man, you forgot the practice. In everyday practice, the preparation of the games and making the plans, JVG is the most knowledgible coach.
And you know how all these coaches conduct practices and conclude that JVG is the most knowledgeable coach?
so if you were the GM of rockets, who would you select to coach assuming all the coaches are available?
Different coaches are good with different kinds of teams. That's why I don't believe in ranking them. There are good coaches and not so good coaches. But there is no "best" coach for every situation. Some coaches are good at building but not good at winning big. Some are good at making mediocre players play good, but not good at utilizing great players. I believe JVG is this kind of coach. Some are good at managing egos, but can do nothing with lesser talents. Phil Jackson is this kind. Some coaches are good at milking the best out of the best, but cannot control undisciplined players. Rudy is like this. Some coaches are good at winning but can't get along with his players. Larry Brown seem to be this kind. Some coaches are good at utilizing smart talents he has and shape them to play great team ball. This is what the Rocekts need at this point of time. Adelman fits the bill perfectly.
Some coaches are good at building but not good at winning big. (Nelson, Sloan, Doug Collins - made the Bulls competitive and later 90s Pistons with Hill Some are good at making mediocre players play good, but not good at utilizing great players. (Larry Brown-sorta, JVG, Mike Fratello, Lenny Wilkens, Rick Carisle, and etc.) Some are good at managing egos, but can do nothing with lesser talents. (Phil Jackson, Riles, and K.C. Jones) Some coaches are good at milking the best out of the best, but cannot control undisciplined players. (Adelman, Karl, Larry Brown-sorta, Some coaches are good at winning but can't get along with his players. (Larry Brown-again, hard to say who else) he made 4 teams pretty good - Spurs, Pacers, Pistons, and 76ers...everyone except the Pistons, where bottom of the barrel..... Some coaches are good at utilizing smart talents he has and shape them to play great team ball. (Popovich, Larry Bird, Adelman, Mike Dunleavy, Chuck Daly)
I would rank them: 1. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio - Can't stand the Spurs, but I can't argue with success. 2. Jerry Sloan, Utah - Master of the pick and roll. He may cheat, but it works. Look what he did last year with a bunch of untested players. 3. Don Nelson, Golden State - Look at what he's done with his teams for the past 10 years. Still got it. 4. Rick Adelman, Houston - Same as Don, he's always been a winner. We lucked out getting him. 5. Mike D'Antoni, Phoenix - They can't get over the hump (maybe with some help from the refs), but he's a solid coach. 6. Phil Jackson, L.A. Lakers - Just having Kobe has exposed him as what he is- a cherry picker who comes in to established powerhouses and takes them to the next level. 7. Pat Riley, Miami - A good 'veteran's' coach, but may be over the hill coach wise. 8. Avery Johnson, Dallas - I can see him moving up the chart next year. He's better than people give him credit for. Remember, his nickname used to be 'little general'. 9+: the rest
How can you Rank Riley who took 3 different teams to the Finals and Phil who won 9 championships behind D'antoni.
It's funny that some people in PHX hated D'Antoni's guts. They complained about his very short rotation and that how Nash was the real coach.
I think some people are basing this list off of where these guys stand RIGHT NOW. Not their overall careers.
I don't think he gets the most out of his players any more. He's been to the finals TWICE since the Showtime Lakers, arguably one of the best teams ever. One of those teams was a Shaq/Wade led team in the pathetic East. The other was (and I hate to use this example) the Knicks during Jordan's first retirement. He's a lot like Phil Jackson- takes powerhouse teams to the next level. The fact that he's had so much success works against him, IMO. The Miami job is his swan song. He doesn't have the fire he had in the 80's and early 90's. Yes, exactly.
