I just want to gauge how people honestly feel about MDA as a coach. Can he lead a team to a trophy? It can be a feeling or actually supported by facts, data or whatever. Doesn't matter what you base your opinion on. To me it's a feeling, which is partially based on what I think he's like as a coach, his habits and how he focuses on offense too much - which is not something arguable, it just is. His genius is on that side of the ball and with age he hasn't shown to change that. Therefore, I think as a coach he will not lead us to a championship. If we do win one, it will be because of Harden and Westbrook going bananas with just enough defense around them.
He’s coached 2 teams that were absolutely championship caliber in the Nash Suns who were derailed by Big shot Bobs hip check and a great Spurs team and The Rockets of 2 seasons ago derailed by a hammy injury and one of, if not the greatest teams of all time. I don’t look at either of those teams failures to win it all and say well it was Mikes fault they lost or that if Mike had done something differently they would have 100% ended up winning. I also don’t buy this notion that defense is not found in his brains dictionary. When the roster has been right he’s had the defense to match his great offense. I’d guess most will disagree that he is championship caliber, but it’s really kind of a weird question. I think A LOT of coaches could have led the 90s Bulls, early 2000s Lakers or Warriors of the last few years to some titles.
the only thing that stopped MDA from coaching a team to a title is Chris Paul’s hamstring... MDA lost his main defensive assistant and this team lacks height and many capable defenders to begin with defense was elite in 17-18 and the 2nd half of 18-19
considering 2 years ago he coached a team that was a hamstring injury away from taking down arguably a historically goat team, yup he has the caliber we're probably not going to see a team as talented as that GS team for a very long time. and that was the only team that stood in the way people always have these different hot takes of what a good/championship coach is. Luke walton was labeled as the next great thing when he sat in for Kerr. A lot of people were all over him. Boy what a time. What exactly has happened since then? Oh right, he's nothing special. Another assumption: A coach can't win without going deep into a rotation. Welp the raptors just proved you can win going 7-8 deep in the playoffs.
Totally get where you're coming from, but I think there's two things that are key to a coach being championship caliber: - ability to adapt or even be ahead of the game - the little thing a coach does that instills ultimate confidence and gets guys in the mindset of doing anything to win a game and work hard for him or her. My feeling partially based on what I've seen is that MDA does not have enough of adaptability, to be ahead of the game - at this moment in time that is - and have guys ready to die for him.
He's a regular season stat padder @kjayp He's just along for the ride; riding shotgun to James Harden. Tilman is a not a championship caliber owner (yet) Mike is not a championship caliber coach and I'm not sure James is championship caliber "Asked if he believed D’Antoni is a championship coach, Fertitta said “We don’t know. We don’t know if I’m a championship owner."
Is he a championship coach? Nope Nope Nope Hard to see Pop, Phil Jackson, Doc Rivers, Rudy T, P Riley, Kerr...etc, stand around in a game 7 and watch their team go for 0-27 from the 3 point line. They all would have made some type of an adjustment
I believe maybe a better poll would be: How many NBA coaches ARE Championship material? The same criteria that's used to smear our coach could likely also be applied to 26 other coaches. These critics (hello BasketMAD) make it sound the other way around, like 26 OTHER coaches could do BETTER and D'Antoni is at the bottom of the barrel. Not true. Q: What coach has a better record the last 3 seasons since D'Antoni has been here? A; Steve Kerr (of the STACKED Durant, Curry, Thompson, Green, Warriors) THAT's IT. That's the WHOLE list! Even LUKE WALTON was able to roll a ball out on the floor and have a 75% winning percentage by 'coaching' that team. And the Warriors are crashing down to earth without Durant and Thompson (and now Curry) Let's see what magic Coach Kerr can conjure up. D'Antoni took a rather average team at the time (Rockets) and made James a superstar and took our team to the top. The ONLY team that stood in our way was that STACKED GSW team. We took them 7 games to the brink. And people call for D'Antoni's head for not getting past what is called 'the greatest team ever assembled' What about the 14 coaches that didn't even make the playoffs last year? Should they be fired? What about the other 14 coaches who's playoff teams didn't make it to the finals? LOSERS? Here's another poll question: What has Greg Popovich won without Tim Duncan? Has he flashed any rings since then? NADA. So, SA should send him out to pasture? Is washed up? Apparently no longer championship material, right? Point is, even WITH D'Antoni's shortcomings, we could do MUCH worse. The last 3 years he has proven himself better than 75% of the coaches out there Here's the magic question for the MDA critics that I never hear answered: WHO is the unknown coach that can take us to the 'promised land'? (actual names are rarely mentioned, only complaints)
If you watch a good coach you see how they actually affect the outcome of the game. When you play the mavs, Carisle won't let the other team score 5 points without calling a timeout
He’s a great floor raiser. He is not a ceiling raiser. He’s been thoroughly out coached in every playoffs he’s been in during his time in Houston. Losing Bzdelik has already proven to be a monumental loss. D’Antoni isn’t going to right the ship defensively.
