Okay, I Am Reaching Here, But How About Kareem as Coach?

I wouldn't hire Kareen as a coach, but I would like to see Yao learn the skyhook.

 

if he can convince John Wooden to be his assistant, I'm all over Kareem

j/k

Manny, you are just assuming he knows the game better (from a teaching standpoint, btw). You have to prove that right along with demanding "insightful comments" for why you are reaching.

Even assuming the guy can teach (he gave up on Kandi, right?), there are intangibles of coaching that Rudy excelled at to help get those titles...like passion, team focus, inspiration, player mgmt, scouting, endless hours working.

Look at Bill Russell's coaching career. Clearly Russell has a better NBA history of knowing the game than Kareem. Playing for Red Auerbach and with Cousy does that. He also had a stern hand like Cartwright, right? Russell didn't do too well with the Sonics and Kings. Hell, the Sonics missed the playoffs Russell's last year, then won the ring the very next year.

Do you really envision Kareem standing on the sideline demanding disciplined play from the guards and effort from Eddie...and being able to pull it off if Russell, who had god-like reputation, couldn't?

Kareem has zero bball personality compared to Bird, Rudy and Russell. He strikes me as having no coaching intangibles that made Phil, Bird and Rudy successful.

now, tell us why you think he's a teacher of the game, again?

 

"Journalists" have delighted in tearing Kareem down because he was mean to them. That just shows scribblers and radio blabbs are a bunch of petty morons who nurse inconsequential grudges. They're paid to make mountains of molehills.

Jabbar is a good fit to teach Yao and Eddie. He can even teach Steve a thing or two. He's had a chance to learn a lot from playing with Magic (his good and bad). He understands having to cover when your teammate screws up or is overmatched(Worthy, AC, Rambis). He understands being tall but not heavy. He understands passing and cutting.

He also has played AGAINST every other type of pf and c. He's seen what works and doesn't for each kind of player. Remember, he had the longest career in league history. He's perfectly capable of telling Taylor and Cato how to use their skills and improve. He's smart enough to prep our big men for any match up they might face over the course of the season. That kind of insight is a lot to offer. It's preferable to one-dimensional banging, technique or "motivational" coaches. Kareem really can explain not only how, but also why to use what when.

 

pasox2,

You make valid points, but as H.P. wrote, does that mean he can TEACH. As H.P. pointed out, he doesn't neccessarily have the personality to teach. Everyone knows how great he was and the experience he has. Can he teach is the question?

 

<i>Kareem really can explain not only how, but also why to use what when. --pasox2</i>

that's speculation. There are countless cases where HOFers could not teach their greatness, and across all sports.

Also, what do you mean Kareem knows what works and when against all the different breeds of PFs and Cs. It's not like Kareem didn't just turn and fire his skyhook against all comers. Kareem does not strike me as someone who adjusted to the defense with a repetoire of offensive responses....Kevin McHale does.

I'll give credit to Kareem for showing he could make good decisions regarding when to shoot the skyhook and when to pass.

But, when it comes to teaching Yao to maximize his passing, I'd take a Pete Carrill ex-center from Princeton over Kareem.

 

We're not talking a big risk here for an assitant coach job. You try it for a season or two. Maybe he proves himself. If it doesn't work out, eh. Bye. It's not that much money. This is a good opportunity hire, for both parties.

Malone can still bang Yao in the park, and they can invite him and Hakeem to cameo at a Rocket's big man camp at the end of the summer or in preseason. They could charge admission and sell hot dogs, for all i care. Run it in the new stadium to get the bugs out and deliver some proceeds to charity.

 

here is a link to a espn page that has an audio clip of the recent interview with Kareem. Give it a listen.

http://espn.go.com/ncb/news/2003/0512/1552451.html#

 

Why has Kareem never even gotten a decent assistant's job? Does that tell us all we need to know?

I wouldn't be against bringing him in as third assistant for Big Men.

 

Why not bring him in, along with Moses (I think Hakeem is still under contract to Toronto?), for a week or ten day camp for our big "men"... assuming Yao is here in Houston for any meaningful period during the summer. If Moses or Kareem impress our new coach (VG? Who apparently wants Ewing?? gag!!), then hire him as an assistant on a 1 year contract with a club option for another year.

Sound reasonable?

 

Not a Coach but a Coach for the big men only.

 

Didn't Kareem win a title coaching some minor league team?

 

http://www.usbl.com/release.cfm?releaseid=7

The Oklahoma Storm. They won the USBL championship last year. This is also the league that graduated Juaquin Hawkins, Devin Brown and coach Eric Muscleman to the NBA.

 

I could definately get behind the idea of a 'big man's coach'

Yao needs some kind of mentoring... DAMN, I wish he didn't have 'national team committments'.... argh!

 

I still think you guys are hitting the pipe too early

edit: host your own pics

(is it 4:20 yet...?)

 

Kareem got a chance as an assistant with the Clippers a couple years ago. He didn't last long. I beleive he has been unofficially blacklistd by managements across the league.