MDA has pointed to a lack of effort a few times this season as to the reason we've lost. Some people say your superstars drive the energy and effort a team gives. I think as coach MDA is partially responsible anytime the team comes out lackadaisical. Yes, NBA players should show up ready to play hard every night but that's just not how it is. Some guys need motivation outside of what they can provide for themselves. This is where I feel a good coach comes into play that can push the buttons necessary with each player on the team in order to get the most out of them every night.. What say you?
Coaches advise, players execute. Star players, however, set the tone for the entire team. So that's my choice in the poll.
That's top to bottom buy-in. Coaches preach it, players do it, GM's reward/punish for it, and owners spend if it's there. Every piece fits in the next. Ultimately, if this team is having continuous "effort" issues, maybe some broad-sweeping changes need to happen.
It's no one person or one thing. Whole team feeds off each other. D'Antoni doesn't hold players accountable.
Rudy Tomjanovich Locker Room Speech was Inspirational, especially down in the series to Charles Barkley Suns. Vernon Maxwell went off against the Suns. Rudy was a Counselor, Psychologist. Motivational Speaker, Has Charisma. Caring about players problems. Players would literally play their hearts out for Rudy. If Rudy can win a Bronze Medal with Team USA with a bunch of Amateur Players. Instead of Stars cant play because the lock out on Team USA. Mike Dantoni can not motivate players, he doesnt have any Charisma. Cant Just stand up for his players. Just screams "Lets Go" Mike Dantoni is Don Nelson
Can the Rockets get one of these Coaches Erik Spoelstra, Rick Carlisle, Nick Nurse. All teams are doing really well.
Imo coaching can help here, but reality is in the end the players are out there playing, and they're the ones who need to make it happen, especially the leaders, they need to set the tone. If they need a babysitter on the bench to tell them to play hard well, that's not good.
Effort? Like effort to close out? Effort to get back on defense? Play hard? On the individual. And if he "just doesn't have it" or is tired, it's on the coach to pull him. Motivation? In the words of Kevin McHale, you're playing basketball for a living! It's a joy to play! It's fun!
Coach can't force players to hustle but he sure as hell can bench them... tell me if you lose some playing time by being lazy that's a quick remedy i.e. Pop
It's hard for me to blame the coach for this. The coach is on these guys constantly about their effort. He can't FORCE the players to be aggressive, play with a sense of urgency or value possessions. I think everyone knows I'm a big Harden fan, but I think this is one area that is a perfectly valid criticism of him. He plays way too often with a very relaxed sense of "this is fine" and "we'll win it in the end." He doesn't value possessions and is extremely careless for long stretches. When he locks in he's totally different. It's not laziness, it's genuinely this "meh, we'll beat these guys" attitude and it drives me bonkers.
It’s an organizational thing too. If a coach doesn’t feel empowered by the organization to bench star players due to lack of effort, he won’t do it.
We aren't talking about guys out their loafing, they just don't have enough effort, not ZERO effort. No coach in the NBA is going to bench James Harden for his effort level.
