Sean sounds sad at the beginning, ha. Anyhow... Spoiler Whats happening? Not much. How you doing? Doing good. Something like this an activity driver on CF? Certainly. Everyone's hair is on fire at the moment. Not sure if people expected a decision that quick. A lot of fans upset. They thought he did a good job. Looked at it from that angle and thought he should stay. How upset is Rick if at all? I take a totally different approach. I dont want to say I like the move but I think its the right thing to do. Part of that is from Rick's persective. He should be coaching a contending team. It is similar to Ron Artest when he was a FA. Iffy if he was coming back or not. When Yao went down, forgone conclusion he wasnt coming back. Thats the way I feel here. Rick came here to lighten the load for the Rockets stars. He felt they would be able to use him to make McGrady/Yao more efficient. Thats the conditions when they brought him in. 4 years later, that era is over. I would personally like to see him coach a contending team. What you will remember the Rick Adelman era for? The 22 game win streak will be the one thing most will remember but right now, the job he did with very little. Yao pulled the rug out the last 2 years, no fault of his own. To have no stars and come out with a winning record the last 2 years in a brutal conference, shows how good of a coach he is. Rockets will miss him in that regard but I think there are other things that work, they know they need change going forward. As far as what he'll be remembered for, pulling out winning records these last 2 years. Where do you come out on the...where coaching fits into the importance pie in the NBA? Rick a great coach. We know. That said, on the list of things this offseason, is the coaching hire as important as upgrading the talent? No. Upgrading the talent the most important thing. Thats why I believe the Rockets will be better served with cheaper, younger coach that they can grow with and one who is open to things. Rick got his ways but issues in interacting with the FO, marketing issues, not one to do extra-curricular interviews. I think thats...they need to without a doubt make changes to this team. They need a coach who has a long term view rather than short term. What is your shopping list for next coach? Names that you think we will see pop up as well as names you think would be the best fit. The two we hear the most are Stan Van Gundy, who has a job, and Mike Brown. Personally I think both throw me off a bit. My opinion is that they'll go for a guy who hasnt had a HC position before and is hungry. Top assistant in SA is a guy many people talk about. Thats the kind of hire they'll probably go after. Not inside info there but I think the best fit for this team. Whats the....I said earlier, if you look at the Rockets, the core at the end of the year, if you were to give them grades, they probably all compared to expectations, grade out as average or better than average. I think most core played as good or better than expected. Also said Rick coached better than expected. So something wrong because not in the playoffs. People have given Morey some rope with the thing, given Yao/Tracy injuries. Is this the year that runs out for him? Now the pressure is on Daryl. Before you gave a leash because they had two stars and wasnt his fault they crumbled. No one is looking at Adelman as the fall guy for the team failures but they're recognizing they have to take a step back before they can get better. You can only duplicate these seasons so often and expect to make big changes. You really cant. Morey is now, its his team. People will focus on him because he got to make the changes to make this team better. With Adelman gone, pressure is definitely on him. Completely unrelated to Rockets, great first weekend of NBA playoffs. UNbelievable. Happy for Shane. Impressive 3 pter that beat the Spurs. My favorite for the start of the playoffs. Yeah. Which lower level teams in the West, they were all competitive, which do you give the best to pull of an upset? I would go Memphis. Zach Randolph, I've had a low opinion for some time now so hard to overcome that but he has played like an elite big man. Thats where Memphis could hurt the Spurs. They're still a longshot even after winning game one but that's where I'll pick for the upset. Where you....do you think he would, he did sign an extension, but would he have cured some things that ailed the Rockets? Good question. He has matured, become a better player but they got plenty of output from the 4 spot. They need a 5. You would want Gasol off Memphis. They need help at Center. Many say they're a Center away from contending but I'm not sure. If the Center was Howard, sure. Randolph would help but Center is where they need most help. Gasol a RFA. Think they make a run at him? Certainly on the list. Given Memphis did just sign Randolph. They may feel a crunch. GOnna be hard though. Appreciate the time as always. Talk again soon. Thanks for the time. You bet, thanks.
hsf09 thanks for recapping all of the interviews. I'm a little English hearing impaired so you're doing for me (and a lot of other foreigners) a great job. How are you doing this btw? Listening and typing?
No problem. Glad I can help out. And yeah, just typing and listening. I try to catch them all live but if not, podcasts work as well.
Hope I didnt mishear/mistype anything! Spoiler Welcome back Dave, how are you? Good, how are you? Good. ... Has Morey made final decision? Not final but surprising to fans that McHale is still standing. When I first heard the name, I was shocked. Maybe starting to make some sense of what they're trying to do, and thats get Finch experience. As a fan, you might pull for Casey. When will he pull the trigger? Certainly with Casey, hes in the playoffs. If McHale, very good question. You'd think they want a coach here shortly to be part of the draft. I would have to think in the next week or so we'll have a coach. How much of with McHale goes back to Morey being in Boston? Has more to do with McHale has NBA experience at NBA level. Thats what Finch lacks. McHale has experience everywhere. GM, assistant GM, part-time HC. He knows in and out the NBA and how franchises operate. McHale would tutor Finch to be the coach You hear it all the time in MLB, guys dont respect guys who havent played in the league. Is it the same in the NBA? I think it does matter and only reason McHale is still involved here. It plays a big role. If you bring Finch in and make him the Xs and Os guy, he got someone like McHale who commands respect from the players because what he has accomplished. It does play a role. After a year or two, Finch would have the experience and know the players. Do we know what kind of coach McHale is? I dont think we know. He was 19-12, didnt coach long. Some former players havent said great things about him. Wont sit down and draw up winning play. Reminds me honestly of Rudy T hire. Not exactly the same but he was accomplished player, and he could relate to players. Thats what McHale brings. As far as Xs and Os, I wouldnt call it a great hire. Are they thinking about McHale and bringing him in to go get a guy or guys, and a guy people want to play for? It will help in a lot of ways. Morey has some experience with McHale. Made Mike James trade in 07 with him. If he was to come on and Finch was brought on as coach. I think you would see McHale move into a role as consultant or in the FO. Odds not McHale? I dont know. I think Rockets are undecided still myself. I put a lot of stock into that report but think it could be Casey as well. Cant tell you though honestly. They have a lot of respect for Finch. With what we saw last night, was that vet team taking it and young team melting and was this a necessary step OKC has to take to get to the finals later on? Sam Presti great GM. If they fall, I think they make a tweak or two. Theyll be good for a long time. Longtime Rockets fans can go back and relate to last night. Thats a painful loss last night. They'll learn from it. Dallas and Miami painful to watch for Rockets fan but interesting. How would Adelman do in LA? Real well. I think you give him a guy like Artest who he coached before, and experienced guys, I think he would do very well there. He would help out there and they wouldnt lose much/a beat. JVG? Van Gundy, I wonder. Hes a D coach. Not big on O or doesnt design the greatest O. Not sure right fit. Adelman better fit. Thanks You bet.
hsf09 Thank you for the recap. Great job as always. Say can you save us lazy bastards some time and send it to us by mental telepathy. Thanks
Ha, has nothing to do with me hating anyone or anything. One person said they were a a little English hearing impaired and they were glad I could help them out. Jokes carried on from there. I have nothing against anyone or anything. Nothing like that.
