I'm BACKKKKKKKK!!: The Steve Clifford Thread

[SWedd523]

I am astonished that some folks are so easily talking themselves into a Cliff reunion being a good thing for the team.

We just did the coaching version of stretching Batum to sign Gordo.

[Heelsfan119]

I am astonished that some folks are so easily talking themselves into a Cliff reunion being a good thing for the team.

We just did the coaching version of stretching Batum to sign Gordo.

I think most are not happy but don’t see it as catastrophic either.

[yosemiteben]

Because Graham played at snails pace because he couldn't beat anyone off the dribble.

Melo changes everything pace related. Cliff has to embrace that.

Oh completely agree that Cliff needs to embrace Melo and the unique value he brings.

My point is just that we actually don't have anything to point to that says Cliff can't do that or is more philosphically prone to a slower pace any more so than JB was.

Those ranks are a bit disingenuous. This was Melo's first season as the guy. The change is clear

Not sure how ranks can be disingenuous. They certainly prove that the "JB pace > Cliff pace" narrative at best is not true independent of roster construction.

[fatlever]

i guess the point is...
jb, given a player like melo, has at least proven he is willing to play at a top 5 pace. cliff has yet to prove it. time will tell. we dont have to be top 5, but anything below 10 feels like a huge waste of talent. mitch says cliff is on board though.

basically, fix the defense and just dont **** up the offense. if cliff can do that, we are gold.

[NCHeels2008]

i guess the point is...
jb, given a player like melo, has at least proven he is willing to play at a top 5 pace. cliff has yet to prove it. time will tell. we dont have to be top 5, but anything below 10 feels like a huge waste of talent. mitch says cliff is on board though.

basically, fix the defense and just dont **** up the offense. if cliff can do that, we are gold.

We are about to squander 3 years worth of late lotto picks with Cliff too, don't get it twisted.

[NCHeels2008]

I am astonished that some folks are so easily talking themselves into a Cliff reunion being a good thing for the team.

We just did the coaching version of stretching Batum to sign Gordo.

I think most are not happy but don’t see it as catastrophic either.

I can't barely think of a worse outcome, Bouknight, Williams and Kai are almost guaranteed to be busts now. We've seen Biz and Monk utilized better out of the Cliff-system and while neither would've been a high-level starter I think it's fair to say their careers were worse off for being in Charlotte w/ Cliff.

After watching Wiggins improve so much in SF I don't understand how people don't think organizational culture, their coaches and teammates all play a factor into development. Kemba would've been a star anywhere that's why it didn't matter Clifford was there for him. But after the Monk experience, I feel pretty resigned that Bouknight is done in this city and not too optimistic about either young big either tbh.

[NCHeels2008]

I've been trying to find how many times a head coach has left and returned to a team to be the head coach again - but can't find anything that might tell me.

Anyone know?

Paul Silas springs to mind of course. Who else has done it?

Brian Hill in Orlando, Pat Riley in Miami, Don Nelson in Golden State, Cotton Fitzsimmons in Phx (3 times!), Dick Motta in Dallas, Phil Jackson in LA all come to mind

[Heelsfan119]

Needless to say, this press conference will be interesting.

[BigSlam]

The only way I see this working is if the front office views Clifford as a two-year stopgap, to basically teach lamelo and miles the other young players how to be accountable on defense.

Then bringing in another top teir coach in 2 yrs when hopefully Melo is a top 5 player and ready to dominate.

At least there is a team option after the 2nd season, right?

Can a front office even build team options in a head coaches contract?

[fatlever]

The only way I see this working is if the front office views Clifford as a two-year stopgap, to basically teach lamelo and miles the other young players how to be accountable on defense.

Then bringing in another top teir coach in 2 yrs when hopefully Melo is a top 5 player and ready to dominate.

At least there is a team option after the 2nd season, right?

Can a front office even build team options in a head coaches contract?

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[HornetJail]

iirc Borrego had a TO on the 4th year of his contract, which the team exercised and then gave him an extension last summer. I might be mistaken though.

[fatlever]

From Mr Plow

https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/what-do-former-hornets-staff-think-of-re-hiring-steve-clifford

From former Hornets Staff..

"Cliff is a nice guy that was well liked during his time in Charlotte. He has a lot of respect around the league. The rosters he coached had very limited talent but he got as much as possible out of them. He isn’t a player development coach so it’ll be interesting to see how he fits with the current players. I’m curious as to why player development no longer seems to be a priority for the team."

Oof

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[Heelsfan119]

From Mr Plow

https://www.si.com/nba/hornets/news/what-do-former-hornets-staff-think-of-re-hiring-steve-clifford

From former Hornets Staff..

"Cliff is a nice guy that was well liked during his time in Charlotte. He has a lot of respect around the league. The rosters he coached had very limited talent but he got as much as possible out of them. He isn’t a player development coach so it’ll be interesting to see how he fits with the current players. I’m curious as to why player development no longer seems to be a priority for the team."

Oof

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My initial reaction was the same. However, if reports are true that the organization wanted to keep a number of staff, one would assume it’s the developmental group. If you combine the best of both staffs, it could work. However, it’s still strange and embarrassing for the organization.

From the same article:

“It wouldn't surprise me to hear if some of Jay Hernandez, Dutch Gaitely, Marlon Garnett and Nick Friedman were to end up staying on Clifford's new staff to help maintain the development culture.”

[Hornet Mania]

I'm willing to meet Cliff halfway. If he hates Bouk, whatever, fine. It's probably short-sighted but I get it, he's a malcontent who doesn't play any defense.

With that said, if he can't find a way to like and develop young defensive assets like Mark Williams and Thor he can go **** himself.

[Stun704]

Didn’t Christian Wood go from a D-League player to a budding star under his coaching?

[fatlever]

Didn’t Christian Wood go from a D-League player to a budding star under his coaching?

That happened in Detroit.

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[fatlever]

I'm willing to meet Cliff halfway. If he hates Bouk, whatever, fine. It's probably short-sighted but I get it, he's a malcontent who doesn't play any defense.

With that said, if he can't find a way to like and develop young defensive assets like Mark Williams and Thor he can go **** himself.

I definitely won't blame him for riding bouk. It was a dumb pick. Cody should still play ahead of bouk. Only way bouk gets real minutes is
1. We move Terry
2. We use him as backup pg
3. We don't sign Cody.

I'm curious what cliff would make of oubre, if he is picked up. Imagine if cliff could actually get thru to him and turn him into a decent defender and convince him not to shoot every time he touches the ball.

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[BigSlam]

Didn’t McRoberts blossom under Cliff?

[BigSlam]

The only way I see this working is if the front office views Clifford as a two-year stopgap, to basically teach lamelo and miles the other young players how to be accountable on defense.

Then bringing in another top teir coach in 2 yrs when hopefully Melo is a top 5 player and ready to dominate.

At least there is a team option after the 2nd season, right?

Can a front office even build team options in a head coaches contract?

Read on Twitter

?t=PYNzGqCG61Bg6GfQ1weNqg&s=19

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That’s awesome. Good to see the FO included an eject clause.

[JMAC3]

Remember when Cliff tried to play Biz, Zeller, and Kaminsky at Power forward his first few years?

Please god don't do this with Mark Williams. or Plumlee.

I suppose most of you will get your wish of Kai being developed to play PF.