I know people have dissed Rudy on this forum for a predictable substitution pattern, but as far as I know, most of the other NBA coaches do this as well. For example: Jerry Sloan takes out Stockton almost always at the 3-4 minute mark of the 1st and brings him back late in the 2nd. Karl Malone is usually around with the second string for the start of the 2nd quarter before he takes a breather a few minutes later. David Robinson always goes to the bench at the 3-4 minute mark of the 1st and returns late in the 2nd quarter, usually to give Tim Duncan a breather. Kobe always takes his break at the end of the 1st, and comes back a few minutes later. With the Celts, Paul Pierce is always the first to take the break. He takes it to start the 2nd while he comes back a few minutes later to replace Antione Walker. I could go on with numerous examples if I followed the rest of the league much more closely. To summarize, Rudy is doing nothing different than all the other NBA coaches by following a fixed pattern, it is just that we see that so often that it becomes predictable for us. -Tariq
IMO Rudy keeps slowing and weary players in far longer than other coaches. He waits way too long to substitute--often only after a tired starting group has just given up a run to the other team and he has no starting caliber guys who now are fresh to strike back with. Rudy should mix fresh bodies sooner, and keep 2 of the following relatively fresh and in the game at most all times (Francis, Yao, Mobley & Mo)--even if he subs out Francis, Yao or Mobley sooner than normal.
Uhh.....well yes. His substition patterns aren't great. But he doesn't really want to wear our players down......the players don't want to sit down!!!!! They want to keep playing. But yeah. He should force them to sit or something. They'll retire earlier...
It's not the fact that he has substitution patterns that is unusual, it is the way those patterns are designed. Rudy chooses to take Francis and Yao out at the same time, always, no matter what. Rudy always rests his star players during the fourth quarter, especially Yao and Steve. Why not rest them during the third, rather than in the most important quarter of the game?
My problem with him is that at the end of games or the half he never substitutes offensive and defensive players. Like getting Cato in there when Yao has 2 fouls or having Hawkins play someone on defense and then after the timeout put Cat back in. Rudy is more of a feel type of coach, and it is maddening when his feelings are off. DD
