SI Players poll : Coach you'd like LEAST to play for

[GP]

Which NBA coach would you least like to play for?

Pat Riley, Heat ....... 28%
Scott Skiles, ex-Bulls ....... 12%
Jerry Sloan, Jazz ....... 12%
Isiah Thomas, Knicks ....... 12%
Phil Jackson, Lakers ....... 4%
Mike Woodson, Hawks ....... 4%
Maurice Cheeks, 76ers ....... 3%
Jim O'Brien, Pacers ....... 3%
Stan Van Gundy, Magic ....... 2%
George Karl, Nuggets ....... 2%

[Based on a survey of 242 NBA Players]

FAST FACTS: Players could not vote for their own coach. . . . In last week's poll 21% of voters named Jackson and 4% named Sloan as the coach they would most like to play for. . . . Skiles was fired by Chicago on Christmas Eve. . . . Though only 9-33 this season Riley, a three-time Coach of the Year, has a career coaching record of 1,191-651 and has won five NBA championships.

http://fannation.com/blogs/post/133735

Hope this wasn't already posted, if it was feel free to delete mods. Anyways, I found this to be fairly interesting...take from it what you will.

[nghedman]

My take to why:
Riley is a jerk, I've worked for a dictator before and it isn't fun. Thats Riley!
the bulls organization are high on themselfs so it relates to the team as the coach to play for.
Sloan is in utah and Utah is a family place to play.... not ideal for a single twenty year old.
Isiah fires everyone; he just doesn't have much skill basketball sense in putting a team together and making them gell. Quite surprised NY has kept with him this long (only hope he lasts for two more years so the Jazz can get their lottery pick. lol )

[erudite23]

All this does is reflect on the type of punks that play in the NBA. Some of the greatest coaches of all time on near the top of the list. Hmmmm.

[OC Jazzfan]

All this does is reflect on the type of punks that play in the NBA. Some of the greatest coaches of all time on near the top of the list. Hmmmm.

I think this is spot on. By and large, the modern NBA player has been coddled, babied, told how amazing they are, given things, allowed to do whatever the hell they want, whenever they want since they were in high-school. Obviously they don't want to play for any coach who they know is going to be demanding, who will discipline them, who won't let them wear headbands/noserings/insert your own favorite silly ornament here, and who will hold them accountable for their actions on and/or off the court.

The Jazz is an obviously bad franchise when it comes to the modern NBA player. Not only do you have the over-the-top old-school coach, but you have the self-righteous owner and a city that isn't terribly conducive to the off-court activities many of these players seem to revel in.

I'm actually surprised that Sloan's "score" wasn't quite a bit higher.

[OC Jazzfan]

Forgot to mention the tightly structured offense. Most of these guys, in their hearts, think they're Kobe Bryant and don't want to play for a coach that might stunt their growth into the next Superstar.

[Duiz]

Forgot to mention the tightly structured offense. Most of these guys, in their hearts, think they're Kobe Bryant and don't want to play for a coach that might stunt their growth into the next Superstar.

Hey don't talk about Gordon like that!

[nyjazz]

Isiah will soon send out a press release touting that based on that list he is considered belonging among the greatest coaches in NBA history and is the guy to bring a championship to NY.

[bleu]

I posted this about 2 weeks ago.