Absolutely Harden quit on McHale and helped get him fired, whether it was deserved or not I don't watch them enough to know. I've always thought McHale was just an average coach until he got the Rockets past the Clips last year, which comeback not coincidentally was ignited when he benched Harden. Nonetheless, Harden was within a hair of being the NBA's MVP last year, so he's a first option on almost any team AND his defense was much improved last year.
As for Dwight, I'm irrationally biased against him because he proved me wrong in being the better pick over Emeka, but;
1) he could have saved McHale's job and didn't.
2) alleged improvements in his post-up game haven't occurred despite access to McHale (mutual culpability there)
3) he's already taking days off when they start 4-7?! Don't care if he's old/partially hurt, this illustrates that basketball isn't as important to him as it is to guys that lead teams to championships. Unless Dwight is standing next to LeBron he is a 3rd wheel at best on a championship team.
Houston''s GM has to take some blame here.
1) He extended McHale in the offseason despite knowing that Harden-McHale- Howard was a dysfunctional threesome.
2) Lawson signing - I read a quote by Lawson this summer saying he doesn't have an alcohol problem it was just situational. From 2,000 miles away you can smell denial there. Knew from there he would struggle in Houston and it was irresponsible to sign him without trying to get some sort of no-alcohol clause.
3) So now Harden is running the show. There is no way in HELL that Tibs is coming here to make Harden play harder on defense than on offense. Bickerstaff Jr seems to be a good choice for a coach that can be a collaborator with Harden, but unless they make a major trade or get lucky injury breaks they are a distant 4th contender in the west behind Warriors, Spurs and Clips (I think something may be flawed with OK St too, but that's a TBD story for another day pending healthy Durant)
