JVG had Jon Barry, Juwon Howard, T-mac, Rafer Alston, Steve Novack and had one of the best defensive teams in the league. He's do a lot more with these guys on defense than you think.
You really underrate the presence of Yao Ming on defense. The guy isn't that great 1 on 1, but he was a deterrent at the rim. We don't have that right now. Remember when we got Artest, and it was an Adelman coached team, but we were #4 in the league in defensive efficiency that year. The difference between the team that year and this year is Artest and Yao. Other than that... no significant defensive players. Now, I know you are going to claim having Artest instead of Martin is the reason we were #4 that year and now we are #25 this year... but think about this realistically... does one good defensive wing contribute THAT MUCH to the defensive success of the team? And when you factor in that Artest played in maybe 60 of the games that year fully healthy (that was the year where he was injured early in the season and was playing with an injury)... that theory becomes more and more far-fetched. Don't get me wrong. Artest did have something to do with it, but Yao had as much of an effect on the defensive end simply because of his size.
This is an excellent point. The GSW are exciting to watch but still rebuilding. But few remember the coaching tenure of Mike Montgomery who preceeded Don Nelson. Long before there was a Carmelo Anthony there was an Eric Musselman at DEN. These are the types of NBA coaches you get when in rebuild mode. And given Morey's luck/ability to find some moderately priced over-achieving talent, those are the type of coaches that will parade thru the TC until the Rockets have another Olajuwon/Francis/Yao moment. 100% agree. But what makes things worse is that $Ball doesn't target need..it targets perceived value. That IMO is why there are so many perimeter players on the roster. (And as the theory goes, supposedly these "assets" turn into a "star"). Are you related to Mike Brown? Everyone other than you sees Brown for what he is. A slow the game down coach. He's Van Gundy without the genius-level rotation schemes. Wait...Brown is worse than that. He's Popovic without Duncan.
GATER, Good to see you posting. I love hearing from the vets on here. All I need now is a CBFC post and cabby posts. Lol. To your points, I don't want to believe Daryl is so tethered to $ball that he doesn't even see NEED. He'd have to be Ray Charles not to notice the defensive donuts we keep fielding. Then again, he had targeted Gortat, Andersen, Miller (all more O than D). *sigh* Joey Dorsey he targeted as the "most defensively ready" big in the draft. Hill, I truly see as more PF than C and I don't know that he has shown a predilection for playing NBA goalie. Whiteside and Sanders (more D than O, potentially) were passed over and I've already brought up other bigs that are far from untouchable but have gone unattained by us. The main thing those guys have in common is true size and ability to patrol the paint DEFENSIVELY. All in all, I think Daryl has earned the right to have more time. I will give him until the beginning of next season (assuming it starts on time) to start converting this tinker toy set into something more than a rudderless vessel. We need a better direction and identity, we need resolution with the coaching staff, we need paint protection (ridiculous that Morey hasn't addressed this yet after 1.5 seasons), we need to do something with Aaron Brooks (we already missed his highest trade value), we need to obtain value from Battier (as he is a FA), and we need to give every effort possible to grab a franchise player (easier said than done, but it is why Daryl makes the big dollars). Re: Mike Brown Agreed, except for the Pop comparison. Pop is a brilliant mind who is fortunate (or diabolical) enough to have had Duncan throughout his coaching career. Without Duncan, h would still be an above average coach. His player development, eye for talent, defensive sets, and offense coming out of a timeout are ALL top notch.
Those of you who think rockets shouldnt resign adelman are wrong. He is a top five coach behind Jackson, Popovich. Anyone else we get is a downgrade. I do get worried though that he may get burned out or tired of coaching this team, seeing as hes old and rockets arent nowhere near close to being contenders. That is the only reason why he may just not resign with the team. Having said that, I don't think he's leaving this team just so he can sign with a serious contending team like the Lakers or Celtics. What kind of coach does that anyway? We know players do it all the time (Lebron), but not coaches. If I'm Adelman though, I would stick with the Rockets, because when you have the best GM in the league, one of the best owners, and good young assets, the team wont be down for long. We just need a high draft pick, or the right trade to come our way and we're right back in this!
I would like to see Clemens get another shot. When Rudy T was let go, I wanted either Silas or Cleamons to get the job. Why? Balance. I wouldve like to see a more balanced coach for this team. I wouldve loved to see the triangle earlier in Yao's career. I like adelman as a coach, I think he's a good coach, but I'm not worried about finding his replacement. There are plenty of capable coaches ready to coach and bring a new aspect to the game. I think Lambieer is going to be a good coach in this league. There are candidates,but the rockets cant be scared to look. Plus, adelman isnt a big fan of morey anyway. I said this 3 yrs ago.
Top five? Hmm. I won't disagree on Adelman. His record overall and production with the Mr. Potato Head teams he has had here speaks volumes. Morey as the best? Let's just say that the best GM in the L should have more than one 2nd round appearance on his resume. He should at least have addressed glaring needs that have existed for over 1.5 years (paint protector) to make that kind of claim. I give Morey no quarter...he has to earn it first. Also, as presently constructed, how do you propose we get that high draft pick with a coach looking (and doing) enough to keep us winning enough games to stay out of that high pick area? I'm not Kevin Martin's biggest fan, but I wouldn't want to give him up to move up a few spots in the draft. Scola, maybe. We are fully engaged in the neutral zone, and we need to make a decision and choices to either take us higher...or lower...whilst retaining our infrastructure.
JC I don't have a huge problem with. Coach Bud (spurs etymology) I'm VERY ok with, as well. Laimbeer, I believe, needs more seasoning. On the triangle and Yao, we disagree. I never trusted Yao's quick decision making enough to suggest he play that post role. I think/thought Yao saw the game about a quarter second slower than I'd care for...in that role. How many times did he get stripped baseline by trailing guards? When did he ever learn to keep that ball up high with cutters coming through? I know you, also, played college+ ball, so I respect your views, but ask yourself if you ever felt Yao was great improvisationally? To me, no. He was great in repetitive sets, where he knew where cutters and plotters would be (much as was Dream), but subpar in a TRUE read and react. Addendum: Pure FLEX, yes. Advanced flex, which is what the triangle is imo, no. Close, but I wouldn't have trusted him there.
If I can intercede, I think leeb says that because Morey seems to operate on a different wavelength than Rick. The Williams acquisition is a great example. Morey added a player he wanted without concern for the effect it would (or wouldn't) have on the current roster. Adelman has not exactly had the most glowing vibe about him regarding that transaction. It seems, for better or for worse, Rick's job is to coach and Morey's is to manage the roster. The two can be mutually exclusive. Leeb? Edit: Whereas everyone assumed JVG had a say so in acquisitions, there is no doubt in my mind that neither he, nor Adelman, hold as much influence as some might think, on whom is on the roster. Sure, the GM may acquire familiar parts in a run for NOW, but in the end the gm has to look at a bigger picture, whether that conflicts with the coach or not.
First of all, Rockets would have beaten the lakers two years ago and win the championship if it wasnt for the injuries to yao, mutombo and mcgrady. When your two highest paid players are in their street clothes 80 percent of the time, theres no way the team can win. He has been one of the most active GM's in the league and I feel pretty confident that he will make the right trades to improve this team. (Perhaps a shot-blocking presence). I have not looked at the league standings but as of right now, we are not a playoff team and are headed towards the lottery. We may not get the #1 pick but surely its around the top 10, and we all know how Morey is constantly working the phones and looking to move up in the draft, plus he has an eye for talent. Also, for what its worth, I believe Morey would have gotten us a superstar such as Carmelo if it wasnt for carmelo forcing his way to the knicks.
Perhaps a shotblocker??? Name the last champion that didnt have one. Then tell us why any of the last few years teams should've been taken seriously given that our goalie was more likely to be in a suit than on the court.
Verse, I never thought Yao as a low iq player, but he is a slow thinker. The only reason why I wouldve like to see the triangle earlier is because at the time we still had francis and mobley. I thought both would benfit from moving without the ball. I cant get into detail,but the way morey operates in general doesnt sit well with adelman. Adelman is old school,yet his gm is tweetin and on the radio. Think about who he used to work for and how they functioned as opposed to now. Verse nailed it also when he spoke of the accumilation of players aspect also. There have been issues since adelman was hired that have been under wraps.I think when all is said and done, adelman will be coaching somewhere else next season. I think he might even be back in Sacramento. He handled the immature webber, he can hndle cousins.
Not that it matters, but how can Gortat be worth 4m to morey, but brad miller 5.5m BTW, gortat has produced bigtime since playing in phoenix. They're the team,not portland, whom I think is going to make run at #8 seed.
