Les Alexander comments on the state of the Rockets

Better chance Brown goes back to KU than coming to Houston.

 

lets trade steve for the first round draft pick that we gave the grizzlies to get him in the first place. than, daniel son, the circle will be complete.

 

You're suprised to hear about Rudy being eager to get back on the court? I would expect nothing less from Rudy.

FYI, as The Freak already pointed out, Mobley is 27. He'll turn 28 in September.

 

I know you are just venting, or making a joke (at best)...but tossing aside Mobley for a couple of biscuits in the gutter is not on the charts. You know that, right?

Then why don't you just say it?

Mobley and Griffin are our main trade assets. If we don't take those trades opportunities seriously...very seriously...we may not ever get another chance to make a good trade; I mean, look at our team. We can't just toss Mobley out for the best available, like some Shandon for Rice thingie...we need to trade for exactly what we need. And what is that, anyhow? So if that is not available this year....you hold Mobley for another trade, even if it is another year. imo, we already blew the Kenny Thomas trade, and Eddie has less trade value than this BBS wants to believe...so, I'm not blowing a Mobley trade just to laugh at him as he leaves the door.

How many real trades opportunities do teams get over a rebuilding process?

 

I've wondered about that....

Save face?

 

I can see it both way as far as keeping Rudy or let him go. On the sentimental side, Rudy had been with the Rockets for a number of years and his loyalty should be taking into consideration when making changes. Also his personal illness will make it tougher for Les to replace him. As far as missing the playoff go, people can argue that if Rudy was coaching the Rockets till the end, they might have make the play off. On the other hand, you cannot really blame Les if he let Rudy go either. If you look at all the long term contract that Les have to paid for the past few year due to our coaching staff's evaluation of talent, he had every right to be mad at our coaching staff. For every good long term contract (? Mobley), Les is paying Moochie, Maloney, Cato, Taylor, Rice, almost Mark Jackson (fortunately the Warrior match it),etc. This plus the fact that they miss the playoff for 4 years in a row make it tough for Les not to do something to improve the team. The future with this system that we have now do not guarantee success. There is a good chance that they might miss the play off again next year with the improvement of team such as the Sonics, Warriors, etc. This plus the fact that the Suns will only get better as Stoudemire develop make it hard for us to replace them in the play off next year. . With the new arena coming and with the history of the Rockets make bold move in the past (trade for Barkley, sign Pippen, trade for Francis, trade for Rice, get rid of Olajuwon, etc.), Les will definitely make a big move this off season (either changing coach or moving players) in order to create interest and excitement for the fans as he tried to sell those luxuries suites and seats in the new arena. It should be a very interesting off season regardless if Rudy stay or goes. My guts feeling is Rudy will stay and players will be moved. If the team continue to do poorly early on next season, Rudy will be giving his release at that time.

 

Do you think what you've heard about Rudy not being definitely "in" is coming from more of a medical standpoint as opposed to a lack of recent coaching success standpoint?

 

Good article. Another winning season...but no post season. That is the only thing they are consistant with.

I really hope next season is different, I am already looking forward to a good season. New arean, new JERSEYS.
Perhaps, the end of the PJ curse.

 

I would say keep the team as is and keep only one of the video coordinators and fire the others. Keep RudyT and bring more real assistant coaches like what the Dallas Marvericks does. The rockets players are obviously under coached. We need one-on-one tutor for those street ballers. You cannot treat them as skilled bbal players graduated from college because they are not.

You have to teach them basic bball skill one-on-one. In Yao's case, you have to train his physical touchness one-on-one. Lack of real assistant coach who can teach the players real skill they needed is the biggest problem the team has.


Bring in 6 more assistant coaches and fire those video coordinators!

 

I hope Les' current passion will lead some fire (or firing) this offseason.

 

Yes,with Steve and Yao's talents,rox should build offense and defense system around the two gient guys in the league.

 

i thought you were going to say "it is time for rudy to start smoking & drinking again"

 

I'm surprised he didn't add the fact that the uniforms we have bring us bad luck! I blame this for our 4th year in a row without a post-season game!

 

Yes, this has surprised me, as well. It seems 'unRudy'.

I hope things get sorted quickly. If LA ousts RT I hope it is done graciously. If RT is back I hope he is required to hire two experienced NBA coaches to augment the staff, to offer it some cred (not a replacement in waiting, tho).

 

I think we need to keep Mobley. He has good size, speed, explosiveness, and defensive savy. He's a well-rounded player that should simply look to work the ball around a little more. If you take him away, you put too much pressure on Francis both offensively and defensively. It would be very detrimental to the team's dynamic.

Also, I think we keep Rudy, but bring in an assistant(s), who we groom as Rudy's successor, that can help redirect our talent to fundamentals and discipline. Is anyone else wondering what happened to the motion offense that Rudy claimed to implement in the offseason??? It dwindled away b/c the team didn't have the discipline to execute. The Mavs, Spurs, Lakers and Kings all execute an offensive scheme b/c they have the discipline to do so. The Rocks failed to demonstrate that they do, and the 13th pick in the lottery is what we have to show for it...

Furthermore, I think Larry Smith and the assistant staff should take more accountability for the rocks late season crumble. We need to appoint an assistant coach that can assume the head coaching position at any given time in the season, and sustain the same level of output (Please See 'Dallas Mavericks' or 'Los Angeles Lakers'). We were on a roll before Rudy's unfortunate condition.

Le'ts bring someone in to begin the 'grooming' process.

In the off season,

Keep:
Francis
Mobley
Yao
Posey
Taylor
Cato

Deal:
Moochie
Griffin
Rice

Waive:
Collier

 

Any coach/GM is warrant to be fired when THEY drafted someone as high as 16th(?), never let the guy play! How can anyone buy into this "He's our next years draft" crap is beyond me.

 

The only conclusion that can be drawn from this, really, is that Rudy is officially and publicly on notice. Les expects immediate improvement, and he is now making it known that he will take corrective action if he doesn't see it. Before, that would never have included sacking Rudy. Now it does.

That's all this means. I could be wrong, but I would be suprised if you see Rudy 'fired' before next season. Les and he may decide that 'retirement' is the best option, and it _will_ be a mutual decision, if that's the result. But I don't think there's any chance of an outright firing yet. It will happen if the Rockets miss the playoffs again, though.