Kevin McHale, former head coach of the Houston Rockets, apparently does not blame the team for deciding to let him go.
In an interview with the Houston Chronicle , the retired NBA star focused on the lack of successful problem-solving behind the scenes in reference to the team’s overall performance.
“We were starting to address some of the issues that were the reason I was let go. We just weren’t playing with any juice, with any rhythm. We haven’t been able to get the problems solved.”
According to McHale, a substantial increase in the number of meetings held over the last two months apparently did not lead to the type of lasting results that they expected.
“We probably had more meetings in last six weeks than in my previous four years here. It wasn’t working.”
Yahoo Sports reports that assistant coach J.B. Bickerstaff is currently taking over as the interim head coach, with former assistant Chris Finch becoming the associate head coach.
With a disappointing start of 7 losses out of 11 games, it is not very surprising that the Houston Rockets decided to shake things up with such a drastic move.
However, the fact that Kevin McHale helped the Rockets advance to the Western Conference Finals last season is definitely a noteworthy accomplishment.
Perhaps that is one of the reasons why so many people are upset by the team’s decision to remove McHale from his position so early in the season.
For instance, ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith did not hesitate to express his disappointment on Twitter Wednesday.
Kevin McHale did not DESERVE to be FIRED. pic.twitter.com/loePaUbSfU
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 18, 2015
A substantial number of fans and critics have even claimed that the Houston Rockets quit on Kevin McHale with their lackluster performance since the start of the season.
Kevin McHale was fired despite James Harden’s hard nosed D. Hear the breakdown on @FullCourtReport podcast tomorrow: https://t.co/dT7HnOOCyV — Not Bill Walton (@NotBillWalton) November 18, 2015
Kevin McHale wasn’t the problem in Houston. The players just didn’t play hard enough. https://t.co/iQoeum74pb pic.twitter.com/uAdDBKUHiZ
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA) November 18, 2015
NEW PICTURES: The Rockets players failed Kevin McHale. https://t.co/0fo9bVAUWt pic.twitter.com/IUyc9H2RRE — Mike Prada (@MikePradaSBN) November 18, 2015
Firing Kevin McHale for @HoustonRockets early season woes = panic move from, IMHO, a team over hyped coming into 15-16. @NBA @stevenpmullins
— Julian Walker (@juliantwalker1) November 18, 2015
As a coach, in addition to spending four years with the Rockets, Kevin McHale also coached the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2005, as well as from 2008 to 2009.
Long before he took his first coaching job, though, McHale made headlines as a longtime NBA star on the Boston Celtics. Selected with the 3rd overall pick in the 1980 NBA Draft, Kevin McHale played for the Celtics until he retired in 1993.
During his career as a player, McHale became a three-time NBA champion, a seven-time NBA All-Star, and a two-time NBA Sixth Man of the Year recipient along with many other accomplishments and accolades.
It was his successful Hall of Fame playing career that made him such a good coach, according to what Dwight Howard stated back in May during an interview with Yahoo Sports .
“He played in the league and he has a couple of championships. He understands the game. He understands how tough it is to win a series, how tough it is to win four games and that no matter what the situation is you need to stay together and not have any negative energy and anything is possible.”
Star player James Harden apparently felt the same way, stating that he felt like he “was talking to an actual player.” Harden further stated that his “ears are just locked in and focused in on what he’s saying” since Kevin McHale had a championship history as a player with the Boston Celtics.
[Photo by Doug Pensinger & Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images]
