The Jerry Sloan Dilemma
Posted: Mon Jan 4, 2010 7:02 pm
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?
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?