ESPN - Possible Coaching Changes : Rudy among them?

edit the link, guy. we'll have to cut and paste otherwise.

 

link does not work

 

bwahahahaha!!! take that you prc's good news. thanks for the link.

 

The article talks about potential coaches on the outs. Here's the text for Rudy:
----------------------------

Rudy Tomjanovich

It seemed startling to me when I first heard that Tomjanovich could be fired, in part because other than Jerry Sloan -- whom we'll get to later -- I have always considered Tomjanovich an NBA institution, beloved by all. However, when your team becomes the first since the 1978 Boston Celtics and only the sixth team in NBA history to have two All-Stars starters -- Steve Francis and Yao Ming -- and not make the playoffs, well, it raises speculation.

That the All-Star starter stuff may be more of a commentary on the overall knowledge of All-Star Game voters is undeniable. Bbut that Rudy T does not seem willing or able to rein in the backcourt exploits of Francis and especially Cuttino Mobley, who appeared to ignore Yao in the end and shoot as freely and unapologetically as two fellas named Odai and Qusay, is a problem that cannot be ignored for much longer.

At the end of the season, Rockets owner Les Alexander, who once said this team was "one of the greatest ever assembled," declined to endorse Tomjanovich, saying, "I'm going into this thinking my primary goal is to have a stable franchise. To have stability means having people working with you awhile. We'll leave it at that."

Told he was not exactly imbuing Tomjanovich with confidence and support, Alexander said: "Well leave it at that."

It would be difficult, at least publicly, for Alexander to fire Tomjanovich, in part because Rudy is recovering from bladder cancer and in part because Tomjanovich still is owed $12 million. But clearly, something is amiss in Houston, and if the coaching staff is not changed, then the coaching staff's coaching style is going to have to change.

 

VAN GUNDY= NEW ROCKETS COACH?

Answer: No.

I can't see Les firing Rudy, especially now that he is going to Europe to scout.

 

pregro sounds kind of sexual

 

Fox:


what if rudy is going to be moved up in the organization? then going to europe would be fine, right?

 

Maybe its like ya buy a guy a nice dinner before ya wack him!


(also sounds sesual)

 

The thread title is misleading...Hughes does not mention Van Gundy as a possible replacement if Rudy gets fired.

 

Perhaps they sent him to Europe, to get him out of the picture for a month or so.

That would give them enough time to re-evaluate the coaches/players/management. .

Maybe Les wants to bring in some consultants, like in a troubled business, that can give him a new opinion of what is wrong with his team.

 

Replacements?


From same ESPN article

And so, with so many openings possible, we turn our attention to who is -- or will be -- available. And only three names really surface: Paul Silas, Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Fratello.
There are rumors that Silas could end up in Toronto, but if he does not, he could go to an already established vacancy: Charlotte, which begins play in two seasons.

Van Gundy's name has been linked with the Clippers, but Sterling never has wanted to pay the type of salary that Van Gundy likely would command. And Fratello's name hasn't really surfaced anywhere, but he remains a candidate just because he can coach.

Other retreads -- that is NOT a negative connotation -- include Randy Wittman, Jim Cleamons and Lucas. Eddie Jordan, an assistant in New Jersey, is a hot name, and he is likely to get a job somewhere. An interesting question is whether anybody would be willing to hire P.J. Carlesimo, who certainly has the credentials, but also the battle scars. Cleamons, Phil Jackson's long-time assistant, is another possibility. And, more than likely, you will see assistants like Seattle's Dwane Casey and Toronto's Craig Neal given opportunities, based on the successes of Musselman and Bzdelik.

If anything, those two have shown that you don't have to hire proven commodities to find a good coach. You simply need to have confidence that you have found the right person.

 

First, Hughes is speculating off the same story -- and lack of Rocket owner follow up I have 'screamed' about for days in another thread. Shouldn't the Rudy situation be settled one way or another yet?

Second, if Rudy moves up, wither CD? Rudy built this squad would a new coach from OUTside the Rox be comfortable with Rudy 'looking over his shoulder'?

Finally, Rudy's European Adventure is fine -- if the docs say so, I guess.

 

Maybe, but would you really move a guy up, hire a new coach, and then NOT let the coach make player decisions? I can't really see any good coach taking a gig in which Rudy and CD make the personnel decisions and the coach would catch all the blame for the players performance when we miss another playoff.

 

That would be interesting. Larry Brown goes to Rudy: Hey Rudy. Glad we got Snow. How bout an extension for him?

Rudy : K.

Rudy : Hey, Snow's agent ? How about 20 years, 750 million? We can always add more. Great! Love the heart! Larry? Done deal!

Larry : D'oh!

 

Fox:


yea. that's true. i guess if you're gonna get riddy of rudy you have to extract him completely.

 

Ok, maybe it's just me, but I simply cannot see the Rockets, assuming Rudy is fired, leaves or moves upstairs, hiring a guy who got canned by the Knicks and has spent the last couple seasons in broadcasting the year they move into a brand new arena. If you are going to replace a local sports icon the first year in a new arena, you sure as hell better have someone better than Jeff Van Gundy as his replacement.

The average casual fan would likely respond with "Jeff Van Who?" Chances are, most of the casual fans would find the move less than encouraging.

Besides, Van Gundy (no offense to him) is a sideways move at best. If you want to move UP from Rudy T, you'll have to do better than Van Gundy.