This is very very very bad logic. Rudy gets $12 million next season regardless of what happens. What Les would be "throwing away" if a coaching change is made, would be a coach, not his salary, and if such coach deserves to be thrown away (which can be argued), then you do it. Financially, Les takes a hit from paying the new coach he has to hire, which, could be a big name, large moeny contract, or could be a Rick Carlisle/Mushelmann, two year, smaller deal, which may or may not work out, but wouldn't cost that much. Personally, I go with that latter choice, hire a well respected, good assistant coach (there has to be a long standing assistant for Utah or on Phil Jackson's staff available - hated teams, yes, but well coached and know how to win) who may have never had a head coaching job, doesn't demand the salary but rather the chance to bring in his own system and staff, and hire him for 2 years. If it doesn't work out...well, imo with no change it wouldn't work out anyway.
This happens every year. In fact, this year saw the same starting lineup one time for upwards of 30+ games, more than any of the past three seasons. It could just as easily happen again, so will that be the excuse next year. If you count the first month of the season as mid-season, then sure. But the team has had 3 starters the same for most of the season. And, at their 3 dominant positions. Even if Yao Ming wasn't starting, this team's "leadership" is suppossed to come from Francis and Mobley. They've been there all season, but they've shown as little growth as the team as a whole. That's kind of the point. While you have to take some time to learn spacing, etc., feeding a big guy the ball in the post is not that difficult. In fact the Rockets adjusted fairly well to it. What they have continued to fail to do, yet other big men dominated teams (namely SA, Lakers, Kings a bit, etc) continue to do is find other ways for their players to move, be active, cut, pass, etc - something reflective of the players and the system they have regardless of who they're feeding in the post - a system, remember, that Rudy promised in the preseason with his "motion" offense, which really turned into a 4 easy to scout play offense and a lot of ISO. And what a reflection on our coaching staff that was?? Other teams have the same problems, but the good one still win. Even with the Lakers early season injuries, they still fought their way back to the 5th seed. The Kings had players injured all year. I know we're not the Kings, but the point is I'd like to be - they're actually good. I'll agree with that. This is a team whose leaders think it's their way or the highway. They want what they want and do what they want to do. A coaching change would either require a disciplinarian, or require roster change as well.
Cleamons coached Dallas for a year. He was supposed to install the triangle, but couldn't do it because he had the respect of zero of his players. I'll admit that was a horribly fractured team (the three J cry babies), but Cleamons failed miserably at his shot as a head coach. He is not the solution.
Pat Riley is not the answer either. Say what you want about his past. But all by himself he has screwed that Maimi team. Alonzo Mourning's situation is obviously a set back and completely unforseable. But even with Alonzo, the Heat were under achieving. The contracts Riley did with Jones and Grant are back breakers, though I think both are good players. Mashburn and PJ Brown asr significant contributors to otehr teams now, and what do the Heat have to show for them? I like Rudy. I like Rudy a lot. Strangely enough I agree with many of the complaints about him this year and last. The Rockets have a lot of problems, and most appear to be the type of problems that a coach can fix. IE poor decision making - shoot like that again and expect ot sit a long time. Poor game plans and por execution seem to sum it up. One immediate question is if not Rudy, then who. Van Gundy is interesting, I'll admit. But I am hard pressed to say he is a clear improvement over Rudy. RT is well respected around the league, and even VG says Rudy is a good coach. Cleamons is not the answer, Lenny wilkens and the recycled ilk are not the answer, Phil Jackson is not going to come here. It seems to me that most new hires are unproven talent - Buzdelick, Musselman, Mo Cheeks, Isiah Thomas, etc do not have a proven coaching record. I don't see trading Rudy for unproven talent. I think London'Burning is correct. I live in Austin and hear more Spurs talk radio than Rockets. Five years ago virtually every, and I use that term literally, call began with "Fire Popovich - trade David Robinson." Popular opinion wouild have cost the Spurs at least one championship. Are we asking for the same? Change just for the sake of change is usually a mistake.
I bet anyone of you that Rudy will not be "fired" as a coach for the Rockets. He may retired because of illness but Les will not fire him. That 2 year contact will have something to do with it. The fact that Rudy's being loyal for 30 years to the franchise will have something to do with it. But I think that Les does not think that Rudy is the only problem with the team. Scapegoating the problems on Rudy will not solve the problems. Look, when the team passed the ball, they usually won the games. 2 of the starters are green and not skilled enough to dominate their position. That of course would be Ming and Eddie. Some would argue that Ming is skilled. He is but then he's not also. Ming knows that he needs to get agressive and gain strength so that he doesn't have to play volleyball with rebounds (he loses most of those because he can't jump quick enough to beat most centers in the NBA). And a steady dose of dunks will EARN him respect with both the players and more importantly, the Refs (he needs to get the calls). The 2 guards don't have the skills to be great passers but they are both showing signs that they are learning the art. Posey is a wild card that sometimes plays beyond all expectations by making 3s, stealing balls, and in general making the team looking good for swaping him for KT. These 5 guys make a good team but not a great one. Face the facts, they are NOT developed as a team yet and that has alot to do with Steve and Mobley's abilities as guards and Ming's not being in training camp. I would agreed that if Brand was available, that it's a good gamble if the Rockets can get him, SIGNED long term, and not lose Ming and Steve. That likely means losing Mobley and Eddie. That would be a good trade, if it worked. As for Moochie, I would agree with all that he's not played up to expectations and that he's not worth the contact he got. That happens, we are stuck with him and let's all hope Moochie improves himself over the summer and can be a much better backup PG next season. As for Mo Taylor, he's getting better and really has a goto move with that hook shot. If it not for that big contact he signed, I would think he would be well liked as "solid backup PF" for the Rockets. That contact BTW was payback between the Rockets and MT for playing for 1 million that first year. Like it or not, that's how the Rockets worked. We all wished that wasn't the case but it is. Rice was again a gamble for "promising" to take care of S. Anderson. Rockets would have looked like s**t if they just kicked Anderson out the door. They did the SandT party to fullfill their promise and party for the NEED of a 3point shooter. BTW, when hearty, Rice IS the Rockets's best 3point shooter. Kato is getting better but not worth the contact he got either. Bottomline, it's going to be a long and QUIET summer for the Rockets because there really isn't much they can do.
Criticizing Van Gumby for not incorporating a center with running guards....doesn't really apply here. Patrick Ewing was almost 80 years old then. At least, his knees were. But he still wanted to be The Man. Listening to Van Gumby broadcast the Rox games, I think he knows what the team would need. And he wouldn't be afraid to clear out RT's and CD's pets (Cat, EG). But with two years left on his contract, will RT be sent packing? I don't know. Blinebutthole writes a good article, tho. If Rudy comes back, this soft-as-Charmin attitude has to go. And I don't know if it will. Isiah Thomas isn't a great example either. I can see the comparisons, but...he had just traded for his pet Bad Boys (maybe a little TOO bad: Artest and B. Miller) and hadn't had time to incorporate them. Even then, he still underachieved this year.
The problem Clemons had was not so much with the 3 cry babies as it was with upper management. Take in mind at that time there was no Mark Cuban. You had certain people who did not want Clemons there, so they would not back him on anything. Plus he didn't take crap from the cry babies, so they decided that they would do things their way knowing that Clemons had no help from upper management. Know one could coach under those circumstances, just look at the coaches and situation before Clemons. The only way the Don Nelson succeeded is because he was the Coach and the GM... Makes one helluva difference. I personally think that Clemons would be a great fit. He knows his X's and O's and he demands discipline and respect of his players and will not but up with some of the stuff that these players are doing. Also Clemons understands and knows the mistakes that he has made and that's a good sign.
