Yeah but as soon as Adelman came in, the reliable Chuck Hayes was out on his ass... Right? Right? Right? Anyway, why don't you try to tell me who the Rockets passed up to get Charles Oakley in 2003. Somebody else already tried and failed.
Look at the assist numbers, the pick and roll defense is better and the offensive rebounding is much better. That's all Adelman. I was not crazy about getting rid of Van Gundy, but Adelman has been an upgrade.
Lol, good thread.. I was at pissed Adelman for how he used Tmac and Yao, as well as his substitution patterns..
Sam, I may have missed your opinion, but what do you think of the job Adelman has been doing the last several weeks? Putting aside your feelings about Van Gundy, if you can.
I just don't understand this sentiment. Just enjoy the ride...the team is really coming on.....why look back? DD
Frankly, Rockets personnell moves during JVG's time was a significant improvement over those during the last of the Rudy T years. During JVG's time, they had brought in one star-- Tracy McGrady, and a number of somewhat limited role players. But at the very least guys like Barry, Wesley, Sura, Hayes, Head, etc know how to play and win and they generally were signed to reasonable contracts. I'd take them over the Catos, Taylors, Moochies, Eddie Griffins, etc during the previous years. Yes, Yao, Francis, and Mobley were good acquistions via draft (or draft-day trade), but all the mistakes--and expensive ones at that-- hurt the team, not just at that time, but later, too. You'll remember part of the reason why the Rockets were constantly trying to pick up spare parts on the cheap during much of JVG's years was the lack of trade assets (especially after Steve and Cat got shipped off), the remaining bad contracts, and Les' reluctance to spend after spending and getting his ass burned a few times. I would also say the latest improvement in personnell decisions started off when Daryl Morey joined the team (and Battier was probably the first "Morey move.") Morey makes mistakes, too (Mike James), but he knows how to correct them (Thank you, Hornets!) I think the team's front office has gotten better... first through having no money to throw around to the Taylors and Catos anymore and had to be smart about finding useful guys on limited budget, then later through the start of the Morey era..
Look, I am NOT a JVG fan....but. I think JVG did the best possible job he could..... And, I think Adelman is doing the same. I just prefer the way Adelman handles the players...... Let's all just enjoy the ride, JVG helped this year's team by instilling a good defensive mindset, and Rick Adelman was smart enough to continue that trend and make some changes. GO ROCKETS ! DD
Yes he was. JVG may have asked for them but it was up to CD to actually do his damn job and be the GM. And part of being the GM - the IMPORTANT part sometimes - is to say no. Coaches all have tunnel vision about players and they will get too enamored with guys they are familiar with. It's the GM who has to provide a sense of balance because he is responsible for the overall long-term health of the organization and that's something CD did not do. Those "broken down" New York guys were brought in first and foremost because they were CHEAP and secondly because they were familiar with JVG's system. But by the time JVG was hired, the Rockets had given out so many bad contracts that guys like these were all they could afford.
The results speak for themselves. Whether it is adelman or the players or both, obviously the right things are happening currently. I became absolutely disgusted with the Rockets this season when they looked completely dull and lifeless vs. Detroit and absolutely mailed it in, the first time I have seen them do that in a while. I did not think coach mock turtleneck could get them to play hard but they have rediscovered some motivation it looks like.
No, that was vintage CD all the way. If I use your logic, then CD's ass should have been under that same bus with Rudy T because he was just as responsible as Rudy T yet it was Rudy T who got fired. But somehow folks like you want to magically absolve him of being a horrible GM and focus your blame on the head coach which BTW is exactly what Uncle Les wants as well because it let's him and his organization off the hook. Again, show me where in JVG's job description it gave him the authority to make those deals because I was not aware that his title as head coach gave him the power to go out and sign players. I always get a good laugh when folks try to assert that JVG wouldn't have played young players. Exactly WHEN did CD provide JVG with all those talented young players he wouldn't have played? It certainly wasn't through the draft. So you can see how different things are now for Adelman than they were for JVG. Adelman is benefiting from being able to work with a GM who has a definite plan of action as opposed to JVG having to work with CD who had no plan especially when it came to drafting players. Listen you can hate on JVG all you want - that's your right but the problems he faced while he was here coaching did not magically just appear because he was the head coach. No, those problems were YEARS in the making and the one constant during those years was that your GM was Carroll Dawson.
Don't worry Adelman-Haters. Next season, there will be more open coaching slots for JVG to pick. JVG's best revenge will be to beat the Rockets in the playoffs.
Sam, I think that the biggest change starts at the top. In the beginning, I did not feel that Mr. It's On Me bought into Adleman's system and that was the primary reason for their putrid performances. If you'll recall, there were numerous reports of this situation with Tmac. This team takes it cues from its (so-called) star players and if one of them is not quite with the program, then it has to have an effect on the team. Things started to change when the team started working together without MeMac and he finally decided to join the party and be an active participant. Let's see if he decides to keep it up.
one last observation - Since we are playing "coach = GM" game, GM Rick Adelman just traded for soon-to-be 35-year old Bobby Jackson, and is in the process of attempting to sign 37-year old Brent Barry. These two things pretty much spell the end of Aaron Brooks' role in the rotation. Should I start an "Adelman hates rookies!" thread? Or, five years from now, should I lament the Brent Barry signing, and talk about how it cost us OJ Mayo?
