Sources: McHale using Sampson's absence as an excuse for poor defense

Serious? Top 10 defense? I don't think we were ever close to that...

 

sources... so this COULD be true.

 

Sampson was the smart one, he got out of the sinking ship that is the Rockets under McHale. I'm sure he would not have left if he felt like this team and organisation was special and could do something in these playoffs. Good for him, bd for us.

 

Time for all the mchale apologists to eat crow. Man up and admit it. Larsv where u at? I have no problem with a difference of opinion but when ppl are downright haughty and condescending to those who try to reason with you, it's time to man up.

 

You must have never watched NBA basketball in the 80's and early 90's.

 

I really dont think McHale stays with the team in a consultant or scout role quite honestly. I see someone that probably has too much pride to really want to look incapable of coaching ever again. I mean, the reason why he fought so hard for the job in the first place was because he felt like he had something to prove.

I honestly see McHale fighting to keep the job this Summer to get another shot at this group, and I do think there are people in the organization that will try and persuade Les and Morey into keeping McHale but bringing in someone to replace Sampson as the defensive leader.

What happens with all of this I don't know(I dont pretend to be in Morey's head much less all the other people that will be involved in the decision as well), but I think the relationship side of this both with the front office guys and the players will play a part and might end up saving McHales job and opting to try and bring in maybe a Scott Skiles type (who will need to get paid a crap ton of money to play this role & will likely need to feel that they are next in line if McHale is to get fired at a later date).

I personally feel, and I would think Morey, would feel like its better to just start fresh with a new head coach & maybe keep some of the well regarded assistants but Morey wont be the only one making that decision(and we as fans sure wont get a say-so in the matter). I think the relationships with the current players & management will play a role in what they decide is best for everyone in this situation.

Its Les' call in the end, and we just have to wait and see what his real feelings are about the job McHale has done, and what he wants to see moving forward. In the end, its his call.

However, I think whether he stays or goes, you are going to see a pretty major swing in power & overall game-play (most on the defensive end) that will be affected with the coaching changes moving forward. The offensive style is something I see them wanting to keep, but defensively, I think they are far from impressed.

 

SVG and Howard made up a while ago. I think Howard would embrace the defensive philosophy SVG would bring to this team. He's had to suffer through Mike D and Mchale's ineptness and I'd bet he has a whole new appreciation for Stan based on that.

 

Rockets ranked 13th in defensive efficiency. 0.001 PPP (point per possession) better than last year. That translates to less than 0.1 point/game better than last year.

 

This is exactly the problem. Anyone who has measured the Rockets defensive metrics after Sampson left can see that nobody has a ****ing clue how to get these guys to play D and rebound.

now McHale is using it as his crutch to save his ass.

 

Doesn't belong in this thread, but Harden needs his shots. When he doesn't, he can't get in the flow and doesn't do much when the ball isn't in his hands. He was moping around like tmac did when he quit on us. This is on the coaches to make sure everyone is in check, has a role, and plays hard. Not excusing Harden b/c apparently he's known to be unsuccessful in the playoffs. A well-coached team should fix this.

 

Why in the hell does it matter if Sampson is there or not. This is not a football team. He's supposed to be the freaking head coach. Bring someone in with balls.

 

This is true. Add jtr and sirbaihu and several others to the list.

Downright condescending esp to me since I started the Fire McHale thread years back. Funny thing is jtr has gone into hiding off late. Coincidence?

 

also whoever said morey should be held accountable is right as well...but not fired yet. he had mchale, both helped get dwight, can't let coach go before seeing how good/bad he'd be with the full roster.

just sucks for us fans to have such high hopes to have it wasted

 

To be fair it's not uncommon for a Head Coach to NOT be strong in X's and O's.

Phil Jackson wasn't the brains behind the Triangle. That was his assistants.

That said, Phil Jackson was a genius in terms of motivating every player to put their best on the floor. I find it FAR more worrisome that McHale is saying that he's unable to discipline and motivate Harden than the statement that he's not a strong defensive mind.

If you didn't know that Sampson was the brains behind the defense, then you weren't paying attention to the coaching staff.

I refer you to THIS article by Feigen in 2011...

http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterocke...evin-mchale-can-he-exceed-expectations-again/

McHale has a specific role... and leading the offense or defense was never supposed to be part of it.

 

LOL.
So basically McHale is slowly admitting he doesn't have any responsibilities...

The right thing to do is just man the **** up and start gameplanning, but it seems all McHale does is watch the games as a spectator.

 

when Howard said before the game I have to demand the balll and takeover I knew the rockets had a slim chance of winning like that. "see dallas game" “and game in Detroit on road we barely came out with a win doing it” He hasn’t been consistent doing it enough for other players to know how to adapt.

I still give alot of credit to howard he brought it tough and has really showed up these playoffs so far. harden still got his looks just couldnt get them to fall. Harden just doesn’t care too much when we play through Dwight, if he moves without the ball he can still get some looks.

 

Shame on Mchale. He never admits that he should be responsible for mistakes. It is always players or someone else.

 

it matters because Mchale is more offensive minded and coaches usually bring in other coaches who support their weaknesses. Sampson was a tough SOB and took no crap from the players and taught schemes and made sure they were adhered to. McHale can't do what he's doesn't know so this is the problem.
Had sampson been here i don't think aldridge would be averaging 41 pts a game.

 

Yeah I think the problem though isn't Dwight, it's what you touched on at the end of your paragraph.

Shaq talked last night about inside out basketball being the key. The problem for the Rockets is that Harden just won't play that way. If we are going to feed the ball to Dwight, Harden will just stand deep behind the 3 point line and do almost nothing for most possessions.

Harden is certainly a better player than Kevin Martin, but if we would move without the ball like Martin would this team would be devastating.