If i wasn't lazy I would go back through the archives not to prove myself right or anyone wrong , but to best explain why this team is in a funk. It goes back to the general, Rudy. This is not a Rudy bash thread, its just the truth the way I see it. Rudy as a coach, as relative to a parent is the "cool" parent. What I'm trying to say is that he is afraid or too much of the good friend parent to enforce and dictate the good will on his talented players even when they mess up. He seems to be afraid of losing his "players coach" title, but that easier when the team is veteran and can police themselves on the court. This team has a very talented pg who drives this team like a 12yr old taking a drivers test. As many games as I've been too since Francis arrived and I've never heard him rip into Francis for making downright dumb mistakes. I've been to Comets games and have heard Chancellor rip into Swoopes,Thompson, and Cooper and they were some of the top players in the league. After Kobe's 47 shot performance, Tex Winter ripped into Kobe and Phil Jackson even tells Shaq when he's not playing up to par. Where am I going with this? A young team like the Rockets need the coach to be more and decisive about everything from dumb plays to playing time. They don't need a homeboy or cool parent, they need authority. All the soothing of ego's and massaging personalities need to go. Rudy should try to get all of his forwards equal time no matter how deep this team is suppose to be. When a coach tries to appease everyone, he helps no one. I once thought that Rudy as a coach might be able to handle a team different from Mike Dunleavy sr did, but its clearly becoming he can't either. Right now, Rudy and his coaching discipline is as soft as J.Lo's a$$ which doesn't work in pro sports. Just my opinion.
There are times where I wish Rudy would light into a player on the court, but it's been said often that he's not the type of person to knock players in public. I could've sworn I've read that he's not quite like that in private, ie, private practices or behind the scenes, and will let you know if you're doing something wrong. My only other point is that this is the same Rudy that allowed Vernon Maxwell to be a complete moron at times, allowed Kenny Smith to miss layups right and left, allowed Mario Elie to talk bad about his playing time without responding, etc. and yet still won a championship with his "around the Hakeem" offense. Now, Hakeem played a major role in those championships, but the fact is that he helped keep the team together when players weren't mentally up to the task. At a time when players aren't playing well together, are injured, or are so new to the team, they have no clue what their immediate role is (such as now), I don't think Rudy blasting any of them in public or calling them out would help the situation any. I think it would make it worse. There are coaches that are yellers and there are those that won't take anything public about their players. There are coaches that will insult and degrade you in practice a la Jerry Sloan. I think any of those types can help lead a team to a championship because in the end, the only thing that matters is that the team be mentally prepared to do what they're to do and play collectively. A loudmouth coach can cause dissension among the team just as much as a coach that doesn't say anything. When Rudy has lost control of the team, that's when I'll doubt him. Simply because he doesn't chastise players in public for their mistakes doesn't mean he's any worse of a coach. I honestly think Rudy is surrounded by some of the worst-decision-making players ever put together. Francis makes dumb plays, Moochie really has no game, Cuttino can be so ... Cuttino, etc. There are your 3 playmakers. Two of them blessed with athleticism beyond compare... athleticism that is inversely proportional to their IQ it seems. Rudy can't make a player think right on the court... that's the player's responsibility. Rudy can take minutes away from a player, and he does that. Rudy definitely doesn't need to embarrass a player in public to get his point across. Doing that would be against everything "classy" the Rockets organization has grown to be known for.
Man, Dr. great post. I completely agree with you. I recently read this book called "Full Court Press", by Michael Kupica. Its about the first female player to ever play in the NBA (fictional, pretty good read). Anyway, in the book there is a comment about coaching that I can recall. It says this generation, the players decide if they want to be coached or not. Now, I think the best coaches out there are the ones that demand respect from their players, and push them extra hard. However, good a player may be, he should never rule a team. The coach should be the one who controls the flow of the game, the plays, etc. I think its good for the coach to somewhat yell at the players, and let them know when they arent doing something right. Although, I don't really like coaches though that rip into the psyche of their players with personal attacks (ala PJ Carleisimo and George Karl). Everyone seems to think that George Karl is an awesome coach, but I think he is just horrible. Any coach that calls his players out in the media is an idiot. What happens within the organization, should definitely stay within the organization. What I don't understand, is why we have so many players that don't seem to have a very high basketball IQ. I don't know whether they just haven't gelled yet, or our players are just plain stupid. I don't care whether they have hops out of the gym, I want a player who is willing to do what it takes to get the job done. Right now, it seems that we dont really have anybody who plays with a lot of passion. I rarely see Francis and Mobley diving for loose balls and chasing down rebounds, taking charges, and hustling their a$$es off. Its really frustrating as a fan, watching this team try to hang with teams that clearly are not nearly as talented as they are. Wheres the cutting? Why do they not swing the ball? Where are the hands when they chase out to the open shooter? When are they ever going to grasp the concept of team ball? So many answers, only 68 games left. Will they ever figure things out?
Generally, I disagree with you guys! I know for a fact, both because I sit close to the action at every home game and I have a confidant in the organization who sometimes is in the lockerroom at halftime. I have seen him drop the expletives on these guys, including Steve and Cat, though at close range and very guarded.....he has a quick burst temper, then cools it. Though, my confidant tells me he have heard several times over the past years, Rudy go off in the lockerroom. Granted, he does not tirade on these guys, but trust me....his demeanor is not the "cool" parent all the time! I do think Rudy needs to work on better expectation setting. It seems players are surprised this year at their playing time and contribution expectation. I think players are in a funk as to who is coming in at what time and I think most except for Steve and Cat are confused as to their roles. Rudy needs to define roles quickly to get this team rolling. And, if MoT, KT or Griffin do not like it then trade em....you have to define roles on a team. In every organization, whether corporate or private, leadership must define roles. That his is number one priority and issue right now. It appears he is not good at doing this role setting.
