Let me begin by saying that I am a Rudy fan. I like the guy and I think he can be a very good coach. Having said that, I have the same feeling watching Rudy coach the Rockets that I had watching RC Slocum coach the Aggies this past year. I can't help but wonder how long it will be before a good coach and a good guy gets himself run out of town by making a few mistakes he won't be able to undo down the line. Case in point: The Rockets could not shoot their way out of a paper bag all night against the Knicks. Rice was pathetic. Griffin was nauseating. Mobley was no good. Where was the substitution when they still had a chance to get back in the game? Why did it take so long for Posey to get in in place of Rice? Why didn't Rudy rotate sooner? Why didn't Mo Taylor, who had a very good first half, play more in place of Griffin who didn't even look like an NBA player tonight? Why doesn't the offense flow through Yao Ming still? Why does Rudy continue to allow Francis and Mobley to run that pathetic isolation offense play after play after play? When the offense isn't working, why not play your best defensive players and slow things down and run your offense through your center like you did in the old Olajuwon days. Why not try to take it inside, and if there is nothing there, allow Yao Ming, your best passer, to kick the ball back outside to your guards. Then and ONLY then should they be allowed to run the isolation. I don't like a lot of the trends I am seeing from this team so far. They have way too much talent to lose like they did against the Knicks. Rudy needs to stop being Mr. Nice Guy and coach his damn team.
I agree. I like Rudy. But our patterns are stupid. It's just his style. He doesn't like to mix different positions together. For some reason, he will never put Posey and Rice in at the same time. He'll never put Cato with Yao. He'll never put Griffin with Mo Taylor. The only things that are interchangeable to him are Steve, Moochie, and Cuttino. I guess he just likes keeping things. He always says that he is looking for a good rotation and all that. But he never risks putting Bostjan Nachbar in. Why would he ever take Yao and Francis out at the same time? Why not put Posey and Hawkins in together? Why don't you e-mail him?
I feel that it's not been just the last two weeks, but the entire season. Rudy's substitution patterns are just the tip of the iceburg. (or floating turd) however you want to look at it.
My main question for Rudy's substitution is that why he always sits our best two players (Yao and Steve) at the same time (unless Steve plays 48 mins).
I substantially agree with youtr premise Hank, however a few nights ago Mobley was 0-fer a bunch, then he got hot in the fourth. It is easy to be an arm chair quarterback. I think we have to accept that Rudy knows more than we do and is making the best decisions under the circumstances.
Yeah...I was like SIT HIM DOWN!!!! But then he made that free throw and was on fire. That was good. But yesterday was NOT good. Why don't we put Cato and Yao in at the same time? I was against this...but maybe it might by good. Why not put Hawkins and Posey in at the same time? Our defense is getting worse.
I would have to agree... 200%. I love Rudy, but somebody has to take CONTROL of this YOUNG team. I CAN'T STAND HIS SUBSTITUTIONS ANYMORE... (unfortunately, he is not going anywhere... antime soon.)
Rudy's made a couple of good decisions: 1. He's starting to let James Posey play. He's 100% better than T. Morris. 2....... 3.............uh........ He's starting to let James Posey play. He's 100% better than T. Morris.
I honestly don't know why practically everyone I've spoken to and Rudy don't think that Yao and Cato could be in the same lineup at the same time. It's amazing, not for even a second. They've never been ont he floor together. It could play out like Hakeem and Ralph or Duncan and Robinson (in his prime). I think it's worth a shot.
Same. Rudy will never put Hawkins with Posey together. He will never put Maurice Taylor with Eddie Griffin together. He will never put Posey with Rice together. It is just his style. I wish he would change.
The sad part is that regardless of how pathetic the rotation was last night, it was still better than the Jazz game, where Rudy went small and the Jazz went big and scored at ease every time down the floor for most of the 4th quarter.
Rudy is lost! If we can see from afar and he's paid $4M to see up close, then something has to change. I don't understand why people say that they like Rudy, so therefore he should stay. He's paid to coach, if he doesn't do that well, he should be fired! No Playoffs with Rudy!
