Samr
10-05-2005, 04:00 PM
Coaching Changes Give Teams New Look
By Sam Reinhart
FullSportPress
When he isn't dating the Boss' (Buss') daughter, riding motorcycles to his ranch in Montana, signing book deals, babysitting, endorsing his famous fried chicken, coaching some of the best players to ever grace the floor, and winning a few championships along the way, he is signing multi-million dollar deals to turn around the NBA's favorite child.
It must be nice to be Phil Jackson.
But while the coach is obviously an important part of the team - you can't win the Daytona 500 without a steering wheel - he is not the ENTIRE team. And that difference is what separates the Lenny Wilkens' from the Larry Browns
and Gregg Popovichs. The latter two have both had the talent necessary to implement their coaching stratagem, while Wilkens' last stand on the Raptors landed him the dubious distinction as both the NBA's winningest and
losingest coach of all time.
The upcoming season will bring with it some notable coaching changes:
Phil Jackson: Jackson will take on his nemesis, Kobe Bryant, in hopes of ending the season in a little bit warmer time of year.
Larry Brown: Brown left the Defending NBA
If-It-Wasn't-For-Horry-We'd-Be-Champions Detroit Pistons for the This-Is-Not-Your-Fantasy-Team-Isiah!!! New York Knicks.
Flip Saunders: Saunders' trachea is feelingly significantly less threatened as he hopes to take over where Mr. Brown left off, except this time he is contractually obligated to care past the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Garnetts get to use Dwane Casey as their latest excuse for underachieving.
Nate McMillan: McMillan illogically left the Sonics for a better (?) job experience in Portland, while Ray Allen takes over for interim head coach Bob Weiss inSeattle.
The Rest: Maurice Cheeks will be singing the Star-Spangled Banner in Philly ... Brian Hill is the newest impulse-promoted coach for Orlando ... Former Spurs' assistant Mike Brown takes over the coaching role as he teams up with former Spur Danny Ferry in hopes of turning the Cleveland Cavaliers into the future Spurs ... Terry Stotts gets to ride the Overrated Off-Season Success Wave in Milwaukee.
As the season wears on, losses, injuries, trades, annual "[Insert Ego Here] doesn't get the ball enough!" and other rants will take their toll. And while some coaches will be praised for their vicarious success, others will be drawn, quartered, and summarily executed.
As there are no stats exclusively for coaches, the unmercifully cruel and completely biased media and fans are left to judge their success. Sometimes, such as the case for whatever poor sucker was duped into coaching the Raptors, it is not all the coach's fault. You cannot teach a penguin to fly just like you cannot teach the Clippers how to get past the first round. But it is indisputable that the coach CAN make a difference. When George Karl took over the Denver Nuggets, Colorado suddenly made news for something other than Kobe's off-season endeavors. The Spurs would not be the defending NBA Champions without Popovich's genius, just as the Mavericks would not finally have a clue if it weren't for Avery Johnson's guidance.
The upcoming season will be one to watch. Players have moved, the Hawks are still an embarrassment, the dress code has changed, and we actually get to watch Artest this year. But as you marvel at the players racing down court,
looking for the cameras so as to best position their bodies for SportsCenter, remember to glance at the sidelines. You may find a new face ready to change their diapers.
© Copyright 2005 FullSportPress.com
link (http://www.fullsportpress.com/artman/publish/article_1527.shtml)
Uhm....yeah. Thoughts? Opinions?
By Sam Reinhart
FullSportPress
When he isn't dating the Boss' (Buss') daughter, riding motorcycles to his ranch in Montana, signing book deals, babysitting, endorsing his famous fried chicken, coaching some of the best players to ever grace the floor, and winning a few championships along the way, he is signing multi-million dollar deals to turn around the NBA's favorite child.
It must be nice to be Phil Jackson.
But while the coach is obviously an important part of the team - you can't win the Daytona 500 without a steering wheel - he is not the ENTIRE team. And that difference is what separates the Lenny Wilkens' from the Larry Browns
and Gregg Popovichs. The latter two have both had the talent necessary to implement their coaching stratagem, while Wilkens' last stand on the Raptors landed him the dubious distinction as both the NBA's winningest and
losingest coach of all time.
The upcoming season will bring with it some notable coaching changes:
Phil Jackson: Jackson will take on his nemesis, Kobe Bryant, in hopes of ending the season in a little bit warmer time of year.
Larry Brown: Brown left the Defending NBA
If-It-Wasn't-For-Horry-We'd-Be-Champions Detroit Pistons for the This-Is-Not-Your-Fantasy-Team-Isiah!!! New York Knicks.
Flip Saunders: Saunders' trachea is feelingly significantly less threatened as he hopes to take over where Mr. Brown left off, except this time he is contractually obligated to care past the semi-finals. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Garnetts get to use Dwane Casey as their latest excuse for underachieving.
Nate McMillan: McMillan illogically left the Sonics for a better (?) job experience in Portland, while Ray Allen takes over for interim head coach Bob Weiss inSeattle.
The Rest: Maurice Cheeks will be singing the Star-Spangled Banner in Philly ... Brian Hill is the newest impulse-promoted coach for Orlando ... Former Spurs' assistant Mike Brown takes over the coaching role as he teams up with former Spur Danny Ferry in hopes of turning the Cleveland Cavaliers into the future Spurs ... Terry Stotts gets to ride the Overrated Off-Season Success Wave in Milwaukee.
As the season wears on, losses, injuries, trades, annual "[Insert Ego Here] doesn't get the ball enough!" and other rants will take their toll. And while some coaches will be praised for their vicarious success, others will be drawn, quartered, and summarily executed.
As there are no stats exclusively for coaches, the unmercifully cruel and completely biased media and fans are left to judge their success. Sometimes, such as the case for whatever poor sucker was duped into coaching the Raptors, it is not all the coach's fault. You cannot teach a penguin to fly just like you cannot teach the Clippers how to get past the first round. But it is indisputable that the coach CAN make a difference. When George Karl took over the Denver Nuggets, Colorado suddenly made news for something other than Kobe's off-season endeavors. The Spurs would not be the defending NBA Champions without Popovich's genius, just as the Mavericks would not finally have a clue if it weren't for Avery Johnson's guidance.
The upcoming season will be one to watch. Players have moved, the Hawks are still an embarrassment, the dress code has changed, and we actually get to watch Artest this year. But as you marvel at the players racing down court,
looking for the cameras so as to best position their bodies for SportsCenter, remember to glance at the sidelines. You may find a new face ready to change their diapers.
© Copyright 2005 FullSportPress.com
link (http://www.fullsportpress.com/artman/publish/article_1527.shtml)
Uhm....yeah. Thoughts? Opinions?