I want to add that Larry Brown would be an almost perfect coach for us. He's very experienced with ballhogs and he knows how to make a team with crappy defenders into a good defending team. And he is experienced with the idea of putting Steve Francis at shooting guard and having another point guard. He would fit well. But of course, they won't fire him until the 76ers have another brief short losing period and go into another slump next season.
Its pretty much the same thing whether we win or lose. This team scores points mostly when it is hot from the outside which has nothing to do with offense. I agree that this is a young team, but when you look at Phoe,Sa, and even Golden state and see the youth they have, its a poor argument. I agree that Ming has had 2 poor games in a row ,ostly because of fatigue and because of the quality of players that he has played against. It would be wonderful to see him operate in the triangle like Shaq. Basically moving from block to block with players moving around him. The easiest players to defend are the ones where you know they're at. If the ball is entered and some backside action is happening, it makes it very,very hard to defend. This team like I've said many,many times have too many square pegs going into rd holes. A team like Minny and Utah shoot less than 10 3's a game yet, they avg more points than the Rockets. This so called team and coaching staff has yet to make adjustments against and for the new rules. If Rudy is out, which I doubt especially with the illnes and sympathy, i would like to see someone like Jim Cleamons who is also known as a mean muthaf****r. Even though smith has shown he will be less tolerant of stupid plays, i would like to get away from the old regime.
leebigez, even you could be our coach! I still don't know why they haven't changed our offense that much. Usually, we only win when one of our guys is extremely hot. But when no one is or Francis has a bad game, we lose. Triangle with Yao would be nice. It's at least better than what we do right now, which is just give it to Yao in the same exact spot every single time and watch him try to score. Same with Maurice Taylor. We should follow the Spurs team. They should be our role models.
Just wondering if there is another team ANYWHERE that runs this stupid ISO offense we run? Why is it so freaking hard to set some weakside screens and picks like EVERY OTHER TEAM WE PLAY! I see 2x or 3x more off the ball movement at a 24 fitness pick-up game. Why does Larry Smith or Rudy T allow this to happen practically everytime down the court? Maybe instead of viewing tape of themselves, they should view tapes of the Spurs, Kings, Mavs and Lakers. Is it too hard to run similar plays? On D, why dont we EVER run any half court traps or full court presses? We have the right personnel for it. I get the feeling something really drastic has to happen before the Rox FINALLY gets 'it'.
Yao's problems on offense are the same problem the whole team has on offense. Our team does not run a team offense, all the players have to create their own shots every single possession. They are not scoring off of assists and they just stand around motionless with no purpose.
I have been grilled on my poll of "WHO WILL COACH THE ROCKETS NEXT YEAR" and am glad someone agrees with me. We have given Rudy T and co. 6 good years to turn this team around. Yes we are a young team, but after a core of together for almost 3 years, we should be doing better. I say our coaching staff days numbered, as the Rockets will not make the playoffs, thus dissapoint Les Alexander for the last time. Here are my solutions of making this team better and challenge for a 4-5 seed playoff ranking next year. 1. Bring a coach who can drill these hard-heads some offensive basketball. 2. Trade Cuttino Mobley, as he is the CANCER of the team. 3. Bring in a strong 2-guard either [Finley, Maggette, Richardson] via a big trade or free-agency. 4. Make a move to acquire Lamar Odom [he has been productive this season for the Clippers and seemed to have matured.] 5. Play Bostjan Nacbar and make him flourish like [Ginoboli, Girachek, Welsh] This is my wish list: Coach: Jeff Van Gundy C: Yao Ming PF: Eddie Griffin SM: Lamar Odom SG: Corey Maggette PG: Steve Francis What do you think? This scenario is very possible and capable of happening.
Our offense is just horrible to watch. If you watched the Pheonix Suns-Detroit Pistons game on ESPN last night, you can see that our offense and defense sucks. We just have a lot of wasted talent. Both teams run consistent offense ad it's just beautiful. We need a normal coach. Who is respected by the players and the people. And is a good teacher. And a good analyzer and pyschological guy.
I have to reluctantly agree w/ ya DD. It hurts me to do so, but u got a point. The Rocks dont need a buddy coach, they need a coach whos gonna be strong and teach these players the game of basketball. A Jerry Sloan type, smart and intense. Rudy is way too laid back for this young team to take notice. I would keep Larry as an assistant though just because he might learn a thing or too from the Sloan type.
I dont like Van Gundy, he's not the answer.......but Odom sure looks good at the 3. Im jus debatin on whether to let Boki develop or give big money to Odom. Decisions decisions.......
I have to say this coach is not work and don't know how to coach curent Rockets. I watch the game on TNT I just feel Mr. M... killed this team's sprit. We need fight even we know it may not work but we can not just give up. We try to make playoff now so we must have that inside eager to win and never give up. He need talk with Yao and SF and make sure they know what he want from them and what they think they can do.
I don't think EG is the solution to our problem. I would rather start Mo Taylor. Acquire Elton Brand if you can. So it will become a current Rox-Clippers team.
You are lost , please find yourself. What you are looking at is a team that has Rudy's stamp on it. This team has been very disappointing even with Rudy. Change is needed.
fstrada , I wish! It could happen. Yao Ming/Anybody Elton Brand/Maurice Taylor Toni Kukoc or Desmond Mason or Lamar Odom/James Posey/Terence Morris or Bostjan Nachbar Corey Maggette or Eric Piatkowski/Michael Redd/James Posey Steve Francis/Anybody A couple of trades and free agent signings, and that could be our team! Unfortunately, the budgeting will not work out right. We will be losing a lot of money... But we could go deep into the playoffs! That is...with a good coach leading our team.
And, how many lottery picks have the Clippers, Warriors, Grizzlies, Hawks, Cavaliers, Wizards, etc... etc... had over the years? And how much cap room? Remember the Pippen deal? Remember signing Shandon Anderson. Both those deals worked out poorly, but at least ownership went for it. That's a lot more than a lot of fans can say about their teams. And, most of those teams I mentioned above haven't even come CLOSE to making the playoffs after 10 years of lottery picks, and here we are actually in a position to make the playoffs three years removed from our first big lottery season. As far as time being the greatest teacher.... Let's see. Shaq didn't really make an impact in the playoffs until his 8th year in the league. Sure, they got to the playoffs (and the Magic even got to the Finals, but that was the EAST for heaven's sake). But they got swept over and over again. It takes going through the wars to get to the top. Look at Chris Webber. One of the most talented players in the league but it took him years to make a huge impact. Look at Kevin Garnett... Same thing. My point is that guys don't just come into the league and start schooling veteran players. It takes a TEAM of veterans that have played together and been through the wars to win a ring. Name ONE team that has contended in the past few years that did not have a solid core of veteran leaders that knew how to play at the playoff level. There, you can't think of one can you?
I could not have said it better myself. Give this guy some time and I think he will be a good coach. He gets to his player's face regardless if they are a star or not. HE DOES NOT MAKE EXCUSES LIKE RUDY DOES. HE DOES NOT ACCEPT EXCUSES FROM HIS PLAYERS. He makes descent substitution and utilizes his players good. If a player is playing bad, he benches him. If he thinks you are worn out, he rest you (YAO). His substitution is not predictable. He makes a lot of dumb decisions but give him time and the rockets will be better off with him than rudy t. I
How interesting. Shaq and Webber are your best examples of why everything will be rosey and sunny in Rocketville if we just take our time and sit on the Status Quo. Maybe you need to be reminded that neither Shaq nor Webber plays for the team or coach that drafted them? Perhaps you should also be informed that in the entire history of the NBA, no coach has ever won the title with the same team in different eras. Not Auerbach, not Riley...no one...unless they changed teams (Jackson).
Why does he insist on distributing the minutes around? This strategy doesn't make sense because some players are clearly better than other players. The players are not equal. Steve Francis is clearly better than Moochie Norris. It doesn't make sense to give Francis and Norris equal minutes.
