On 1560 this morning: Spoiler (On his TV rant Sunday): I was guesstimating on Stern's salary. It's the most closely guarded secret in America. I'm sure I'll hear about that down the road. If I do(get back into coaching), I'm sure the schedule will include 61 road games instead of 41 but that's ok. (Talking about Pro-Vision charity/fundraiser) (On flopping and deciding between a charge/block and eliminating it): Just take the block charge. When I first came in, you had to be hit with such force and so square on to get a charge. If you released the shot and then ran into someone, you never got the call. If you went up in the air and passed and then contact, never got the call. The NBA charge has morphed into the college charge. Any contact is a charge. Too many charge calls, I think the block charge is different from flopping. Flopping is acting and embellishing. It is very difficult to call it within the game. These guys are so skilled as actors and its happening in real time. But after the fact, I don't think its hard to determine. There has to be heavy fines and suspensions after X amount of flops to deter these guys from trying to act their way to a call. I think it could be corrected starting tomorrow if it was a priority by the NBA. (If he ever coached flopping): I never coached flopping. I did coach charge taking. I'm not saying my guys never flopped. But you know what, as a coach, if they had a rule that we're gonna fine those guys, so be it. When I was with the Knicks and Pat Riley left and Don Nelson got hired, the first practice we had, we practiced our head snap. I had never seen anything like that.Coach Nelson was critiquing. You gotta snap it harder and let out a groan - a verbal flop. A verbal flop runs as a partner with the head snap. I love Scola but if I was the dean of flopping, I would be hitting him with fine after fine until he stopped some of his flopping. (On yelling becoming part of the flop): I agree. The verbal flop bothers me. To give the refs a better idea is if you accumulate so many flops, just like the Scarlet Letter, you have to wear a Scarlet F(for flopper) on your jersey just to remind the officials this is a known flopper. (On Jazz flopping through the years): They had a team wide...they must've had the bounty program, but instead a flopping program where everyone contributed the money to see who could flop the most and draw the most absurd flop. Back in the day they were the best at it. (What's going on with the Rockets): The problem with going 4-0 on the road trip is you raise expectations for a team that is just pretty good. You'll always regress to who you are. They had an incredible 4-0 road trip and then lose some heartbreaking home games. One of them, just one, would've put them in great position. I think they'll still make it. I think they'll go to Dallas and play a really good game. Dallas coming off triple OT and OT, I think they'll be a little fatigued. I think Houston will go in there, play a great game and win that game and get back on track. I think they've had a tremendous season. How many teams of their talent level can lose their starting back court for a significant amount of time and still be right in the hunt? (If he could have coached Martin on the way he plays defense): Everyone brings certain skills. All you want, from even your best offensive players, is the effort and attention to detail. Even if they aren't the most gifted defender, if they play like defense is important, try hard, commit, know the game plan, are smart, you can live with certain lateral quickness flaws but if he is a determined defender, you can live with anybody. (On the good first half/bad second half issues - are those issues effort or execution or fatigue?): Could be all those and a little bit of talent. You can only cover up...last night, they gave up, what, 61 in the 2nd half, at home, in a must win game, there's probably no excuse for giving up 61 although Denver is a talented offensive team. I think they really overachieved. For the most part, what you get from Houston every nights is really good effort and a good level of unselfish play. (If he's surprised how valuable Marcus Camby has made himself in such a short time): Yeah. Losing him 8 minutes in in Denver, crusher. I had Camby when he was a young player. At that point, he had good talent but he was underrated for his basketball IQ. This guy is really intelligent. He can still rebound and protect the basket. Unfortunately he is older so he has a little back injury. Hopefully he can be back Wednesday. He has anchored them over the last few weeks. (Talking about baseball --Red Sox/Valentine/Youkilis) (On SVG/Howard): The good part is, we don't talk about that part of his job. I do feel like at times I have to bite my tongue a little bit. I dont want to say something that people think is coming from Stan. I have to be more leery about what I say. I disagree with your take. Listen, it happened. It wasn't some source. This came from the top. The worst kept secret in Orlando is that Howard went to them and wanted a coaching change. That wasn't the only change. He wants everything changed except for his FT shooting and turnovers. He wants to continue to be able to do that and expect great results. I would say this, is...when your put in that situation, when asked the question that was likely leaked by Howard and his group, you can choose to talk around it, lie, or tell the truth. Stan decided to tell the truth. I find it a bit disingenuous when the media is judging him on whether he should have told the truth or not. I can see why the coach wouldn't or even shouldn't tell the truth for his own good but from the media judging him, you would think the media would always want a guy telling the truth. I don't think he looked bad. Shaq said he lost the team forever. I think just the opposite. I think the team, which has long been divided by the drama surrounding Howard, all these things he wanted different, from the outside I think it cleared the air. Everybody's card were put on the table. You're not reading anymore about "There is a rumor Howard wants him out." Everyone acknowledges that. OK. Now what? Lets focus on the rest of the season. Without him telling me this, that's why I think Stan did that. To get through all the other stuff, lets focus on the season. Unfortunately they've been hit by a lot of injuries and if you buy Howard's injury, his the biggest. (If it was news to him when Shaq said he pushed Stan out in Miami): I think that he may of had an influence. I don't think anyone pushes Arison and Riley around. I think he resigned like Stan said (himself). Whether he was influenced to resign, I don't know. Shaq has bashed every head coach -- Phil Jackson, Pat Riley, hey Stan just joined a great list. He should be happy. I don't think anyone pushes Pat Riley and Micky Arison around. That's my biggest problem, its not with what Howard did but petulance amongst NBA stars has been a long running thing. My problem is, why would an organization, who has a history of this, Matt Guokas got pushed out by O'Neal, Nick Anderson, Penny Hardaway ran on Brian Hill, 2nd time with Brian Hill, Howard had an influence in him going, why would they continually do that when its never shown to be effective in the long term? I've seen people discuss whats more important, great player or great coach? Great player may be more important but you need both to win a championship. They have a great player in Dwight and great coach in Stan. I'm not sure why, instead of trying to make it work, they are picking sides. (On what he thinks most important to Dwight): The players of today because there is so much media, have become media savy. They know what answers to give. When asked, what do you care most about? They all say winning. Stop. Everyone has different priorities but everyone says winning. Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, I think when they say they're all about winning, I buy it. I watch them work, I watch them play, I watch how they are very happy for their teammates success, and I watch them take personal accountability. Rose said after losing to Miami last year, I was the reason we lost. First, no you weren't but that type of accountability is why their teammates love them. Flip the page to Howard. What does Howard say? I need better teammates, he is always saying what everyone else has to do. He gotta do this, gotta do that, they gotta get rid of this guy, get rid of that guy, trade this guy instead of saying I'm a high turnover, low FT% shooting team, and I'm asking to be the go to guy. Those things don't mix. Either I have to give up some of my go to role or I have to improve these things. You can't improve unless you acknowledge. It's hard to unite and inspire your teammates when you as the best player aren't taking accountability. That's why I think Rose and Durant are beloved teammates. I think a lot of the stars, Howard included, have to take a look at how they can endure themselves to their teammates like Rose and Durant. (On Stan/Dwight doing unbelievable job despite the supporting cast): I can understand his frustration. They have had a talent and character drain. They've lost talent and basketball character the last 2 years. Unfortunately a lot of that is because of the moves he has wanted to make. Howard has used his impending FA as a hammer over the head of organization's personnel philosophy and then [it's] run for cover when it hasn't turned out well. If you want the power, then you got to accept the responsibility. Heck I think with a lot of the guys, we should cut through the garbage and name them coach, GM, and player and let them have at it. Let them take the pressure and responsibility for the things that happen. There has to be order and structure and discipline and role playing. When people get outside of their roles, that's when problems occur. (If he was the Rockets, would he give up the whole team for one year of Dwight Howard): Yes. There's only so many [players] you're gonna throw in there but I think they have enough good pieces, and Daryl has done a tremendous job of building depth that they could give up any 4 to 5 pieces and take Howard back and still surround him with a pretty good team. I think once a player plays and lives in Houston, they'll be more enticed to stay in Houston. I would definitely do that. I also have to give the Rockets a lot of credit. Not just playing hard and unselfishly but the tanking that's going on in the NBA and the bad teams and trying to be bad, like that's hard to do - trying to be bad, the Rockets, you can disagree that they should try and get bad to get good to get Anthony Davis, but if I'm a customer, I'm happy they're trying to put out there as good a product as they can. I don't think those teams that are stuck in a difficult box around that pretty good but not really good area are given enough credit because if everyone tanked, except 5 or 6 teams, how good would this league and product be? (On how frequent or how many players are worth tanking for): Right. Not all are the first pick either. Listen, it's a crap shoot. To anoint people geniuses for being bad, to me what Charlotte doing isn't a front to what the NBA is all about. I wish there was a way that the Reno Big Horns from the D-League could move up to the NBA and we could move some of these teams that want to lose back to the D-League. (If he thinks the Rockets are still going to the playoffs): I do. The Rockets have a semi-favorable schedule. You think Phoenix will win out? I don't. (On SA, possibly resting/tanking at the end): I hope not. But every coach has to do what's best for their team and situation but I never ever did not play my guys. I know how it would impact my team in that situation. I do think there is a bigger issue going on in the NBA, not with people just sitting out, not just players saying I gotta be 100% but this whole notion you hear over and over from the media, players, and organizations that the regular season doesn't matter. It's only about the playoffs. You keep repeating that enough and your customers will get the hint and they won't come. Why would you buy tickets and go to games if you don't think and the people playing don't think it's important. That's why I respect what the Rockets are doing. Yeah maybe only the 7th or 8th seed but they think its important to do this for the fans where other organizations are saying we'll be bad for 2 years. If I could afford one game, and I went to a Miami Heat game and Wade and James say they don't feel like playing, I would feel like or think I got ripped off. I'm surprised that around the NBA that we're not more concerned about this devaluation of the regular season. I think it will come back to bite the NBA. That's one thing I always respected about Jordan. Jordan played every game and played hard every game. I never once saw Michael say I'm playing too many minutes. I'm so sick of guys saying "Gotta monitor my minutes." Your paid right? Play. Do your job. Let the coaches decide. Jordan would play...I see this media crisis always about Derrick Rose's minutes. Jordan averaged always 40 minutes a game when he was 39. He played all the time. He played huge minutes. Rose is a young guy. I don't understand this constant whining by media members about "Oh, gotta watch his minutes." (Thoughts on Rose's style of play): You have to learn that - how to take care of your body. The idea where you only do it in games...Jordan had the breakfast club. He lifted before practice with Pippen and other guys. Coaches can monitor your practice minutes. It's not just game minutes. It's the whole thing. Rose, a lot of these injuries are freakish things but think they are all interconnected and tied together. Frankly, Chicago should be worried. If they are to win a championship, they might have to play 28 games. Can he play 28 games in a row healthy? Doesn't seem like that way right now. The coaches job is to monitor it but we're starting to coddle and pander. You can't only play your best when you feel your best. You're not gonna feel your best that often. You have to play your best even when you don't feel your best. I think the media plays a huge part in this pandering. They're constantly saying, like Iman Shumpert on Friday, he tweaked his ankle, not even tweaked, it would've been nothing 10 years ago, but [you got] whole articles devoted to will he play? He had to think about it. Like "I'm gonna try." Come on! That was nothing. Just play. You're supposed to play. My favorite cliche is this one after a guy plays a great game and his team wins a close game: "I wouldn't let us lose today.". What does that mean, you let them lose the other games? If you were in such control over winning and losing that you wouldn't let your team lose, just do that everyday. That's so absurd. It's always easier when you're playing the Bobcats. "I wasn't gonna let my team lose today.". No, Charlotte took care of that long ago. (On his rant earlier in the year about the Wizards being on National TV): I thought they should be banned. You have to try. That's number one. You can't be on TV if you aren't trying and at that point they weren't trying. I have since taken the ban away in my own mind. Last night against Chicago, they were trying hard and are trying hard now. Why? They got rid of their knuckleheads. Sent Blache to the Fat Farm. Traded McGee to Denver and got rid of Young. Now they try. They now have a foundation of effort. Even though they aren't great, they're giving Wall higher character basketball guys and a chance to see what he can be. The knucklehead factor didn't allow Wall to see what he can become. It really hurt his development. (On his NBA/ESPN commercials): You know what's interesting about those commercials? 1. We were outside and it was freezing cold in NY, I think we did it right when the lockout came to an end so early December, but when your doing them and you keep repeating yourself, I had one line, it took 4 hours so when it takes 4 hours for one line, you know you aren't talented but they don't seem funny when doing them but the guy who produces it cuts it up in a way that makes it funny. When you're doing them, you think this is dumb, but when you see it, you look like a fool but at least...hey that's pretty good. This guy is pretty brilliant. The same guy does them every year. (on the Bobcats vs Kentucky or college team vs NBA team): I think John Calipari said it right when he said we couldn't beat any NBA team. They have a few NBA players on their team but they're so young. The Bobcats have all pro players. Kemba Walker last year was the darling of the NCAA tournament. He is an OK NBA player. That jump is hard. Charlotte would blow them out unless they tanked the game. They're in such habits of tanking, that you don't know but I feel bad for Paul Silas. To be put in that situation, not even given a chance, and to think 2 years ago they were in the playoffs. Jordan and this is what a lot of people believe, you don't hang around those 7th or 8th spots. You get really bad, you strip it down and do it for business and basketball reasons. If I was a Bobcats fan and had season tickets, I would give them back. A lot of people agree with what Jordan is doing but I think it is bad for the NBA--just how many teams are tanking. (If Baseball draft model is better than the one and done NBA rule and why not use D-League like MLB uses the minor league systems): Pro Sports--I don't know what the question is but the answer is always money. The question can be a number of different questions but the answer is always A) money. I agree, the one and done makes no sense. Makes no sense for the NBA, college but most importantly, don't think its right for the players. If you're good enough, you should be able to come out and get a job in the NBA. I know why the NBA doesn't want it. They want it so their teams don't make mistakes on HS players and have a chance to evaluate them in the pro game. I would like to see it just like college baseball or even 2 years. You have to make it where its more students than rent a players. Why do they have to be Student-Athletes. Why not Athletes-Students? A lot of them do a great job in school but want to be pro basketball players. (Talking about Pro-Vision charity/fundraiser) (Caller talking about JVG being his 2nd favorite coach behind Rudy T): Rudy is 1. Then there should be about 5 slots empty. I would put Adelman 6th, McHale 7th and then me 12th. (On players dictating where they want to go and joining together to have just a couple of good teams): I never heard one of the great players back in the day, even Jordan who was a brand, say I'm interested in my brand. He was a great basketball player that developed into a brand. Now we have good players that want to be brands that never will be. Free Agency to me is a good thing. The one rule they could have changed is max salary. Lets say a salary cap of 80 million. I don't like that people can only make 15 million. That allows the big 3 type things to come together. If you could pay of that 80 million, and I wish it was a hard cap so everyone is playing on a level field, if you pay LeBron 40 million, him and Wade won't play together. You're gonna commit half of your salary cap to LeBron, another team [will commit] half to Wade and another [team] half to Dwight. The star players would spread out instead of congregate on these super teams. I never heard a Charles Barkley say I'm going to go play with Michael to get myself a championship. He wanted to beat the guy. I think there is honor in even losing to the best. I'll view Miami no different if they're able to win a championship than not. James is a great basketball player. Winning a championship with those guys won't change my mind. Patrick Ewing was a champion even though he never won a championship. He did everything you do to win a championship. The effort and unselfishness and tenacity. Likewise, let's say Hakeem never won a championship, obviously he did with a great back to back run but if he hadn't, I still would have considered him a championship. This obsession that you have to win a championship and you'll do it by any means necessary, Id rather see a guy like Dirk persevere and get rewarded for his perseverance with a championship or maybe even not, maybe they lose it last year. I like that model better than the super teams. (If it cheapens it a little bit): I don't know if it cheapens it but it doesn't alter my perception of an individual player. (Charles a champion to you the way he played?): The things I loved about him that you cant find --the rebounding in traffic at 6'3 and passing--yeah to me, that run he had taking PHX to the Finals against the Bulls, and lost on the great John Paxson shot, he had an incredible series. I don't look at him any lesser because he lost to a better team. Give Jordan credit but I don't think that detracts from what Barkley was able to do. (On his favorite broadcasters): Barkley is the best. He's funny and I don't think he takes himself for what he says so seriously that you can't disagree. Steve Kerr and Reggie Miller are terrific. Hubie Brown is great. [Even] as a coach, I learn so much when I watch one of his games. It's like a clinic. (Mike Fratello?): If he wouldn't get into fights with his people on the air. When I worked with him and Marv, he was like that. Very argumentative. (On him being the common denominator. Wasn't Mark Jackson argumentative?) I'm trying to come to work and have a good time and these guys are always arguing. I do miss Mark. We had a lot of fun. (If Westbrook is better suited to play the wing instead of point): The criticism of Westbrook doesn't make sense to me. 4th pick out of UCLA, wasn't super highly recruited, tremendous work ethic, never played the point in HS or college, tries to make that difficult change in the NBA and then people criticize his decision making. Yeah you'll have ups and downs. He plays every game, plays hard every game, and fills up the stat sheet in a multiple of ways. I think Westbrook is a player. An old fashioned Guard. They don't have another PG that you can play for big minutes. Fisher is just a guard in my opinion too. Reggie Jackson a young player from BC and they lost Maynor and Ivey too. I like where they are playing him. They've done a tremendous job and think they can win it this year. (Will they win it?): No, Miami. (On people saying they(Miami) failed): Think about it, last year all the criticism, up 1-0, up 14 in the 4th Q in game 2 and they don't close it out. Give Dallas credit. Then they go up 2-1 winning game 3 in Dallas and are up in game 4 in the 4th Q. They had so many opportunities. I love what Dallas did. Dallas was tough. As much as living in Houston, you don't want the other Texas team to do well but you have to respect what the Spurs stand for and have stood for for 15 years and what the Mavs stood for last year. They were remarkable. (Tyson Chandler the glue to them last year?): Rebounding and as a teammate, they had a spirit about them. Not just him though. They lost a lot of basketball character. http://www.1560thegame.com/audio/je...ease-in-flopping-and-the-nba-as-a-whole-4658/
