Whatever lack of focus and energy these guys brought the first 10 games needs to be done with . Our upper management has decided to side with the players and get rid of the coach . This could not have been an easy decision and Mchale is not as bad as people here think . The grass is always greener on the other side . No matter what schemes the new coach draws , up the players must execute with energy and focus . If Mchale lost the locker room , these guys need to show some respect and give the new coach , even if it's a previous staff member , respect and play as hard as they can . The coach was the first step , but if nothing changes the players are next . Morey will trade disgruntled stars because their value is still super high . Every team thinks they will be able to turn them around . I still have hope that the rockets will turn it around , but to say that our fault was purely coaching is false . The players are the guys on the floor , giving effort , making plays etc.... The guys could have been professional and given 110% effort and focus no matter what the coach said . They decided to let Denver blow them out the first game of the season and didn't even give Mchale a chance . Hopefully the fact that Morey was willing to fire Mchale is not seen as appeasement but rather a warning that if the players don't straighten up they will be moved , hopefully to some **** franchise.
sadly its the NBA environment where the coach takes 100% of blame when players obviously are at fault. Why would they listen to JB if they didnt respond to McHale???
It is never solely on the players. They need a coach that makes adjustments throughout the game that are more timely. McHale didn't do that consistently or at all. The players do need to improve their intensity but the coach is key to this.
Yet Lawson stated that he players werent listening to his adjustments and defensive calls. Players need to have the drive and play to their strengths. So far only a few are doing that. They are PROS not highschool kids. Luke Walton isnt the best coach in the league but his team is 11-0 blowing everyone out. Thats what having committed players and a good system do.
If the players are at fault....it is the GM's fault for having the wrong players. Granted, it takes a GM a while to get his players and some luck.
While that may be true, McHale seemed to refuse to play rookies or to change his rotation when it wasn't working. I personally would have bench Harden to send a message to him.
Only works if the player respects you. If he doesn't then goodbye Harden. He'll demand a trade first thing in the morning.
"It's how we're losing..." - Morey on Mchale's firing Les was just as angry as us...for getting blown out multiple times to BAD teams.
a coach has the power over the players in regulating their playing time. Someone doesn't listen to him? His minutes are down or he's immediately benched. And stop about the PROs. This has happened again and again in sports and in the NBA. Rockets players aren't some kind of pioneers. You don't let the patients run the asylum period.
Morey just said as much in the press conference . It all starts with the players . Stop looking for one specific person to blame . Whatever awful plays were being called ( or not called more likely ) these guys just didn't play hard plain and simple . Whatever rotations were made or not made , the players on the floor did not give it 100% . No matter what system , guys have to give effort and have focus . The issue is the underlying lack of focus and effort , not scheme and play calling . The coach can't force you to play hard , that's a decision each player makes individually . Hopefully with a new coach it improves . But it's not like these guys could have given more effort more Mchale and that's why I say it's all on them now.
lol, people post this about every single coach, regardless of how much they play rookies. Tarik Black and Kostas Papanikolau STARTED NBA GAMES last year. Montrezl Harrell started already this year. Clint Capela, age 20, went from Rio Grande to the rotation in the span of 24 hours, and was a mainstay by the time of the WCFs (he iddn't play more due to hack-a)
Some fans here felt like they just won the NBA championship when they heard McHale was fired. LOL The problem is still there, with this sorry ass group of players. And it all starts off with James Harden. Until you can see the change of attitude on the floor, this team won't be much different.
Harden is our savior. He is doing everything he can to win. Mchale was holding him back with his awful coaching. Do you even clutchfans bro?
