Kevin McHale: 5 Bold Moves to Make His Presence Felt with Houston Rockets

Kevin McHale was hired to be head coach of the Houston Rockets because he has prior coaching experience, because he's a Hall of Fame power forward and a coach that just about every player who has played for him has loved.

Take Kevin Love for example. Love tweeted this when McHale was fired as T-Wolves coach, "Today is a sad day ... Kevin McHale will NOT be back as head coach this season."

McHale is great at developing young big men. Kevin Love is a product of McHale's work with him during his tenure with Minnesota. Love has turned out to be a very, very good player to say the least.

But moving on to why Houston hired McHale. What are some things he could do to wow the Houston fans and win them over? 

Make Defense a Must

Elsa/Getty Images

BOSTON, MA - JANUARY 10: Paul Pierce #34 of the Boston Celtics tries to get around Kyle Lowry #7 of the Houston Rockets on January 10, 2011 at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. The Rockets defeated the Celtics 108-102. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Houston fans have been begging for this the past two years: defense. The Rockets score with ease, as they were top three in scoring and first in assists per game the previous season, but they were in the bottom 20 in defense.

We all know the "offense sells tickets, defense wins championships" saying. So if McHale is serious about winning a championship he will emphasis defense the moment training camp starts.

Play Terrence Williams and Hasheem Thabeet

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - MARCH 03: Terrence Williams #8 of the New Jersey Nets dunks against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Izod Center on March 3, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading

This goes along with the last slide. Williams and Thabeet are both very good defensive players.

Though Thabeet isn't the smartest of basketball players, you can't teach 7'3" and he is what Houston needs in the middle of the paint. He fouls a lot, but committing a foul is better than giving a wide open layup because your center is 6'6".

Williams is an extremely talented player who, when focused, can make great things happen on the basketball court. His passing and defensive abilities create problems for the opposition on both ends of the court. He can also create a shot for himself off the dribble, something nobody else on the Rockets is able to do.

Playing both of these players would make a statement Rick Adelman failed to make. 

Use Daryl Morey's Statistics

Handout/Getty Images

BURNABY, CANADA - JULY 29: In this photo provided by Electronic Arts, Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey (L) instructs Tony Parker of the San Antonio Spurs during a motion capture session at the Electronic Arts studios July 29, 2008 in Burnaby, B

Daryl Morey is a very smart man; Daryl Morey says use his statistics; you use Daryl Morey's statistics. 

To go in a little more depth, Morey (Rockets GM) uses statistics to calculate what spots on a court a player is good at shooting the ball from and sports on the court he is absolutely terrible at shooting the ball from.

The previous coach, Rick Adelman, did not use these statistics and that is one of the many reasons he is unemployed. 

Acquire a Star

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

ORLANDO, FL - OCTOBER 10: Chris Paul #3 of the New Orleans Hornets attempts a shot against Dwight Howard #12 of the Orlando Magic during the game at Amway Arena on October 10, 2010 in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees

Sure, this sort of move is more up to the front office and not the head coach. But having a move like this happen while he is in charge will make him look very, very good in the fans' eyes.

Have a Good Draft

Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK - JUNE 24: NBA Commisioner David Stern speaks at the NBA Draft at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2010 in New York, New York. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Now drafting players is something a coach has a little more control over. If the players the Rockets draft have an immediate impact in a positive way, McHale will be praised.

Conclusion

Al Bello/Getty Images

NEW YORK - JUNE 24: Patrick Patterson stands with NBA Commisioner David Stern after being drafted fourteenth by The Houston Rockets at Madison Square Garden on June 24, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, b

Those are just a few of the major ways Kevin can make a very big impression on Houston fans.

If you have any others comment down below.

You can email me at [e-mail]