How come every time I post Rudy could use some help from someone who understands these young guys and their game. Someone takes it as oh noooo not Rudy's job.He has relied on superstars his whole coaching tenure.Maybe that is his problem. Dream was a superstar who could get it done night in night out. These guys can't yet.They play a different game that's flashy and athletic as well backcourt dominated.Has Rudy ever coached a team that completely relied on the backcourt? No! Was Rudy a guard? No! Does he know the NBA? yes. Does he know the new NBA? Not sure.Hasn't shown it yet.Stagnant dribbling offense. Has no rebounder to rely on yet.Didn't he build this team? What did he have in mind? Get Rudy some help, all i'm saying.These are exciting young players!Give them an offense that works and it will be exciting. Live by the jump shot, die by the jump shot.Dribble too much, lose by a tenth of a second!Why does everyone think that Rudy is saving an offense that works for the injured players to get back.THIS IS SOMETHING NEW FOR RUDY. HE HAS TO COACH HARDER AND SMARTER, and his team isn't showing he is.
First, I'd like to back someones argument earlier by saying: 1) Find some evidence when making statements such as these. Qualitatively, I agree, but where do they rank as a team on transition O and D. The numbers have to be out there, they post them always at half-time. 2) I blame injuries more than anything else. Lack of chemsitry really hampers the transition game. 3) With some exceptions, the Rockets are getting better at transition offense. Last night's Cleveland games had a number of good transition points. 4) The Rockets transition defense is not good. But neither is their defense in general.
The biggest reason you guys should fire Rudy is so he can come to Denver and lead the Nuggets to the NBA championship!
Thanks Nuggets 4 For stating what most people around the NBA know... Rudy is one of the best coaches out there... I am a Rocket fan and I do respect Rudy but if I thought for one minute the Rockets would be better off without him I would dump him in a heartbeat... It gets so old reading stupid posts from people (who don't seem to know much about the game) complaining about the coaches and the players constantly. The Rockets are a young team with lots of potential and that's about it. They are still learning the game and Rudy is doing a masterful job teaching them... Look at Griffin.. Know way is he supposed to make any contributions at 19... No other 19 year old is doing crap... But Eddie in a short time has learned to become comfortable on the court... Look at Cato early in the season everyone wanted totrade Cato for an old pair of socks and yet he is playing better than ever now. Frances and Cuttino have improved and the Rockets are getting better all the time... But they are a wounded group and they are YOUNG and it will take time and patience, something most of you posters lack).
Without the guard concentrating on rebounding, this team would be 0-82. As talented as Mobley and Francis are, they can't fly back to the offense to dunk those defensive rebounds they are trying to get.
I was watching the tube the other day and happen to put it on TNT when Kenny Smith was doing a play breakdown on two teams that were playing each other. The two teams were Portland and Minnesota. First, they showed a play by Minn. and they ran a play that somewhat didn't work, so they backed up, passed the ball around, maybe some 4 or 5 times, found the open player that shot a 5 footer making it. Then they showed Portland that also looked somewhat confused on their play. As their play unraveled Anderson seemed to take it into his own hands, dribbled for about 8-9 secounds and forced a horrible shot missing. Kenny said thats the biggest difference in the 2 teams, ones playing team ball, the other is playing one on one ball. He said one one one wins sometimes, team ball wins the majority of the time. Rudy depends too much on our one on one talent to win, versus getting everyone involved and throwing off the opposing teams defense to secure the win. Until the Rockets play team ball, we won't have a winning record. By the way Minnesota won by some 20 points that night.
I'm <i>sorry</i>. I really <i>apologize</i>. Please <i>forgive</i> me. <i>Pardon</i> me. What was the question again?
Let me see, we had : Minutes F Morris 36 F Thomas 25 C Griffin 42 G Francis 45 G Mobley 46 Collier 10 Norris 18 Torres 10 Langhi 8 for the Jazz game. No Cato, Willis, Taylor, Rice or Williams. And we won, you patronizing SOB.
Let's face the facts, whether you think Rudy should stay or go he has next year to turn it around or he is gone. Les is first and foremost a businessman and he is just killing time until the new arena opens. If the Rockets stink next year, then something drastic will have to be done in order to sell seats and luxury boxes in the new building or this team will be bleeding red ink. And if Rudy can't get it done next season with a healthy team (and Glen Rice being injured does not count because Rudy and CD traded for Rice and knew the risks) then I think that it is time for Rudy to move on or retire. Keep in mind that the legend Tom Landry was replaced by Jimmy Johnson in a very unpopular move at the time and look what happened.
You think it's easy for a team to start playing team ball? It's not like they have had time to practice as a team. The NBA's schedule allows coaches very little time between games to coach and create offenses. Throw 20 different starting lineups in there, and you're lucky we don't have 25 TOs a game. The only reason we've been in 90% of our games with a chance to win is our individual talent and Rudy's willingness to use it. I'm sure Rudy wants to play more team ball too - but he'd have to find a team instead of a walking IR roster instead.
Great points, Gutter. I like spreading the ball around too and I think it's important. But I also understand wanting your best scoring options to have the shot, and on this team that means Steve and Cat. I think lately the team has been passing more. Sometimes though the shots don't fall. EG missed a wide open 3-pointer with the game on the line in Dallas(that pass was courtesy of Cat.), and KT hit two huge FT's against Charlotte, and although the Rockets busted up the following play for Charlotte, the ball rolled to other guys, and they got the win. Things like that are tough, and aren't Rudy's fault. Rudy isn't perfect, but I think he's doing well with what he has.
Are you kidding??, We can't play team ball because only Steve and Cat are good shooters??? That kind of mentality has you actually justify our selffish play. Anybody on the Rocks can hit an open J, even Cato. How many times have you seen Mooch or Wink or whomever dribble, dribble, while someone is standing wide open signaling that their open??? If the ball was distributed more frequently, as it should, more of our guys would be more comfortable with their shot in game time situations. I hate to see our guys force a shot or take it into the teeth of the defense to no avail. Look at Minnesota, they have two good players in K.G. and Wally. Thats all, but guys like Billup, Smith, Brandon, Peeler, even Mitchell and Lopez all elevate their games because they're playing TEAM ball and trust eachother to make the extra pass to the best shot, percentage wise. Thats just plain smart. Nothing fancy.
I was saying with the injuries to the team, and constant line up changes, it's hard for the team to develop the kind of chemistry, passing, and trust needed. Of course I would love to see that kind of ball movement, and I do believe once we are able to put a line up together long enough for the team to learn that, we just might see it. I'm trying to justify selfish play. But it's not unreasonable to want the best shooters on the team to take the most shots. That's just smart basketball. It's why Jordan shot the ball so much, why the Rockets always dumped the ball into Olajuwon etc. Yes those players passed, and our players should pass too, and I hope and believe that it will come, but I also understand why sometimes it doesn't happen. Lately though the team seems to have focussed more on passing, and I hope it continues.
