I too find it amazing that people can blame CD for things that he was and is not responsible for. 1) I think Les, Rudy and CD all had a say in the past and JVG does for this year. That is how every team in the league operates. Some GM have more say, some coaches have more, some owners override both but they all have some inputs. Judging from reading the Rockets for years tell me CD has the least power in the group. 2) The Rocket's personel decision has not been great but it has not been terrible either . You can not just focus on the bad calls nor can you judge on only the good ones. Across the league, some teams score an A one year, then a D the next. I would grade the Rockets B or C over the years.
Missed this. 1) I would say he was responsible for everyone except Horry, Cassell, and Elie. 2) Saying he built the team isn't really a compliment, as outside of Hakeem, the team was very weak for a championship team - probably the weakest until very recently.
How was he not responsible for Horry? It's the GM's call who to pick. Obviously some coaches have a much bigger impact on personnel decision but the GM makes the final decision. It was Patterson who was getting criticized not Rudy. It was Patterson on TV defending the pick not Rudy. It was Patterson who called out Hakeem and his "injury" when in reality he probably just wanted to renegotiate his contract (which he deserved) As far as the team being weak. The Rockets were a very good team even the year before when Jack Madden stole that Seattle series from us. We wouldve been mano a mano against Phoenix. In this JVG/Steve Francis controversy, where is CD? The reality is had Les not forced CD to fire Rudy, Rudy wouldve probably had a lifetime contract whether he deserved it or not. That may be the signs of a loyal and good friend but not a good GM.
There was an article in the Chronicle after the draft saying how Horry was Rudy's pick; how he had taken over the drafts. Do you know when Steve Patterson took over? I can't remember the year. I want to say he was responsible for John Turner and Dave Jamerson, but I'm not sure. I don't really have a comment on this...if he did that and it helped, great. I think they would've beaten Phoenix. They were good because of Hakeem though. He finally became good enough to overcome the lack of talent around him the next year. Both parts of his starting championship backcourt were out of the NBA within a couple of years after they won - the forwards turned into journeyman bit players on other teams. Does he really need a role in the 'controversy'? I don't really see how he needs to be involved. There was an incident, and a punishment - I think the issue resolved itself without CD.
