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Trying to keep an objective discussion about McHale. Obviously, my feelings on him aren't exactly a secret around here. I think he is the main reason why the Rockets aren't playing the way they should be playing. I give Harden a lot of hate, but I think he plays the way he plays because he is allowed to believe that he is doing what's best for the team. I think if someone had the guts to sit him down and tell him to focus more on D and getting people involved throughout the whole game, he might listen. And if not, then bench his ass.

My personal thoughts are that he's a horrible coach, from what I see during the games. Horrible rotations, horrible plays out of time outs and end of games. Runs people into the ground, then benches people for long periods for no apparent reason. Players don't play hard for him. He gives superstar preferential treatment to Harden. I also think he's not a people person at all and he thinks of his players as just "pieces".

I think he was the main reason why Asik (who was NEVER known to be a headcase) has been pulling this "bitch" act lately. Everyone knew the TT would fail (probably even Asik)...but the VERY first game that Asik came off the bench, correct me if I'm wrong, I think he played FOUR minutes total. In an OT loss. How do you do that to a guy that started EVERY single game last year and gave you hard work, every single game? That's just a slap in the face. FOUR minutes.

And don't even get me started on the whole Beverley/Lin starting job fiasco. That was handled horribly.

And then when he benched Howard for the entire 4th of a recent game and when asked about it, said that it was because Howard's back was stiff. That was an obvious lie to save his own face and Howard called him out on it by saying his back was fine.

Honestly, I don't think his team respects him. Harden straight up ignores him at times.

What do other Houston fans think of McHale? Is he a good coach? Does he suck? Does this team win with him at the helm? Or is it just a matter of time before he moves on?

good personality. players like each other, get along bla bla bla. when it comes to coaching basketball, he's average at best.

i thought mchale was a coach for the rebuilding phase. i didn tread too much into articles but thats the gist of what i got. then someone else, finch was mentioned a lot, would take over when a good playoff roster was set. doesnt seem like he's leaving anytime soon

He's a player's coach, no doubt about it, brought in to motivate a young roster, and somewhat of a figurehead due to his playing career. People need to realize that keeping younger players motivated and focused is one of the biggest issues with a very young roster. But yeah he's definitely not an X's and O's type of coach, although people completely gloss over the influence of all the assistant coaches. It's really the entire coaching staff that implements the team's philosophy and identity.

Of course the team is not so young anymore, with a number of vets now on the squad. A defensive-minded, hard-nosed disciplinarian type of coach sounds great on paper, but you never know how the chemistry issues can play out with these types of coaches. Morey also wants a clear line between GM and coach, e.g. doesn't want a coach with say on the roster and whatnot. There are multiple things in play here, but at the end of the day I think if we get bounced in the first round McHale is a goner due to owner/fan expectations.

BaYBaller wrote:He's a player's coach, no doubt about it, brought in to motivate a young roster, and somewhat of a figurehead due to his playing career. People need to realize that keeping younger players motivated and focused is one of the biggest issues with a very young roster. But yeah he's definitely not an X's and O's type of coach, although people completely gloss over the influence of all the assistant coaches. It's really the entire coaching staff that implements the team's philosophy and identity.

Of course the team is not so young anymore, with a number of vets now on the squad. A defensive-minded, hard-nosed disciplinarian type of coach sounds great on paper, but you never know how the chemistry issues can play out with these types of coaches. Morey also wants a clear line between GM and coach, e.g. doesn't want a coach with say on the roster and whatnot. There are multiple things in play here, but at the end of the day I think if we get bounced in the first round McHale is a goner due to owner/fan expectations.

Even though his in-game execution is not the best (X's and O's, rotations, player minutes, when to call timeouts, fouls etc.), I think the bigger problem lies in the coaching staff's philosophy for the team. You can have the best pieces to build a house with but if the foundation is not solid, it's going to crumble when facing any real force.

One of my biggest gripes with him is how many minutes he plays Chandler. OK, so there isn't much depth at that position. But he's basically being played 40 minutes per game; 44 minutes last night. I sometimes think McHale forgets that he's got him out there. 15-18 minutes into the first half and I'm just, like, why the hell is he still out there? He should stick in Brewer or Garcia in there for maybe four, five minutes per night. It's no wonder the kid's got back problems and such.

I think he might be a good training camp and developmental coach, as someone's already suggested; but kind of useless in-game.

This team can still be fixed but I don't see McHale being the one to do it. Here are some suggestions:

- For starters, either get Asik involved or get rid of him for some much needed depth. Involved doesn't mean getting benched down the stretch of every game. Asik has been compliant at times but for some reason he keeps reverting to being a useless disgruntled entity.

- Less minutes for the Big 3 being Harden, Parsons and Beverley (lol). These guys should be getting 35 mins max, not 40+. Go to a 9-10 man rotation instead of 7-8. Spread the wealth to increase their efficiency as well.

- More touches for Howard. Get him more involved down the stretch so its not always the same predictable Harden ISO-ball. He's a max player, treat him as such.

- More accountability for Harden on D, less reliance on his offense.

No need to get into Lin's role (too much to ask for given the above), now If they can implement some of the above which is harder said than done, I think the rest of the team would be more productive and happier as well.

Pros:
-Guy everyone wants to play for: Pivotal in the recruitment of Howard.
-Great development of skills: Has done wonders for Howard's post game, developed Jones into a nice solid rotation guy, Kevin Love, Parsons, etc.
- Puts guys in best position for them to succeed individually: Parsons, Casspi and Lin having career years
-Not afraid to bench to big name guys when they aren't playing well or backups are more effective.
-Open to input from Morey via analytics

Cons:
- Doesn't get defensive urgency out of his players.
- Has trouble getting players up for small games.
- Defensive schemes somewhat simplistic

Good not great coach, but the only guy out there that is available this offseason that I would replace him with would be George Karl.

Bring back Rudy T!!!!!!!!!

George Karl would be good, however he would remind me constantly of the 1990's Supersonics we could never beat.

Phil Jackson?????? (Man, that would really piss Laker fans off!)

Barring a miracle and we see a surprise announcement about the return of JVG we all need to get used to McHale for the rest of the season.

I've said this before, but I will repeat it again: I'd like to see Chris Finch elevated to the lead assistant. If he really is the "anointed one" then he needs more responsibility on the big stage.

I agree with the statements that the team/situation that McHale was brought in to coach has changed dramatically. That needs to be addressed.

LarsV8 wrote:Good not great coach, but the only guy out there that is available this offseason that I would replace him with would be George Karl.

The only reason that statement doesn't make me cringe more is because I'm fairly sure Karl couldn't screw up our rotations.
What's he going to do, bench Parsons and Howard and play Garcia and DMo 38 each minutes a game?

The man cemented his incompetence when he wouldn't let Faried off the bench.
Only the best guy on the team.

It's hard to understand his thought process...for example, I still don't understand why Lin and Jones sat out the 4th quarter against NY. Anyone hear an honest explanation that makes sense? I understand that he told one reporter that he went with the group (incl Garcia and Brooks) that started the 4th because they "brought them back". Really?

Hank7 wrote:It's hard to understand his thought process...for example, I still don't understand why Lin and Jones sat out the 4th quarter against NY. Anyone hear an honest explanation that makes sense? I understand that he told one reporter that he went with the group (incl Garcia and Brooks) that started the 4th because they "brought them back". Really?

McHale often keep playing the lineup that played the best in the 4th quarter
he sat Howard/Haren in 4th quarter before too

MaxRider wrote:

Hank7 wrote:It's hard to understand his thought process...for example, I still don't understand why Lin and Jones sat out the 4th quarter against NY. Anyone hear an honest explanation that makes sense? I understand that he told one reporter that he went with the group (incl Garcia and Brooks) that started the 4th because they "brought them back". Really?

McHale often keep playing the lineup that played the best in the 4th quarter
he sat Howard/Haren in 4th quarter before too

Garcia and Brooks were a combined 2 for 10 for the game. I think Brooks was 1 for 8. They were better? Guess it was Defense?

MaxRider wrote:

Hank7 wrote:It's hard to understand his thought process...for example, I still don't understand why Lin and Jones sat out the 4th quarter against NY. Anyone hear an honest explanation that makes sense? I understand that he told one reporter that he went with the group (incl Garcia and Brooks) that started the 4th because they "brought them back". Really?

McHale often keep playing the lineup that played the best in the 4th quarter
he sat Howard/Haren in 4th quarter before too

Howard only sat out the 4th in that game where had a ton of fouls. Howard said McHale asked him if he wanted to go back in and he said no since D-Mo was playing so well that quarter.

Hank7 wrote:

MaxRider wrote:

Hank7 wrote:It's hard to understand his thought process...for example, I still don't understand why Lin and Jones sat out the 4th quarter against NY. Anyone hear an honest explanation that makes sense? I understand that he told one reporter that he went with the group (incl Garcia and Brooks) that started the 4th because they "brought them back". Really?

McHale often keep playing the lineup that played the best in the 4th quarter
he sat Howard/Haren in 4th quarter before too

Garcia and Brooks were a combined 2 for 10 for the game. I think Brooks was 1 for 8. They were better? Guess it was Defense?

i said lineup not individual player
he often play best 5 men lineup in the 4th quarter

Coach can do what he wants... he wants to sit Lin in the 4th that is his right....

Lin looked to be pressing his plays in the 2nd half...so I dont disagree with his benching Lin...

but personally I would have put Lin back in to see how he responded...

.
.
however

if McHale is intentionally NOT getting Howard and Harden to do a PnR offence

or CANNOT get Howard and Harden to do a PnR offence...

then he should not be a Head Coach

im old School... the Coach is the boss.. you do what he tells you to do.... you do it...

however if the teams loses, fail to make playoffs, etc etc etc....

then he is the one that gets the blame...

to much Superstar ego crap going on with the NBA these days you dont know who calls the shots... one of the reasons this put me off of BBall

texasholdem wrote:

MaxRider wrote:

Hank7 wrote:It's hard to understand his thought process...for example, I still don't understand why Lin and Jones sat out the 4th quarter against NY. Anyone hear an honest explanation that makes sense? I understand that he told one reporter that he went with the group (incl Garcia and Brooks) that started the 4th because they "brought them back". Really?

McHale often keep playing the lineup that played the best in the 4th quarter
he sat Howard/Haren in 4th quarter before too

Howard only sat out the 4th in that game where had a ton of fouls. Howard said McHale asked him if he wanted to go back in and he said no since D-Mo was playing so well that quarter.

he's the coach he can put howard in if he wanted to

MaxRider wrote:

texasholdem wrote:

MaxRider wrote:McHale often keep playing the lineup that played the best in the 4th quarter
he sat Howard/Haren in 4th quarter before too

Howard only sat out the 4th in that game where had a ton of fouls. Howard said McHale asked him if he wanted to go back in and he said no since D-Mo was playing so well that quarter.

he's the coach he can put howard in if he wanted to

The point is that he didn't bench Howard because of poor play.

What I heard regarding the benching of Howard is that McHale never asked Howard if he wanted to go back in.

When asked why he benched Howard for the 4th after the game, McHale said it was because Howard's back stiffened up. He said, and this is not a direct quote, "If he could have played, he would have been in."

So they then asked Howard about his back and Howard's response was (again, not a direct quote), "My back was fine...I was ready to go back in".

KungFuJoe wrote:What I heard regarding the benching of Howard is that McHale never asked Howard if he wanted to go back in.

When asked why he benched Howard for the 4th after the game, McHale said it was because Howard's back stiffened up. He said, and this is not a direct quote, "If he could have played, he would have been in."

So they then asked Howard about his back and Howard's response was (again, not a direct quote), "My back was fine...I was ready to go back in".

I don't trust McHale's word with anything anymore. Used to give him the benefit of the doubt but he's proven to be a dishonest person. He has an agenda and will make up any excuse to hide it.