COULD THIS HELP OUR FUTURE?

Could this new coach prevent injuries?
Could he cure Steve's migraines?
Could he heal Taylor and Rice?

The above list could go on and on

OK that was sarcatic but your post implies that Rudy knows nothing about "the new brand of Basketball". Has that much really changed that Rudy's 20+ years of experience is rendered obsolete. I don't buy it. This has been a tough season we have been beseiged by injuries , inexperience (rookies) and all around bad karma. I woudl fire the trainer before Rudy, I mean how is it that such a young team suffers so many physical maladies?

 

Dick Vitale
John Calipari
Rick Pitino

 

And what about the assistant coaches we have on board who have been putting in years of tenure? They get passed up by some new guy because he's more 'in touch' (btw, it isn't like college coaches are younger or even coach younger players -- they just don't coach any older players). And when this guy is groomed and ready to take the head coach job, shouldn't we get some new college coach to take the job instead -- certainly our guy we've been groooming will have lost touch with young players by the time he's ready to take the helm.

 

Yeah know, we keep hearing about what a job Rudy DOESN’T do with young guys or inexperienced guys every year. He took a ragtag team of veterans and new guys to the finals and won. Twice. The guy who gets all the praise was the veteran Dream, of course. But anyone worth his salt will tell you that the real task was to find some way of getting OT, Mad Max, Elie, Rookie Sam and a young Horry along with Carl Herrara, Kid Breaux and a few others blended just right into a World Champion Team.

I will accept and agree with your argument that some may need special attention to accelerate their game. They definitely need to be pushing for more concentration and execution. But if you are using this season as any indicator of Rudy’s status or that CD needs to relinguish his job remember two things:

1. What other coaching staff had it’s starting lineup decimated as much as the Rockets? Our starting center gone. Our starting Power Forward gone. Our three spot started out being held by a guy who was new to the team and hobbling on bad sticks. Now he's gone too. We can make the argument that … well we should not have done this(Dream) or that (Rice) …. But the point is - that is the team, that is what the roster is, and that is what sometimes happens. Change or moving your coaching staff doesn’t change the facts. Our point guard accumulates sick days like a retiring senior government official. We had an influx of kids, including a 19 year-old and a pair of 21 year olds in which we are forced to play, just to hold off the onslaught of a tough Western Conference. Then you turn around and have to start two of them. You have perennial under achievers who are contract stuck to your roster. You want the job?

2. All the coaching staff in the world would not be able to solve the Rockets toughest obstacle since mid November. A schedule that offered virtually no time to recoup and practice. No time to familiarize the rapidly changing court players with one another. No time to fix mistakes. Couple these obvious barriers with a decimated roster that required twelve or thirteen different starting combinations. Given that information in October, would you have bet with or against us having a 13 –29 record around All-Star break?

We still have problems, but we seem to have some fire under us. We still have the same holes in the roster, but new heroes are appearing. We still have a schedule of course, but there are some gaps coming up that will give some quality coaching/practice time to the team.

Let me guess … Griffin’s emergence is all talent. No coaching knowledge was required by the staff to get him there? Mmmmmmmmm.

Let’s bring in a guy who can solve all the problems we just mentioned, can fix the unfixable, can rid the roster of lame ducks, can individually teach each young player the finer points of the game. Learns the schemes and strategically plans them for each game. Then when he thinks he has the team in hand, stick him into the same schedule, pull three of his starters and listen to him tell you about why he hasn’t won Two World Championships.

Of course we could just hire Calipari or Pitino. Yeah they were the best of the best. They could really coach youngsters. Real teachers. Didn't last long did they?

Mmmmmmmmmmm.


I think I'll stick with the staff we have. Maybe add another couple trainers. Maybe a game strategist. But no replacement for the head coach yet.

 

I agree with Ole. Great points.

 

Can you please post messages in paragraphs. Im not going to try and read that blob!!

 

What year is this? 2002 What have you done for me lately? This is not the past, but the present. Are you here with me now? Good!

 

Pops said about all that needs to be said on the matter of Rudy and coaching changes. All I would add is that perhaps they should hire someone to help out with exercise programs and diet. Maybe some of them work out too hard in the off season who can say. Whichever the case I think that the Rocks should look into the players conditioning and physical care. Perhaps some closer monitoring and guidance could make a difference.

 

Jerry36:

Speaking of the past, OP has done quite a bit for us lately. Be careful questioning the BBS's most respected poster/analyst/informant.

He is right on the money, BTW.

dave feitl:

I got to the word "chemistry" in your second post and stopped reading, so forgive me if you hit on it later. Two things:

1) Separate your posts into paragraphs, please. People will read the first couple of lines and then move on to the next post if you don't.

2) How easy do you think it is to work on chemistry when half of your starting lineup have long-term injuries, and the other half is in-and-out?

Rudy is giving EG and TMo lotsa PT. He's keeping Cato in there, and that seems to be working. Steve & Cuttino (& Mooch) already have chemistry up the kazoo. What the hell else do you expect Rudy to do chemistry-wise?

 

I echo those sentiments. You're treading a thin line there, Jerry36, when it comes to pops.

 

While I agree with your overall assesment (go Rudy ), this paragraph somewhat confused me:

It seems to me that every team has a schedule similar to ours (not exactly of course). Also, many teams change their starting line-ups in the off-season or more frequently. Shaq, for example has been in and out of the starting line-up. To say it is to the extent of the Rockets would be crazy (heck, the comparison really isnt even a good one...a better one might be Orlando or Atlanta, but still not the the Rockets extent), but even given all that information, I still would have bet the Rockets would be at least around .500%.

Anyway, that paragraph almost seems to call for a longer training camp, or fewer games per week/season. Are these changes you would support?

 

Truth is, with all our injuries, we just are not a .500 team. There's no sense questioning our record. It's like asking why the Grizzlies aren't a .700 team when their players are producing good numbers. For a while, we were without 3 starters. Now, pick any team in the league. Remove the WORST 3 starters from their starting line-up, and let's see the difference. I kinda hoped we'd win more than one without Francis, and we coulda/shoulda. But fortunately, it seems Rudy is focusing on fine tuning the little things for next year. That's a good idea.


What we need is to hire a whole freaking Hospital to represent our medical staff. LOL!


Personally, I beleive we have a ll the pieces to be a contender, or very close. I think we have a team that, if healthy, can be 1st or 2nd in the East.

With the PT our younger players will receive, we'll only come out with a stronger bench next year.

 

Your expectations for this team are unrealistic. Contenders are not built overnight. I think a little perspective is needed.

It's already been pointed out that most college coaches that try to jump to the NBA suck. I'll throw out some names that haven't been mentioned -- PJ Carlesimo, Lonn Krueger, Tim Floyd.

 

True, you can type your opinion. But if your type includes a tone, be prepared to defend yourself.

 

Well said, Freak.

 

Post all you want to Jerry 36, but if your opinionis not based on logic, prepare for static.........