Rockets will take their time Posted: Saturday May 31, 2003 6:09 PM Updated: Saturday May 31, 2003 6:11 PM HOUSTON (AP) -- Houston Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson wasn't surprised the Detroit Pistons reportedly were interested in Larry Brown after the Pistons fired Rick Carlisle on Saturday. "Everybody was after Larry, I don't think anybody with an opening wasn't interested in Larry," Dawson said. Brown resigned last week as coach of the Philadelphia 76ers and interviewed with the Rockets along with fellow former NBA coaches Mike Dunleavy, Jeff Van Gundy and Paul Silas. The Houston job became vacant May 23 with the resignation of Rudy Tomjanovich. After dismissing Carlisle, the NBA coach of the year in the 2001-02 season, Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars said he would like to talk with Brown. A source told The Associated Press in Detroit that Brown would be the next Pistons coach. As for the Rockets, Dawson said he and owner Les Alexander are pleased with the candidates they've interviewed and plans had not been made to talk with Carlisle. "We don't have any other plans right now," Dawson said. "I'm not saying we're done, but we're happy with the people we've interviewed. It's hard to keep interviewing when you want to talk to one coach about a job and you keep interviewing others." Dawson said the Rockets had completed the first phase of their search. "We're not nearly as far along as everyone else that's been doing this a while," Dawson said, referring to some of the eight other NBA coaching searches. "We've completed the initial contacts and haven't followed up on anything." Tomjanovich stepped down last week after leading the Rockets to two NBA championships in 12 seasons as head coach. Tomjanovich, who has been with the Rockets 33 years as a player, scout or coach, settled the two remaining years on his Rockets contract and will remain within the organization. "We're fortunate to have that much coaching talent out there," Dawson said. "Now Rick Carlisle has been added to the mix. It's been an amazing year. Who knows, somebody else might be available tomorrow."
what CD SHOULD do is give Carlisle a call and stop putting up a facade that he wasn't shocked by Brown going to Detroit. Stop being so proud and 'taking things easy' and take some action. Set up an interview with Carlisle for tomorrow and get a coach by Wednesday...if not earlier. "...Who knows, somebody else might be available tomorrow." Pft...if he waits any longer, we might have to look for a new GM.
Exactly. I would love the Rockets to interview Carlisle. I am highly skeptical of Van Gundy and not very excited about Dunleavy either. Coaches who have been fired 3 times usually do not spell success the 4th, 5th, 10th time around. Carlisle is tough, intense, and unapologetic. The man showed up for his own firing. Get him in the fold before settling for just another coach who's just happy to ride the coaching merry-go-around. Signing someone like Mike Dunleavy to a 5 year deal will be a big mistake.
Carlisle showed up at his own firing for PR purposes. To quote the Tuna, he wants to shop for his own groceries, can he do that here? Then let him move along.
No ****! If Dawson is lying, he needs to find a more delicate balance between putting up a smokescreen and making himself and the Rockets Organization look like a bunch of morons. Sheesh.
So what if he showed up for PR reasons. He still showed up to let everyone know that he wasn't defeated. I don't give a crap if he doesn't get along with people. On a veteran team like Indiana, it may have mattered. Look who they got instead, Larry freaking Bird, possibly the most laid back coach of all time. The team knew what their roles were and followed them. They didnt need a young coach micromanaging them. It all depends on the team and what their needs are. We need an intense, no nonsense win-at-all cost type of personality.
I am concerned with the expressed distinterest in even interviewing Carlisle. I don't see anyone else on the market who has the same potential to be a very good coach, assuming Brown is gone and Rivers isn't available. But we are saying " No, it's ok...we're fine where we are." Which means JVG ( who's not as good, IMO) and Dunleavy...the 'safe' pick, which is where i suspect they're going. He's buddies with some Rocket high rollers, he's decent, and he's a company guy, whereas Carlisle and JVG have shown that they will make waves if they disagree with what's going on, MD has shown that he'll quietly go about his business. That, IMO, is why the Rocks are focusing on him. To not even go that extra step, and interview a candidate like Carlisle, is IMO an admission that the Rockets are playing it safe.
I think they’re making this process more complicated than they need to. Look around at the available candidates, pick the one that has proven to be the best coach, and aggressively pursue that coach. Why is it necessary to interview every single coach out there? I’ve got this terrible feeling the Rockets are going to hire Dunleavy based on his great interview. I sincerely hope CD makes his decision based on the coach’s track record, rather than solely how well they perform in a stupid interview. That would be like drafting a player based solely on how they perform in a shooting exhibition. The coach they pick should be the one with the greatest coaching ability. Not the coach that’s the nicest or the biggest kiss-a$$ or the best interviewer. It's not surprising the Rockets haven't shown interest in Carlisle. He's not a brown-noser.
It's sad that Les and CD has been selling us the idea that we're getting a 'top tier' coach but only to resort back to a 'safe pick'...it's time to grow some balls Carol and Leslie.
Am I the only one that thinks that CD looks r****ded? He's always got a confused, dumbfounded expression on his face, as if he has no idea what's going on. Because of this fact, I'm not sure that his statements are smokescreens. I think the guy is seriously slow, and it's hurting his recruiting process.
no i'm totally with you on this one. when everyone said that he was a well like GM and a 'coaches GM' i was wondering if this meant that he was that nerd in high school that you befriended so you can just get answers to some homework....
Im not worried about all of this! Just let CD have all his fun. If I were a betting man I would say its all wrapped up and they are padding for just the right moment to make everything CLEAR!
Personally, I think JVG would get more respect from the players than Carlisle. From what I've seen, read, and heard about Carlisle, he's kind of like a good doctor with a horrible bedside manner. It sounds like Van Gundy would make waves, but still has a nice enough personality that players would want to play for him. I'd take Van Gundy over Carlisle in a second.
Perhaps you are right. Kind of like playing poker. You never want the other players to see your cards unless your a hustler.
Man, ya'll are cold. He just has very thick lenses, that's all. (in response to some posters' suggestion that CD is "special")
