Not to mention got Hakeem to trust his teamates, and got more out of a bunch of players left for dead on the scrap heap. Kenny Smith, Mario Elie, Vernon Maxwell, Matt Bullard, Chucky Brown, Matt Maloney. So many guys Rudy found ways to make them servicable players.......JVG just puts them on the bench if they don't fit his schemes. Rudy, found ways to adjust his schemes. No doubt the Rockets defense is good, but balance is more important than having one thing great....being good at both is how a team wins. DD
The Phoenix fans had their brooms out in full force as the teams took the court for Game Three, and after the first half, the Rockets looked as though they were about to be swept out of the playoffs as the Suns took a nine-point lead. Then the Rockets put the ball in the hands of Vernon Maxwell and went into attack mode. Maxwell responded with a Rockets' playoff record for points in a half with 31 as the team rolled up 77 second-half points to win 118-102. The Rockets ditched their "dump the ball into Olajuwon and have three players spot up for three-pointers" offense in favor of letting Maxwell, rookie Sam Cassell and Mario Elie drive to the basket on every possession.
What a coach that notices something is not working and adjusts his game plan? How can that be......?????? DD
For a team like the Rockets with lay-back stars as Yao & Tmac, JVG is a better fit. This team will be careless, error prone, and play uninspired most of the nights if Rudy. T were the coach. Rudy would be a better fit for a team with veteran stars who may have strong personalities. JVG would not be able to coach those kind of teams, he'd trade most of the players away by the middle of the season. A good coach should be able to coach any teams assembled for him, but I don't think either of them are quaified to do that.
People forget this: Robert Horry played Small Forward when OT got traded, Horry moved to the 4 and Elie to the 3. Not only did Horry flourish on the Defensive end with blocks and steals, on the offensive end, Rudy allowed Horry to still play HIS GAME. (hint Horry isnt Barkley or Dream). What? A powerforward hoisting up 3s? What fugazi strategy is that. 6 championships later. #2 behind Reggie Miller in playoff history in 3s. Thanks. Rudy.
WHAT??? Rudy is far more inspirational than Debbie Downer JVG. This is precisely my point, I think Rudy was a better manager of the team...I think JVG is every bit as prepared as Rudy, but JVG is far from inspirational. And at least Rudy would change things up, and get on the refs when the time called for it. DD
Rudy was so inspirational, DaDakota wanted him run out of town for losing control of the Francis/Mobley team... Now that's inspiration. Oh yeah, but this team is a different team, so we can bring him back now. Yay. Me go clap clap while we play musical chairs with players and coaches.
lets not forget that the Rockets had a sense of family with Rudy. Even YOFers can see this on Year of the Yao, where Rudy welcomes Yao to Thanksgiving diner. You always felt the Rockets were a family, Vernon, OT, Kenny, Dream. Even the practices, old high school in Galveston, St Stevens high school. lets not forget Rudy and Calvin built this place and organization. Rudy's name is in the rafters. He's Rocket family. PERIOD.
Rudy, Hakeem, Mario, Kenny, Sam, Otis, etc. are not walking through that door. The only one who might is Clyde, and he's only coming through to deliver the best basketball analysis in the country. It's Van Gundy's team now. Deal with it... I have...
Rudy was so inspirational, DaDakota wanted him run out of town for losing control of the Francis/Mobley team... Now that's inspiration. Oh yeah, but this team is a different team, so we can bring him back now. Yay. Me go clap clap while we play musical chairs with players and coaches.
Sometimes coaches are right for a situation some times not. See Larry Brown Pistons vs Larry Brown Knicks. I am sorry, did you have a point? Oh wait, I just crapped all over it. DD
LOL, ouch. This is a silly poll because it's apples vs. oranges. Rudy's championship teams were better than this years team. That's not JVG's fault. It's the players fault.
just because one of your kids is a rebel, doesnt mean he wasnt well loved! post rockets, vernon mentored allen iverson to become one of the hardest working and toughest players in the league today. thanks rudy, thanks vernon! for the record, you and I all know it was les fault cause he wouldnt give vernon that extension at the beginning of the year. thanks les for ditching all the great rockets and giving us those horrendous cartoon network jerseys. thanks. thanks les for calvin. thanks.
You didn't get the point, or I didn't say it clear? JVG runs the ship much tied than Rudy ever was. It doesn't mean he is a better coach than Rudy, but his style certainly fits better for this group of the Rockets players, IMO. Inspirational speaches are all good, but those will get old quickly during a 82-game season. Managing a pro team is far more than just being inspirational.
Sure... let's just change coaches multiple times on a whim. DaDakota as the GM - we'll end up with the peanut vendor as the coach. Crap is pretty much what you post - no shock there.
the rockets down 0-2 going to america west arena. the rockets were down 2-3 headed back to the summit in the finals. the rockets were down 3-1 going back to america west arena.
Yep, and you having a contrary opinion but not actually HAVING an opinion is no shock there. Just come in and shoot the messenger D.O.D. or would you care to venture forth an actual opinion? And if a change is necessary you make it, you don't sit idly by and waste the best years of Yao's career. You going to actually MAN up and vote in this thread, or just come in and whine about a poster you don't agree with? Come on, post an opinion, about the topic, it won't hurt.....don't be afraid..... DD
