Here in NYC, people can't tolerate anything that resembles rebuilding. Rebuilding is blasphemy. Especially with ticket prices being what they are in all 4 sports. That being said, we are lucky the Rockets are in H-Town. Not that many rabid fans...except around this BBS. So, I ask you this question. Hypothetically speaking...if the Rocks go 38-44, if Ming plays well but has problems adjusting, if Francis has a good year but can't get used to a big man, if things go wrong and everyone is relatively healthy, would you be pissed to the point where you start calling for Rudys job? This would be year 4 of no playoffs if that happens and possibly a sub-par season considering the talent. Rudy has talent. No doubt. Personally, I think generally we are going in the right direction. But chemistry might be an issue. And Rudy has Taylor, Griffin, Thomas all fighting for the 4 spot. We have Griffin, Thomas, Rice, Nachbar and God knows who else fighting for the 3. Mobley doens't believe in passing and defense is non existant the last few years. Would you have confidence in Rudy to turn it around SOON? Or do we say its year 3 of the 7 year plan that has been extended 4 years due to injuries, retirements and trades? This process could be weighing down fans who are tired of seeing the Lakers dominate every year. Well all want to win, don't we? Freak said in one post a while back that he won't be surprised if the Rocks don't see another championship in the next 10 years. Could that be in store for the Rocks? Should we accept how good we had it and cherish that and be satisfied that not everyone wins ONE let alone TWO championships in their organization? BACK TO BACK in dramatic fashion no less. So, how to react? Pissed? Continue to think we are headed in the right direction? Happy? Sad? Indifferent?
I just can't see us being under .500 considering we were close to .500 last year with Francis starting even though he still suffered from some migranes in some of those games.
Agreed. Barring injuries to 3 or 4 of our starting 5, there is no excuse for not making the playoffs. Portland had loads of talent, but no chemistry at all. They still made the playoffs. WE should too.
Realistically, we should have made the playoffs two years ago, and would have in the east (in fact if we were in the east that year our record would have been even better than it was due to competition). Last year injuries gutted our chances at the playoffs, i.e. MT, Rice, Steve (didn't we have 15 straight losses without Steve?). Even if we didn't get Ming and Boki this year we should make it with a healthy team. Throw in an improved and more polished Griff, Oscar, and TMo, a signed and full training camp Mooch, and hopefuls Tito, Mickeal, and Brown, and we better at least get to the 8th spot in the west and run about even with the 4 spot in the east - minimum!
No no....Don't gut the team, but I'd definately like to see a coaching change. I love Rudy, he's my favourite coach. But he may not be suited to THIS team. About this not winning a championship thing. There are 29 teams, and only one wins. Technically speaking, in the next ten years, if a different etam wins every year, then 19 teams still won't see a championship in the next 10 years. (or am i calculating wrong?). Anyways, you get the idea. BUT, having won 2 chamionships, it's different. For Golden State, for example, maing the playoffs would be HUGE. It would be a milestone for their team. But for us, making the playoffs is a step to the championship, and I don't think Les will ever settle for a team that he believes can't win the championship. He won't settle for "2nd best". He's just as spoilt as us, and only a 3-peat will top his past accomplishments, so there's more ambition on this side. Do you guys see where I'm going? We've reached a very high point, and the owner can only top that by going one further. So ambitions are high. That's a good thing.
This is a much improved and different lineup than last year: 2001-2 5 Cato, Willis 4 KT, EG 3 Wiz, TMo, Langhi 2 Cat, Oscar, occasionally Steve 1 Steve (1/2 time), Mooch (starts about 1/3 time), Tierre 2002-3 5 Yao, Cato, Collier 4 MT, EG, KT 3 Rice, KT, Boki, Mickeal 2 Cat, Steve, Oscar, Tito, Mickeal, Boki 1 Steve, Mooch, Tito, Tierre Of course everyone on this year's list won't make the rotation or maybe even the team, but the depth and talent on this year's team and the fact EG, KT, Steve and even Cato have more experience, combined with Steve being healthy should catapult us to the playoffs. Throw in the new additions of Rice, MT, Yao, Boki, Tito, and maybe Mickeal and that's a major upgrade.
good post...except for that stupid mobley comment you made. but, to answer your question, i think rudy would get one more year then be axed. as in axed to leave! rudy, imo, is not the right coach for this team, but i AM willing to give him the opportunity to try. i just wish he'd punch steve in the stomach for not running with the damn ball!
I wouldnt say making the playoffs this year is on lock but i know we can grow into a championship team... Rudy can bring this team to its highest... New faces and rosters on this team takes time and different stradegies to win the game.. so IMO if the Rockets cant make the playoffs this year..i wouldnt be pissed.. but if we dont make it next year than changes has to be made.
Dang you sure gave the team a chance to grow and gel. Rudy should get one more year after this. I agree with what verse says (except the Rudy not being right part). Mobley will pass the ball this year, and I do wish someone would slap Francis next time he decides to walk the ball up.
man, this is a depressing thread. Who would want to discuss on injury-free, no excuse, failure year that could only happen if Francis refuses to play ball with Ming (like Marbury/Garnett), or Ming is a bust? Are you morbid by nature Almu, or is it all the depressing New York Mets fans that got you thinking of a hypothetical piss-poor season. Only 38 wins with no injuries...NO CHANCE!!!!! GO ROCKETS!
You indicated that there was a chemistry problem. In this senario between Francis and Yao Ming then I would expect Rudy to trade Francis for a true Point Guard that could play with a big man. If Rudy did not do this then a change would be called for! I know, that Rudy knows, how to get Francis and Yao Ming on the same page and this situation sounds likea NEW YORK problem not a Houston one!!
Everyone wants to get rid of Rudy but tell me someone out there who can do a better job than Rudy. There is no one out there who can do it. The only coaches that people argue are better than Rudy are Phil and Pat and Larry and maybe Lenny. I hate Phil and I would rather die first than to see him in Houston. Look at what Pat is doing in Miami and that should be a reason why Houston should not want him. Larry can't get along w/ anybody and his hard nosed style of play does not match the finesse type play of Eddie Griffin or Yao Ming. I just don't see Larry ending up in Houston Texas of all places. Lenny can win just about every darn regular season game but cannnot win in the postseason. Now Rudy T. is the greatest coach to ever coach the game of basketball. He was one of the reasons why the Rockets won those 2 championships. Now these last couple of years, I ll admit Rudy has not made some of the wisest choices, but who in the NBA has'nt made their fair shares of mistakes. Now once he's rebuilded the team people want to get rid of him even before the season starts. I'm tired of all you fans who ride Rudy T's back during the championship years and now when the rebuilding years are here, you are the first to say fire Rudy. Give the guy a chance and have you ever thought that it's not the coach but the players. Look at how he developed Cuttino Mobley from a second round pick to a lethal weapon. And when you see Eddie this season it should be more than reason enough to keep his job. I love Rudy T. and I will never support any other coaches. Note to all the Rudy bashers: STOP BEING FAIR WEATHER FANS. One more thing the day Rudy is fired from the job is the day the Rockets will lose one of their biggest fans. Kapaya 4ever baby
That's exactly why it will be so difficult to make the playoffs again this year. None of the top 9 teams from two seasons ago have changed too drastically, although you have to think that Utah is out of gas by now. Throw in a much improved Clippers team, and this conference is just ridiculous. You gotta knock a couple people off just to make the playoffs. HP is right, it IS depressing. On the other hand, you have to believe that this season will be infinitely better than last. So many things have gone right since then, this is really a different team. As to Almu's question, if we really underacheive THAT much, and that kind of failure is very obvious, then I think we have to consider a coaching change. I'm really not a big fan of the way that Rudy coach's underacheivers. It's one thing to have faith in people and to let them do there thing, but at some point, they walk all over you. We're dangerously close to that. I hope he can maintain his authority status with these kids. They need a solid leader.
You can argue that Doc Rivers, Byron Scott, George Karl in that category as well. Hell maybe even O'Brien.
There is going to be no chemistry problem with this team. The players will need some time together, yes. But as soon as Steve sees Yao pump his fist after a great play, all will be well in the Rockets' world. We should make the playoffs. Only major injuries will prevent that. Whatever happens, Rudy is safe, for better or worse, for at least two more years. As Dan Quayle was impeachment insurance for George Herbert Walker Bush, Yao is Rudy's security blanket. For now.
Almu, if we go 38-44 with a healthy team this year... It's just not going to happen. We'll get into the playoffs with the players we have if they stay healthy. We have the depth to handle the odd nagging injury. We have two rookies that have pro experience overseas that I think will contribute A LOT once their feet are on the ground. The people coming back from injuries, using your assumption that they are healthy (I keep using that word, last year was such a nightmare), will make a huge difference. And I see competition for spots by TALENT to be a good thing, not a negative. It's depth. Having said that, I wish CD and Rudy would add to the staff a new coach or two. Some people to help shake things up a little and impart some fresh ideas and personality. To also take some of the load off the current staff. Ala Dallas. Without getting rid of the assistants we have. If we end up missing the playoffs like we did the season before last, just barely, then Rudy is in trouble and I would have to wonder if he's the right guy for this team. That's being more optimistic with the record than your scenario.
good post except for that stupid Rudy not being the right coach for this team. That is yet to be determined.
Hell, we could lose any player outside of Francis and Mobley, and we'd still make the playoffs. In some cases, we can lose 2 or 3. If we lost KT, we'd make it. Same for Mo T, and maybe EG. We can lose Ming. We can lose Cato. We can lose T-Mo, KT, Collier, Tierre, and Maddox....and we'd still make it. There's a lot of depth on this team. That;s why we're locks for the playoffs. Here's a piece that might interest some people: "Payton does not want to play in the East, so it would be unwise for any East team to give up young players for him -- he likely will leave as a free agent next year. He wants to go to a playoff team, which is another limiting factor, because potential West playoff teams such as the Mavericks, Lakers, Kings, Clippers, Jazz and Rockets have no use for a Payton deal." -- Sean Deveney Who would you guys rather face in the First Round? For me, anyone but the Kings, and prefferably not the Clippers. I would LOVE to see us against Portland, Dallas, or the Lakers. I think we can do really well against those teams.
