Lets trade the Rockets coaching staff for the Hornets staff ASAP!!! Sure Rudy is great, but New Orleans coaching staff as a whole has to be an improvement...
I want a coach who has integrity, reveres hardwork more than the media spotlight, is willing to adapt and change in regards to what he has to work with. I want someone with class. I want someone who can bring out fundimentals and consistent good play in a young team. I want someone with playoff if not championship coaching experience. I want someone who has a history of getting the most out of his roleplayers, and working well with the egos of big stars. I want someone who can gel the team together and get maximum effort from all players on the team. I want a coach who won't just sub in players out of loyalty, and uses logic in his substitution patterns. Many of these Qualities Rudy has, and a few of them he doesn't. Is there any coach that has all of them? I can't think of any. I do want to disagree with those that say keeping Rudy is only out of loyalty to his service to the team and not because of his coaching ability. People said the same thing about Larry Dirker after the Astros failed to advance out of the first round of baseball playoffs. Well the Astros did fire Dirker, and last year they didn't even make the playoffs. This year is too soon to tell. I do think it's a danger to dismiss someone simply because you think that keeping them is out of loyalty that will hurt your team. That isn't always the case. But the hometown guy sometimes has the prophet in his own hometown syndrome to work against.
A good coach has get the utmost respect out of his players and get everyone to play to the strength of one. He has to be very disciplined, but not Hitler like to the point players are afraid all the time. A good coach will get the most out of his talent and not making excuses. I didn't hear Silas crying last yr when Mashburn missed half the season,Davis missed significant time. Then the team makes the playoffs and in the 1st rd , loses1st game his leading scorer. This yr ,in the playoffs he lost his pg Davis for a game and his leading scorer in Mashburn for another and still almost pulled it another. Speaking of, he's unemployed right now.
We want: 1) Someone who will trade Steve Francis for Jason Kidd or Elton Brand. 2) Someone who is a little more dynamic on the offensive end. That's about it.
1. Try to get Yao the ball on offense for the first play during the start of each game (if possible). 2. Bench Mobley as soon as he takes a [bad] shot (even if he makes it) or commits a turnover. 3. Giving Yao the ball even more during the game. 4. Facilitate improvement of Eddie Griffin's overall game and confidence. 5. Involving Yao more in the flow of the offense. 6. Decide whether Francis should pass or shoot more and stick with the decision for good! Reprimand him from deviating from said decision. 7. Reward Yao at the offensive end for every defensive effort he puts forth... this applies to other players as well. 8. Bench Glen Rice if he misses his first 3 shots. 9. Design plays specifically to utilize Yao's skills and creativity. 10. Bench Moochie if he takes more than 5 dribbles at a time. 11. Make sure the ball touches Yao's hand at least once for every offensive play. 12. Make the Rockets actually run plays on offense (that is a little more complicated than a botched pick and roll). Oh yeah, and maybe getting Yao the ball.. even more.. maybe?
why would you bench a player if he has missed his firt three shots?! Players come out of slow starts. Example would be YAO, very often he would start games terribly. Like 1-6 from the field, but he would then finally start to make his shots. Would then be around 11-19. And you dont bench a player who is hot. Even if it was a "bad" shot. If he continues to hit, you leave him in!
Honestly I want Rudy to stay, but if he does get fired and we have to hire some one new, I would hire JVG. Why, he's a tough coach but not a hard as* like Riley but still from a similar line of thought. He's a proven coach, hell, the year he left, the Knicks were a .500 ball club when he left, then as soon as he left the Knicks took a nose dive. He know's how to work under pressure, he's been under New York media and survived. He has a name. In all of the coaching prospects, he probably has the biggest name of them all, trust me if you bring in a coach like Silas or Cheeks, while good coaches, they don't command enough star power to overcome our current players, including the 2 superstars (Yao and especially Francis) who are loyal to Rudy. His fame is probably biggest thing needed for a coach for us. If we get a new coach with a new system, with Yao not being able to come until before the season starts again because of his offseason oblig again, it's highly possible that the Rox stat the season slow while learning a new system. The confidence in the other two candidates (cheeks and silas) can be erased quickly, while a famous coach like Van Gundy can get the players to believe him just a little more till the ship is righted again.
If Moochie shows up to camp 30 pounds over weight (like last year), and Rudy still plays him, we'll know that not much has changed in the "good'ole nice guy Rudy." Don't expect any other changes...i.e. minus the ISO. We'll see. Rudy, you're on the clock.
First of all, I hope Rudy can get healthy this off season and continue coaching the team. If Rudy cant continue coaching for whatever reason, I'd love to see Paul Silas coaching this team next year.
[ I understand what you're saying on both counts.. but the points I made of the 2 situations were specific to those players I mentioned. Here's why: 1. While it's true that Yao may often miss his first few shots, he plays defence, rebounds, makes great passes and is a TOTAL presence on the court and can dominate in a number of ways... now, apart from hitting threes, what is Glen Rice really able to do to warrant extended playing time? Nothing much to be honest. I'm in Sydney, Australia so I don't get to watch the rockets every week (only when ESPN gives me the chance) but from the few times I've seen them play, my impression of Glen Rice is this: He's a great 3pt shooter when he's hot, but other than that his defence is lacking, he doesn't rebound well, he often makes very bad passes and he can't drive to the hoop as well as he used to in his prime. Of course all of this is not because he's a bad player, but he is limited in his physical capabilities due to old age and injuries. The way I see it his sole purpose in the game is to free up Ming in the post by keeping the D honest... if he doesn't command respect (i.e. hitting one of his first few shots) then bring in someone else who can help in other areas... that's all. 2. Mobley (really you shouldn't get me started with this guy, but I'll try to keep it brief). He's a great player/shooter/scorer, but only if he understands his position and plays SMART. Playing smart includes taking good shots within the flow of the offense. Let me repeat that: taking good shots within the flow of the offense. When you let Mobley get away with taking ill-advised jumpers, fadeaways and jack-ups with more than 10-15 secs in the shot clock you're really setting a bad precedent. With the arrival of Yao and zones, the one-on-one street ball crap's got to go, otherwise you might as well trade Yao to a team better suited to use him. Personally, I think that would be a stupid move. Basketball is a team sport so even if Mobley is HOT he still needs to work within the offense to ensure continuity and again to keep defenses honest...
i want a coach who won't run the offense through yao b/c he won't be ready for it next year just as he wasn't this year. then after 2 years, when yao is ready, bring in tex winter to teach us the triangle while rudy stays on board. by then we'll be veterans that rudy can handle. rudy knows how to make role players look good (see: championship years, matt maloney and assorted other cba rejects), and by then we might have role players who can shoot, and then we'll win it all for a while. that's how you get it done ladies and gentleman.
Two things, 1. be able to command the respect from his players; 2. have a philosophy and a system to follow, not just several set plays. The 1st will bring the displine, 2nd will bring the consistence & stability.
Yep. Rudy has #1 down. But, #2, the philosophy or "system" that Rudy runs is way to predictable (iso's and other simple minded plays). What makes matters worse is that Francis and Mobley are playground type players. They hate structure. I mean, it's ok to let your players breathe once in a while and show their "stuff." But having NO structure is just as bad. Francis and Mobley need a big dose of that nasty medicine: discipline!
I'm looking for a coach that: (1) Recognizes the difference between a player that is a winner and loser. There are a lot of losers labeled stars in the NBA that put up big numbers in the regular season, but when it counts in the post season, their numbers decrease. Contending teams don't anchor their team's with these type of players by signing them to long term contracts. (2) Relates to today's NBA player well. Hard disciplinarians just don't seem to work too often in the NBA with the spoiled type of player the league attracts today. You need a coach that players will want to listen to and give their maximum effort for. The coach must demand respect, but in a way that the players can respect. I think ex-players will make the best NBA coaches in the future for this reason. If the Rockets are going to fire Rudy T, I'd take a hard look at Paul Silas.
Rudy's not going anywhere...get over it. If it were the last year of his contract then yes...but because he is owed quite a bit of money he isn't going anywhere. Unless he is promoted or demoted somewhere in the franchise. I wonder if Drexler is looking to be a coach?
I agree..... Rice is a good shooter......but can't play defense. Too slow for many small forwards. Mobley....I agree with you.
I think Rudy screwed up Francis and Mobley. They don't even know how to play simple team basketball. Only thing is alleyoops....or when Yao Ming is left entirely open. Mobley can't pass....They have only played 1on1 all their life. Hopefully Rudy can help them adjust to playing professional basketball. Francis and Mobley and Moochie and yeah....pretty much those 3 really need to be disciplined.....Everything needs to be done to them! I'm looking for a coach who can do everything that needs to be done to them!
First of all, let me say I'm no expert on this subject. These are just a fan's opinion ... but one who has zealously watched them for over 20 years ... and sorry, ZRB, if I don't exactly answer your q. I'm sure others will weigh in with more basketball expertise. I really like Rudy as a coach. I love it that we have stability in the organization, and that he has a certain class way about him, even if he is really earthy. I was amazed at how Rudy guided the team to both championships, especially the second one. Early in the season, I could see him guiding them to peak at just the right time for the playoffs. Throughout the season, he wasn't just looking at that particular game, but how that fit into getting into the playoffs at the end of the year. How many coaches could we get who could do that? I really think he did some of that this year, and allowed the guys to fail and learn and gel throughout the year... he just didn't plan on the cancer. I think he would have gotten us into the playoffs, if he had been there. I think the great coaches are not necessarily great X's and O's guys, but gather those experts around them. They understand chemistry, timing, developing a team, and taking them to the mountaintop. Look how Phil Jackson brought in Tex Winter to teach them the Triangle offense. This is what I believe is Rudy's greatest weakness. He's actually too loyal when it comes to his assistant coaches. When you have weaknesses, you must learn how to gather others around you to shore those up. Rudy is not doing that. I'm hoping that all of this is posturing by Les, so that Rudy let's go of his stubborness, realizing he nearly lost his job, and in order to stay, decides he needs some excellent assistant coaches. Rudy is not a teacher. These young bucks desperately need to be taught at this early stage of their careers, especially Francis and Ming. I wish we'd bring in guys like Lucas, Moses, and Larry Brown types, who could help Rudy develop a better offense, and then teach it to the guys, as well as help each of them to develop their games. Otherwise, the incredible talent that is on this team will never reach championship caliber. Then, let Rudy lead the team to victory. I think if we get rid of Rudy, we will set back our rebuilding another year, and perhaps regret it. We need to add guys around him, and shore up his weaknesses. On another note, I think it's good for the players to see that their screwing around nearly cost him his job. Perhaps, as a result, next year they will play more as a team, and also not have sour attitudes, when some guys get traded. As we add more veterans, the current guys will realize they could be gone if they don't get the job done. Look at what a difference that Rice made in Cato's play this year? We need a mix of youthful talent and experienced veterans. So, this offseason, there would be 3 things I'd do, if I was the Rockets. Get BRAND, get BRAND, get BRAND ... oops ... sanity returning ... (can you tell I'm still upset with Carol Dawson for not doing what it took to bring him in midseason? Why didn't we give them more draft picks to get that deal done?!) 1) Let Rudy think he's about lost his job, but then have him stay, pending his making assistant coaching changes, and letting Carol move some players for better fitting players, and bring in some veterans. What Carol Dawson is so good at, is rebuilding and trading to make a better team. I'm not sure that is Rudy's forte. Rudy needs to let him do that job, let go of his undying loyalty to coaches and players, and take the pieces we have, and trade some for ones who fit together better. When you draft talent, part of the challenge is to develop them, so they are trading chits, that eventually lead to a championship team. 2) I'm not sold on moving Francis to the 2. I think he just needs to be better taught the PG position. He could be amazing, if he "gets it." Get Lucas, Robertson, Murphy, or someone who knows the pro PG position, who can really teach Francis ... someone he respects. I have a feeling Mobely, Mattox and Moochie will be gone. Bring in Moses Malone, Bill Russell or someone like Kareem to train Ming, Cato, Griffin, Taylor (please have someone teach him how to rebound), and TMo (and whoever else we pick up) the big man game. 3) We need some psychological guidance so that these guys become all they can be. There are serious issues on this team, and we are without older players who can guide them. Dealing with drugs (Taylor and Griffin, probably Cato, maybe others), dealing with the media circus (Ming and Francis), learning how to play as a team, and manage their ego, and playing their best night in and night out, whether they are playing up for a good team, or letting down with a lesser team. I think the media circus really affected the team. Look at the letdown after the LA game. All the other teams also were up for the Rockets, due to all the Ming media exposure. We have to learn how to deal with that. We may need some different players, but we need to empower the talent we have even more. Look at the difference in Cato this year... what if everyone improved on that level next year?
