[Chron] 20 hours worth of interviews +The Rockets' coach search process EXPOSED

Carl Herrera · Jun 3, 2011

Good article, I think, gives color on the process by which the Rockets ended up with Kevin McHale. This should clear things up a bit for the people who think the front office hired McHale without really thinking about it and those who think McHale is some kind of empty figurehead with no ideas of his own..

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/rockets/7593306.html

Looking back on a process that included three interviews lasting more than 20 hours, Daryl Morey remembers one moment that sold him on Kevin McHale.

It occurred as Morey and his staff peppered McHale on approximately two dozen end-of-game situations as part of a discussion that included topics ranging from coaching influences to player development.

OK, Kevin, we're down five points with 50 seconds remaining and have the ball and one timeout?

Or …

We're up three with 90 seconds left and one timeout remaining.

McHale answered confidently and without hesitation.

"We analyze the heck out of those game situations," Morey said, "and Kevin hit the ball out of the park. It made me realize how smart he is and how he knows his stuff. That was the moment for me. Believe me, he's going to know what to do at the end of games."

Before McHale aced that part of the exam, the Rockets believed they had a handle on what kind of coach he would be. They loved his leadership, intelligence and basketball aptitude and were becoming convinced he really and truly was it in for the long haul.

"I'm 100 percent in," McHale told them. "You guys are going to get everything from me."

The Rockets were anxious enough about this part of McHale to have owner Leslie Alexander ask him the same thing. In the end, Morey and his assistants Gersson Rosas and Sam Hinkie believed they had a perfect candidate.
McHale was so perfect that Alexander had them double-check what they had already doubled-checked.

With every telephone call, the Rockets were more impressed, and a guy who barely had been on their radar screen at the beginning of the process was on his way to becoming their new coach.

Along the way, there would be some tough talks. Why did such-and-such player dislike him? What situations did he handle poorly? Is he committed to working the hours required to be a successful NBA coach?

In some ways, Morey probably knew what he was getting. For a couple of years, the Rockets and Timberwolves have co-hosted one of the NBA's largest pre-draft camps.

During those hours in the gym, it's NBA people talking about the game and players and everything else.

The great debate

Morey never forgot the day McHale, then general manager of the Timberwolves, and Tom Thibodeau, a Rockets assistant, now coach of the Bulls, got into a heated argument about how best to defend the low post.
"It was right there in front of everyone at the camp," Morey said, "and it was amazing to listen to. They went through multiple pick-and-rolls and a bunch of other things. I got a sense of him as a person in times like that."

Morey began the search to replace Rick Adelman by going through 10 years of files on assistant coaches. With the help of senior vice president Keith Jones and others, that list was trimmed to 20 candidates and then 10.
Morey met with Alexander several times for input.

"Mr. Alexander mainly wanted a smart guy," Morey said.

The Rockets ended up doing formal interviews with six candidates. All the first interviews lasted close to 10 hours. Kelvin Sampson's went 14.
Morey wrestled with the idea of hiring a former player versus a career coach.
His buddy, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge, feels strongly about having a distinguished former player as the coach and surrounding him with quality assistants to help with strategic preparation.

Ainge apparently believes no single coaching quality is more important than the leadership and credibility some former players bring.
Morey doesn't agree. He has high regard for Jeff Van Gundy and believes two other finalists, Lawrence Frank and Dwane Casey, would have been good hires.

But there was something about McHale. His charisma. His smarts. His desire to be a great coach and to learn.

"(Former Rockets personnel man) Dean Cooper worked with Kevin and believes he takes the best of his staff and the people around him," Morey said. "Kevin has a Midwestern feel about him. He's very upfront with people. He doesn't get offended.“

Morey had been impressed at how much McHale improved between his first and second stints as Timberwolves coach. The Wolves got better shots, had better defensive awareness, you name it.

Case closed

"There was massive improvement," Morey said.

Morey and the others became convinced they had their man. Alexander signed off, and McHale will be Introduced today at Toyota Center.

McHale's hiring is a gamble only in that he has spent so little time coaching. But there's no situation on the floor or locker room he hasn't witnessed, and in some cases, dealt with.

The Rockets have plenty of work to do on their roster, so the hiring of McHale is a step in the right direction with plenty more needed. But it's a significant step, and the Rockets hope, a lasting one.
richard.justice@chron.com

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/justice/rockets/7593306.html#ixzz1O66k0pdY
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[Chron] 20 hours worth of interviews +The Rockets' coach search process EXPOSED

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