Yeah, let's bring in some hard-nosed butthead who is going to alienate the key players on this team and screw up the team chemistry. Sounds like a great idea. Those "experts" you are referring to are the same "experts" that two years in a row said the Rockets couldn't win the championship with Kenny Smith at the point. The same "experts" that said the Clyde Drexler trade was a mistake. The same "experts" that said that the Rockets were doomed after going down 3 - 1 in the Phoenix series in '95. And, the same "experts" who said Yao would be a complete BUST. So, now you want to believe them?
Whoa there, let's not give Parker too much credit. EVERY PG in th league gets by Steve at will. Personally, I think Steve played better defense the occasions when he was guarding Kobe than he does most games. yes, he got abused on a post up or two (who doesn't against Kobe), but for the most part he manned him up as good as anyone can, and, if I remember correctly he got a steal or two. Kobe is good, but doesn't nearly the explosive quickness that many PG's do. I think Steve would be a better defender against the shooting guards in the league. New coaching staff and a positionchange for Steve makes sense to me.
Excuse me, but we've had how many Lottery picks in 4 years? And how much cap room to sign FA's when Hakeem's contract expired? Way more than PHX and GS. Your posts' entire premise is based upon the Rockets being too young. What magical aspect of the passage of time teaches players how to run a fastbreak, or play perimeter D or execute after a time out, or move without the ball?
Sorry for quoting this entire post but it was so well written and I just felt compelled to respond to it. Outstanding post GATER. I totally agree with ALL (every single one) of the points in there!
Will a new coaching staff be able to teach Steve Francis how to play the PG position? Will they be able to teach him how to run a fast break or get a play going before the shot clock is low? The answer is no. As long as Steve Francis is the #1 option this is what our offense will look like.
So a bubble playoff team loses on the road to the best team in the NBA, on the second night of a back-to-back, and now it's time to start another petition? Since this thread appeared only after this game, it can only be assumed that people think the Rockets actually should have won last night. The real mental midgets aren't on the Rockets, they're right here. SAD.
The problem is that we have one professional Coach and a bunch of student Coaches, who are learning how to coach. We need at least three experienced professionals guiding our team.
Freak, I think calling people names is a bit much dude. It is uncalled for and unappreciated. Now, the post is here because after 72 games it is clear to everyone that the offense is what it is......pathetic, and the defense is just as bad. Who do you blame? Me? I blame the coaches, because it is their philosophy that is being carried out on the court, night in and night out. If you can honestly say you have enjoyed watching the Rockets offense this year, then you and I will have to disagree. DaDakota
TheFreak, Thank you, I can't beleive we can disagree so much in the Hangout and agree so much in this Forum. You are right, you may have been insulting, but the only way to explain people's reaction to each loss on this board is childish. There are about five coaching change threads after each loss. At least wait till the end of the season to discuss the changes that needs to be made.
Pgabrial.... So.....at least wait until the war is over to discuss changes to be made. As for last nights game, it is just 1/72nd of a season long trend of bad offensive play. Our offensive system is....well....offensive. It is something that is less complex then most Junior high school basketball systems. The Rockets have talent, they just don't have the UNDERSTANDING of how to harness that talent. That is a direct reflection of the ineffeciency of the coaching staff. Now, that being said, I actually think Larry Smith is a better disciplinarian then Rudy, I just don't know about his Xs and Os, and it is not fair to judge him because he is running Rudy's crappy system. As for last night, nah, I was not mad they lost the game it was expected. But the lack of movement on offense and the lack of communication of defense has been there all year.....you would think that after 72 games and umpteen practices that the team would understand how to play. They don't. To me this says bad coaching. DD
I agreed. I don't think he be playing the point guard role. Why force it when he's not good at it. Some players has the court visions and some players don't. Not everyone can play that position. Sf is a shooting guard in a point guard's body. We should do what 76ers do, get a taller point guard that can defend the 2 spot. The only player I can think of is Doug Christy. I'm so frustrated with this team that I can't even think right.
I actually think they should have won the Lakers game too. If you want to get to the playoffs you need to protect your home court and win a few on the road. The Rocks were up by 4 with 3 minutes to go, and they collapsed. DD
DaDa: I was just giving you a shout-out by using your patented term 'mental midget'. Sorry, man. I don't really mean it.
We can obtain all the best players in the world. We can get Lamar Odom, Michael Redd, Toni Kukoc, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, Jeff McInnis, and a bunch of other good players. But it still won't mean that we will win. It all depends on the coach. Look at the Los Angeles Clippers this season. What a bust. I agree. We definitely need new coaches. We need someone who can mentally prepare our team for games and to get all our players to go out and play as hard as they can and contest every shot possible. Like the San Antonio Spurs. And we need a new offense. Our offense just doesn't flow. A good coach can make our team with so much talent win. Our defense also needs more intensity and change. Jeff Van Gundy, Mike Fratello, Danny Ainge and John Thompson would be good. Calvin Murphy and Bill Walton could do well too. If Pat Riley or Lenny Wilkins or Nate McMillan gets fired, I would like them. Del Harris would be good too. We don't have the best players ever. But they can do better. First, they need a coach. It would be nice to get some good players like Michael Redd and Lamar Odom, but first, we need a coach.
Again. Old refrain, new night. If it is talent not coaching, who assembled the talent? If it is talent not coaching, who is coaching the assemblage? While I am very much in favor in restructuring the roster by saying bye bye to Mo & Mooch by packing with Cato & Rice (in whatever combinations) the whole player roster cannot be deleted. The coaching roster can be. Now, it is time for the D's. One to lose the other to win. Down Denver but motor on Motown. Go to ashes, Phoenix. I might root for the Rox to take their chances in the Lottery, but - they already did, so Grizz and bear it -- go Rox!
Apart from their tactic ineptitude, the assistants coaches also lack coaching experience. Francis is already calling out Larry for getting in people's a$$, I think he's right. When it's not hard to see why players get benched when they don't play well, the essential condition is that confronting star players for their lack of production must be accompanied by a sense of respect. Larry must develop respect for his new position among players first to bench them, otherwise it's calling for disharmony. Larry Smith isn't Larry Brown, while he has the guts he hasn't the credentials. The players might think "look at your sh*tty record after your coaching and our winning streak before, why don't you bench yourself instead". I can't attribute this mishandling to factors other than lack of coaching experience. Did Larry Smith take any coaching role between his NBA retirement and joining the Rockets? I think it would be interesting to know.
