Rockets GM Daryl Morey did not like the way his team was responding to McHale on the court and elected to give the team a fresh face to lead them: assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff. Houston was eliminated in the Western Conference finals past year by the eventual National Basketball Association champions, the Golden State Warriors.
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Kevin McHale may have left the Rockets rather quietly, but his wife certainly had a lot to say. That’s up to us. This has got to be a wake-up call.
According to Sam Amick and Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today, here’s what went down in Houston: “While players tried to keep details of the meeting private, two themes emerged, three people told USA Today Sports on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation”.
With Brad Stevens now the head coach of the Celtics, Ainge offered McHale that he would be doing broadcasting for the Celtics and probably a trainer for the young team. I think you just watch our team play and its not that hard (to see), Morey said. A man who took the team to the WESTERN FINAL but clearly couldn’t defend and Kevin kept missing shot after shot. “We’ve got to get better”. (Owner Leslie Alexander) does not accept losing. I do not accept losing. “When we first brought Avery back (from an injury), I was the one that wanted to make sure that we didn’t overextend him”.
“He’s one of the best human beings I ever met, so I feel awful for him”.
McHale, 57, was 193-130 in four years as the coach of the Rockets.
“Bottom line is we believe in this team”, Morey said. Rockets management chose to make a change. While Kevin McHale hasn’t said much since the firing, another McHale has – this being his wife Lynn. McHale already with a job offer?
“We’re in a bad place”.
Similar to the case of McHale, the fact is that players can’t be fired by coaches can.
“There was a concentration”, Bickerstaff said. He architected the defense a year ago that was top 10 overall and top five when Dwight (Howard) played. The power forward helped the Celtics win it all in 1981, 84 and 86. Scott Brooks, who coached Rockets to the title in 1995, is a leading candidate.
However, who should really take the blame for the Houston Rockets’ slump?
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Terry 38 years old again will get another run in the Rockets starting lineup after last year starting 18 games in the regular season. The Rockets finally got over the hump last season, getting the second seed in the West.
