The Jerry Sloan Dilemma

[Neon Black]

We all know he's here to stay. Problem is he seems to be alienating his players (and fans) with all the mindless moves or lack of moves that he's making. From the Trib:

Deron Williams on Sloan benching Miles:

"(CJ Miles) played good in the first quarter and didn't get back in," Williams said. "I thought it was funny, but I guess he took two shots coach didn't like - Wide-open shots."

"Coach is not the type of guy who's going to come and talk to you and tell you anything, really. You've just got to kind of figure it for yourself. So I just tell them, if you feel like they're good shots, just keep shooting them. What can you do?"

"I thought he took good shots. I passed it to him. The two shots he missed, he was wide open. I think we need to take open shots or we're not going to be a good team if we don't have confidence."

Deron on Mathews starting over CJ:

"We were playing our best basketball and then we just changed everything up, which is kind of frustrating."

Sloan's Explanation

"Experience again is a factor sometimes when you're running an offense," Sloan said. "Knowing where to be, what to do and that sort of thing."


What??? Everyone watching the Jazz understands that Mathews has picked up on the system very quickly. He plays defense and plays hard with passion and heart. And if Sloan is going to insist on benching CJ instead of letting him gain his confidence, why does he insist on starting him? It's an effing dichotomy Jerry.

Sloan will not talk to his players. He has said time and time again that his job is not to motivate. Here's his reasoning for the recent slump:

"I'd have to say in all fairness to them, we've been on the road for a good period of time, gone through Christmas, gone through New Year's, and maybe their energy is off. That's what I'm relying on, rather than saying, 'Well, I don't think they care and that sort of thing.'"

What a bunch of BS. Where's the Jerry that didn't make excuses for his team? I hope he doesn't really believe that, or his players will too. Like it's OK not to compete when you're tired.

Jerry has kept all his old negative qualities and abandoned the good that used to accompany them. His passion for winning used to be unquestionable; sometimes he was too harsh but his passion was a motivating factor for players. He now continues to remain distant and confusing, without the fervor and no-excuses attitude he was once known for.

It's a catch 22: Fes, Koufos and co. aren't played because they don't have experience. However, they will never get any experience because they aren't being played. And none of them really understand why, because no one will tell them.

Deron still has a few years on his contract, but I imagine that if things didn't change he would become frustrated and probably leave. So, if it came down to it:

would you rather lose Jerry or Deron?

[GP]

It would be curious to see what would happen if there was a standoff between Sloan and DW, I wonder who's side the millers would take...

[kamazilla]

Jerry has kept all his old negative qualities and abandoned the good that used to accompany them. His passion for winning used to be unquestionable; sometimes he was too harsh but his passion was a motivating factor for players. He now continues to remain distant and confusing, without the fervor and no-excuses attitude he was once known for.

Good analysis of Sloan's current state. It has been frustrating to watch him lose his edge- because it was definitely his most redeeming quality as a coach. The turning point really seemed to be the AK incident: Sloan clearly changed his approach the next season, and the players have tuned him out over time to the point they are now lost in a system which doesn't suit the roster and they don't understand his decisions (who does?).

Williams has spoken up repeatedly this season about the coaching, often making somewhat veiled comments which aren't difficult to decipher. If he had the power to make a change, I believe he would. I would as well, and believe it is time to acknowledge Sloan is not the coach he once was, and certainly is no longer among the upper echelon of NBA coaches.

[outerspacefella]

If such a standoff actually happens, most probably Sloan would go away in his own way. He's an class act and just won't put the Jazz in a lose-lose situation.

But If you as my take... I'd take Sloan over ANY of our actual players.

[StocktonShorts]

If such a standoff actually happens, most probably Sloan would go away in his own way. He's an act class and just won't put the Jazz in a lose-lose situation.

But If you as my take... I'd take Sloan over ANY of our actual players.

I agree with the first point, that if things continue to go downhill and the team gets blown up that Sloan will step down.

[seejaydeja]

Am I the only one that feels like the apathy of the FO / Coach and now our players, most notably our franchise player is starting to bleed onto the fans?

KOC and The Millers better be careful, they're holding a ticking time bomb, and I don't know how much longer it'll be before it explodes and fans just stop caring and going to games.

[StocktonShorts]

Am I the only one that feels like the apathy of the FO / Coach and now our players, most notably our franchise player is starting to bleed onto the fans?

KOC and The Millers better be careful, they're holding a ticking time bomb, and I don't know how much longer it'll be before it explodes and fans just stop caring and going to games.

In this economy? VERY SOON.

In fact that may be why they DON'T blow up the team. If you blow up the team before your fans have given up on it you may drive them away; on the other hand if you hang on too long to something that isn't working you risk pissing off a different section of the fanbase.