I'll have to think a bit longer about how I would feel about 38-44 (w/o major injury). But with Les' comment about "one of the best teams ever assembled", I don't think Les will get a major groove over not making the playoffs. IMO, anything under.500 moves RT into the front office.
OP - Agree about PJ, but disagree on Knight. I think Knight is too over the top for the NBA. PJ is currently under contract to the Spurs (out of the booth and on to the bench...gawd, I hope that doesn't mean Joel Myers & Sean Elliott on League Pass!). Would the Rockets would have to buy out his remaining contract? I say this partly tongue-in-cheek but I'd love to see what a Calvin Murphy assisted by Van Gundy might do. Anyone else think John Lucas is auditioning with his work at Westside?
Gator: I would not expect Knight to ever coach a Rocket team. I would however like to see someone "a la" him (like PJ,Tark) - intense - put it out there every night - a penchant for demanding strict discipline - shake the guys up - that is if ... if ... RT does not get the job done this year. Lucas is a very inspirational coach. Actually he is as player frioendly as they get. We have Rudy who is known legitimately as a players coach. I don't think we would gain anything from a Lucas to court coach if it came to that. I like PJ as far as a screaming floor general goes. I used to like Mike Frats for his innovative talents way back when too but he has emotionally mellowed quite a bit. Riley may be an improvement, as far as the intense, screaming goes, but he is another guy who has far less court sense than what RT brings to the game. Riley in fact is so predicable he gets beat every year. Almost without his face up opponents even breaking a sweat - so it would be another "no gain" move to put him here. Besides he would never come, he is a control freak, and a front office cancer. Anyway just wanted to say I was not intimating my opinion that Knight was anywhere close to my choice ... just someone like him ( a la) with that brand of intensity as a game coach.
man, all this talk of dumping rudy is saddening. i'm really surprised we could lose faith in him after he's already proven himself... twice.
