Chandler wrote:GustavBahler wrote:jrodmc wrote:GustavBahler wrote:How many more years of losing, of being one of the worst teams in the league since Phil took over, does it actually become Team President Phil Jackson's fault for the results?Im asking this because it seems like we could go another 3-4 years of losing and some folks will still be blaming everyone but Phil for the results.
Never seen an team exec with such an abysmal record with an almost religious following. What will make you want to cut bait with Phil as team president? Would really like to know.
Don't worry, I read on here somewhere that this 5 year, $60 million contract is really just a training class for Phil's next gig as the greatest 80 year old NBA exec. Results and cost don't matter! It's all part of the plan.
Wouldn't surprise me at this point, lol. If it was someone else these last 3 years, some nameless exec, another Mills, I doubt people would be so patient.
Correct we wouldn't be patient. But Phil gets (and deserves) patience because it's simply foolish to deny he knows basketball. Having said that, there are many legitimate criticisms against him; some well-stated and some just whiny rants from whiny-retarded trolls. He might have a great (meta)plan but poor execution (think Idzik and stockpiling picks and drafting horribly)
Personally I think his weakness is at trades and at GM-type things like negotiating and contracts.
But I also think he's on the money in wanting system basketball and a team that develops players into that system; also wanting an ecosystem. I also think he's been great (or at least lucky) in drafting -- J. Grant being an exception but expecting 100% hit rate is foolish. It's also been many times stated how he has been handicapped with a lack of draft picks -- the one thing he has been good (or lucky at). Building a team with FAs is (a) not his strong suit and (b) under the CBA foolish as there are no "deals" unless you're already a great team so you further handicap your collection of talent by overpaying to come to a bad team
I think the "when" question is legitimate and also tough. Losing is frustrating; winning consistently is very hard
Being knowledgeable about basketball doesn't necessarily make you a good front office executive. Its essential of course, but there are other qualities needed to be a good exec and Phil is having a hard time showing them.
In Phil's case you would think that a coach who managed so many legendary egos, balanced his vision of the Bulls/Lakers with that of the front office, would have been able to do a better job managing egos, and focusing mostly on his front office duties.
His GM was such a company man that he signed Chris Smith to a contract just because he was JR's brother and nothing else. He was the guy that forgot to pull Shumpert before the trade with Phoenix before Shump got hurt. Phil said in the press conference that Mills "does the paperwork". Emphasized that its his call.
When you have a GM who is a company man and little else, you aren't going to get the best advice. Phil should be remaking the front office in his image, not the offense. That should be the coaches job. He should make every player feel like he has their back. Why? because its a player's league.
There have been former championship players, coaches, who have successfully made the transition to the front office and have won rings. Looking at how they did it, its not hard to see that Phil for some reason doesn't feel he has anything to learn from them. If he did I believe we would be seeing it.
I was all in for a rebuilding project, but as Uptown pointed out we really havent commited to one yet. Lots of rookies last year played which was great, but thats because the older starters broke down. Will they be replaced with more broken down vets or will Phil allow the cream to rise to the top? That would show a bias towards rebuilding.
