Is Kevin McHale Just a Transitional Coach for the Houston Rockets?

Good read, but I doubt that they can really expect solid results from him with a complete roster change coming after every season. I think this year will determine if he's a keeper or not

 

I will have to say "yes"

 

^ Agree.

Les will not blame Morey this time if McHale fails. Good chance Finch will take over the helm, getting groomed by Morey. If Morey can't put a championship contending team in five years, 2 from McHale and 3 from Finch (or next coach), Morey might not be around.

 

Good for a Bleacher Report article

Its looking more like McHale will be a transitional coach and not a long term one.

Previous 2 coaches Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Adelman both had 4 years with the Rockets, so thats probably an average tenure to expect. Its what McHale MIGHT get if they take on his 4th year team option.

 

Even though it seems that Finch is being groomed, I have a hard time envisioning him as the next person in charge. Besides his success as an international and D-league coach, his benefit is being able be involve in the development of the White, Jones, Lamb, DMo, Parsons, even Lin and Asik so by the time the team is ready to contend, there's a trust and relationship that was formed during the McHale tenure. Much like a Scotty Brooks kind of a progression.

 

all coaches / players are transitional....

 

No, I remember an interview where Morey stated he thought McHale could be one of the best coaches in the league. I do believe Finch will take his place eventually but that doesn't have to mean McHale is just a placeholder.

 

Since McHale has already whined about having to coach a young team, I would rather get a young coach like a Finch who wants to develop young talent rather than whine about not having Stars.

 

This is a Daryl Morey managed team people...

 

It really depends if Morey wants to put his job on the line. If Finch becomes our next coach, then it do-or-die for Morey.

When Finch was hired, those rookies werent even around and probably never envisioned Morey would blow up th team.

Maybe he was sincered at that time but IMO that was for Les to hear, praising him for the choice he made. Danny Ainge will certainly agree with that.

I also remember when McHale was surprised and fuming when Dragic wasnt re-signed. Little telltale signs really reflected how much respect and communication went on between them.

 

I think this question was answered on day one of him being hired.

Three year contract, and the front office hand picked the assistant coaches.

That doesn't scream "long term" to me. It was an obvious long shot hire from day 1 from a team that had nothing to lose, and alot to gain if it worked out. We will see after this season if it worked out or not.

BleacherReport can make their argument that it was, but that doesn't change the fact that McHale is still in the interview process right now, or working a paid internship. There is no doubt that he is being evaluated every day that he is on the job, but he does still deserve a fair shot before we all get to throw stones.

Lets just see how this season goes.

 

Man, I see the world quite differently. McHale was hired to be a company man. He might be transitional as a coach, but I think he's going to be an employee of the Rockets in some capacity for a very long time, whether it's in coaching or in management. The reasons they gave for hiring him is his innate leadership -- 'a leader of men' -- and his team-building (not coaching) perspective. He's a guy who can lead the troops and always toe the company line.

The 'article' also misunderstands the selection of assistant coaches. Morey is trying to do something different from the traditional coaching staff -- he's trying to make a player development framework that ties the minor league team closely to the Rockets and trains everyone within a system that quantitatively measures performance. You can't build a new system like that if you're still confined by the old NBA practices of coaches having their own entourage of assistants.

So, I would not be surprised to see Finch become the head coach (titularly or effectively) and McHale move into a function that's somewhat more managerial, perhaps overseeing the coaching without calling games himself.

 

Jeff Van Gundy! *clap clap clap clap clap* Jeff Van Gundy!

 

Juan, you make some good points here, but I respectfully disagree with McHales tenure.

My reasoning is that they are going to have a big decision to make at the end of this season as to either extend him out long term or not. If the answer is no, then I have a hard time believing McHale will decide to take a role within the organization for sake of pride, or whatever you want to call it given the stakes set when he first took the role.

I know that they hired him more for his potential as a "leader of men" then for his resume as a successful coach, but if they were just hiring him to be involved in the organization as a development guy, or in an assistant GM type of role, I would think that they would have done it the opposite way, and ushered him in the more appropriate way, which is to not put him in the hot seat on day 1. He still only had something to prove as a coach, and only as a coach in the NBA.

I personally think he's either going to be the coach of the Rockets for a long long time, or he's going to be back on NBATV here shortly if it doesn't work out. That being said, I dont think it will be that difficult this year for him to have "success" given the circumstances. The goal is simple... Develop young talent, and create a bright future for the organization. His success, and tenure with the organization should not be viewed by strickly wins and losses THIS SEASON.

 

I dont get this at all. The people on here that dislike McHale all seem to want Van Gundy back.

They are almost the exact same style of coach.

-Likeable/funny TV personalities as analyst - tired/sarcastic to media as a coach
-hard nosed/ old school approach to the game
-emphasis on defensive end
-similar offensive sets preferred(dump it into big man, draw double team, collapse defense, etc. etc.). Secondary play is the pick and roll.
-no nonsense with players

If you dont like McHale, JVG as a coach isn't the way to go.

 

It all is going to come down to expectations vs performance. If McHale does better than expected with the tools (players) he has available, then his future in Houston may be bright. If not, then a replacement inevitable.

What would be worth knowing is what Les / Morey expect this year.

 

It sounds like Morey is the source of the chaos.

 

????

Well this team is built to lose, and rebuild. Isn't that what everyone on here wants?

Doesn't really sound like chaos to me.

 

Mike D Antoni! *clap clap clap clap clap* Mike D Antoni!