It Seems To Be A Sign Of The Times …… Good Quality Coaches Could Soon Become
A Thing Of The Past ….. Have You Looked At The NBA Lately ?
As the postseason of the NBA continues with the Finals now in place between the Eastern and Conference representative the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks . And for the first time in three years we will have a coach raise the Larry O’Brien trophy whose name will not be Doc Rivers or Phil Jackson . The two contending coaches in the 2011 NBA Finals are Rick Carlisle of the Mavericks and Erik Spoelstra of the Heat. With the retirement of Phil Jackson there are now only two active coaches in the NBA to have won a title of which Rivers is one and the other being the San Antonio Spurs’ — Gregg Popovich a four time NBA champion winning coach as well as a recipient of the Coach of The Year Award .
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Slide show details for your perusal .
It seems inconceivable to an extent that in this day of age that we’re told is parity in a number of sports but there are certainties that we tend to know will remain as is . Dynasties aren’t necessarily a thing of the past but I do feel that the talent level within a number of professional sports has dropped off somewhat but to my mind the most troubling thing is the lack of truly talented coaches within the professional ranks . I think that is particularly true within the NBA , most certainly the NFL and definitely within MLB . Each season we’re led to believe that the drafts within MLB , NBA and NFL is literally filled with exceptional talent and it merely is a matter of being prudent in assessing players . Given the fact that these drafts are usually a hit or miss endeavor and the fact that a large financial investment is tied to acquiring a player I would have thought it not only prudent that an organization be especially sure that the players they acquire meet their competitive needs.
The mantel of assuming the reins from Phil Jackson will now be undertaken by former Cleveland Cavaliers’ coach Mike Brown . Filling those shoes will be an enormous task for Brown and knowing that he will be under constant scrutiny not simply by the local media in the Los Angeles market but across the entire NBA landscape at the national level. Brown’s reign with the Cavaliers had its moment of success but in the advent of the LeBron James’ saga and his departure from the franchise the ball club fell apart . Cavaliers’ owner Dan Gilbert chose not to retain the coach and soon hired Byron Scott to assume control of the team. And for Brown’s successor his task will be not that easy given their season endeavors their utterly abhorrent play .
With the upcoming NBA Draft set to take place on the 23rd June and the rather asinine Draft Lottery that took place last month gave the perception the NBA is trying its hardest to give the fans something that they actually need or want . Isn’t it bad enough the whole spectacle to begin with only assures a quintet of teams at the bottom of the food chain a one in five chance of obtaining that number one overall pick ? Simply give the team with worst record in the league that top pick and be done with it ! .
The Houston Rockets in their infinite wisdom saw fit to hire former Boston Celtics’ great and Hall of Famer — Kevin McHale . Now anyone with the remote insight as to McHale’s career as an executive and then coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves will simply know that his track record isn’t that impressive. And from my own perspective I can only surmise that team GM Daryl Morey and owner Leslie Alexander were hard pressed to find a suitable candidate . But given the fact that it is now rarity for a franchise not to hire retread rather than a first time coach . Consider the number of stops over the long and varied career of Larry Brown and how things have panned out wherever he has been a coach ? Granted , he won an NBA title with the Detroit Pistons in defeating the star laden — Los Angeles Lakers in what turned out to be one of the most lopsided series Finals in recent history. But Brown’s years with the New York Knicks were the embodiment of an inept front office led by team owner James Dolan and then GM & President of Basketball Operations Isiah Thomas and a team that simply were not good enough , much less had the desire to win. Never mind the fact that Brown as a coach looked as if the game has passed him by. And it would be more of the same during his tenure with the Charlotte Bobcats and team owner Michael Jordan . .
Success within any professional sport isn’t simply defined by winning as making money seems to the predetermining factor for an owner. But it’s extremely good to have the two go hand in hand . I’ve long held the contention that the NBA has now become so myopic and that’s simply due to the fact that the league hierarchy led by David Stern has lost sight of what made the NBA so enjoyable to watch for the fan. Now the players have become larger than life characters and the teams have in essence taken a back seat role in the midst of this all as Stern and his minions seek global domination for the brand . And while this goes on the talent level within the league also consistency dips to great highs and or exceedingly deep lows . The coaching itself isn’t that far behind , so much so that I for one now believe that the coaching talent within the NBA is now at an all-time low ! The fans may well continue to debate the greatness of Kobe Bryant , LeBron James and the now somewhat idiotic comparisons and contrasts that are being made to Michael Jordan and the aforementioned duo. That debate if anything should actually take place once those present day contemporaries’ careers are over , rather than it being conducted now in the public domain. Isn’t it bad enough that we have idiots such as Jason Whitlock and Scottie Pippen throwing their weight behind this topic ? If anything Pippen may well have alienated himself with many of his former Chicago Bulls’ teammates and in particular the city of Chicago. The less said about Whitlock on the other hand gives credence that he has and always will be an utter blowhole and an unabated ass !
In many respects the issues with regard to the falloff in the coaching talent lies in the fact that a number of the general managers around the NBA themselves , in large part are not very good at what they’re being paid to do. Many of them simply have primarily a business background but there are number of them that have had less than stellar careers in the NBA as a player. Simply put this isn’t simply about the coaches themselves but also about the aptitude of the general managers and the owners who make the decision in the hiring of a coach. Obviously they all want to win thre cost can be very expensive if the hire turns out to be an exceptionally inept applicant .
The NBA is no exception to the rule and with regard to this instance of the falloff in the coaching talent but I simply didn’t it expect to become so acute ! Consider this , once Doc Rivers and Gregg Popovich call it quits within the league we may well have only one active coach having won an NBA title . Good or bad for the league ? I will let you be the judge of that !
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Picture gallery for your perusal .
Chime in with your thoughts on this topic and anything that you feel pertinent to the subject matter .
Alan aka tophatal …………………
Picture and slide show details below .
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(1) Dallas Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki (41) goes up for a rebound against the Miami Heat during Game 2 of the NBA Finals basketball game Thursday, June 2, 2011, in Miami. Nowitzki shook of an injury to his non-shooting hand and gave the Mavericks new life in the NBA Finals. The Mavericks defeated the Heat 95-93 to even the best-of-seven series to a game apiece. AP Photo/David J. Phillip …….
(2) (L-R) LeBron James (6) and Dwyane Wade (3) of the Miami Heat answers questions from the media during a post game press conference after they the Heat lost 95-93 against the Dallas Mavericks in Game Two of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 2, 2011 in Miami, Florida. Getty Images/ Mike Ehrmann …..
(3) Dirk Nowitzki(notes) #41 of the Dallas Mavericks lays the ball up agains the Miami Heat in the second half in Game Two of the 2011 NBA Finals at American Airlines Arena on June 2, 2011 in Miami, Florida. AP Photo/ David J Phillip/ Getty Images -Pool ……
(4) The Miami Heat’s LeBron James (6) goes for a slam against the Dalles Mavericks during the NBA Finals game 2 on the June 2, 2011 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Photo by Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images …..
(5) Celtics’ coach Doc Rivers is seen here with his opposite number Phil Jackson . The duo between them have won collectively 12 NBA titles as coaches of their respective teams . Over the course of their respective coaching careers their teams have made 16 NBA Finals appearances. Getty Images/ Scott Murphy …..
(6) From left to right Miami Heat team President Pat Riley introduces Erik Spoelstra as the team’s new coach in early 2009. Also inset is owner Micky Arison far right . AP Photo …………..
(7) (L to R) Chris Wallace , General Manager of the Memphis Grizzlies, Shane Battier and Ishmael Smith of the Memphis Grizzlies address the media during a press conference to announce their trade to the Memphis Grizzlies on February 25, 2011 at FedExForum in Memphis, Tennessee. Getty Images / Joe Murphy ….
(8) Cleveland Cavaliers’ GM Chris Grant (left) listens as the newly installed team coach Byron Scott speaks with the convened press at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio . AP Photo/ Steve McKinney …..
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