No, not with some of the whiners I see on this board. According to them, if you don't win rings, you suck. Sloan sucks. And once again, I'll say : Sloan had 2 decades with 2 of the greatest to play the game at their positions and has nothing to show for it. Yeah, I know... "yeah, but..."
Pointless poll, Sloan is a future HOF'er who's not going anywhere. He with Carlisle consistently do more with less than any other coach in the league. JVG is a good coach that's not quite on the same level.
If you are referring to me, that isn't what I said. My statement was "I'd rather have a coach with a ring (inclduing as a player) than a coach without one." I'd rather have Tomjanovich, Jackson, Popovich or Larry Brown over either Sloan or Mr. Van Gundy.
QUESTION: Sloans Lack of Rings is because: 1. Lack of Talent? 2. Lack of Coaching Skills? 3. other? Rocket RIver
I would agree with you with the exception of LB. He'll prolly bolt after a year or two (at the most)... that and he'll prolly ask for 5 billion dollars. What happen to Rudy? He can't coach anymore? we should bring him out of retirement. How bout Hakeem for coachhhh
Sloan underachieved? The closest thing to a star that the Jazz have had is AK47, and he is a top role player at best. As fas as I recall he pretty much missed the entire season last year. (BTW, if there is a role player worth trading Rudy Gay for, it is AK47!!!!!, although he seems slow recovering from last year's injury.) If anything, its a testament to Sloan's coaching that Jazz still remain competetive despite lack of any true star. Sloan's motion offense keeps them in the game. Yeah, Sloan is also a control freak but he actually has an offense that works!!!! I have yet to see any semblance of offense from JVG. The only time Rockets offense shined under him was when the players were given free reign. What does spending $$ on FA have anything to do with SLoan's coaching? SO they give out big $$ to average players. Seems its a GM problem, not a coaching one.
With JVG its not a matter of simply no rings. Its also a matter of stubborness, rigidity, highly predictable offense, extreme micro-management, AND no history to back up as some claim that he is one of the best coaches in the game. But the greatest thing working against JVG is that he is just a BAD fit for this team. His coaching style and personality is better suited for an undisciplined, young team. Strangely enough, he is more fond of veteran players. Seems like he needs to do some soul searching, look into his strengths and then go where they could be best utilized. JVG was a perfect fit for a Francis run Rockets. JVG is a bad fit for the curretn Rockets skillset. Now, as for Sloan. I dont think he is super duper absolutf**kingly awesome. But he is a better coach that JVG, hands down. As far as not winning a ring with Malone and Stockton... Had Malone decided not to choke away FTs and critical jumpers, Jazz would have actually beaten Bulls once in the finals. Malone was the *Chris Webber version -1.0* He melted under pressure. I used to get a kick out of watching this every year since I hated the Jazz so much. I still remember Game 5 in 1995 Playoffs against the Rockets... waning minutes of the game..while Clyde and Hakeem are doing their thing and leading the Rockets to a comeback win, Malone is shrinking before everyone in Delta Center and deferring to Benoit for 3 pointers. Jazz would give Malone the ball on offense, and feeling Hakeem behind him, Malone would just throw it out like a hot potato to Benoit camped near 3 point line. Brilliant!! The Jazz were the toughest competetion to the Bulls and better than any of the teams Jordan faced in the finals. This was the revised Bulls team that had won 70+ games the season before. It was Sloan's motion offense that had kept them going. Yes, the same motion offense that left Hakeem-Clyde-Barkley led Rockets completely befuddled on defense. The Rockets were lucky to win the 2 games in Compaq center. The two games the Rockets won went down to the wire, while Jazz completely man-handled Rocket teams in Delta Center.
