http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=161690 Nearly 3 1/2 years ago, in February 2005, Tomjanovich walked away from a five-year, $30-million contract, citing mental and physical fatigue and saying that, a year after beating bladder cancer, he had returned to coaching too soon. “As tough as it was on us, obviously it was tougher on him,” Kobe Bryant said later. “I didn’t want to see any man go through that.” Tomjanovich quietly drifted into the shadows, his 24-19 record all but forgotten, but he never stopped working for the Lakers. The former coach, 59, is a scout, spends long hours studying film and splits his time between Beverly Hills and Houston so evenly that, when asked which he considers home, the Michigan native says, “That’s up for debate. I love the weather out here.” Answering to General Manager Mitch Kupchak, he says he has filed reports on every NBA player. ... Tomjanovich was asked his opinion before the Lakers traded for Trevor Ariza in November, he says. When they traded for Pau Gasol, he was not. Notes Rudy T., smiling, “That one was a no-brainer.”
Yeah... Rudy is somehow responsible finding a guy with such great character. HE WAS THE NO. 1 PICK!!! There was only about 1 or 2 players to choose from, so he didn't exactly have to do a lot of homework to find Yao. Now, if it was a #10 pick or lower, yeah, you could make a case the drafting him required some brains.
He clearly found the best guy in the draft. That's not that easy to do. Especially with all the pressure on picking Jay Williams. look how that turned out. Just look at the last few years... 2007 NBA Draft-Portland chooses Greg Oden (misses Kevin Durant and Al Horford) 2006 NBA Draft-Toronto chooses Andrea Bargs (misses LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy and Rudy Gay.) 2005 NBA Draft-Milwaukee chooses Andrew Bogut (misses Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Monta Ellis, Danny Granger and VON WAFER)
remember. . . Steve Francis told him they didn't need no point guard and he was right For the record . . . Back in that Era. . . I would watch games to the end they fought to the bloody death Now. . .If we down by 15 with 5 minutes ago . . . I begin to feel like the team will give up and quit I am seeing more NEVER SAY DIE attitude with whatshisname out Rocket River
This thread could have been started at the start of the 2006-07 season. One big reason is that Yao was the only player left from the Rudy T era then as well. Actually, he was the only player left from the 2003-04 Rockets as well as from the Rudy T era before they would bring back Scott Padgett. At the start of the 2006-07 season, I remember reading on the Rockets leading the league in player changes made since the 2003-04 season. I think they've made several player changes since the injury-plagued 2005-06 season, one that the Rockets had to use 21 different players. Today's roster only has six players left from that team.
