If they slip below .500 is that the time for a coaching change? If they dont make the playoffs? If they lose more games to teams with under .400 winning percentages than we win? If they continue to be one of the absolute worst passing teams in the league, and one of the lowest scoring (with all that offensive talent) If they continue to show no orientation of offense other than some form of dribble and last second heaves or desperation passes out of the double team. Be honest....before all the injuries last year, who didnt think we had enough talent to make the playoffs? So the injuries set. So then before the Draft Lottery, who didnt think the Rox had enough talent (without Yao) to make the playoffs? So we are pretty much injury free (no I won't count Rice's useless ass-Thanks for desiring him so much Rudy) and We have added the best talents the last two years, by our own admission, yet we may not even crack off a .500 record....Look at how many road games we have left before you go blasting that possibility... So what does it take. Complete and utter failure first? Do something LES. If Rudy was held to the same accountability as a player he'd be a Matt Maloney. There is a reason that every time you watch the Rox on TV someone is screaming at their basically poorly coached team.
This team is regressing, Rudy fires them up after a bad loss for a game or two and then Rudy pulls his foot off of them and they relax again, Rudy needs to stay on them at all times and drill into their heads that there is a sense of urgency! We're battling for the playoffs, yet Rudy looks like we're the Memphis Grizzlies, out of the playoff hunt and playing for next year. This team should be far better then they are now. The next 4 games are key, personally I think the Rockets should win all 4 of them, they have the talent and it's against team with very little or no low post presences. Here's the Rockets next 4 games: home against Memphis At Boston At New York At Washington Larry Hughes is our for 3 weeks, Boston has NO inside game and relies on the perimeter. New York is a revenge game and if the Rockets have any pride will wipe the floor with New York at the Gardens. Anything less then a 3-1 record on that stretch unacceptable, but if Rudy drills it into the Rockets heads that all of these games are must wins and they need to play as a team then they could and should win all 4 games. If the Rockets go 4-0 or at least 3-1 during this next stretch I think they'll make the playoffs. If they go 2-2 or less then we have MAJOR issues with this team.
Rudy will probably coach this team until he decides tp retire, because Rudy, apparently, is god. And this is coming from an atheist. Hell, he could be the coach for the rest of eternity.
Is that the only topic that on your mind. Fire the coach? Did you realize that the Rockets lost because they missed open shots??? When was that the fault of the coach??? Did you see a 7'6" play like an ALl-Star.... and he wasn't a Rocket? Those 5 outside shots where not contested because no one in the Arena thought he could make them, except him. And Bradley not Ming had the 6 blocks, basically shut down the middle for the Mavs. Not too bad for a stuff. But I'm of the opinion that Ming is STILL a better player than Bradley ever will be. The Mavs have a 7' player that can shoot, dribble and pass. Unfortunately, Ming is not as accurate as before but it's expected from a rookie. Did Rudy NOT call all the fouls on the Mavs for beating Ming to a pulp? And the Mavs have the Rockets number so they lose, big deal. It's not the Mavs but the rest of the teams we need to beat. And I agree with the 3-1 record for the next 4 games. This is as good as anytime to get it into gear.
Come on, you know it isn't just the Mavs games. When will the losing to losers stop? In case you haven't noticed, the Rockets are UNDER .500 against UNDER .500 teams! That is apalling for a so-called playoff team. This will be Rudy's fourth straight lottery season! Name another coach that has gone that long without a postseason appearance that hasn't been fired.
Relax, Rudy is here through the playoffs. What, no playoffs? Then Rudy will be offed. It wasn't coaching tonite, it was talent. Dirk had more than the Rox.
My only beef with Rudy would be his questionable decision making as far as substitutions go. But I don't think Rudy should be faulted for Houston's shooting woes which clearly is the outlier in this game. You can't put up 35% from the field and 23% beyond the arch on Dallas. Let alone Houston's bench getting rolled by Dallas'. Christ you could count our bench points on your fingers and three toes it was so obscene. But I don't think we should decide the future of this franchise on one game against the best team in the league. Houston just isn't a great shooting team. We can't expect games like we had against Phoenix night in, night out. Houston bench - 13 points Dallas bench - 35 points
I agree with ZRB, the inconsistency is just unacceptable. This will be the 4th straight year with no playoffs, and something has to change. I would not be surprised at all if the Rockets lose to the Grizzlies tomorrow....they're about as good as the Heat, and we all remember that one......
God...I remember all the sad losses to sad losing teams. I hope we can win tomorrow. I guess we are still rebuilding..
Dallas has just too much offensive talent. Whenever we tried to bring help, someone else was killing us. Shawn Bradley making 18 foot jump shots. Raja Bell making open shots. You know youre screwed. As far as Rudy. Rudy is a decent coach but I would hardly call him a great coach. His assistants may be good video guys but they bring little to the table in terms of coaching experience and innovative ideas. If this team makes the playoffs, we'll get killed but that's ok. However, at some point it's imperative we get there. You don't go from lottery team to championship. You have to fight your way through the gauntlet. First comes experience. Then comes close but not quite. And when youre finally ready to make a serious run, you'll lose a heartbreaker. If youre lucky, you'll get another shot. This team is not as talented as some might believe. Sacramento and Dallas has a lot more talent. San Antonio and the Lakers have the 3 best players in the game. We're still missing at least 1 consistent PF, a SF that can score, and a pure shooter that can make teams pay. Im hoping that next year, teams will start salivating for Rice's expiring contract and offer us a very good player that just makes too much money. A salary dump for some cap space.
Uhhh...actually our team is pretty talented. But those 4 teams that you stated have even more talent. We do have a lot of talent. Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, James Posey, Maurice Taylor, Yao Ming, Glen Rice...Can't they all score? We all know that they can play very well and beautifully and get happy and big wins. BUT TOO INCONSISTENT. They must have a problem.
Yao wasn't himself tonight, but I was wondering if anyone had this thought watching the game...people seem to be looking for Yao in the half court set. But on a few occassions people would take it to the hoop and contest Bradley instead of dishing to Yao. The best example I remember was when the Franchise drove to the hoop and tried laying it in on Bradley only to get stuffed. Yao was under the hoop. I think guys are trying to get Yao the ball more, but I think they should look to dish to him on penetration more than they are. Maybe I'm wrong on this one. Thoughts?
I think the rockets needed to take a step back this season before taking about 10 steps forward in the next couple of years. I bet the Rockets would of had a better record this year without Yao. They would have made it to the playoffs and gotten sent home in the first round every year. But now with Yao, they may not make the playoffs this year but in the next couple of years, after learning the new system, they could be a championship contender.
I definitely think Rudy should get at least one full year with this team before he goes. It would be just plain stupid to start over while the team is in the midst of a playoff race in the first year the team has been together. If the Rockets aren't even in the playoff race by the All-Star break 2004...he's gone. If the Rockets don't make the playoffs in 2004...he's gone. But I wouldn't count on anything earlier than that.
. But we have also lost to the WORST FREAKIN TEAMS in basketball as well. If we don't make the playoffs NEXT YEAR, we shall fire Rudy!!! But next year, Utah will be gone...hopefully!! Hopefully Golden State does not start off well. And hopefully the Grizzlies don't start off well either. Next year, I believe that the Rockets can end the season in 8th place. If they don't...fire Rudy!
