Exactly my thought. It's sad that today's pro coaches have to babysit like college coaches do. It's hard to find a coach that can BOTH teach young kids with discipline AND massage egos of superstars.
"1. Excellent understanding of tactics but a the ability to synthesize complex ideas into simple concepts easily understood by their players. 2. Outstanding communication skills which are used both to express clearly team and individual player objectives and roles but also the sense to listen to players with respect but not necessarily letting rudder the ship. 3. The ability to get everyone on the same page and realizing that the sum of all the individual parts are greater than any individual part alone. 4. Use the words cautiously and judiciously when communicating within team members and with all the people who interact and serve the team from outside the immediate team family. 5. Steely will, unfettered determination to everything possible to prepare the team to win, and fortitude under duress when the team isn't going well. 6. Can remain in control of their emotions under pressure and have the ability to make quick strong decisions based on previous experience, the team's capabilities, and confidence in their players in given situations. 7. An excellent grasp of teaching both team and individual fundamentals knowing how to build skills and provide simple but effective feedback which gives players confidence in their coaching abilities. 8. Come to practice and games organizationally well prepared including scouting reports, practicing skills which are relevant to the teams most critical needs or upcoming opponents and ready to implement and execute team concept in all game situations. 9. Have the ability to see external influences that can pull energy and focus from the teams performance and assign capable people to deal with these influences to reduce their affect if not handling it themselves. 10. Take care of their bodies and mind by getting enough rest, get help when and where needed, and interact with their staff to get the accumulation of the best experiential resources and ideas, so that they bring their best performance to work each day and for every game. 11. Are excellent at evaluating players capabilities and and being objective about putting them into positions where they can use their strength yet limit the exposure of individual weaknesses to produce optimal team performance. 12. Are concerned about their players as people and their lives both on and off the court but not to the point where this concern works negatively toward overall team performance. They do however recognize when a persons individual welfare must take a higher priority than team especially when it comes to family or health matters because of their lasting affect on a players ability to perform."
JAG, I just finished *actually* reading your initial post. I honestly have to say that it is the best post I have ever read here. It is the best because it was thorough, entertaining to read, and it never rambles. Thanks for the read.
Macbeth, Truly Outstanding, Your writing skills can not be denied even if someone doesn't agree with what you say they have to respect the way you put it out there. Really enjoyed that emotional \ philosohical ride. Thanks
Nice MacBeth. This is an instant classic. No, don't write for the Chronicle. That would suck. Instead, Clutch should give you an article... like how Jeff used to do the "Truth" articles. You could call it the "ReallyLongAssPost" article.
This thought had occured to me. I have resolved that were Rudy to be as selective in his choice of future positions as, say, Jackson is, and go where he fits, he will be very successfull. That would require a veteran team already schooled in the game, and needing focus and passion. If Rudy were to go to, say, Sacramento if Adleman leaves, I think he'd do very well, assuming he leaves the offense in place. But if he goes to a young/rebuilding team, yeah, I sadly suspect you're right,. and he'll find himself out of step with the music.
Good point...I don't feel that Brown is a minus on the recruting trail, but he is probably nowhere near the draw that Rudy was in his heyday. There is, however, a fairly universal respect for the man, and depending upon a player's priorities, I could see guys thinking Brown+our talent+warm climate= place to be. Not, however, out fo love. I don't think Brown is anywhere near the negative factor in terms of recruiting that Knight is.
Gotta disagree with you there, glynch, though I see your point. The offense that Rudy devised wasn't really all that new, it was just perfect for the players it had. It was simply an extension of a basic basketball concept; how to respond to a double play. What Rudy did well was get the players to buy into it, and got them to play it so much and so hard that it became routine, and the simple play was all that was needed due to the exceptional talent it revolved around. Note that once that talent regressed even a little, and when more talent was piled on top of it to compensate, Rudy never really adjusted. His players still played hard, but the offense tried to incorporate two hubs, Charles and Hakeem, and essentially served to take one out of each possession built around the other. Hardly the best use of that kind of talent. I remember watching The Big Three up against Utah...and we had more talent, and played at least as hard as they did...but they beat us because their system used their individual talents collectively to maximize their contribution, and ours didn't. Go back to that matchup, and it shouldn't have been close. Brown hasn't necessarily revolutionized the game, but that is in part due to the philosophy I mentioned. He adapts the system to the talent rather than have the talent adapt to the system, and as such, when you include his wandering ways, his teams have never become synonomous with a particular brand of play long enough to be credited with changing the game. It should be noted that John Wooden didn't really change the game either...he just did it better than everyone else.
Yeah...it sure looks that way. Oh well, gotta move on. Too bad about Rivers, too...imo he was the 2nd best option.
True, you have never heard of Brown choking a player. Of the remaining coaches available (if Brown is out), who do you think would be the best recruiter?
Depends on who you believe is available. If Doc Rivers is, he's the front-runner. Guys love to play with him, and the media loves him, so he gets good spin. Nelson and Adleman are guys many like to play for. Dunleavy, JVG, and Silas are all well respected, but not many guys would sign in Houston just to play for them. JVG's style of play might turn some guys off. Carlisle is the same...good coach, but his style isn't going to get players bigger numbers/more $$, but like JVG the players he does have will play for him.
