Official Houston Rockets Off-Season Welcome Marcus, Motiejunas, and Flynn

[blackxme]

[h1][/h1]

[h1]McHale agrees in principle to coach Rockets[/h1][h3]By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle[/h3][h4]May 27, 2011, 12:24PM[/h4]
Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7584302.html#ixzz1NaLH1NFX

Kevin McHale will walk through that door.

After a month-long search and long sessions debating the merits of three finalists, the Rockets offered McHale their head coaching position on Friday. McHale was chosen over Boston assistant Lawrence Frank and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey after meeting with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander on Wednesday to complete the interview process.

McHale has agreed in principle to a three-year deal plus a team option. Remaining detail is agreeing on a top assistant coach, defensive specialists like the other finalists, Frank and Casey.

They'll try to agree to coaching staff today, but there are issues with a couple of candidates getting out of contracts.

Though McHale is more celebrated as a Hall of Fame player who among other things inspired Rick Pitino's rant about the inability to recapture the Boston glory days than as a coach, the Rockets were drawn to his apparent abilities as a leader and motivator.

McHale, 53, had spent most of his career in Minnesota in the front office and had been reluctant to coach throughout his career.

McHale was made Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations in 1995 after one season as a broadcaster and special assistant. He finished the 2004-05 season as an interim coach after firing Flip Saunders.

He went 19-12 that season, but expressed his unwillingness to pursue a coaching career.

"The chances of me doing this long term are slim to none," McHale said

in an interview with Sports Illustrated in 2005. "I just don't think I'm cut out to be a career coach."

In 2008-09, Timberwolves owner instructed him to return to the bench. He went 20-43 that season, but seemed to warm to the idea of coaching and earned public support of his players. He was dismissed, however, after the season, ending his tenure in Minnesota, where he had been a high school Mr. Basketball and selected in 1995 as the top player in the University of Minnesota's history.

He was a seven-time All Star with the Celtics, winning three championships and selection to the all-time top 50 list in 1996.

Twice the NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner, McHale averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds and became part of one of the greatest frontcourt in NBA history. That lineup inspired Pitino, then the Celtics coach, to say before a game against the Rockets, "Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door."

Instead, McHale will succeed Rick Adelman, with the Rockets going from a coach eighth in career victories to a Hall of Fame caliber player who has never been a coach for a full season.

Richard Justice contributed to this report.

 

[blackxme]

[h1][/h1]

[h1]McHale agrees in principle to coach Rockets[/h1][h3]By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2011 Houston Chronicle[/h3][h4]May 27, 2011, 12:24PM[/h4]
Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/7584302.html#ixzz1NaLH1NFX

Kevin McHale will walk through that door.

After a month-long search and long sessions debating the merits of three finalists, the Rockets offered McHale their head coaching position on Friday. McHale was chosen over Boston assistant Lawrence Frank and Dallas assistant Dwane Casey after meeting with Rockets owner Leslie Alexander on Wednesday to complete the interview process.

McHale has agreed in principle to a three-year deal plus a team option. Remaining detail is agreeing on a top assistant coach, defensive specialists like the other finalists, Frank and Casey.

They'll try to agree to coaching staff today, but there are issues with a couple of candidates getting out of contracts.

Though McHale is more celebrated as a Hall of Fame player who among other things inspired Rick Pitino's rant about the inability to recapture the Boston glory days than as a coach, the Rockets were drawn to his apparent abilities as a leader and motivator.

McHale, 53, had spent most of his career in Minnesota in the front office and had been reluctant to coach throughout his career.

McHale was made Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations in 1995 after one season as a broadcaster and special assistant. He finished the 2004-05 season as an interim coach after firing Flip Saunders.

He went 19-12 that season, but expressed his unwillingness to pursue a coaching career.

"The chances of me doing this long term are slim to none," McHale said

in an interview with Sports Illustrated in 2005. "I just don't think I'm cut out to be a career coach."

In 2008-09, Timberwolves owner instructed him to return to the bench. He went 20-43 that season, but seemed to warm to the idea of coaching and earned public support of his players. He was dismissed, however, after the season, ending his tenure in Minnesota, where he had been a high school Mr. Basketball and selected in 1995 as the top player in the University of Minnesota's history.

He was a seven-time All Star with the Celtics, winning three championships and selection to the all-time top 50 list in 1996.

Twice the NBA Sixth Man of the Year winner, McHale averaged 17.9 points and 7.3 rebounds and became part of one of the greatest frontcourt in NBA history. That lineup inspired Pitino, then the Celtics coach, to say before a game against the Rockets, "Larry Bird is not walking through that door, fans. Kevin McHale is not walking through that door, and Robert Parish is not walking through that door."

Instead, McHale will succeed Rick Adelman, with the Rockets going from a coach eighth in career victories to a Hall of Fame caliber player who has never been a coach for a full season.

Richard Justice contributed to this report.

 

[nicedudewithnicedreams]

Appreciated.

 

[nicedudewithnicedreams]

Appreciated.

 

[drunken cow]

Wooot woot, go rockets!!

 

[drunken cow]

Wooot woot, go rockets!!

 

[mister916]

Come on Rockets 

 

[mister916]

Come on Rockets 

 

[blackxme]

Wanted to bump this to the first page. I know a lot of rocket fans on here haven't had a chance to realize there's an official thread.

The long awaited return of Yao is tonight. Let's see how how he looks.

It's finally here

 

[blackxme]

Wanted to bump this to the first page. I know a lot of rocket fans on here haven't had a chance to realize there's an official thread.

The long awaited return of Yao is tonight. Let's see how how he looks.

It's finally here

 

[shuges]

K-Mart...

I really, REALLY hope son can stay healthy this year.

If so, I predict a HUGE year for him.

Team is moving in the right direction for sure though in getting rid of Ariza.

 

[shuges]

K-Mart...

I really, REALLY hope son can stay healthy this year.

If so, I predict a HUGE year for him.

Team is moving in the right direction for sure though in getting rid of Ariza.

 

[sohi 23]

I hope Yao plays or remains healthy.

 

[sohi 23]

I hope Yao plays or remains healthy.

 

[Retroballer]

Lets get it!

 

[Retroballer]

Lets get it!

 

[Humbled]

Gotta support my hometeam. I hope they beat LA by 20

 

[Humbled]

Gotta support my hometeam. I hope they beat LA by 20

 

[maddog345]

Let's go Houston. Kevin Martin will do nothing but get buckets for you guys.

As always, The Chuckwagon is in effect.

 

[maddog345]

Let's go Houston. Kevin Martin will do nothing but get buckets for you guys.

As always, The Chuckwagon is in effect.

 

[T0INE]

Stay healthy Yao.

 

[T0INE]

Stay healthy Yao.

 

[illvine]

FINALLY

Cant wait to see us get our rings, and more importantly a nice W to start the season.

I really hope Yao stays healthy..... so that Shannon aka Look out below aka Breezy can give him a face full of genitalia.

LETS GET IT LAKESHOW

 

[illvine]

FINALLY

Cant wait to see us get our rings, and more importantly a nice W to start the season.

I really hope Yao stays healthy..... so that Shannon aka Look out below aka Breezy can give him a face full of genitalia.

LETS GET IT LAKESHOW

 

[statis22]

Posts in this thread too.