We don't have a system besides ISO Harden. That's the problem. We need better team ball; that will help to get Harden easier looks at the basket. Right now he has to create EVERYTHING for himself and his teammates off the dribble. Its too easy to take him out of the game by sending a double team. That will happen in the playoffs.
I'm with you Teen Wolf, when those adjustments were made, we were already down 0-2 in the series. When he made that change to put in Asik on LMA, he should have done that after Game 1 on Playoff Sunday (because he had 3 days to prepare for Game 2, which was on Wed.). The thing that worried me the most about our future was when Les said THIS about McHale after the contract extension:
Do the Spurs not have a system too? The Spurs do the exact same thing in concept they just do it way better & have a few better support players. Their version of Harden is Tony Parker who is their engine to break down the defense in high P&R and Isolation's, but they also have Manu who can interchange with TP & they are getting basically a guy who plays the Trevor Ariza role but is much, much more talented in Kawhi. The Rockets have an system. If you say they don't then you don't know basketball. You can argue they don't run plays but neither does half the NBA including the Spurs. I'm not saying McHale shouldn't be fired at some point if they don't go past the first round, but I am wanting people to stop b****ing about McHale alone and look at the entire picture. Sometimes its a more simple solution to the problem. If your car runs a little rough you might want to check out, and possibly change the tires first before trading it in and buying a new one. Fixing up your car almost always is the less risky option rather than trading it in to buy a new one. Changing out the coach for this team comes at a risk and a cost. You going to change out your coach, you better do your homework, know the risks, and know what you are buying in return. The trigger happy fan would always end up looking like an a#$. Just give one of you absolute power and watch how you would do with this type of decision making. Just go look at Vivek and see how well of a job he's done with his personnel decision making with the Kings.
was trying to throw more rep at you and got an error message. i'm agreeing with you and yeah, i focus a lot on how much better our roster is and not enough on how much better the rest of the conference is. You said it - we are a perennial (fringe) contender and are set to run off a string of 50+ win seasons. It reminds me of the Mavericks and how, in 2011, they finally broke through. i don't think we are going to rock the boat and McHale will surely be back next season (and will probably finish out his contract barring a total collapse). We are spoiled fans in a lot of ways. Me, i'm spoiled by watching the Adelman offense. Seeing Chuck Hayes get a triple double and Aaron Brooks becoming MIP spoiled me rotten. i just don't give McHale credit for our high scoring offense because, when my untrained eye watches the game, i see the best player in the league carrying his team. i don't give him credit for the defense because i see Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Trevor Ariza, Corey Brewer and James-Actually-Playing-Defense-Harden. We should be good at defense. so, in sum, i suspect this guy might be replaceable. but i doubt we will rock the boat. and it's fine.
I believe it was Morey who said that a coach doesn't have a material effect on the team's success. They liked McHale, not for his X&Os , for his leadership. A lot of it comes down to talent, chemistry, and roster balance.
Ok. I get ya. Yeah, I mean right this second people would fire him today if they could. There is some serious trigger happy fans on here. That being said, at some point, Morey might have to take that gamble if he feels the team plateaued. Its a gamble at this point. At that point when we get there, we will know it. Could be as early as this May, but I doubt it. Harden and co. have gotten and better and better under this coaching unit. We just have to see what they do later this month. And if we are going to make the switch, we better do our homework on that new coach and the system they want to implement to know that its going to make life easier on Harden, and be more effective in the playoffs. That's a tough call to make.
I'm in the fire McFail camp. But i wouldn't fire McFail today. After the season ends. I doubt many of us would have McFail fired before the end of the season.
There is a reason Harden and Howard like McHale so much. Hint: has nothing to do with winning. It has everything to do with his style of letting them do whatever the eff they want at any given time. That style does NOT win in this league. There is a level of gamesmanship and strategy required to win in the playoffs. ISOs will not cut it. If this team loaded with two superstars and a solid veteran cast can't get to the WCF, it is squarely on coach.
I was at the game last night. Evidence of this is the fact that Howard spent the entire warm-up taking half court hook shots and 3pt jumpers. Not once did he take an actual game shot (like a FT or a post move). Just pathetic.
You're right, I would be one of those who would fire McHale, if I called the shots. The legit reason is because (at the time when he was originally hired, and more certainly now), I never felt he was the best coaching option available. There were better candidates available then (when RA was removed) and some were available each and every off-season while he was our coach. Before McHale supporters point at the win %, we ALL know that wasn't due to his coaching. An earlier post mentioned that he was hired for his leadership. If he was showing leadership, we wouldn't be having games where we simply didn't show any effort (like the 1st game @NO this season or @Utah game recently). Just like Kubiak was the Texans' coach, that was the perfect indicator that it can only get you so far, but yet you don't reach the end (league conference titles or league titles (NFL and NBA, respectively)).
My logic is that whenever a playoff coach is removed from his position (resigned, retired, fired); if I'm management, I must make sure whoever we bring in is as good, if not better, than the previous coach. As disappointed as I was when RA left, I said the same thing, that a good or better replacement should be brought in as RA's successor. When McHale was one of the last 2 options, I said that it wouldn't work and didn't want him (because I did not believe a below .500 coach would magically become a winner for our team). After now, his 4th full season as Rockets coach, I'm even MORE THAN CONVINCED now than I was back then, that he is not the head coach to get us to where we aspire to go (WCF, Finals, NBA Champions)
lololol that is not McHale's fault, a head coach should not be telling his "veteran" center who's been in the league for like 11 years and been to the finals what to do during a warmup. if anything that's just Howard being a dumbass
You'd be surprised. Even Nick_713 just admitted he would fire him days before the playoffs. There are others as crazy as FTW Rockets FTW that would too. Its more common than you'd think. People really really HATE that guy. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. IF the Rockets suffer another first round exit then I think it should be on the table IF the Rockets see an upgrade. I don't know if we are at the point yet (like when the Rockets needed to make life easier on Yao/T-Mac), but we might be getting close. The only real upgrade I could see becoming available would be Tom Thibs. Even then, you hear rumors that the Pelican's and Anthony Davis would be a likely destination. And also would Thibs make life easier on Harden & Howard or harder? He plays a grind it out style, and is well known for stretching minutes out way too far for regular season wins. All I'm saying is the Rockets are firing him, they better have a replacement STAFF ready that they know for a fact is a substantial upgrade. Because risking the chemistry and comfort level in the system that can regularly produce 50+ win seasons is a substantial gamble.
“He’s the winningest coach in the history of the Rockets (based on his .596 winning percentage,)” Alexander said. “He has a great rapport with the players. He’s a recruiter because everyone wants to play for him. But I also felt in a way I wanted to keep the relationship really good with Kevin so that he never felt negativity. I felt if we waited to the end of this year because he’s done so well there’d be some “Oh, they’re only keeping me because they have to, or because I won.’ I don’t think that was the right thing to do.” What the detractors and McFail users fail to recognize is that there is a lot more to coaching than x's and o's. Coach McHale is a recognized great recruiter...Tibbs is hated by players. Coach McHale juggled the injuries and additions to the roster this year as well as anyone could expect...I doubt there is any coach in the NBA that could have done this as well. Is Stan Van Gundy a good coach...people seem to think so...but he failed with Josh Smith as did other coaches before him whereas Coach McHale has clearly succeeded. What about Brewer, who was buried on the end of the bench in Minnesota? What about DMo's development? The detractor's are completely caught up in HATE and can't see the big picture...but Les does. At some point after the season, we may need to go a different direction...but now is not that time...and Les was absolutely right that Coach McHale was perfect for us this season. The team chemistry is superb. I'm glad we had him this season...next season may be different, but we needed his recruiting, his ability to build team chemistry, and his steady hand during numerous injuries.
I did say I would fire him, yes; but I never said anything about firing him before the playoffs; I would after the season (we've gotten this far already, any coaching change at this point would be ridiculous, especially for a team with a high seed currently as we do). That was something you posted earlier. But my reasons were that I never believed that he was the best option available for this team (not then and certainly not now). But as I posted earlier, if he were to get fired, whoever we bring in would have to be as good, if not, better than what we had. I do however feel that McHale was a step down from RA and JVG.
Meadowlark, Thanks for the reply; I have a couple "Yes or No" questions for you: Do you believe that Kevin McHale's Rockets winning percentage is directly due to his coaching methods? And do you personally believe he is the right coach to win us a Championship?
1) It isn't a one word answer....but as far as in game x's and o's no....as far as recruiting players, building the roster, and most importantly building the best team chemistry we have had this century absolutely yes. ....and one can not underestimate the importance of team chemistry and those factors to winning %. He has been the right man for the job to this point. 2) No. ...not as far as in game x's and o's ...but again YES as far as assembling a championship level roster with talent and team chemistry capable of winning it all. DM and Les absolutely know this. I have no doubt. The time will come when when they believe the team needs a change to win that championship...but it isn't right now. p.s. thank you for calling him Kevin McHale. I have absolutely no respect for those who use the McFail term...none, more like disgust.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Tom Thibodeau is exploring options, and those close to him say Magic could be an option if he leaves Bulls. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/BleacherReport">@BleacherReport</a>)</p>— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsCenter/status/586612648520851456">April 10, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
