In the NBA, it's always the players. If a coach was that important, he would make more on average than an MLE-level player.
Tell that to Jordan's Bulls, Shaq's Lakers or Curry's Warriors. Unless you're LeBron James you're not going to overcome bad coaching.
Neither. Morey selected both the coach and the players, so he should be the one who's primarily accountable.
JB Bickerstaff is not an NBA head coach. He just plays one on tv. The Rockets should have planned this out long before they fired McHale.
Lack of shooting in our front court, you even said it, then said its coaches fault. It's a morey problem. See the sig and you guys will understand the rockets season morey gets the right players. Stay hype on HAREELL tho SMH
It's both... but the players are mostly to blame, namely Harden. Reason being, the coaching might be inept, but not by choice. That fool Harden CHOOSES to not play hard. Unfortunately since he's the best player, the team follows his lead. Harden CHOOSES to attempt all-or-nothing passes (mostly nothing but TOs). Coaching deserves blame for allowing it, but I doubt they want him to. Harden WANTS to slack on defense and throw high-risk passes.
The loss of DMo our biggest blow? We played pretty well without him last years playoffs Back to thread. I think it's both, the coach & players. But how can you expect the whole team to play hard if your star player comes in to camp out of shape, doesn't play with consistent effort, doesn't play defense & resorts to iso ball when he feels like it. This is the CULTURE Daryl Morey has centered around James Harden. The "I'm the star & you're the role players" type attitude. Morey's coddled Harden since he's got here and we're seeing it come to light this season. You literally see Harden simply out there playing for his numbers as opposed to doing what it takes to win. No player should be before team. So I'd say it's on Morey. JB is given orders from the GM to carry out. The players are given orders from GM. There you go
Josh Smith, noted defensive standout? What??? Although they do get stagnant on the offensive end, that's not where this year's teams troubles are. They are on the defensive end, namely quite often they don't play any. If losing Josh Smith is all it took to cause that, all is lost anyway, and no coach in the world will change that. The basic issue is this. Teams follow their leaders. Harden is this team's leader. If your leader is selfless, plays hard all the time, puts the team first (like, say, Tim Duncan), then your organization thrives. If your leader doesn't do those things, then the team struggles. At best, it creates dissension. At worst the team follows suit, and the lack of effort spreads. As for coach or player, it's both. All players need to be pushed. So, while lack of effort is on the player, it's on the coach too. But when that is coming from your best player, it's really hard for the coach to fix it. McHale certainly wasn't a hard-ass, but he also certainly brought the credentials with him...and he was clearly being ignored. Thibs might be a good fit for this team...but then again he might make the whole thing explode, too. It all comes down to a very simple question: Does Harden want to win, and is he willing to do what it takes to win?
Here's the thing about Harden. You got a fat little kid from the ghetto in California, with breathing problems. A little fat kid dreaming about being a pro, knowing it's unlikely. Once high school comes, he's touted not incredibly so though. He picks the hot girl school- ASU-- cause that's what he wants hot girls and the baller lifestyle. Gets picks 3rd, turns down a less than maximum offer regardless of if he's starting or not, just cause he feels he took the ultimate sacrifice(being a 6th man) and doesn't feel he needs to skimp on money too, gets traded last second to a team that dons him their new franchise. Works hard those two-three years, hits a great/peak level, and realizes he's got what that little fat kid with breathing problems from the ghetto always wanted. He's not the same breed as a Steph Curry who practices before games he doesn't even play longer than Harden even practices. He's not a Kevin Garnett who has an insane intensity. He's not even a Paul George or Jimmy Butler who keep trying to prove themselves versus anybody and anyone. Addidas values him like a stud, the league valued him like a runner up stud, we thought he turned a corner. But he wants the life, he loves his $15mil/year salary, his endorsements, him dating Khloe, the life. He's a 24 year old, 25 year old mega star. He's enjoying it, he's not going to let some stupid measly game in the middle of December or January ruin his potential awesome night out.
While we fans sit here and take it game by game. He takes it city by city, and weekend by weekend. Completely different priorities.
The system can work and it's very sustainable. The Warriors run the same exact system, just without the Iso nonsense. They have won a Chip and now are playing at level unheard of. Players have to buy into the system for it to be successful. Another example the triangle offense that was ran by the Bulls and the Lakers. They players bought into it resulting in several championships. Right now the Rockets players are not trusting in the system like they should.
You know, it may not be either. It may be the eastern conferences fault. Win% last year---East: 76.7%----West: 63.5% This year--East: 38.5%-----West: 54.5%
If your "Star" in turning the ball over 8 times, 5 in the 4th quarter with the lead.... I'll have to go with both!
We miss DMo? We went to the WCF without him in the playoffs. We miss Josh Smith? We were 20-7 before he joined us. It's McHale's problem? We won 50+ games in two consecutive seasons, and went to the WCF with him as HC. Howard is not 100%? Neither was he last season. Every finger pointing cannot explain the difference between this season and the past.
