Things are getting crazy in the NBA "Hot Stove". Here's some of my thoughts/predictions.
New York Knicks - my guess is Kristaps Porzingis is not traded by the Knicks. Phil Jackson will realize how angry he's made Knick fans even suggesting Porzingis may be available and nothing will happen. Could that change if Jackson drafts 7'0" Lauri Markkanen Thursday night? Yes. If Jackson gets his ego all a twitter and trades Porzingis to show the world who is boss then Boston can offer the best package. Next year's Nets number one and the Lakers first if 2-5 (or Kings 2019 unprotected) plus Jae Crowder is a pretty fair exchange. If Jackson also trades Carmelo Anthony to the Cavaliers straight-up for Kevin Love then the frontcourt of Crowder, Love and Markkanen is pretty decent and with two top picks in 2018 the Knicks are actually in better shape than they are right now. Better chance is that Porzingis stays put and Jackson screws things up.
Cavaliers - Jimmy Butler supposedly says he wants to be traded to Cleveland. Problem is the Cavs don't have the assets. The only real asset the Cavs have is Kevin Love and the only destination I can picture for Love is the Knicks for Carmelo Anthony. As a Boston fan I'd love to see Carmelo in Cleveland. The confusion, discord and eventual falling apart would be delicious.
Bulls - whither Jimmy Butler? As I said - I don't think the Cavs have the assets and the Celtics I don't think really want to spend their assets on Butler. So where does he land? My guess is in Minnesota with old coach Tom Thibodeau.
Celtics - I think the draft rumors of Danny Ainge picking Jason Tatum are correct but after that? Who knows? It will be fun to watch and the 2017-18 Celtics will be better than this year's team that went to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Chris Lynch's slanted view on sports, politics and entertainment. Please send thoughts or comments to chris.lynch@gmail.com
Showing posts with label Phil Jackson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phil Jackson. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Knicks Insanity
As a Celtics fan I think it is great that Phil Jackson wants the New York Knicks to give Kurt Rambis a multi-year deal to coach the team. If I were a Knicks fan - I would think this idea is insane.
Why is it insane? Take a look at this coaching comparison:
Kurt Rambis - 64 Wins / 161 Losses / .284 Winning Percentage
ML Carr - 48 Wins / 116 Losses / .293 Winning Percentage
Keep in mind that Rambis' record includes a 24-13 record with the 1998-99 Lakers when he stepped in for Del Harris in the lock-out shortened season. That Lakers team had both Kobe and Shaq. ML Carr, on the other hand, was totally trying to lose with the Celtics in main part to increase Boston's chances at landing Tim Duncan in the 1997 NBA Draft. Let me repeat that - ML Carr was TRYING TO LOSE and he still has a higher career winning percentage than the guy Phil Jackson wants to give a multi-year contract!
That's insane!
Labels:
Boston Celtics,
Kurt Rambis,
ML Carr,
New York Knicks,
Phil Jackson
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Kobe Bryant - Player Coach?
When Red Auerbach retired from coaching the Boston Celtics he named Bill Russell as his replacement. Red's thinking was that the only person capable of coaching Russell and getting the best out of Russell was Russell himself. Bill Russell took over the Celtics and led them to a 162-83 record and two NBA Championships in his 3 seasons as player coach.
Could the Lakers be in a similar situation as the 1966 Boston Celtics?
What coach can come in and command the necessary respect from Kobe Bryant? Brian Shaw? Come on - how is Brian Shaw going to be able to yell at Kobe at practice or tell him that things will be done the way Shaw wants them done and not the way Kobe wants them done. Rick Adelman? Same problems.
Only Kobe can motivate Kobe at this point. Plus naming him player-coach would light a fire (as if extra motivation is needed in a guy like Kobe) to prove he was the reason for the Lakers success and not Phil Jackson.
Kobe could surround himself with solid bench coaches who could handle much of the practice and in game substitutions. Kobe would be responsible for getting the most out of Kobe and kicking his teammates in the butt if needed.
I really think this would be the best solution for the Lakers coaching search. Making Kobe the coach makes him completely responsible for the success of the team. His will to win won't let him fail.
When Red Auerbach retired from coaching the Boston Celtics he named Bill Russell as his replacement. Red's thinking was that the only person capable of coaching Russell and getting the best out of Russell was Russell himself. Bill Russell took over the Celtics and led them to a 162-83 record and two NBA Championships in his 3 seasons as player coach.
Could the Lakers be in a similar situation as the 1966 Boston Celtics?
What coach can come in and command the necessary respect from Kobe Bryant? Brian Shaw? Come on - how is Brian Shaw going to be able to yell at Kobe at practice or tell him that things will be done the way Shaw wants them done and not the way Kobe wants them done. Rick Adelman? Same problems.
Only Kobe can motivate Kobe at this point. Plus naming him player-coach would light a fire (as if extra motivation is needed in a guy like Kobe) to prove he was the reason for the Lakers success and not Phil Jackson.
Kobe could surround himself with solid bench coaches who could handle much of the practice and in game substitutions. Kobe would be responsible for getting the most out of Kobe and kicking his teammates in the butt if needed.
I really think this would be the best solution for the Lakers coaching search. Making Kobe the coach makes him completely responsible for the success of the team. His will to win won't let him fail.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Distractions
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the league this year but lost to the Celtics in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Not to take anything away from the Celtics but I think the distraction of LeBron James' impending free agency cost the Cavaliers dearly. All the players were constantly asked about it and the Boston fans even mocked the team with chants of "New York Knicks" and "Lebron is leaving".
When the Cavaliers lost I couldn't help but think of the 1978 New England Patriots. They had one of the best teams in the history of the Patriots with 5 All-Pro's including running back Sam Cunningham, tight end Russ Francis, linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray plus cornerback Mike Haynes. A young Steve Grogan led the team on offense and a young Steve Nelson led the team on defense. This was a Super Bowl caliber team but a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs mainly because the team was distracted by the contract status of head coach Chuck Fairbanks who had agreed to become the head coach of the University of Colorado after the season. I clearly remember the first round game against Houston and how distracted the whole team seemed and played. If Chuck Fairbanks waited till after the season to sign a contract then I really believe that 1978 team easily could have won the Super Bowl.
I mention this now because I see the same distractor-factor building in Los Angeles with Phil Jackson and the Lakers. Suddenly the Lakers are in a tough fight against the Suns and it can be argued that Jackson has been out-coached. If the Lakers lose to the Suns look for the distraction angle to be played up in both the local and national media. If the Lakers make it past the Suns then look for the distraction of Phil Jackson's contract status to become an even bigger story.
LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers had the best record in the league this year but lost to the Celtics in the 2nd round of the playoffs. Not to take anything away from the Celtics but I think the distraction of LeBron James' impending free agency cost the Cavaliers dearly. All the players were constantly asked about it and the Boston fans even mocked the team with chants of "New York Knicks" and "Lebron is leaving".
When the Cavaliers lost I couldn't help but think of the 1978 New England Patriots. They had one of the best teams in the history of the Patriots with 5 All-Pro's including running back Sam Cunningham, tight end Russ Francis, linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray plus cornerback Mike Haynes. A young Steve Grogan led the team on offense and a young Steve Nelson led the team on defense. This was a Super Bowl caliber team but a team that lost in the first round of the playoffs mainly because the team was distracted by the contract status of head coach Chuck Fairbanks who had agreed to become the head coach of the University of Colorado after the season. I clearly remember the first round game against Houston and how distracted the whole team seemed and played. If Chuck Fairbanks waited till after the season to sign a contract then I really believe that 1978 team easily could have won the Super Bowl.
I mention this now because I see the same distractor-factor building in Los Angeles with Phil Jackson and the Lakers. Suddenly the Lakers are in a tough fight against the Suns and it can be argued that Jackson has been out-coached. If the Lakers lose to the Suns look for the distraction angle to be played up in both the local and national media. If the Lakers make it past the Suns then look for the distraction of Phil Jackson's contract status to become an even bigger story.
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