I am amazed at how many people who are frequent readers but rairly post are posting in this thread. I would give him an A- All things considered is it doing a pretty good job. Look for the Rockets to make the second round next year. ------------------ ~John~ I am not just the president I am also a member of CA. Houston NHL
A+ Yes he has tried some strange lineups, and yes he has not gotten on the kids enough, but I love the way he has transitioned this team in one short year. We went from an aging team that was trying to win one last time, to an up and coming team with a very bright future. We lost more games to injuries to key players than any team I can remember. The best thing is that Rudy kept them learning and playing hard. I can not think of one other coach that gets this much out of his players in a lost season. GO ROCKETS...and GO RUDY !!! DaDakota ------------------
DaDakota!!!! He expects a lot, but has patience. Sounds like Rudy. Maybe that's why he likes what Rudy has done...in....should we say it again ....1 ONE SHORT YEAR!!!! I tell you Dreamer; your post is contradicting itself. How can we say stuff like Walt should have been benched much earlier, when Rudy did indeed bench him, and Walt is now shooting 56% over the LAST 13 GAMES!!!! Back seat driving is one thing. But after the car is parked in the best spot available, you don't keep b****ing about not taking the parking spot available a block away. [This message has been edited by heypartner (edited April 10, 2000).]
The Magic are in the Eastern conference, yet I'm not sure how much more lowly the East really is after Portland and LA. Miami, Indiana, and NY are all at least as talented as Utah, imo. Philadelphia, Charlotte, and Toronto are all formidable as well. Let's also note that the West has more "completely awful" teams than the East. The West contains Golden State, the Clips, and The Grizzlies (none have won more than 25 games), while the East has only Chicago in that category. What you then get, is that the two best teams are in the West, but after that... the middle is relatively equal, and the lottery teams are actually better in the East. Note that I said they wouldn't have made the playoffs regardless (dream_team was completely in error when he claimed otherwise-read posts before you respond to them). I merely think they should have been more of a challenge. I think this team had the talent to win half its games. Why didn't we? 1. A failure to sufficiently incorporate Shandon in the offense early on ( 2. Bizarre substitution patterns (anyone else ever wonder why certain players played so much in the 4th? I know this annoyed others as well) 3. Stubborn insistence on the dump-it-down. Yes, I understand the argument that it was necessary, but I don't agree-sometimes trial by fire is best. I think it would have sped Houston's development to let them try other things. 4. Signing Cato to such a huge deal before the season - he probably wasn't worth the money in any event, but he might have played with more fire had he not already been assured a fat contract). 5. Playing Matt Bullard in the 4 and 5 slots at times. Bullard got hot for like 5 games, and "earned" a solid place in the rotation for months, even after he failed to be effective. ------------------ [This message has been edited by haven (edited April 10, 2000).]
I think you can actually put all the blame on Rudy if he was the one on the court taking shots. He is NOT responisble for Hakeem's hernia and breathing problems and he is not responsible for Charles's injury. Those injuries are why we are in the lottery, not Rudy's coaching. If it weren't for Rudy, we wouldn't have a lot of the young talent that we have today, I think he's done a fine job. ------------------ If the Rockets had drafted right...and made the right trades they could have had Jordan, Hakeem, and Drexler on the same team...the whole time...REALLY!! Then I woke up to reality.
haven, as of this morning Minnesota (6th in the West) had the same record as NY (3rd in the East) or 47-29. I give Rudy 95.00% out 100% Adversity: 20 out of 20 Attendance: 10 out of 10 Hygiene: 9 out of 10 Inspiration: 10 out of 10 Leadership (subtle difference): 17 out of 20 Play knowledge/diagramming: 29 out of 30 Incidentally, he missed the extra credit question (5 points): Is it cool to steady your drink in one hand while you're coaching the team from the sidelines? ------------------
Yes, but much of the year they were without Ewing or Camby. When they're all active, I'm not sure they're any worse than San Antonio. Besides, I did admit that LA and Portland are easily the class of the league. I said the "middle" of each conference is equivalent. So, subtract LA and Portland, and Minnesota is 4th... compared to NY being 3rd. ------------------ [This message has been edited by haven (edited April 10, 2000).]
This was a losing season. And it was Rudy's fault. Why? Why not? If the injuries were to younger players, then I could understand, but these were old players with a history of injury, and to blame them for the season is a cop out. And they werent even doing all that well when they were healthy anyways. Im looking at the ends. No playoffs. Sure there is a great future, but that doesnt help this season. And Im not saying to fire Rudy. He just doesnt deserve a great grade. For this season. There was also some really strange substitution patterns. IMHO. ------------------ And with the number one pick in the draft, the Rockets select ... Khalid Al Amin?
It would be easy to give a good grade now, after having three of our best victories in a row, playing our best team ball yet. But somebody bring this thread back up on the 20th after the last Vancouver game. There may be only five games left, but a lot could happen. This team has been so schizoid that I could see us going out on a five game losing streak, or a five game winning streak. If we end on a winning note, I will be pretty much convinced that all the players have bought Rudy's 'system' and Rudy must be blamed for our success. ------------------
F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F F an effe I say! Bottom line - the Rockets are not in the playoffs, so this season sucked. And it is ALL Rudy's fault. Period. Exclamation point! Now everyone needs to take summer school and hopefully pass the finals exam next year. Question? ------------------ And with the number one pick in the draft, the Rockets select ... Khalid Al Amin?
All the shots directed at RudyT made a bad season worse. Why do you bafoons take shots at an all time ROCKETS member? PURE IGNORANCE Is the season to be blamed on Rudy, or the horrible inconsistency,injuries,and inexperience? Bottom Line- Rudy T. gets a 'U' for untouchable. ------------------ We would like to get rookie Francis on the break for some easy scoops in the first quarter...
ONE, DUKE is not hellucanating, so just stop saying that! It is UNTRUE. Not \ TRUTH. DUKE was thinking how TRUTH is a elusive thing, it swirls like COLORS, pretty colors, OOOOOOH look at DUKE's fingers, they are wavy.... wavy.... wavy.... wavy... wheeeeeeeeeee ooo a ------------------ A HOUSE is not a HOME if it is ON FIRE.
79 Reasons for being low. 1) Too many extended losing streaks 2) Not reay to play at start of season 3) Not in playoffs 4) Turnovers are down 1 per game over last ten days, but still at 16.3 over last ten days. 5) Steals are scarce. Reasons for merit 1) All current starters are new rockets 2) The top five contributers from last year are gone with injuries or trades. 3) Mobley is team veteran. I think he's a good player, but this is a lot of responsibility for a young player, especially one from the second round. 4) Last ten games the rockets have shown tremendous improvements over season averages. Five playoff teams are in this period. Top FG%, and points Top 10 FG% defense, rebounding, blocks, assists, FT%, 3pt % ------------------ Moochie hear no evil Moochie speak no evil Moochie see no evil
Ckid - First thing: I envy your number of posts considering we joined at the same time. Second thing: You can't make the playoffs every year, I dont think, and win championships. I mean, where the hell are the Pistons going, and they have gotten into the playoffs every year since whenever. Sometimes rebuilding takes some sack, and sometimes that means knocking some things down - playoff appearances - to help the long term health of the team. I want Rudy at the helm of this project for sure. He is clearly revitalized by the new challenge, and he is just the man for this job. Who would be better? CBrownFanClub ------------------
CBFC 1st- dont be, probly half my posts were in jest but look at Heypard - I think I started posting around relatively the same time and he has a HUGE total. BTW, I am looking forward to the launch of your site. 2nd- I want to keep Rudy too. I think he is a good coach. And I dont think the Rockets could find anyone better. But IMO, the coach is responsible for the outcome of the season. If a team cannot pump in enuff wins to make the playoffs, then to me, that is not a successful season. Perhaps my standards are a wee bit high, but that's how they are. Its alot easier to give Rudy a great grade now, after all the big wins recently, but what about blowing it to the Cavs? Or the infamous all-guard lineup? This was a great year for experience, but I still think the Rockets could have made a much stronger push for the playoffs than they did, and for that I fault Rudy. But the future is looking brite, and Im pretty sure that with a little more tweaking, the Rockets could pass the FINALS exam in a few years. Under the helm of Rudy T. ------------------ And with the number one pick in the draft, the Rockets select ... Khalid Al Amin? [This message has been edited by CriscoKidd (edited April 11, 2000).]
HR...lol! Yeah, you're right. It is better to remain in the Big Race than to find the best parking spot. But, you know, Barkley wanted out to go to a bar anyhow. Staying in the Big Race argument I recall was most championed by Popeye in his early call to make trades, specifically to get Walt, Drew, Tmass out of here. Let's say Popeye pulls the unbelievable and lands Mo and Kandi, and we don't miss a beat and make another humble showing in the playoffs. That playoff showing would be due to more talent (helping us handle the injuries), but does that really increase your grade. Depends how well he does in the playoffs to suit the level of talent you think he has. IMO, chemistry is the one thing an NBA coach can add to his players. They already know how to play the game (most of them), so you just need them to agree on a system and embrace it as their own. In a nutshell, that's what I call chemistry. For that reason, I give Rudy top billing, even though I agree with the strange substitution critique. I tend to back off heavy criticism of substitution patterns when we find he has achieved excellent chemistry. Coaches sometimes have to use the bench and doghouse to get a response from a player. Rudy managed that pretty well. But the main reason I give him top billing for coaching offense, Is how he handled Two Sandwiches. Not many coaches would have fired such a valuable talent, so quickly. That was the turning point in our season.
I was one of those guys thinking Rudy knows only one kind of system. I have to give him an A for the way he handled this team this year. I am realizing now why a lot of talented players like to play for Rudy, he is truly a player's coach. Future is bright, keep the faith! ------------------
