Coaches on Hot Seat

Should be gone today:

Flip Saunders for Wizards
D'Antoni for Knicks

No explanation needed.  These teams STINK...and their coach is getting nothing outta them.  Sad is Knicks could be a far better team with their talent.  Wizards will not be a playoff team but they are probably more embarassing than Cavs of last year.

Feeling the Heat:

Mike Brown - Lakers      Two slaughters from the Florida teams, Miami and Orlando.  Lakers are not outshining the Clips and no one truly believes they are a contender.  Even a trade won't save this team.  Esp when Howard outshined both Gasol and Bynum the other night; easily.  Lakers may have to give up Gasol, Bynum, and Morris to get Howard...as well as take on Hedo's contract.  Good news is...if they get Howard..they will get Deron too.  So maybe they will have something next year.  I don't see Brown around to reap that new team.


Not a good showing:

Mark Jackson - Golden State    He has too much talent to be losing and the idea of Hack-a-Howard shows desperation and poor decision making when Howard started hitting.  Adjustments is not something he makes.  He likely will get the year....but will they want him back?  He has a shot to turn it around......but many felt GS was playoff bound with their talent.

but many felt GS was playoff bound with their talent.

Really? Who are those many?

Coach D can't be successful without a good PG. 

Coach D can't be successful regardless.  His scheme doesn't work with most teams.  It only works with a prolific scoring team and Knicks are not that team.  Coach D has no answers.  No "one play" that works.  Nothing.  He's gotta go.

Golden State has the talent to be a playoff team.  If they retained Coach Nelson...they would be a playoff team.  They are underachieving.  If Memphis can make it...then Golden State can.  They are falling apart...and Jackson hasn't made good decisions early...and when you make bad decisions; you don't get the "buy-in" from your team.  Jackson says he is going to install defense.  Has anyone seen it?

I think Mark Jackson is an idiot (I hated him as a commentator (he only said the most obvious things every single time--he was a solid player though)) but I wouldn't say that if Memphis can make the playoffs Golden State can.

Memphis has a top 1-3 frontcourt with Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph (when healthy) and the when healthy depth in backup.  Hell even without ZBO (who is their premier superstar) they still have a great backcourt because Marc Gasol is suddenly emerging to challenge his brother officially as the best Gasol in the game.  His power game is rare in today's NBA and he's solid.

On top of that they have a nice 18-22 pt scorer (who's pretty overpaid but really isn't a bad player at all) in Rudy Gay, 18-22 pt scorers don't grow on trees...

Then they have a nice middle of the pack PG in Conley, who runs the ship well.

Lionel Hollins is a great coach, and they have decent depth off their bench lead by Mayo (or Tony Allen, but Allen's been starting).

Golden State really can't compete with that.  Biedrins is a shell of Gasol, David Lee is pretty much a mildly better version of Josh McRoberts (just a Josh McRoberts type who played in New  York for D'Antoni and padded his stats quite a bit, he's all huslte and is good for that type of player--as I like McRoberts or Tyler Hansborough as well--but Lee isn't really a great player/top tierred PF.  He can get good numbers especially if you sleep on him, but he won't really secure the middle (not quite dynamic enough, and if anything he overperforms to his talent level and plays weak defense).

Dorell Wright was one of those "fluke year" players that's often discussed.  He's ok, but not your ideal starter, but a nice to have rotational player.

So that leaves them with the backcourt, it is a dynamic one (granted Curry's been hurt much of the year) but Monta Ellis makes it dynamic with his ability to get hot (And when he's hot he'll look like one of the best players in the league), but conversely when they're off they aren't good, because they aren't great defenders by any stretch.

Golden State really needs to add a better C, a better SF and perhaps a few D specialists.  Adding Kwame Brown was a laughable move, esp at hte price....

Mike Brown - Lakers      Two slaughters from the Florida teams, Miami and Orlando.  Lakers are not outshining the Clips and no one truly believes they are a contender.  Even a trade won't save this team.  Esp when Howard outshined both Gasol and Bynum the other night; easily.  Lakers may have to give up Gasol, Bynum, and Morris to get Howard...as well as take on Hedo's contract.  Good news is...if they get Howard..they will get Deron too.  So maybe they will have something next year.  I don't see Brown around to reap that new team.

Time to put down the crack pipe and back away from it slowly. Mike Brown is not feeling any Heat. Management will take into account the fact that there are several new players and that the team is learning new players, offense and defense on the fly. The team will make whatever changes they must, either by the trade deadline or in the off-season.

Now, if they make changes and struggle again next year, you might be on to something.

Majoyenrac,

Remember, Memphis made the playoffs last year without Rudy Gay.  This year, they are in position without Zach Randolph.  Yes, they have a great player in Gasol.  But GS has great players too....  They got David Lee, Ellis, and Curry (when healthy).  That is enough for playoffs..... So I'm not buying what your selling.  Anything less is failure.  They are not the Kings or Minny...they are better than that.

I do agree however that Jackson is an idiot.  I hated his commentating too and for me, I'm glad he is coaching so I don't have to hear him anymore.  LOL

Lakers are not buying Mike Brown and he has no offense...and they are already asking for the triangle back.  Brown is feeling the Heat.  He won't last the full year.   New players....please...  They have the same starters on the team this year as they did last year....  So the idea that you have a different bench isn't an excuse to suck.  I'm NOT buying the crap your selling.

Flip Saunders is the guy I was going to say.

I think the Lakers need to trade for some offense.

He won't last the full year


Avi bet? I've never changed my Avi the entire time i've been on here and have never made an Avi bet, but I would be happy to make one on this. I don't think Brown is some amazing coach or anything, but he was brought in to fix the defense because the front office thought we had enough offense to coast by. He has done what he was brought in to do and he still hasn't been able to implement his offense all the way yet. I'd be pleased to make an Avi bet than I am 99% sure on.

Lakers are not buying Mike Brown and he has no offense...and they are already asking for the triangle back.  Brown is feeling the Heat.  He won't last the full year.   New players....please...  They have the same starters on the team this year as they did last year....  So the idea that you have a different bench isn't an excuse to suck.  I'm NOT buying the crap your selling.

I'm with Skins on the avi bet. Brown was brought in to fix the defense and the defense is fine. It's one of the top defenses in the league. 

The issue, is the offense, which will come along as the Lakers have players who can score. The problem last year was not the offense, It was the defense getting shredded. The defense, as solid as it has been, is still weak at point guard and will have to improve there one way or another. However, it's a much better defense overall.

As for the offense. As I said, they are still learning it. They ran the triangle for 11 years. It had become second nature to them. Now, they are learning a completely new offense. So yes, they have the same starters who are all learning their roles and spots in a new offense as well as incorporating new players.

You do understand how substitutions work, don't you? You do know that you don't substitute 5 players at a time, right? So when the new bench players come in with some starters on the floor, you have new players mixed with players that have been there and used to running the triangle and all of them are trying to learn a new offense on the fly.

It's no surprise that the teams that are having the most success right now, for the most part, have the same coaches, players and systems that they had last year.

Also, I haven't heard or read anything about players waning the triangle back. What I have heard and read is that the players still don't know where they are supposed to be on the floor at different times and what their various roles are.

So, I'm not buying the crap your selling.

I don't understand why Marc Jackson is coaching in the first place. He's never coached at any level of basketball in his life. He wasn't even an assistant.

Should be gone today:

Flip Saunders for Wizards
D'Antoni for Knicks

No explanation needed.  These teams STINK...and their coach is getting nothing outta them.  Sad is Knicks could be a far better team with their talent.  Wizards will not be a playoff team but they are probably more embarassing than Cavs of last year.

Feeling the Heat:

Mike Brown - Lakers      Two slaughters from the Florida teams, Miami and Orlando.  Lakers are not outshining the Clips and no one truly believes they are a contender.  Even a trade won't save this team.  Esp when Howard outshined both Gasol and Bynum the other night; easily.  Lakers may have to give up Gasol, Bynum, and Morris to get Howard...as well as take on Hedo's contract.  Good news is...if they get Howard..they will get Deron too.  So maybe they will have something next year.  I don't see Brown around to reap that new team.


Not a good showing:

Mark Jackson - Golden State    He has too much talent to be losing and the idea of Hack-a-Howard shows desperation and poor decision making when Howard started hitting.  Adjustments is not something he makes.  He likely will get the year....but will they want him back?  He has a shot to turn it around......but many felt GS was playoff bound with their talent. Report this PostRate This Post:

This is the worst crap ever written by Whoosh - really -

New York - hasn't exactly started of well, but they was the worst team in the NBA before A'ntoni showed up and his record in Phoenix will give him some time and a chance to turn around

Washington Wizards have always stunk it up - not sure why they hired Saunders any way - its the general manager that should be fired in the first place

Mike Brown can point the finger directly at the Lakers and remind them that the gen mgr is the moron that gave away the only reliable player coming off the bench for absolute nothing.  I don't see the Lakers doing anything rash until the season is more then half way through, but so far I like what I see and considering all things - He hasn't done that bad considering so many games, and little time to prepare. If there was a better coach available - I would be all ears - but that ain't happening so the Lakers are stuck. Too early to under-estimate the Lakers - if Brown could take the Cavs to the finals with Lebron and a pile of garbage, he should be able to make the Lakers competitive.  It is really too early at this point

With a shortened season, I would be surprised to see Golden State make a move - It takes some talented players for the most part to make noise - so far the Warriors don't have it - can't blame the coach when all he has is chicken dung to cook for dinner

The Warriors don't have playoff level talent.  They should have two more wins then they have right now though.  The gave away the game tonight to Memphis and gave away another home game a couple weeks ago against Utah.  Tonight Jackson blew it in that he left Curry in the game in the 4th after a couple of lazy passes that got turned over.  After the second lazy pass you take Curry out of the game--period.  I don't care if he is the franchise's golden olympic boy or not.  Nate Robinson was balling and could fill in for Curry just fine.  Maybe you even put Curry back in the game in a bit but two lazy passes in the fourth quarter and you need to come out.

I will give Jackson credit for getting the team to play better defense but he has not emphasized pushing the tempo offensively and hurt the team this way.  Even the improved defense is only partially due to Jackson.  The Warriors have a completely different group of guys coming off the bench then last year and they are better than last year's bench--especially on defense.  

Jackson needs to play Biedrins more.  Biedrins starts but ends up playing about 16 minutes a game.  The team gets killed on the boards whenever he is out of the game and his +/- is solid in basically every game.

I see the Warriors with a couple more wins this year right now if they still had Keith Smart and it is looking like Smart might have been the better coach then Jackson.  The only thing I can really say in defense of Jackson right now is that taking over a new team and not having any sort of training camp is going to hurt your team's offense.  He may be able to install something next season that is more potent but now he has to kind of do it on the fly.  If I had to guess at whether Jackson ultimately proves a good coach for this team I would vote "no" but I am not totally convinced yet.  I don't see them letting him go this season but it could happen by the middle of next year if no results manifest.  He still smells to me a bit like Mike Singletary coaching the 49ers.  He has a personality the guys respect but eventually they are going to tune him out when they find out he doesn't really know what he is doing.  I hope I am wrong with this but nothing has really happened to fully disprove my original inclination on this.

, David Lee is pretty much a mildly better version of Josh McRoberts

Most ridiculous comment I have seen on here in probably 2 months. Please go back to commentating for your local Jr. High games. Your evaluation of players is extremely bad

Most ridiculous comment I have seen on here in probably 2 months. Please go back to commentating for your local Jr. High games. Your evaluation of players is extremely bad


I don't really see much in the comparison either. Lee is a much better rebounder scorer, ect and it isn't even close. McRoberts is a decent bench player. Lee is a very solid starter.

So David Lee is a superstar.
 goT ME.

Lee can't play defense.  Lee's game is predicated on hustle 100% of the time.  Lee's not an inside banger.  Lee's roughly the same height as McRoberts.  Per 36 mins career, Lee 17-9 no defense.  McRoberts 12-9 limited hustle defense.

True shooting pretty equal between the two (58% LEE, 57% McRoberts).

Lee is the better player.

David Lee is far far far from a franchise cornerstone (especially in the post) but is paid as one.....


Lee's played on nothing but crap teams, McRoberts more often on playoff worthy bottom feeders....whcih impact numbers negatively for him as well.

I don't hate David Lee, if he was making $6-8M, he's fine for that money, but him at $11.6M increaseing to $15.5M is ridiculous.

He's a good player (I like McRoberts too btw), but Lee really needs to play next to say a Dwight Howard to really be a plus PF at the money he's at.....he's not skilled enough offensively, he relies entirely on hustle, and his hustle carries his stats to decent levels, but he can't defend and is not big enough to be a true PF in this league at that salary. 

There's a reason his teams have gone on to win an average of 35.7% (29 wins) in his career, the best being his last year in Golden State (36 wins) playing alongside 2 stud PG's (for all intents and purposes).  If you have a solid Power Forward like Lee, and 2 good to great guards and decent role players alongside (Wright, etc) you should be winning in this league.  Lee's not a solution.  He's not a problem, but far from a solution and that contract makes him more of a problem for their long term success, barring some lottery luck. 

Although I do not think Mike Brown should and would last the entire year; no way I make an AVI bet on it.  No way, I'm putting KoME on anything....period.  If I'm wrong, won't be the first or last time....aka for you Laker boys who seem to have so much faith in the man.

Jackson not having much for training camp is certainly a valid excuse for his team struggling...as would be all the new coaches or coaches with teams that are very new.   Such as:  Clippers.  And yet, these teams are not struggling the same way.  So although it is understood, it isn't enough to find Jackson as any sort of "good" coach.  Seems even the fans of the team don't find him appealing.  So I find it hard to give Jackson a pass due to a shortened season and nearly no camp.

Lee isn't a DH.  If your expectation is he can be or should be, I think your expectations are too high.

Flip is out.  Who's next?  My money is on D'Antoni.  Mainly cause I like the Knicks and hate to see them continue to suck.

Lee isn't DH, I never said he was, but Lee is paid to be more a premier PF rather than a nice to have PF, and that's a cap killer.

 

I said Lee's the kind of Power Forward that can succeed as a full time starter if you have Dwight Howard (or another maybe premier O and especially GREAT D player next to him). 

I guess you can read it either way...   That Lee needs to play next to DH's level....  OR that Lee needs a teammate like DH to play next to.  LOL  Fair enough.