Around the League: Week 15 1/22-1/28

[Superbone]

Yeah, I don't miss his free throw missing ass. Glad to finally be rid of him. Yeah, I'm bitter.

[O_Gardino]

Made it a 40/20/10 game. Only Wilt and Oscar ever did that.

Pretty incredible.

I just checked the box score, and Davis had a pretty big night, too. 34/9/5 on very good shooting. Even so, the Pels scraped by the Bulls in OT. Robin Lopez had 22 points, and Markkanen had 17 rebounds.

The Pels look like they are going to be in the playoffs this year, but I think both Cousins and Davis are available this summer.

[Mori Chu]

My hot take on the race issue is that the firings kinda are about race, in a round about way.

Former players, usually black former players, are far more likely to be hired with little to no coaching experience. Teams talk about hiring someone who can connect with the players, understand what the players are going through, have knack for communicating with players, etc, all of which are nice ways of saying they are black. Many of those guys turn out to be bad coaches, and are subsequently fired. That's what happens in any industry when you hire someone for a key leadership position who has no experience. It's a gamble that that person will be bad at their job. I don't know how the league wide percentages work out, but the NBA seems to take that gamble on former players a lot, especially on former PGs.

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

[Indy]

My hot take on the race issue is that the firings kinda are about race, in a round about way.

Former players, usually black former players, are far more likely to be hired with little to no coaching experience. Teams talk about hiring someone who can connect with the players, understand what the players are going through, have knack for communicating with players, etc, all of which are nice ways of saying they are black. Many of those guys turn out to be bad coaches, and are subsequently fired. That's what happens in any industry when you hire someone for a key leadership position who has no experience. It's a gamble that that person will be bad at their job. I don't know how the league wide percentages work out, but the NBA seems to take that gamble on former players a lot, especially on former PGs.

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

[In2ition]

My hot take on the race issue is that the firings kinda are about race, in a round about way.

Former players, usually black former players, are far more likely to be hired with little to no coaching experience. Teams talk about hiring someone who can connect with the players, understand what the players are going through, have knack for communicating with players, etc, all of which are nice ways of saying they are black. Many of those guys turn out to be bad coaches, and are subsequently fired. That's what happens in any industry when you hire someone for a key leadership position who has no experience. It's a gamble that that person will be bad at their job. I don't know how the league wide percentages work out, but the NBA seems to take that gamble on former players a lot, especially on former PGs.

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

Why couldn't you? Can't teach old dogs new tricks?

[Indy]

My hot take on the race issue is that the firings kinda are about race, in a round about way.

Former players, usually black former players, are far more likely to be hired with little to no coaching experience. Teams talk about hiring someone who can connect with the players, understand what the players are going through, have knack for communicating with players, etc, all of which are nice ways of saying they are black. Many of those guys turn out to be bad coaches, and are subsequently fired. That's what happens in any industry when you hire someone for a key leadership position who has no experience. It's a gamble that that person will be bad at their job. I don't know how the league wide percentages work out, but the NBA seems to take that gamble on former players a lot, especially on former PGs.

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

Why couldn't you? Can't teach old dogs new tricks?

Is it possible? Sure. Is it even remotely likely, probably not. It is like learning a language: The longer you wait in life to do it, the harder it is. And if you already have a full-time gig, and a personal life (married, kids, whatever), it is even harder. You don't have that 10 hours/day, 7 days a week kind of time to devote to it.

[In2ition]

My hot take on the race issue is that the firings kinda are about race, in a round about way.

Former players, usually black former players, are far more likely to be hired with little to no coaching experience. Teams talk about hiring someone who can connect with the players, understand what the players are going through, have knack for communicating with players, etc, all of which are nice ways of saying they are black. Many of those guys turn out to be bad coaches, and are subsequently fired. That's what happens in any industry when you hire someone for a key leadership position who has no experience. It's a gamble that that person will be bad at their job. I don't know how the league wide percentages work out, but the NBA seems to take that gamble on former players a lot, especially on former PGs.

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

Why couldn't you? Can't teach old dogs new tricks?

Is it possible? Sure. Is it even remotely likely, probably not. It is like learning a language: The longer you wait in life to do it, the harder it is. And if you already have a full-time gig, and a personal life (married, kids, whatever), it is even harder. You don't have that 10 hours/day, 7 days a week kind of time to devote to it.

I'm in my forties and I keep learning new X's and O's.

[O_Gardino]

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

Why couldn't you? Can't teach old dogs new tricks?

Is it possible? Sure. Is it even remotely likely, probably not. It is like learning a language: The longer you wait in life to do it, the harder it is. And if you already have a full-time gig, and a personal life (married, kids, whatever), it is even harder. You don't have that 10 hours/day, 7 days a week kind of time to devote to it.

I'm in my forties and I keep learning new X's and O's.

It's possible that Watson will be a better coach with experience. It's possible he learns his own weaknesses and learns to build the right staff around himself. It's possible that he or league wide GMs realize he isn't a good coach, or that another role is a better fit. There are a lot of possible positive outcomes from job experience. The gamble is that you don't need those outcomes, or that the candidate will pick it up while also making incredibly important decisions.

Let's look at 2 other former PGs who took jobs with the Suns with little to no experience. Ainge, who coached for a while, but has turned out to be a much better GM than coach. And Kerr, who was GM for a while but has turned out to be a much better coach than GM. Neither was fired, but neither was particularly great at the job. Experience as an assistant might have let them find their true calling without wasting time in the lead chair.

[carey]

https://www.poundingtherock.com/2018/1/ ... -wants-out

Jalen Rose claims Kawhi wants out of San Antonio??

[O_Gardino]

https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/955636272181272576

I feel like we are missing an opportunity to bash the Cavs. They are 3-9 in the last 12, and they continue to be a mess.

[Superbone]

My hot take on the race issue is that the firings kinda are about race, in a round about way.

Former players, usually black former players, are far more likely to be hired with little to no coaching experience. Teams talk about hiring someone who can connect with the players, understand what the players are going through, have knack for communicating with players, etc, all of which are nice ways of saying they are black. Many of those guys turn out to be bad coaches, and are subsequently fired. That's what happens in any industry when you hire someone for a key leadership position who has no experience. It's a gamble that that person will be bad at their job. I don't know how the league wide percentages work out, but the NBA seems to take that gamble on former players a lot, especially on former PGs.

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

Why couldn't you? Can't teach old dogs new tricks?

Is it possible? Sure. Is it even remotely likely, probably not. It is like learning a language: The longer you wait in life to do it, the harder it is. And if you already have a full-time gig, and a personal life (married, kids, whatever), it is even harder. You don't have that 10 hours/day, 7 days a week kind of time to devote to it.

He does now.

[Indy]

I think that's right. Maybe they just need to be seasoned longer as assistant coaches. I know that Watson (ugh) was promoted way too quickly to head coach here. If he had paid more dues as an assistant, he might have been capable of being a better head coach.

I don't think you learn basketball Xs and Os in your 40s.

Why couldn't you? Can't teach old dogs new tricks?

Is it possible? Sure. Is it even remotely likely, probably not. It is like learning a language: The longer you wait in life to do it, the harder it is. And if you already have a full-time gig, and a personal life (married, kids, whatever), it is even harder. You don't have that 10 hours/day, 7 days a week kind of time to devote to it.

He does now.

He sure does. Let's see how he uses the free time while still making millions.

[Superbone]

West all-star reserve guards: Westbrook, Lillard, Thompson, and Butler.

[O_Gardino]

West all-star reserve guards: Westbrook, Lillard, Thompson, and Butler.

Butler, Westbrook, Lillard, Thompson

That's about all we could expect.

[Split T]

WestBrOOK ButlER

[Shabazz]

Another good game for SpecialSauce's guy Jordan Clarkson.

[specialsauce]

Another good game for SpecialSauce's guy Jordan Clarkson.

He is Jamaal Crawford. His stats are the same, his style of play is the same and his role in the NBA is the same. I'm not going to get excited about Jamaal Crawford.

We have enough "destined for the bench" players (see: our entire roster, with some actually destined for the G-league bench). We need starters.


#KEEPWALKIN

[carey]

The Cavs lost to the Spurs last night. I'm sure Love is thrilled to be taking 8 shots while LeBron takes 23. I wonder if he'd secretly be happy with a trade. Meanwhile, S.A. is starting this Bertans guy, who I have never heard of, at SF for the last dozen games or so. He's hitting 39% of his 3-pointers taking almost 6 a game. No Kawhi or Gasol and they are still 31-18 on the season which is tied with Minnesota for 3rd in the West.

[O_Gardino]

Popovic is conclusively answering the question of whether Duncan made him look like the best coach in the NBA. Nope, he really is this good.

[Split T]

Yet Kawhi still might want out. Popovich is the best. He takes a roster that should be a borderline playoff team and has them a top 3 seed in the West. Problem is they can't get stars to come play there. If we can add a game changing big in this draft, have a breakout year next year, challenge for the playoffs, while Booker takes another step... Would Kawhi consider us next year in FA?

Chances are probably slim, but I think they have gone from 0% to 5%