Let’s get real. Who are the real candidates to replace Ime

i dunno about that. He couldn’t win until he got Jrue and Portis and a boost from Rocket legend PJ Tucker. Then underachieved next couple years after that. Forced systems on players and created friction

 

Don’t want anyone associated with the Popovich brand. Budweiserholtzer etc.

Get me a analytics young nerd.

 

who has done nothing without superior talent and forced a system when he didn’t have the personnel

 

Calvin Murphy

 

He is coaching for the Clippers.

 

head coach.

 

Chris Paul. Not even joking.

 

Phil Jackson, 11 x championship coach.

 

I didn't say that. I said Splitter and Nash to me seem like logical choices that Rockets would shortlist. A championship-winning coach is not coming to Houston. Budenholzer and Vogel are available, but KD fell out with both of them in Phoenix. Malone is at North Carolina. Kerr is never coming here. Who else is there? Doc Rivers? Please.

JVG is my personal preference either as coach or a front office person as he is a Houston lifer and his brand of basketball has evolved after his Rockets stint. He was the head coach of the USA team in 2017-18 where they played much more fluid basketball, and he was a front office consultant for the Celtics when they won their championship in 2024. Did ok as an assistant for the Clippers this year.

 

We have a team full of young bucks who want to play hard and can run for 40 minutes. There is an option out there with a history of getting a lot out of this type of roster...

 

Need a competent GM who can pick a competent coach. But I'm pretty sure Baby Ferntits is going to want someone he can push around like Stone.

 

I think we need to amp up the toughness to new levels. Ime tried to but was soft. Lets get Vernon as HC, he would be great for micd up on the NBA. As an assistant we could maybe try to pull in Terrance Tao. I figure it may be good to get the average IQ of the coaching staff closer to triple digits.

Another route is Adrien Brody. He acted as Pat Riley in a movie I didn’t watch, but I am sure it was valuable experience.

My final offer is Royal Ivey as HC. He is young, and could be a good candidate for a long tenured coach if South Sudan basketball was no fluke.

 

Kerr would be the perfect coach for this team. Amen and Reed could be a poor man's Draymond and Curry for him.

If he's not available or not interested, there are some quality assistant coaches who've been mentioned as top candidates for head coaching gigs. There's one with Minnesota whose name escapes me now. D'Antoni is unfortunately a couple weeks from turning 75, so it's probably too late for him to make a return. Although I wouldn't mind having him as an assistant.

 

Let's get real. Udoka will likely be the coach next year and the year after.

 

Udoka will not be fired.

Tilman would let him go if Kerr was a possibility (he's not)

Chris Quinn is a good candidate for a seasoned assistant coach hire.

Jared Dudley is the PERFECT hire for the job though.

 

Ime is not getting fired

 

I completely disagree about the year after. Barring a miraculous and historic comeback in this series, Ime's seat will be volcanic levels of hot from opening night next year assuming he survives this offseason. He's already being roasted nationally by pretty much everyone other than Stephen A and rightfully so. If the Rockets wind up having a similarly disappointing season in 2026-27, especially if the roster is healthier, then I cannot imagine Tilman still refusing to make a change after that.

 

It is funny how the playoff win created hope but the hope is funneled to the coach being fired.

 

Actually thinking about it.

If the Knicks lose in the first round, they may approach the Rockets about an Udoka trade.

 

Exactly!!! Ime is the modern version of JVG...Steve Nash was underwhelming with that stacked Brooklyn Nets team