Post#1150 » by Xatticus » Sat Dec 5, 2020 11:15 pm
It's what I expected to hear. It isn't what I wanted to hear. My translation would be that Clifford feels he needs to break guys down and get them to do what he wants them to do to give them playing time. Coming from another coach, this might resonate on some level, but Clifford simply doesn't have the track record of coaching competitive teams or of developing young talent, so it is really difficult for me to give credence to his methods. He has turned every prospect he has ever coached into a role player, save for Kemba. If this came from Mike Malone, I'd defer to his expertise.
The major issue I have with his approach is that it is really condescending towards the players he is coaching. I don't like the idea of using floor time and the bench as the carrot and stick. Players want to get better or they don't. You aren't going to rewire someone's brain by making them sit on a bench. You give these players the resources and the guidance that they need to maximize whatever potential they have. If they get on well, terrific. If they don't, you move on, but at least you know where you stand. He can attempt to refute the notion that playing time aids in development, but he is fighting a losing battle. We know playing time aids development. This is why it is incorporated into statistical projections.
I think Clifford is a disciplinarian that utilizes hierarchies to effect his methods. He is fairly diplomatic about it, but that doesn't make me detest it any less.
And I want to be clear on a specific point: I'm far less critical of Clifford actually playing young players than I am with Clifford not trusting those players. Fultz and Isaac were starting games long before they were allowed to finish them. I want our young players involved in the offense. I want them making decisions with the ball in their hands. I don't want them out there simply to watch Evan and Vucevic run buddy ball and cover for their defensive deficiencies.
As it pertains to Bamba though, I think it's rather obvious that Clifford does not want to play him. I think it was fairly obvious he was talking about Bamba. Perhaps not directly, in this instance, but certainly in reference to the conversation he had with the NFL coach. This is very problematic to me. Clifford still believes it is all about the X's and O's. That's great if your goal is to win 45% of your games. For as much as we have sucked for the past decade, at no point did I ever envy the Charlotte Bobcats/Hornets.
"Xatticus has always been, in my humble opinion best poster here. Should write articles or something."
-pepe1991
