If you look at the history of the Rox with Rudy, we have always struggled against bad teams. Even during the championship years, the Rox were never really dominant in the regular season, especially against the weaker teams. During those days, the Rox just managed to get hot during the playoffs but never were the best team during the regular season. Sure there were injuries to the Dream but even with the Dream in there, the Rox would make the games against the weaker teams in the league a challenge. The Rox never really dominated their opponents the way the Bulls did or the way the Sonics and Spurs did during the regular season. When Rudy coached the Olympics, many of the games were close. We almost lost to France. Totally inexcusable. Now this year, we are losing to the likes of the Warriors, Hawks, and almost lost the game today. Totally inexcusable. The fact is that all of the teams that Rudy has ever coached always just seem to just get by and have a history of struggling against bad teams. In the past, it was okay to struggle because Rudy had good, smart players who could carry the team in the end (ie, Dream or the All-Stars on the Olympic team). This current team doesn't have that player yet. I have a feeling this habit of losing to bad teams won't change in the future. After all, the best way to predict the future is to look at the past. So expect more of the same. Just my thoughts.
I agree with you. Everybody always say have patience. But I can't see this team getting better based on his past coaching history. His teams have never been really consistent. Like Doc said it just aint right the way they are playing the game of basketball. It's been like this for years ladies and gentlemen.
well if they ever decide to replace rudy, jeff van gundy would be a good choice. he has a similar coaching style to pat riley and he took a really weak team like the knicks to the nba finals. so he must be a good coach. just think what he could do with the talent the rockets have.
What!? First of all the games in the Olympics were close not because Rudy is a bad coach but because the rest of the world is catching up with the U.S. But Rudy has been a bad coach for year!? Teams haven't gotten better and struggled to get by? In 1993 they win the division title and make the 2nd round of the playoffs. In 1994 they win the division title and win an NBA title. In 1995 the team is banged up playing with Hakeem, and they bring in new players (Drexler came in around the All-Star break), and they STILL make the playoffs and win the NBA title. In 1996 the team is so banged up they have to bring in CBA players to round out roster, the Rockets still get the #5 seed. The next year they win the most games of any Rockets team in NBA history and make the WCFs. The are the 5th seed the next year then the rebuilding. People came on here expecting the Rockets to be between a 6 to an 8 seed. Some people didn't even think the Rockets would make the playoff. Well the Rockets are sitting as the #7 seed right now with a 4 game lead in the playoffs and people are tearing into the PG, the SG, the coach. Compared to last year this is heaven. Yet people are saying Rudy can't coach, Francis is a horrible PG, and Mobley only cares about padding stats. I would think having a 20-15 record and being on pace to make the playoffs would be better then missing the playoffs for the 4th consecutive year.
Great post RM. Some people are just very inpatient and have expecations that are too high and unrealistic given the youth of some of our players. We are on pace to win 19 more games than we did last year. That is a hell of an improvement. We are on pace to make the playoffs. I don't understand why this is not good enough for some people. I use Sacramento's progress over the last few years as a good gauge for us: 98-99 27 wins 99-00 44 wins 00-01 55 wins 01-02 61 wins Guess what? Over the course of those seasons, Sac had the same core of players that they do now (Divac, Webber, Stojakovich, Pollard, etc.). Lets use the Dallas Mavericks as an example also: 98-99 14 wins 99-00 40 wins 00-01 53 wins 01-02 57 wins Core players: Nowitzki, Nash and Finley This tells me that even the greatest teams take 3-5 years to develop. This tells me that it is highly likely that it will take a core of players several seasons to develop chemistry that wins on a consistant basis.
This is a solid post to put things into perspective. CErtainly, we can't expect to win every game right away. Hopefulyl, we will se progress on this team like the Kings and Mavs have. On the other hand, to say the core players have stayed teh same is both true and untrue at the same time. Yes, the ones you listed are still there. But, lets not forget the Kings traded away White Chocolate and the Mavs traded for Juwan Howard and then for Van Exel and LaFrentz. So, to say that the Rockets only need time to progress may not be 100% true. Perhaps more tinkering is needed, similar to the Posey trade. The best would be for either (i) a true backup PG. The Rox could raelyl use a distributor who can come in and play 12 minutes a night. Someone like a Marc Jackson, or, closer to his prime, an Avery Johnson, or; (ii) a banger. Someone's who sole job is to defend and rebound and bang against big men. Again, though, all the tinkering may not be needed, and, I think the Rockets have made enough moves for the season. The only change I would encourage would be for Rudy to take more control.
Those teams you mention above have a better offensive system and better coaches. I just don't want to see this team waste years with a coach that is not right for this team. Take for example Francis who has been with Rudy for 4 years and Mobley 5 years. What have they learned? Absolutely nothing from a coach that some of the fans on this board say is one of the top coaches in the league. In m;y book that show reasons to be concern. The above teams improve, these guys haven't.
Last I saw, Rudy T had more rings than Don Nelson and Adelman did. How do you come to this conclusion that they are better coaches than Rudy? Also, those teams had the same coaches and systems in place when they won 14 and 27 games. It took them the course of several years with the same core of players to develop into the winning teams that we see today. That is what our team needs. These guys have not improved because they have only been playing together in this system for 35 games. Give them a few seasons together to see what they can do.
he was kind ehough to post some stats/facts to support his argument, where's your facts that prove that SF and CM havent learned anything? Where are your stat thatshow that RT is not as good of a coaach as those you mention? Tell ya what...I think Will's words are valid in this case..... Read my sig for Will's Words Of Wisdom.. thanks Will...
Core players. Divac, Stojakovich and Webber. I did not include Bibby or Jackson because they are role players in that system.
RocksMill, Actually the '93-94 Rockets teams won the most games in franchise history with 58. The team that had Barkley in his first year or '96-97 won 57 games.
