Whom bears more responsibility for the Rockets poor play to start the season?

As a coach, I would rather be fired than let a player get away with what D12 (doesn't practice hard at all) and James (lack of defensive focus) get away with. It's going to take a Thibs or JVG to get them to play hard all game/every game. My only concern with Thibs and JVG is the their lack of offensive system.

 

This is more on the players than the coaches. This is the highest level in the world of basketball, not to mention a team with the talent to go deep in the playoffs. This isn't college ball or a nba team stuck in mediocrity.

Some people point to a lack of preparation but I just see a lack of effort and willingness to execute. I highly doubt that this team has changed the way they scout and scheme each team and just go on the floor with no game plan.

James harden says he's the best but it's not close right now. The best sacrifice for their team and leads their team. Harden just folds and gets frustrated easily in the face of adversity.

 

I see. I wish I could rep you again.
The coach is throwing the whole team under the bus and seems utterly desperate and at a loss. Definitely not the response one would want to right the situation. How can such an attitude inspire the players and bring them confidence and discipline?
But I have heard worse. Like Shaw blaming not understanding the millenial generation or what Scott is spewing.

 

ok let's again assume what you're saying is the absolute truth, and the players, especially harden, are most to blame.

considering there's a salary cap and dearth of superstar talent out there, there's not much we can do to just swap these guys for a new set of players.

but perhaps a different coach (easily obtainable) can reach/kick these guys back into win-mode...

 

I vote for the bear whom doesn't kear to improve

Spoiler

 

Morey either gave McHale the wrong players, gave the players the wrong coach or both. Rockets don't have enough shooting from normal lineup which forces McHale to play smaller sacrificing defense (though Jones and Harrell don't really add defense) and rebounding. That said, McHale has tried to play normal big lineups too much.

Morey has had ample time to determine if McHale was working out or not.

 

I am not a fan of just one culprit/scape goat

So it is both for me and Morey

Harden, McHale and Morey and that goofball of an owner

 

In the end, the blame has to go on the head coach even if it's not fully fair. It's his job to get the most out of his players and right now he's getting the absolute least out of them.

 

Making someone an Ollie North is a different discussion. I don't think there is going to be any debate that McHale gets axed if someone has to be axed to appease the Blame Game Gods.

If Morey made the mistake, the question is whether you think he will fix his mistakes better than someone else that could be hired. I think most of the problems lie with roster construction and injuries. Though, McHale isn't really helping himself.

 

in another setting, outside of this league, they all get axed..

 

It falls on everyone... from the top down. But the most disappointing thing to me is the effort. As I sit and watch these games I can't help but cringe at the complete lack of effort. There are a lot of things in sports that you can't control, but the thing you can ALWAYS control is how hard you play and this team is doing that very poorly.

The main question I have is, have the players begun tuning out McHale completely? All I ever hear him talk about is effort, effort, effort... but the players still aren't giving any.

McHale either needs to start making these guys accountable, or Morey needs to bring in someone who will.

 

I say Harden. Can't be talking all offseason and claiming to the be best, then laying an egg like this.

McHale is a very close 2nd, but Harden isn't setting the tone like he did last year. Needs to do better. Nobody is absolved, though. Everybody outside of Dwight/Thornton have been pretty dreadfully underwhelming. Whole team needs to improve or it'll be a very long season.

 

DMO is out, Bev is injured again, now Ariza. That's most of the players who are capable of playing defense on this team. Jones was injured too. How many other guys are carrying injuries we don't know about?

When players are too broken or simply don't have a certain ability. It's not going to look like they care when they are in fact putting in extra effort.

 

Definitely a mixture of both, include the enitre team with Harden.

Everyone is struggling at this point.

 

D-Mo? Defense?

I get it he's not that bad on the defensive end but he'd definitely no stallworth. If anything D-Mo is needed back for his offense and semi-rebounding that he's known for over any defense he's able to provide.

 

Sure but getting a "disciplinarian" type coach could easily backfire. There's no magic bullet to solve this issue.

Who are these easily obtainable coaches that want to be put in our situation?

 

I voted Harden. I think as JH goes the team goes. I just don't think we are getting what we need out of our star in any capacity. I want to see the fire that I know he possesses. Harden just seems to be cruising a bit.

That said, there are coaches that are able to get the most out of their players, stars included. Is McHale the guy? I really don't know.

 

That is why we were so predictable this year and last year..... we got nothing on Offense except Harden and not much D except for Dwight

No wonder real teams like the Warriors are having their way with us

You just cannot expect Harden to be like MJ all the time, he is not a God or GOAT

Once Harden is struggling or having problems on D this team is struggling.

We knew before. McHale is just a puppet coach.

If he is fired fine, Morey and his management will take blame too for sticking with a puppet coach and his moneyball approach.

 

McHale isnt a good coach but if Harden was playing like last year's version, we would've won all those games against non-contenders.

 

Honestly, at this point, it doesn't really matter. The blame HAS to fall on McHale because there is no alternative. Harden is still under contract, and even though he's been mostly abysmal this season, is still an MVP-caliber player that you CAN'T trade or let go. It's the coach's job to understand his players, and get the most out of the them, and right now McHale is failing on both fronts.

To me, the real question is do you give him an opportunity to try and rectify his mistakes for the remainder of this season, or do you make a move now and see if that lights a spark in the team?