It doesn't take a conspiracy theory, just an open analysis of everything that has been said. No way is this any more than 50% RT's decision. Three weeks ago, he was too excited about getting back to what he loved. Les Alexander's absence (and hastily arranged "media availability") also speak volumes about the arrangement. I do think there was more than a kernel of truth in "wanting to get away from the stress," and wanting to be "a soldier rather than a general," but where was that stress coming from? It is also a lot easier to be a general if the commander-in-chief has your back.
You think the stress might have been coming from four crappy seasons and legions of fans bashing him after every other game? I don't claim innocence, it was time for a change. Sometimes that has to be done.
With all due respect, there was at worst two "crappy seasons," both brought about by injuries to players pencilled in as significant parts of the system. Missing the playoffs is disappointing, but a record above .500 cannot be considered a "total failure." Perhaps it is "time for a change," but this organization is headed for another lottery season. One only need look at the baseball team, where "underperforming" resulted in a new manager that (for two seasons at least) has made the club WORSE.
How can you compare the Stros to the Rockets? the only thing they have in common are the same crotchety fans. When have the stros won anything? Dierker was well liked but not improving the team. Rudy at least won a couple rings before falling into the same pattern. With Rudy we're gerunteed another season of low tempo iso ball designed for aging stars. There would continue to be no player development and we would get another chance at the lottery. Without Rudy: how can you make any judgements seeing as neither you nor anybody else on this board know who the next coach will be, how the players will respond to him and what the energy level of the team will be?
Alexander reluctant to let Rudy T go By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Rockets owner Leslie Alexander described what he wanted in a new coach, then stopped himself. Instead of a new coach, he said, he wanted his old coach. "Unfortunately," Alexander said, "Rudy is not available." Alexander had reached an agreement Friday for Rudy Tomjanovich, the only coach he has had since purchasing the Rockets in 1993, to step down. But Alexander said he would have wanted Tomjanovich to continue to serve as the Rockets' head coach had Tomjanovich not wanted to avoid the stress. "We spoke," Alexander said. "He said, `The truth is, Les, I don't want to coach anymore. The doctors told me stress could hurt me in the long term.' " Alexander said he called Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson late last week to ask about Tomjanovich as part of his planned evaluations of the team. Alexander said he and Dawson began talking "about how to get this team going." Tomjanovich, who has been undergoing treatments for bladder cancer that was diagnosed March 18, said he decided to move into a consultant's position. He is scheduled for a second biopsy next month to determine if his six outpatient sessions removed the tumors. When asked if he would have considered a coaching change had Tomjanovich's health not been an issue, Alexander said: "No. Of course not. "I said after the season I was going to evaluate everything. When his treatments were over (May 15), I called C.D. to see how he was feeling. He said we should make Rudy part of the evaluations (process). Was it a big surprise? It surprises you. But nothing was out of the realm of possibility."
I am so tired of the "iso ball" canard. It isn't true. This organization last year ran fewer isos than 95% of the teams in the NBA. You can complain about ending up in one-on-ones, but the "clear the floor and let me do my thing" play was a very infrequent occurance this season. How can I make judgements on next year? The cap situation has not changed. There are limited personnel moves that can be made. There is no doubt this club is not the smartest in the league, and adjusts slowly. Even with a full training camp for Yao Ming, I simply don't see them being able to shift gears quickly enough. A hole will be dug, probably one deep enough to bury them by midseason.
so its your contention that a coach and his staff make no difference? I feel we had the talent to be much better but failed to utilize them, that would be a coaching change. These guys need to know that they've got to improve and play with some fire night in and night out. With Rudy I didn't see that on the floor. We didn't clear out the sides, true. We just run iso plays from the crowd instead to ensure that there will be double and triple teams. We walked the ball up the court and dribbled around until 1 player had to heave up a shot at the end of the clock. That is still iso ball, not the Barkley or Hakeem ball you are refering to, but still Iso. 1 player makes all the moves, 1 player takes the shot. No passing, no movement. It was the guards fault and it was Rudy's for letting them do it. I expect that will change now but I can't do more than guess until we have a coach, a staff and training camp. I don't know how anybody could.
Dierker did win plenty. The Astros won their division several times with Dierker at the helm. The only problem was that after Dierker left, the team won less, and actually went backwards by not even making the playoffs.
Dierker won the division several time, much like having the best record in a division in basketball. They ever make the series? My point was that its an invalid comparrison, different sport, different salary structure, different developmental leagues... Look, I didn't support the firing of Dierker, I actually liked his style but felt team was too cheap to compete for the big time free agents, no cap in baseball. Money isn't always the answer (see the Twins..) but it helps. For that matter I hate the new stadium but it beats the Astrodome.... I've got little hope the Stros will ever win the series so I root for them to win the individual games but the Rockets are a different story.
