misterearl wrote:Coaching a team to the NBA championship is perhaps the most difficult job in pro sports: Only four active coaches have done it, and the league's 62 championships have been hoarded by a small group of 28 coaches.

Lawrence Frank was hailed as the next best thin at head coach. Where is he now?

Jeff Van Gundy inherited a great Knicks roster that was already house trained by Pat Riley. By the time he got to Houston his star dimmed quickly. In Van Gundy's four seasons with Houston he never went very far in the playoffs Under Van Gundy the Rockets won 182 games and lost 146.

Nate McMillan would be a great coach for these Knicks.

Stephon Curry would make Mark Jackson a better head coach.

Right now the biggest thing our players need is discipline. If someone is to replace D'Antoni, it needs to be someone who corrects all the bad habits (defense, 3-pter early in the shot-clock, standing around not making cuts to the basket or off-the-ball screens, and more defense, etc.) that D'Antoni instilled in our players. In that respect, someone like JVG or Larry Brown would've been welcome, if both hadn't worn out their welcome here. Neither will accept a job back in NY anyhow.

Lawrence Frank is currently an assistant for the Boston Celtics. He'll probably stay there for the year, but if we're in the coaching hunt next summer, he'd be my #1 choice. Smart, hard-worker, and excellent at game preparation.

If Hubie Brown is up for coaching again, I'd bring him back.

Brian Shaw is another potential candidate, but would he try to force a triangle system on us? Cause I don't think we have the personnel for it.

That would not be acceptable on Seventh Avenue.

OjilEye wrote:THREE WORDS: JEFF VAN GUNDY

misterearl wrote:Lawrence Frank had an ambulatory Jason Kidd, complimented by some decent frontcourt talent. It was all cool with Rod Thorne pushing the right buttons as team President, but that marriage ended after 8 seasons. Frank led the Nets to the playoffs four straight seasons. but they were been able to win more than one series, going 18-20 in playoff games under Frank, and the team has started each of his final three seasons inconsistently.

That would not be acceptable on Seventh Avenue.

Hmmmm...Brooklyn point guard goes straight from playing to head coaching - how did his coaching career turn out? How many more examples do you want of players who went straight into head coaching and had success? 1? 5? 10? then make some effort and find them yourself. Your "reasoning" is nonsenical anyway - "one must be an assistant coach first, because....I don't know why!"

Here is my reasoning: Mark Jackson was one of the best offensive minds running a team from the point guard position at every level of basketball he ever played at, setting records and exhibiting outstanding leadership. That is a pretty good start for at least giving him a look.

Brian Shaw on the other hand: Mediocre player, never showed any superior talent in any facet of the game, and he's held some clipboards for Phil Jackson...not very impressive to me, but well at least he looks kind of weird for whatever that is worth.

oohah

ramtour420 wrote:
Not sure if anyone fails here, because being a great or legendary player, does not even = good coach. Yes, many PG become coaches, but with 17 years and all that - doesn't our current coach have a long and illustrious career as a PG that ran a team on the floor? Bottom line is that with rookie coaches you never know. Sometimes you never know with veteran coaches, as well.

childs2dudley fails simply for coming weak as usual.

***

D'Antoni did have a long and illustrious career as a PG - in the Italian league. But none of that really matters. If anyone who has paid attention to Mark Jackson's career would know he was the personification of "coach on the floor" every level he ever played at. That is a pretty good pedigree which warrant some consideration.

oohah

oohah wrote:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenny_Wilkens#Coaching_career
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Nelson#Coaching_history

So Childs2dudley, the two winning-est coaches in the history of the game both went directly into head coaching. Do you have anymore brilliant arguments? Or do you realize that your "point" has fallen flat on its face?

oohah

Don Nelson sucks.

CrushAlot wrote:There are a lot reasons to like MJax and I think he will be a very good coach when he gets his chance. I don't think replacing D'Antoni mid season is the right move for him. I also worry about the next choice for coach simply because it is hard to follow a coach that doesn't emphasize d and practice. I remember reading an article about Terry Porter's struggles following D'Antoni in Phoenix. One of the most difficult things he had to overcome was getting a bunch of guys who had not played or practiced defense for years to commit to it. I would love for Jackson to get the job but I think he should be hired when he has the chance to have a summer and training camp with his team.

Wow the guy hasn't been hired may never be and you are already making excuses for him? LOL.

Childs2Dudley wrote:
So your reasoning is great players equal great coaches.

Nope. I never wrote that. I am talking about one guy. You are just changing your tactics because I destroyed your points.

Childs2Dudley wrote:Because again, you know, no mediocre players (Phil Jackson, among hundreds more) were ever successful coaches.

I never wrote that either and it wasn't part of the discussion. Here is some advice: Don't try to put stupid words in my mouth. Because those stupid words are yours, not mine, and I will point out how poor your "reasoning" is.

Childs2Dudley wrote:Shaw happens to be a highly touted assistant, among other highly touted assistants. Monty Williams is another example. Great player he was, huh?

So where are all of Shaw's job offers again? Monty Williams has nothing to do with this discussion, you are just adding him becuase I have absolutely blown away everything you have written.

Childs2Dudley wrote:But no, let's hire the ESPN commentator because he was a great point guard. He has more credentials than anyone else because he's Mark Jackson and everyone else isn't. Brilliant.

No, I just happen to think Jackson has the goods to be a good coach based on his being an extension of the coach on the floor and his leadership demonstrated throughout his career + the fact he has been a winner.

Childs2Dudley wrote:oohah, how about you stop trying to go hard after everyone because you think you're a descendant of James Naismith and actually posting with some class and knowledge sometimes?

Yes, I should be classy like this line from you above: "Nice try, though, but you fail yet again." How about you don't bring it to me like that ever again?

I guess you're the one who has actually failed!

Childs2Dudley wrote:I'm done with this convo. Keep clowning around like you usually do.

Childs2Dudley

^^ This is an admission of how badly your argument have been demolished by me, and saying "uncle" is the smartest and classiest response you have written to me yet. You're learning!

oohah

BRIGGS wrote:New coach Monty Williams, a Portland assistant the previous five years, has done an immediate makeover of what was one of the NBA’s worst defensive teams last season.

“Defense is where we want to make our staple,” West said. “We are really drilling and really working and doing what we have to do in terms of preparation. We’ve been able to execute the game plan defensively from start to finish.”

All of the good teams--you would hear this from their coaches. We bought fools gold with Dantoni

I agree with you BRIGGS. I always knew Monty Williams would make a promising coach. He was a brainy player and he is obviously intelligent. Those are 2 qualities that I think make for a good foundation as a coach.

oohah