False. The Spurs were 21-61 in Brown's first year. The next year they got Robinson and went 56-26. So basically Robinson was completely responsible for that turnaround. The next year they went 55-27 and lost in the first round. Brown left SA when they were 21-17 in his 4th season. So here you have his track record with an extremely talented, mobile big man. In his only full season with the Clips, they went 41-41. This was with talent such as Danny Manning, Ron Harper, and Loy Vaught, all playing at their peak. His team just lost to the Pistons this year, despite a huge talent advantage. Brown is severely overrated.
so i guess "ball boy" was right then, huh? too bad, because i was really hoping he wouldn't be...sad news indeed.
TheFreak - I don't think you can state that the whole turnaround was due to Robinson - if that's the case, Yao's emergence should have lead to a similar turnaround (yes, I know they were better than last year, but the injury situation helped...). And losing in the first round isn't bad as long as improvement occurs (Rocks in mid-90's - 2nd round loss to Sonics, championship, championship). And as for the Clips - if they were that good, then boy, ANYBODY could take them to the playoffs, right? Look at the team now.. where did they go? I don't think Brown is overrated. I don't think he's the one who'll rule the franchise for decades, but I do think he's a better choice than Van Gundy. And if Brown could get Iverson to play at the level he's now at AND produce a nice transition to 2-guard, then he could do the same to Franchise (while the Yao-only fans watch in horror).
You're kidding right? Mo Taylor's Contract Moochi's Contract Cato's Contract Bostjan's non-existent playing time Eddie Griffin/Richard Jefferson Trade Glen Rice Trade 'Nuff said
The fact that all the strange draft day trades and free agent aquisitions have failed to pan out when combined with the lack of development of the young players pretty much doomed Rudy. He's got PR value but I don't want him as GM...
You didn't mention that that was the last year you could tank your way to the #1 pick - which is exactly what the Spurs did.
Ming as a rookie was nothing like Robinson as a rookie. Let's just say 13.5, 8, and 2 blocks compared to 24, 12, and 4 blocks and leave it at that. When people are calling him a 'genius' and 'hands down the best coach in the NBA', then yes, I'd say he's overrated.
What? The draft lottery started in '85. Brown's first year in SA was '88. Not to mention that Robinson was drafted 2 years before he actually played for the Spurs. They already knew he was coming the next year.
If this wasn't Rudy's decision, I don't even care. I may have to wait 'til more facts come out to see if I even want to keep following this team.
TheFreak - do you think we'll ever even know? If he's going to move up to the front office, would he/Les/the organization even say how things went down?
You're right. I'm puzzled though from your other comment - no offense but you're a Rudy fan and not a Rocket fan?
I still support Rudy. He has been a good coach. If we get Van Gundy - we will see a lot of complaints here about a slow moving 1/2 court game - all defense and low scoring - boring basketball...
True, true. But compared to the supposed only other option (Van Gundy), I'd rather have that since he seems to have a record as a teacher and motivator.
Freak: Even if Robinson is responsible for the Spurs turn around (as I hinted at in my original post), that doesn't explain the immediate turn arounds of the Clippers, Pacers, and Sixers. I mean, what would convince you that Brown is a great coach if a track record like that does not. I would hate to see who you think is a bad coach. Sheesh!! If it happens once, maybe it's a fluke, twice, maybe he got lucky, but 3, 4 , and 5 times and you need to give the man his dues. And no you can in no possible way convince me that the Clippers turn around was a result of freakin' Loy Vaught and the rest of the sorry journey-men wannabees from that season. How do you explain the Pacers' improvement under Brown when Brown didn't even add any key players to the team. How about Philly's quick turnaround (and no it wasn't because of Iverson because Iverson was not playing the way he did post-Brown). When Brown comes to a team, the team goes form out of the playoffs to in the playoffs in two years or less: FACT. I'll leave it to you to find the 10,000 coincidences for why Brown is not responsible for such turn arounds.
