RT Chat w/ David Aldridge

pippendagimp · Apr 5, 2002

http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/aldridge/1363558.html

Relativist · Apr 5, 2002

Thanks for the link, pip. Good read. For the lazy people....

Tomjanovich eager for another Rockets launch

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By David Aldridge
Special to ESPN.com

There was a rumor floating around earlier this season that Rudy Tomjanovich was ready to hang it up in Houston. The losing and the constant grind of NBA seasons, the word went, had taken their toll, and Rudy T -- the coach with the second-longest tenure in the league -- was going to retire at season's end.

Now, what have I told you folks about rumors?

"No way," T says. "I love this. To be honest with you, I'd like to have the opportunity to be the only coach to win championships with the same team in different eras. We are not as bad as our record, because of the injuries. I think the personnel we have -- (Steve) Francis, (Cuttino) Mobley, (Eddie) Griffin, Mo Taylor, and other sort of role players and that stuff -- I like how far we've come."

Contrary to rumors, Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich isn't ready to retire.
The Rockets are 20 games under .500 and will miss the playoffs for the third straight season, far removed from last season's 45-37 squad that just missed the postseason. They took a chance on Glen Rice, taking on the remaining $27.6 million of his deal. Rice has rewarded them with 20 games, none since December. Their future is clearly tied to the future health of Stevie Franchise, whose season has been marred by recurring migraines. In a Western Conference filled to the brim with tall timber, Houston has dachsunds.

But Tomjanovich is undeterred.

"I'm so excited about the job," Tomjanovich says. "Everybody comes up to me with that (worried) look on their face. I feel good. I know that it's a process in this league. I sort of call it suffering. To me, you don't get there without a little suffering. I always give them a pat on the back. Even when we didn't make the playoffs, everybody always says, 'We didn't make the playoffs, but you know what, we feel positive about the team.' Some of that stuff has got to come in and filter down to the players, because some of them will say 'Hey, when's it going to happen?'...
Click to expand...

I think Rudy's discovered Buddhism...

"It takes time. It ain't no fun if you've been up there. But I don't know of one example where the thing's been short cut. You just don't become a man without getting some pimples and going through that misery of adolesence and puberty. And then on the other side of it, the light goes on."

Tomjanovich looks to Minnesota as the model for building a team. It has taken Kevin Garnett and friends seven years to build the Timberwolves to where they are -- a team that hasn't yet gotten out of the first round. The Rockets are in Year Three. They have three young scorers in Francis, Mobley and Moochie Norris, and a rookie in Griffin who's in the top 15 in blocks. A lottery pick this season should address some of Houston's stature gap.

"Even when Steve was out and we lost those games, it wasn't just Steve being out," Tomjanovich says. "Glen went down, and that was for the season. But we also had some other guys that were missing, and chemistry is so fragile. I just really worked with our team on saying we're doing things better ... other teams go down and the fourth quarter don't mean (bleep). We've got guys that are having to execute, and then you get better."

The rumors began after Tomjanovich had to leave his post as head coach of the 2000 U.S. men's Olympic team during the qualifying rounds because of exhaustion. But he has made changes in his life over the last few seasons.

"I had to do it on my own," he said. "I almost killed myself, trying to be a hero, coming up with a miracle. In reality, the miracle is what we did back then (winning back-to-back titles in 1994 and 1995). Now it's got to be a process. I was trying to come up with the great draft, the draft trade, I wore myself out one summer and wound up in the hospital, had to take a month off. I just went away with an old buddy, went up to Michigan and worked my way over to Utah. I went there to the Teton Mountains and just got away from the telephone, thought about what I really wanted. Did I love the game, or was it killing me?

"It was all a matter of my perception, putting myself in the wrong place. Taking the responsibility for stuff when all you can do is your very best. It really changed everything. I'm not as obsessive. I used to do the job the assistant coaches were doing, and they were doing their job great. I used to watch three game tapes and be up every damn night. I said 'I have three great assistant coaches. What the hell am I doing?' "
Click to expand...

Okay, has Rudy just gained perspective or is he going soft (or both?) Personally, I'm not in a position to judge, so I'm going to take Rudy's word for it and go with perspective. All things being equal, I'm fine with a happier, healthier Rudy. Hopefully he recognizes that while it may be a process that perhaps takes seven years, that doesn't mean his players can afford to be complacent for seven years. I'm sure he recognizes that.

Forums

RT Chat w/ David Aldridge

pippendagimp Member

Relativist Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!