Now, that's a fair response! I think people would like to see more of these kind of discussions than name calling and straw mans. As for the subject at hand, if you look at the numbers on a paper, we are ok where we are considering the circumstances, injuries etc. The way we got there and the reasons for the losses, well, that's another topic of discussion.
Francis, Cat and company were enamored with Rudy T's "Do what you guys want" philosophy, as well... but, what the players liked in that case wasn't doing the team any favors... When JVG came aboard, their was some reluctance and doubt about the new coach from both at first... Cat eventually took to his direction, and Francis didn't... If we're more concerned with keeping players happy when it comes to decisions concerning our management, more than the chance to win championships... and you're okay with this.... then, there's nothing I could ever say to convince you how idiotic that stance is... Like, I said, he doesn't have to go this season... but he does after this season.... Even if a new coach meant no more than 2-3 more wins.... while that would seem insignificant to you in the regular season (which you seem focused on) it makes a HUGE difference in the playoffs....
This would only be a strawman's argument if you don't understand the nature of an NBA season. If you've watched the NBA for several years and understand the ebbs and flows of an NBA season, then you'll see that the post I responded to is stupid. No long term fan would point to 8-2 record over 10 games, especially one that includes 2 top-5 opponents, and dismiss that as bad play. And making statements like "if they played better opponents they wouldn't be 8-2" is a worthless argument because NO TEAM does that well against a slate of contenders on the schedule. Every team's record decreases with better competition.
Did you not read the rest of that sentence, or just omitting it for convenience...? This team's flaws are correctable... It's a young team... but they certainly won't be fixed by a mere passing of time. when the young core features a would-be superstar with a "it's an 82 game season, it happens", casual attitude about losses and poor performances... that has the belief that he is exempt from accountability reinforced by the coaching staff... surrounded by a "carefree" center that is more known for leaving bad situations than taking charge of a locker room - who will be losing his freakish athleticism in 2 years time (at best).... and a passive point guard who is fine with being benched by the coach, and admonished or ignored by the team on-court "leader" for any small mistake, or for just being his own passive self.... The players may be breeding this kind of environment... starting with their best player... but the coaching staff is permitting it to fester... Let's all remember how delusional Steve Francis got by the time JVG got here... Part of the reason he didn't adapt or see reason to...? He thought he was beyond reproach... From day one was given the "Franchise" label... He actually stated that Toyota center was "the house Stevie Franchise built"... He wanted to have fun as much Harden, and win as "much"... You let young players like this go without hands-on guidance, and correction... and they'll never think they have ANY flaws in their attitude, or game... We're not a rebuilding team... we're not a veteran team on the decline... You let a coach "learn" and "grow" on type of squads.... Not on a highly promising young, potentially soon-to-be contending team... especially when one of the players in your one-two-punch is going to be reaching his 30's very soon and relies heavily on his athleticism and quickness at his height... Denver Nuggets had a pretty good record with their stellar regular season offensive numbers... they also reached the West Conf. finals... Yet, no one thought they had a sliver of a chance against LA... hell, several had doubts whether they'd be able to actually beat a Yao-less, Tracy-less Houston if they managed to defeat LA... Come to think of it, Sacramento also had an offensive powerhouse.... The only thing is Sacramento had Chris Webber and Divac as strong veteran anchors.... and even then, Chris later remarked... "It just didn't seem like the rest of the team wanted to win it as badly as I did"... We're closer to that Denver team than Sacramento... Is that what you'd be content with...? Is that what you're hoping to be our peak...?
I'm not being dishonest... You really should follow this forum a little more... There have been several posts made about McHale's "great" job... Look for threads started by or featuring the analytics obsessed crew of ClutchFans.... you'll be liable to see several praises of McHale's "great" job there... Seeding IS important.... but it doesn't amount to much, if it takes us nowhere in the playoffs...
DO people really think the team respects and likes him for any other reason other than they can walk all over him and do what they please without being told no?? There's a difference between respecting and wanting to play well for an authority figure like Pop or Phil Jackson as opposed to the reason why Melo like Mike Woodson, because he can do anything he wants. So many situation this year where the team fails to execute at both ends of the court due to poor coaching. When it comes down to a final possession either on defense or offense. Do you trust McHale to draw up the right play or relay the right scheme on defense for the big stop? No way.
The team likes and respects him because he's fun, friendly, and a ******* legend on the basketball court. Are you kidding right now?
So is Clyde Drexler... but you wouldn't want him coaching your team... Just ask the Houston Cougars....
have you ever been in the presence of one of the officially recognized all-time greatest 50 in your line of work? oh and BTW 3× NBA Champion (1981, 1984, 1986) 7× NBA All-Star (1984, 1986–1991) 2x NBA Sixth Man of the Year (1984–1985) All-NBA First Team (1987) All-NBA Second Team (1978 ) 3× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1986–1988) 3x NBA All-Defensive Second Team (1983, 1990–1991) NBA All-Rookie Team (1981) you know the Dream right? he respects McHale and is part of his staff..
Yeah probably. I'm not a big McHale fan but Dwight came here to play for him and he's an all time NBA legend so, yeah.
he's a legend and all that, and he's got great charisma and really fun to be around. these are all nice and dandy and we should celebrate him for that. but if the bottom line for businesses is net profit, for an NBA team it's an NBA title. his credentials as a player and his charismatic personality play a small part if he is to be an ultimate success as a coach. when you get down to the basics, does he provide the proper structure for the team to be consistently successful and win the title? will he have what it takes to make the necessary defensive adjustments in a 7 game series with the same team, even if in ordinary regular season games it really seems that there is no semblance of a defensive identity? can he institute disciplined play so that his players, star or bench, do not deviate from any game plan and become accountable for mistakes which makes them better players in the longer run? I think these are the questions that need to be asked because any debate about his coaching based on his credentials as a player and his personality make us digress from the real coaching issues which has been brought to fore even in the national media.
Well, people have said Adelman did a "great" job and JVG did a "great" job. So obviously people have different definitions of what it means to be "great" coaching. FWIW, the Rockets are currently on pace to have a result of any of the JVG/Adelman playoff teams. May may lose in the first round or the 2nd round.
How high should a team be ranked defensively in order for them to be considered having a defensive identity?
why does it have to be tied to rankings if the absence is plain to see. if you have an idea of what their defensive identity is, kindly share it to enlighten us all. it's on your screens, in the arenas, in blogs, halftime shows, etc, people are talking about the Rockets' shortcomings on defense and you want to hide behind rankings to say that there is no defensive problem? being complacent and standing behind rankings and regular season records is the surest way to disaster come playoff time. http://grantland.com/features/the-rockets-approach-nba-finals-worthy/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cHtQQCriCmk http://nba.si.com/2013/11/11/james-harden-defensive-faults-houston-rockets/ why does everyone see that the Rockets have an urgent defensive problem except Mchale apologists who probably feel that the read and react offense can take them to a title even if the defense is hit and miss?
Guarantee if Asik was backing up Howard the entire season out defense would be regarded much differently. Is it McHales fault he isn't playing?
It's nobody's fault. It's what people that want playing time do. Get pissed at that and get pissed at losing.
which coach who the rockets could have realistically landed this year can you replace mchale with can give use 100% guaranteed title this year?
Those articles are from November. We have the #15 defense in the NBA after accounting for pace. We have a 5-star defender in Dwight and a bunch of mediocre-to-bad defenders after that, and Asik who has missed half the season. What should our defensive ranking be?
