Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, this is the truth. This is why Hollins spoke out against the trade talks before it happened and just about a week ago Hollins talked about how they can only play the players they have, which was an obvious reference to wishing that they had kept more talent (i.e. Rudy Gay). It's unfortunate for Grizzlies' fans because the stars were aligning for them to make a run at a title this year, but management chose to save money instead of making one final push with their core for the title. This team now has no chance at all of winning a championship.
i think he's going to go the way of nate mcmillan / the van gundys, and not coach for a few years. he will have a high price and most teams aren't interested in paying unless they think they can realistically make it to the conference finals.
Speaking of Adelman, he'd be a good coach for this team. Gasol is the perfect big man for his system.
And oddly enough, also sounds like the reaction to Adelman's departure. All gloom and doom about letting go such an incredible coach and how this would destroy the team. And of course if the Grizzlies use the millions they saved on Gay wisely, we'd be reminded once again that the NBA is a player's league and not a coach's league.
Chris Wallace might be on his way out but his influence diminished right after the Hollinger hire. The last sportswriter turned rookie GM was David Kahn, though Kahn had a few more steps in between.
Ugh, it seems Woj's ridiculous sensationalism and hack-job mentality from his opinion pieces is bleeding into his news pieces too.... Although his sources are great he clearly has an agenda all the time, and if it's going to be present in everything he writes, even news pieces, he will become hard to take seriously.
Yet apparently not big enough to see in tangible results. Minnesota's still crap when they don't have their stars together. The Rockets look so much better adding Harden, Asik, and Parsons. And Dwight Howard isn't exactly looking at McHale and saying, "well I'd consider Houston if only they hadn't fired Adelman." And Sampson/Finch/Bickerstaff are being interviewed for jobs around the NBA, when Turner barely did back in Adelman days.
Aside from the fact that the team improved after they dumped Gay, and reached heights their franchise has never reached, also without Rudy Gay? Just because you hated Shane Battier doesn't mean that Rudy Gay is some amazing player. Whatever it is that Memphis needs, it is not a low efficiency, ball-stopping wing who doesn't make plays, doesn't defend, and loves to take contested long two's.
Nets or Clippers would be a good fit. Sterling might not want to pay that much for a coach but the Russian would not care and could easily meet Hollins asking price.
Too long to respond to each point you made, so just these three. 1. If true, why did Memphis play their best basketball of the season and go on a 15-3 run right after Gay was traded? 2 & 3. Agreed, but if the reports of Hollins conflicting with players (along with management) are true, he had to go. But the Grizzlies next coach has a tough act to follow.
The Russian will probably hire Brian Shaw (I think there's also a movement in that franchise to get Phil on board)
That's b/c there are no tangible results that will ever tell you what a team would look like under a different coach. And who cares if assistants are being interviewed for jobs. That could just be a poor reflection on the head coach.
Woj must have something against Hollinger or something Anyways, too bad it can't work out. Wonder which team will pick him up.
Do give props for Hollins to standing up. He has every right to (If it means anything, Hollinger did actually pick the SPURS to go to the Finals before taking the Griz job. I'm sure a betting man could appreciate that kind of foresight) Which gives Hollinger even a tad more justification and credibility actually. But doesnt mean Hollins has to like it (I hate managements lol)
I agree that coaches actually can be justifiably marginalized some. Its unkind, but just HAS to happen when bringing in new methodologies, need to have the coaching figureheads to follow. Still, Howard DOES want Phil Jackson as a coach. So can't say coaching DOESN'T influence things at least on a personal level.
