I think that if a player needs a 'system' to win, then he's not good enough to win. Systems do not win championships. If Francis isn't smart enough to excel in the simplest of 'systems', then how is he going to excel in a more complicated one? Good defensive teams will eliminate the options in your 'system'...what do you do then? And where did you hear that the coaches are telling players NOT to move?
Just so we're clear: You believe the Rockets SHOULD have made the playoffs in '00, '01, and '02? You think it's the coach's fault that they didn't make it? What coach could have put those teams in the playoffs?
I think the Rockets should have made the playoffs THIS year...no doubt. What coach is another issue. I think a coach that DEMANDED they play team ball instead of someone who wanted to let them grow on their own. Larry Brown would have gotten them in, Don Nelson, Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, just to name a few. I think Rudy did a LOUSY job this year...HORRIBLE !!! He did not play Boki at all, he played EG way too much and he did not sit players who did not run the system. In my mind Rudy has lost his edge. DD
TheFreak: the purpose of a system is multifold. of course, it should allow your best player(s) to utilize their skills to the fullest. that's a given. what is often overlooked is how it allows your second-tier players and role players to flourish, as well. take hakeem olajuwon and put him in the triangle offense...do you really think he would have been as successfull? i don't. hakeem's skill set was best utilized in one-on-one low post play with limited cutters. why? because he was, instinctively speaking, a poor passer. he was, however, intelligent and capable enough to make passes to players that were pretty much in set positions. a "true" read and react with hakeem would have been a disaster. let's look at yao ming. do you really believe that he flourishes best in a low post, nonmovement offense? of course not. his passing skills are being neglected, and his lack of overwhelming physical strength is being exploited. ah... what a good defensive team can do is pick an option/matchup and try to prevent you from exploiting it. it's what some teams try to do against shaq, by doubling him without the ball. same for tim duncan. same for t-mac. to answer you question, what you do is go on to your 2nd or 3rd options OR adjust to the defense to free up your original 1st option. that is the beauty of coaching, in a nutshell...the chess game. well, the bottom line is that they do not move. so if the coaches are telling them to, it is even more obvious that we need coaches that can get through to the players. it'd be different if it were one or two guys that don't consistently move. but we're talking about an entire roster, for oh...3-4 years now. lastly, it's obvious to me that your basic philosophy is that the team with the best player usually wins. i won't debate that right now, but i will say this: when you don't necessarily have a clearcut talent advantage, you can consistently win by having a better game plan, better discipline, and thusly, better execution. these are all directly attributed to coaching and are things this generation of rockets has never been accused of having.
Point 1, he did not play Boki enough- How do you know he didn't play Boki all Boki could handle of NBA basketball? Boki is a rookie euro who Rudy said repeatedly that he needed to work on his defense. Ahead of him, we played Posey, who was a solid defender and Rice who was shooting lights out on the 3's when someone passed him the ball. Point 2-Played EG too much I would like to have seen more of Taylor. Point 3-He should sit players who didn't run the system- Would you rather win 43 games with Mobely and Francis or lose (at least 43) with Maddox and Hawkins? Rudy had no choice here, but he does now. He has got to go out and get a 2 that fits in a Ming/Francis type (probably Utah style pick and roll) system or he deserves whatever Les has in store for him. j
That's why I said ONE disappointing season earlier. So that's your criteria for giving a city icon the axe? One disappointing (winning) season? Really? Thanks for the 30 good years, but you only went 43-39 this year, see ya? And your solution for getting the Rockets into the playoffs was...play a ROOKIE (Nachbar) more minutes?
The players were NOT good enough when it counted. What I mean is that when they HAD TO win to save their lives, they couldn't! I point to the game at home against Portland without Pippen. We needed that one and what happens? NONE of the 4 key starters could find the basket. I wonder even if Rudy was coaching can he have MADE Ming, Steve, Mobley, Eddie shoot better? They rebounded and defended great but NOTHING was falling for them, THEY LOST, and the season went with that lost. Sure, they could have beaten the Knicks at home or some of the other losers they lost to. But the Portland game was a MUST WIN at home in crunch time and they the players lost. What could have the coach done to get the players to make the layups and wide open shots? The fact is the consistency wasn't there all season long. Now I'm not one to say Rudy must go or Rudy must stay, but there probably isn't a system out there that could have saved the Rockets that night. The future, Ming WILL GET BETTER, Steve, probably, Eddie, hopefully, Mobley likely if he means what he saids. Should the team trade Eddie and Mobley for a Brand from the Clippers SURE! But unless there is some great return for our players, it's not a wise idea to trade just so to shake things up.
So Freak, when do you think Rudy should be fired, if at all? How many missed playoff appearances should equal a resignation? Also, would you give any other coach this much room for error or is Rudy such an 'icon' that you are willing to go 10,15, hell 20 missed playoffs before you start thinking we should get a new coach. I understand you are a loyal coach follower but sooner or later something has to click before you realize when Rudy isn't the right coach for this team...when will that happen?
hmm, tougher players at the wings position eh? Somebody trying to hint to get rid of Mobley and change Francis' role? I like it!
I don't agree. Veteran help is not going to help this team. A new coach with a good offensive system to best utilize the talent on this team is the cure. You Rudy's lovers will see the same crap basketball no matter who comes to this team.
I believe that coaches make only a marginal difference in a team's success. I also believe that people who deliver championships earn the right to go out on their own terms (this right, IMO, extends only to Hakeem and Rudy). I think that answers your questions.
