Deuce - I had read (but forgotten) that article on Musselman, and now that I have re-read it, I truly believe that if the Rockets don't get on a serious run over the next 10 days that Golden State will pass both Houston and Phoenix and make the 8th seed. Then I want to hear what kind of lame-ass excuse Rudy comes up with. I mean even when he gives interviews he sounds like a player talking: "Well, I told the guys that this is something each one of them needs to figure out for themselves, it's something mental that we all have to figure out...we're just not getting it done right now..." These are all paraphrases of Rudy comments that I've heard or read. The guy is absolutely clueless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Alvin Gentry was just fired from the Clippers. Granted, Gentry doesn't have the same history with that team as does Rudy with the Rox. But the GM basically said that although the move was difficult, and he and Alvin really get along, he felt that Gentry wasn't reaching the players, and they needed to make a change. I wonder if this will be the same story for Rudy.
Don't forget the immortal "We're a young team" excuse. You know, the one we've been hearing for 4 years now. The Rockets are under-achieving, the warriors are over-achieving. The championships were great, but all era's come to an end. Someone should tell Les.
I was about to post the same thing about the Warriors/Rockets. The Warriors are clearly over-achieving and Musselman has to get the credit for bringing a fresh attitude to the team. The players are playing for him. They are young but they are meeting their level of achievment. The Rockets have some pretty nice talented players. Are they young? No question. But they are underachieving. The players aren't responding to Rudy. Maybe it is the players fault? Maybe Rudy can't get through to them? It is possible. I am not advocating firing Rudy, but I do belive the team is underachieving in general. Have Francis, Mobley and Griffin improved from last year? Exactly! I am willing to give the team one more season. This is Yao's rookie year and we are basing our new offense around Yao. It takes time. This team should be able to adjust and gel by this time next year and we will have a better feel for where the team is at. As I said in a number of other posts. This will be a VERY important offseason for the Rockets. Maybe not so much in terms of player transactions but by PERSONAL player GROWTH. Griffin, Mobley, Francis, Nachbar etc. They have to grow, improve and make strides! Chris
For all those who don't buy "we are a young" team because the Spurs are "young" or the Warriors are "young" and they are doing well, remember that the most consistent player (somedays, even he's not playing well), is Ming. And don't forget that the kid is 22, from China and labelled the "biggest bust in history" before he started playing well here. But guys, he's still a rookie and he cannot carry the team. As for Francis, he's what he is, INJURED! How would you like to hurt your back and have to run full speed up and down the court and jumping over people. He's trying but sometimes, it's not enough when the other guys on the floor is off (in a big way). Steve does not have the highest basketball IQ in the league but he has heart and IS playing hard. As for Rudy the coach, he's doing all he can, and everyone here is blaming him for the bad play of the team. It is his fault for signing Moochie to a long term contract and for signing Kato and Taylor to their long term contract. And he's not subing like the way fans like. But there is a reason for his madless. He is the coach and he has more inside info on the players then the fans. Lots of people here wonder why Taylor is not starting over Griffin? He will not do that unless Griffin is hurt. Is the team missing Kenny Thomas? Likely but like they say, somone had to go and if the Rockets traded away Eddie, we would be screaming bloody murder if the Rockets didn't get a very good player back. Griffin for Posy would not have cut it. And Taylor's contract made any trade undoable. BTW, Posy is stinking up the court on the offensive side and not looking good on the defensive side right now. Is it Rudy's fault for getting Posy? Did any of you listen to the Rudy show last Friday, he said the right things but it's the growing pains of starting a rookie, a second year 20yr old and a new "defensive guy" in the front court that is really making things hard for the team. Too bad Rice cannot defend well enough to get his starting spot back. Bottomline, Rudy is not leaving the team this or next season. HOWEVER, if the Rockets miss the playoff badly, (ie, instead of just miss at 9th, they end up 11th or 12th behind Golden State, Seattle, etc.) then the "lost of face" would be so bad it might force the owner to do something to Rudy.
Two years ago the 'stars' were younger, but winnier. Now they appear whinier and still 'younger'. The players can play well enough to represent large at the ASG. The coaches have won titles. However -- Sorry, Houston, we have a problem. It's the players. Or it's the coaches. I suspect this group needs reinforcements and a new staff.
You'll never catch me accusing Stevie of not playing hard or not playing with heart for that matter. Yes, he AND Cat are hurting but the Rockets have been under-achieving all year (losses to Cavs, Heat, Clippers etc.) not just the last few weeks. The guards aren't playing smart (see other 50,000 posts on this subject) and that begs the question is it their fault or Rudy and his video coordinators....er, assistants fault? I'm not saying we should FIRE RUDY because he's a horrible coach. That's just stupid. I just think this is a different team than the championship teams (really?) and we may need a different kind of coach with a real staff, not a bunch of former video coordinators.
Yes, we are out of the playoffs for 4 years. But nobody seems to point to the fact that we missed the playoffs by a hair as a WINNING team two years ago. With what? A second year point guard, half of the Dream--both literally (he missed about half of the games) and figuratively (his per game production dropped to about half his normal)--and a power forward from the Losers. . . uh. . Clippers, and a bunch of role players. That team was clearly overachieving. Who's credit should that go? Now, people are using that overachieving standard and turn it back to judge this year's team and blame it on Rudy. You see the logic?
Agreed. I think that 45 win team a couple of years ago WAS over achieving. And personally, I think the Western Conference has gotten BETTER over the last few years. So it is tougher this year for this squad. But I still believe that this team is underachieving only so much as personal growth for each player hasn't been realized. Chris
True, but if you're saying that team had less talent than our current team, then shouldn't the current team have a BETTER record? If you're saying the team 2 years ago had more talent than it does now, I guess the franchise is going backward not forward. Either way, something needs to change.
What I am trying to say is: people point to the fact that we missed the playoffs 4 years in a roll and say, "It must be the coach's fault." Well, if when the team is not playing well, it's the coach's fault, then when the team was overachieving, who's credit was it? Are you saying that Rudy has turned from a great coach into a moron in two years? The Rudy hatas always say, "Don't tell me about the 2 championships. Tell me what he has done with this group of talent." Well, tell me what he has done with the group of non-talent two years ago. It is clearly not just as simple as "It's Rudy's fault, fire him." Are we using the overachieving standard to judge this year's team and say they are underachieving? Can it be that we are not over or underachieving, just achieving what they are supposed to be? What was the preseason prediction for this team?
