the Sixers.

Rockets won't see any improvement until Rudy is gone. Who here really wants to watch another year of iso, iso, iso?

 

Why do people consider the rox in such bad shape?
They have consistanly made big or surprising changes to this team in hopes of getting better examples: Clyde, Charles, Pipp, Francis, Ming (this was luck in the lotto) just to name a few. No one can say they saw any of these coming. Rudy and CD have tried to make this team better. It doesn't mean it has always worked, but no team can say that. Rudy is one of the few coaches that has been to the top and was willing to hang in there during the rebuilding. Allmost all coaches that have won big want to take over a team that is on the way like the rox. We have some very good pieces that have to be credited to Rudy and CD. Sure we have some bad contracts but no one gets it right everytime. Plus what team doesn't have players they don't want. If Rudy cannot get it done this next year (maybe even by the halfway point) then a change is in order, because he now has two main pieces to work with. Don't be surprised to see the rox pull off something else unexpected tring to win instead of just blaming the coach and never getting better(Clips, Nugs, Clev, Was, Griz, Atl, Sea, GS, Chic, Mia, Pnx and many others)
Change team abit
Keep coach
Give time to grow 2gether

 

Consistently mediocre, with very good talent.

It's not that we SUCK VERY BAD! It's that we have sucked consistently.

 

The only reason Rudy will be back is because of his big long-term contract. Les won't want to buy out it.

 

Would you consider Brand or Odom vets?

 

Great. A bunch of washed up geezers. Let's waste the best years of our top talents kowtowing to puffy old loser windbags.

PJ Brown is the only older player I can think of I'd want. Vets better not mean Glen Robinson, or washed up trash like him. Ugh.

 

Why do people want players like PJ, he reminds me of B Grant without the hustle. He plays K Thomas like D (no blocks or steals).
He has no real off. game with no go to move. He cant pass.He's getting old. The only thing thats need from him is his toughness. Otis Thorpe was better and got less hipe! We need someone younger with heart and energy, good D and rebounding with some ability to put it in the hoop.

 

Plenty of them:

1. Guys need time together to build chemistry, give them at least another year.
2. SF is having a hard time adjust to cat-less offence, give him at least another season.
3. rudy had to miss that 2 important games for cancer treatment, this season is not counted, give him another chance next year.
...

 

Please go up and down the roster and explain to me how we are <i>so</i> talented. People say our player's suck, then say the coaching sucks because we have talent. I don't get it.

 

Brown is one of the best rebounders in the league, a tough defender (who cares about blocks and steals), and shoots a high percentage from the field. I just don't see how you can be advocating we get <i>younger</i>. As long as a player is a proven commodity, I don't care. No more projects or rookies, please.

We already have Yao and Steve as the key parts of our offense, bring in some role players! This is one of the only teams in the league to not have any role players (players who have a specific job or jobs and can perfrom that job succesfully night in and night out). Back when the Rockets won their first championship they had about seven role players. Coincidence?

 

Makes sense to me

 

The reason why you can't see the talent in your eyes is because of the bad coaching they are receiving.