http://dynamic.espn.go.com/espn/chat/chatESPN?event_id=2564 Mike (Houston): Don't you think Rudy T. might be in trouble if the Rockets don't make the playoffs again this year? We've been in the lottery about 4 years in a row, something has got to give. Marc Stein: Can't see it. Rudy is royalty in Houston and I don't think last season was his fault, given all the injuries. This season will be another adjustment working Yao into the mix, and I don't expect the Rockets to crack the top 8 again. If it doesn't happen next season, OK, then Rudy will have to answer some questions. But this ain't the East. The Rockets are going to have mesh quickly to move up. (I disagree that we wont crack the top eight... but i do agree that if we dont make the playoffs Rudy probably wouldnt get fired. i dont know just thought it was interesting... Reading the doubters always gets me pumped up for the season.)
Wink3....he deserves a year after Yao's first. Don't be a head-hunter, he has been a rocket for life and a great coach. If he wants it, he deserves it. I think it won't even be an issue...we will have a good season barring injury. So, I hope I don't have to hear anything else to this effect.
What? The Rockets aren't better than the Sonics/Jazz/Clippers/Wolves? This guy is a total moron. He is the one who should be fired. What a total twit.
It's crazy that a coach could miss the playoffs 4 years straight and still keep his job but I don't see Les firing RudyT even if we miss the playoffs again this season. Rudy is a very good coach even if some of us b**** about his crappy offenses a lot.
We're going to make the playoffs, so it doesn't matter. We're one of the most talented and underrated teams in the league.
I think we'll make the playoffs. But if we don't then we need to think about making some changes at the top. Giving Rudy a free pass is like A&M keeping RC Slocum. If you're not moving forward at some point you'll start moving backward.
I agree, Marc Stein should be the one that gets fired. A few more subpar responses and he should expect to see the pink slip soon.
Give the guy (Stein) a break. He said what he thought, without acrimony. Let's hope every team we play thinks the same thing.
It would be really nice and refreshing one day when some of these hot shot media people would go out on a calculated limb.
The only way Rudy could be in trouble is if the Rockets are completely healthy and miss the playoffs badly this year, other then that I think he's fine, I agree with Marc Stein. The Rockets I think are a Top 8 team, Seattle is worse then they were last year, Minnesota isn't any better, and Utah will probably sneak in. But it's not like Rudy has been loaded with talent the last few years. In 2000 Pippen whined, got traded right before training camp, and Rudy had to rebuild the team. And just when it appeared the Rockets might come together and take the #8 seed Charles goes down and the season is disrupted. The next year Rudy takes a young, inexperienced team, get production from the frontcourt, and wins 45 games with it. So the next year the Rockets come out of the gate hot and injuries derail them again. You take injuries out of the equation and I think the Rockets make the playoffs in 2000, and make a serious run at it last year, I can't remember if injuries played a part in 2001 or not. Rudy can only do so much.
Its funny ...every year people want to count Utah just like they are doing now. Yet they always suprise ya. We cant dismiss them from the playoff picture all together. They are still dangerous when playing young/inexperienced teams like the Rockets. All Malone has to do is flop twice and Ming is in foul trouble the rest of the game. Playoff savvy goes a long way. Damn I hate Utah.
I love people who want to give Rudy an extra year to work yao in. The same people wanted to give him an extra year to work Steve in. And then Griffin in. Etc. I don't think Rudy should be fired if we don't make the playoffs this year. But what if the team finishes in the bottom 5 again? I'd think hard about it. Oh, but wait! Then we'd get another great draft pick we'd have to "work" into to the mix... so that'd give him an extra year . I want improvement. I don't care about new personnel. Injuries do supply mitigating circumstances... no playoffs, no problem this time... but I want a better team.
This season is mostly about how well we play. If we miss the playoffs by a few games and play well for the most part, he'll be back. If we struggle and drop to 11th or 12th in the West assuming the team is healthy, he may HAVE to go. Les is not a very patient man, so I don't think Rudy's position in the organization will matter a ton if the team sucks. Remember, his first move after taking over the organization was to fire most of the business staff and send Calvin Murphy packing (even though he brought him back after a public outcry). Missing the playoffs four straight times won't necessarily get Rudy fired. It will take them not playing well for that to happen. Rudy is in a unique spot with this franchise, but no one is golden forever.
Any conditions for that? Like, this applies even if the Rockets finish last in the NBA for 28 consecutive seasons? How about 3? What if we average 63 points a game and allow 108 next year? Or if he benches Yao next year in favor of Cato, who proceeds to average 3 and 1? Coaches have a limited span of usefullness. The game evolves. It's tough to evolve with it. Just ask Buddy Ryan. (football, but still... best obvious example)
Ask the Astros about that. Rudy has what, 30 years with the Rockets. Bash him if you want for 4 poor years, but give up all rights to whine about loyalty in the future.
