I can't reply to JSizzle for an obvious reason. But the reality is, when the Rockets were 21-14 ... it also didn't stop people trashing Lin, LOFs, McHale, our PFs, Douglas etc. But the same people cannot accept a little discussion on Harden when we lose 8 of 9.
McHale firing will be a Les (+ Morey) decision. Morey didn't hire him. McHale was one of his final two recommendations to Les, and Les made the hire. McHale's strengths has never been in in-game strategy, X&Os, system development etc. McHale was brought in to be a leader of men, and a face to the franchise (being a top 50 of all time). McHale's strength are player development, in particular big man, and holding players accountable. In terms of whether McHale's been successful in terms of what he was brought in for ... the jury's still out. On the court ... I can't say he's failing. But he's been frustrating ...
I thought McHales strength was or still is, defense. Which surprised me being offense was our strongest point this year.
I blame Morey but hes having a plan: -- McHales: Daryl, I see this team can makes to the play off with current rosters. Morey: We need another Star, you tank this team by all means. McHales: Damn, clutchfans will want to fire me. Morey: You be an a**hole this year, I will make up for you next year. Remember, also pack James numbers, that will attract another star In game: -- Lin: Coach, can I run the offence? McHales: No Jeremy, offences run through James. You need to get 3pter going. James: I think it's better to run through Jeremy. McHales: I am the coach. Morey text messaging to McHales "2 thumbs up coach" McHales: "Damn", I don't know, we are all good, yeah, I don't know.
What does it matter if you've got the wrong guy when you criticize decision-making in the Rockets? It's not like your criticisms have any effect at all on future rotation decisions. Morey's not exhaling a sigh of relief that the public doesn't realize it's him that keeps DMo off the floor, so he can continue with his insidious plot. Whoever it is that's not letting the rookies play is trying to do what's best for the franchise as they see it. They might be right or wrong, but they don't care that you disagree. I don't see any point in criticizing rotations, though people love to do it. The stupidest coach to ever work in the NBA still has more information on how good or promising his players are, and how they fit together, and what he needs to do to achieve his goals. These coaches are the cream of the crop, just as the players are; they know what they're doing. If T Jones isn't playing, I may not know why, but I can trust there's a good argument as to why.
I think you have too much faith in the ability of NBA Coaches. The ultimate decision of who gets hired as a coach falls on the Owner, and Owners are human beings. They get blinded by star power as much as anyone. And having the most information doesn't mean you make the best decisions, especially when you're judging a relative scale. It doesn't matter if McHale knows more than the average layman. What matters is how he stacks up against his peers, in other words what the Best in his profession are doing. And just because a fan is NOT a coach does not mean that they aren't seeing something that the coach is not. Fans cross all spectrums, and while most fans probably don't understand basketball as well as the worst coaches does not mean that there aren't fans who ARE seeing legitimate coaching errors. One thing to consider is that many "analysts" start out as Fans. They follow the sport, love the sport, study the sport, and eventually begin to understand aspects of the game in very deep ways. John Hollinger started as a fan, running a basketball website as a hobby. Now he's running Basketball operations for the Grizzlies. While most fans aren't future John Hollinger's, there's plenty of very smart fans that have the benefit of distance when it comes to assessing what a coach is doing. Sometimes coaches are so close they can't see the forest for the trees...
Your list are all 2nd round players and you didn't include Chandler Parsons (a rookie starter) and Marcus Morris? Why is that? Note that none of those teams above have two, 2nd year players starting. The argument that McHale doesn't play rookies is wrong. Now, regarding throwing Jones out there as a prototype 4, you do realize the dude loves to shoot 3s, right? You are imagining what he would do. We have no proof, so please don't assume the guy could help us now. I don't mind playing him and us stop worrying about wins, but you can't say you know more than Coach by insisting he is better for Wins that Morris and PPat. Sorry, but you are just completely basing that on assumptions.
Oh, please. This sounds like DaDakota and his insistence that he knows more than an NBA Coach. It's fine when you say you have to judge Coaches against each other, but when it comes to the topic of this thread, player management regarding rookie and 2nd yr minutes, Coaches and their staff have VASTLY more information from practice than Hollinger or any fan out there. Let's be a little humble here. The Coaching staff sees the practices...we don't.
McHale doesn't really micromanage the team or run the x's and o's. He's more of an overseer of a coaching by comittee (the assistant coaches talked more about this during his leave of absence). He determines the substitutions and rotations, and provides the pep talks. The defense is drawn up by Sampson, and the offense by Finch. So if the team sucks at defense, that's on Sampson.
If the question is: Who's fault is it that the rookies aren't playing much? then the answer is probably Morey, by drafting so many PFs who are not immediately ready for NBA games. The only reason we are complaining about the rotation is because we have FOUR (not including Royce White) young PFs. All of them have shown good to great potential and no one of them has established as a sure superior player over the others.
What RV6 said. McHale runs the gameplan, substitutes etc. Morey controls the management/operations. What Royce White was saying is that McHale doesn't have control of management/operations.. That's FO.
People arguing on whether the designated GARM argument should be "why McHail no play rookie" or whether it should be "Fire Murray.. he treats rookies like asset".... shocking, and exciting stuff!! Should we also tackle gun control or Obama vs. Romney too since we are pioneering our way into new exciting progressive topics of discussion here. Seriously though, -Morey drafted a crap load of players that he thought that most were going to get moved in a mega trade that never happened. Morey amnestied Scola for many reasons, but also in part to give PT to the young PF's on the roster. I guess its his fault that they are buried on the bench, but would you rather him draft someone that sucked, but played a different position, or would you rather him take BPA even if they have to wait a half season to get roster minutes. Either way, its not Morey's fault that the Rookie PF's aren't good enough now to make the coaching decision easy for McHale to make. McHale can only play so many PF's in one game. If Patterson, and Morris clearly won the minutes there is no reason for him to think about the fans "feelings" and boredom watching a player the fans dont like as much for various reasons. Its his job to play the player that deserves the minutes more, and helps him win. That's Morris and 2Pat. Its the front office's decision on the moves to make to move more "veteran" players to make PT for rookies, not the coach. If you can even call a 2nd and 3rd year player a "veteran" and keep a straight face... Only on the GARM I guess. The team made a two year investment in developing 2Pat, and the past year with Morris. This is sink of swim time, and the coaches, along with front office know this. I guarantee you they will make some sort of move at the deadline to free up minutes for either D-Mo and Jones. Dont worry, after both guys finally get in the rotation, and they pick up a scrub like Hassan Whiteside from RGV, you will be creating another thread about how its Murray and/or McHails fault that they are holding back Whiteside when they should be benching Jones and D-Mo to play him instead.
