Lakers finally got a head coach

[westkoast]

It was confirmed this morning that Rudy T will be the next head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers pulling in a 30 million dollar contract (Which is what PJ was making).  After being turned down by Mike K and North Carolina head coach, who didnt even bother to pick up to speak with Mitch "The Dummy" Kupchek, Rudy T was given the job.  How does the most popular team in the league only get their 3rd choice to coach  

Thoughts?  Good move?  Bad move?

[ziggy]

Coach K and Roy Williams may have been the first choices, but Rudy T is the best choice.  He is a very good NBA coach, has 2 titles, knows the pro game, and relates well to his players.  He didn't last as long as he did in Houston without developing good rapport with his players.  He was clearly the best candidate available, and I am very surprised a lot of other teams didn't pursue him.

[westkoast]

Coach K and Roy Williams may have been the first choices, but Rudy T is the best choice.  He is a very good NBA coach, has 2 titles, knows the pro game, and relates well to his players.  He didn't last as long as he did in Houston without developing good rapport with his players.  He was clearly the best candidate available, and I am very surprised a lot of other teams didn't pursue him.

I kinda felt he got somewhat of a bad rap in Houston before he left due to his illness because of the attitude of Steve Francis.  Rockets basketball seemed more like a street ball free for all at times then it did a team with a set offensive.  One thing that I do think Rudy fell short on when it came to the Rockets team was getting them to play the defense they were capable of playing.  Van Gundy got it out of them fairly quickly, wonder why Rudy couldn't.

Rudy has proven he can win a title and he knows how to mold the team game around a dominate big man.  If Shaq stays he might just be the best coach for them to go after like you said.

[JoMal]

Heh, heh, heh, heh

If only he can lure PJ Carlisimo over as an assistant, the Lakers can boost the two NBA coaches to have been beaten up by a player.

Rudy T sort of looked worn out his last year with the Rockets, as if the grind was getting to him. Dealing with the uni-talented Francis and his prima donna self-inflated ability without being able to 'reach' his point guard lost him his support in Houston, even though he brought the club two titles in the Olajawon years. But then, Hakeem was not one to be hard up for self-motivation or applying his skills within the scheme of the team, unlike Lil Stevie. He made his coach look good.

Coaching the Lakers is not for just anybody. Expectations are high and the players they DID have needed a Phil Jackson to corral them once in a while. If both Shaq and Kobe leave, the team will be mediocre anyway, but whomever tries to coach the team eventually will be blamed.

If Kobe and/or Shaq return, you can expect Bryant, for one, to turn away from Rudy during huddles and ignore what the coach is saying, because he obviously has no respect for anyone trying to tell him what to do on the court. That included Jackson, so Rudy will not stand a chance. Shaq will be happy as long as Rudy includes him in all things offensive, and pout as soon as a play is called for Kobe, who will probably miss it because he won't be listening.

I really can't understand why this job is so attractive to anyone. Must be the money, because for that kind of dough, you can put up with plenty, at least for a couple of years. Hope Rudy's doctors have cleared him medically for the stress he is going to feel.    

[spursfan101]

Good move by the team. Heard they were going to hire Kermit as the Assistant Coach of Player Development... :eek2:

Just kidding. If they do, hope Rudy would "turn the other cheek."   :bash: DOH!! :rofl:  

[jn]

Agreed zig, this is a much better pick than a college coach.  

[WayOutWest]

Wonder what team Rudy T will get to coach?

[westkoast]

Shaq will be happy as long as Rudy includes him in all things offensive, and pout as soon as a play is called for Kobe, who will probably miss it because he won't be listening.

:rofl:  :rofl:  :rofl:
 

[Reality]

WoW:
Wonder what team Rudy T will get to coach?


Coaching the Lakers is not for just anybody. Expectations are high and the players they DID have needed a Phil Jackson to corral them once in a while. If both Shaq and Kobe leave, the team will be mediocre anyway, but whomever tries to coach the team eventually will be blamed.

If Kobe and/or Shaq return, you can expect Bryant, for one, to turn away from Rudy during huddles and ignore what the coach is saying, because he obviously has no respect for anyone trying to tell him what to do on the court. That included Jackson, so Rudy will not stand a chance. Shaq will be happy as long as Rudy includes him in all things offensive, and pout as soon as a play is called for Kobe, who will probably miss it because he won't be listening.

I really can't understand why this job is so attractive to anyone. Must be the money, because for that kind of dough, you can put up with plenty, at least for a couple of years. Hope Rudy's doctors have cleared him medically for the stress he is going to feel.

The spectrum of which marketers Rudy T will end up with is vast.

Neither one:  Unlikely
One:  Likely but getting more unlikely
Both:  Highly unlikely
I suspect the July 14th episode of The Days of Our Lakers will be telling.

My take is if/when Kobe bolts to the Spurs or Clippers, that may be enough to sooth the Big As ego.  Esp if Rudy heaps accolades on him and tells of the offensive scheme to run every possession thru him.  As the President of the Laker Haters i see this as a good offense for the Lakers.  It might even feed the Big As motivation if he starts the year getting 35 and 20 regularly.

Now if Kobme stays, I think the Big A is gone.  Period.  No amount of therapy will get Shraq to play second fiddle to Kobe.  This also is not disasterous for the Flamers by any means.  With the Big Bloateds salary, its about guaranteed the Lakers will get at the very least some above average to very good player(s) back.

What non Marketers really hope for is for Kobe to bolt and the Big A to follow suit.
In which case have fun Rudy.

[WayOutWest]

Kobe has nothing to do with Shaq staying or going.  Shaq has stated repeatedly, and I now believe him, that his issues with the Lakers is with managment and ownership.

I would wet my pants if Kobe ended up a Clipper but I HIGHLY doubt that will happen.  The Clippers made their pitch over the phone, no meeting with players, coaches nor the owner.  That is not how you treat a top 5 player in the league on the FA market.  Denver management, rumor is Cooper as well but I doubt it, went to Kobe's house in Newport to make their pitch.  Rumor is that Duncan and another player will make their pitch to Kobe along with managment.

[Reality]

Kobe has nothing to do with Shaq staying or going.  Shaq has stated repeatedly, and I now believe him, that his issues with the Lakers is with managment and ownership.

I would wet my pants if Kobe ended up a Clipper but I HIGHLY doubt that will happen.  The Clippers made their pitch over the phone, no meeting with players, coaches nor the owner.  That is not how you treat a top 5 player in the league on the FA market.  Denver management, rumor is Cooper as well but I doubt it, went to Kobe's house in Newport to make their pitch.  Rumor is that Duncan and another player will make their pitch to Kobe along with managment.

His beef with management is entirely over the Kobme scenario.

Clippers by phone?  Do you think for one second that this method is of the Clips choosing.  Please.  Donald Sterling maybe, but cetainly not Elgin Baylor.  Where are you getting this info?  ESPN states Kobme will meet with the Clips later this week.

Tim Dunker to meet in person.  Ahh its going to happen  :wub:
I cant wait to get you and Randy to a Spurs game.

[WayOutWest]

His beef with management is entirely over the Kobme scenario.

As "Duckie" from "The Land Before Time" would say: "No, no, no".  I lost ALOT of respect for Shaq when he PUBLICALLY dissed Jerry Buss in a pre-season game in Hawaii.  After grabbing a rebound and running the fast break for a dunk he pointed to Buss and said something think "pay me my fu$%ing money".  He's gripped about not getting offered an extension YET he was not EVEN into his 2nd year of a 3 year extension.  Beyatch!  It has nothing to do with Kobe and more to do with money and Jerry Buss's payback through his Mitch mouthpiece after the finals.  Does anybody think Mitch made those comments on his own?

Clippers by phone?  Do you think for one second that this method is of the Clips choosing.  Please.  Donald Sterling maybe, but cetainly not Elgin Baylor.  Where are you getting this info?  ESPN states Kobme will meet with the Clips later this week.

Kobe was supposed to meet with the Clipps this weekend but I think he postponed the meeting until coach K made his decision about coaching in L.A.  The phone call may have been to reschedule the meeting for all I know.

Tim Dunker to meet in person.  Ahh its going to happen  :wub:
I cant wait to get you and Randy to a Spurs game.

I doubt Kobe heads to SA, but IMO that would be the best move for him.  Barring any major injuries I would bet BIG on the Spurs winning it all with Kobe and TD paired up before the season starts.  Too bad Vegas doesn't give an injury opt out.

[ziggy]

I would wet my pants if Kobe ended up a Clipper

I always suspected but never really knew, but now you confirm you ARE a bed wetter. :rofl:  

[WayOutWest]

I would wet my pants if Kobe ended up a Clipper

I always suspected but never really knew, but now you confirm you ARE a bed wetter. :rofl:

Who wears their pants to bed?  FREAK!!!   :crazy:  

[Lurker]

I would wet my pants if Kobe ended up a Clipper

I always suspected but never really knew, but now you confirm you ARE a bed wetter. :rofl:

Who wears their pants to bed?  FREAK!!!   :crazy:

People with colorful histories that jump out of bed at every car backfire to check on their daughters!