Posted by Bippity10:
Posted by nixluva:
I've been a supporter of some of the talent on this team and it's not just a function of odds. I blasted the coaching we've had and I've been consistent on that. I felt this team would've shown some progress already if the coaches had been less about their own selfish goals and more about teaching this team. Now if you can't see the difference then I don't know what to tell you.
Last yr I blasted Zeke and he deserved it! 2 years ago I blasted I blasted LB, why? They both didn't put the team
1st IMO. MDA has been a leader and teacher and it's been about TEAM since day one! Then whadda ya know the players have respnoded and look much better. Whether they win every night isn't the main point, it's how they play the game and the progress they show as individuals and as a team.
Good Coaching, a different core(franchise Marbs and Curry not playing), players running out of options, juice cards given to coaches, getting rid of malcontents(Francis, rose etc), new leadership Duhon etc(instead of Marbs, Zach and Curry). A lot is changing. It's not the coaching that changed, it is the culture that is changing. It's still a long haul ahead for Mike, but the united front by management in the Marbury situation is huge. It's all connected. The question of talent has never been an issue.
My point wasn't as simplistic as saying it's just X and O coaching in the gym and on the floor that makes the difference. I would agree with all of the things you said and it's a big part of the equation. My thinking is that with Isiah deciding to go against his better judgement and the will of the team, not to mention just plain solid principles, when he let Steph come back and play again after he left the team high and dry, was an example of what needed to change. Now MDA and Walsh are setting a new course and the players are doing what they should be doing, minus all the circus acts.
Curry not playing is a facet of the solid leadership and coaching i'm talking about. to me coaching isn't just the X's and O's part of it. it's the trust bulding, character building and culture building aspects as well. Neither Zeke nor LB did any of the right things in that regard. My point is that this is a much better atmosphere in which to develop a young group of players and see just what they're really about. The bad kids aren't running the school anymore and that was the biggest thing that needed to change from the get go. LB was emasculated by Zeke & Dolan and Zeke was emasculated by Dolan's ultimatums, so that neither got the support to have the "juice card" and the players knew it.
[Edited by - nixluva on 11-10-2008 3:45 PM]
