If PJ isn't fired...

[TheUrbanZealot]

I am glad to see that many are finally catching on to PJ's absolute inability to motivate his team. There is a reason he has FAILED every stop outside of Seton Hall (and riding Popovich's coattail). The guy's style is simply horrendous. Either that, or he has absolutely no idea how to ADAPT to his respective' players personalities. Now granted, Seattle is a young team and all, but there is no reason they should have such putred performances ESPECIALLY against the SAME team. That is just not supposed to happen.

If I saw some advancement from the team i would give him a pass due to Seattle's youth, but can we honestly say Seattle's improved?:

- Kevin Durant has developed ZERO post game, and is virtually the same player he was the 1st month, AND is turning the ball over more than ever.
- Jeff Green is actually playing WORSE than he was at the beginning of the year, and is even more timid than he was.
- Sene is getting no time to develop as our center, despite Swift being out and Petro not solidifying the position.
- Chris Wilcox actually DIGRESSED this year.
- Luke Ridnour is a shadow of his already mediocre self
- Nick Collison has made more boneheaded mistakes than ever.

I mean we can go down the list, but the bottomline is what has PJ done to actually IMPROVE his team? There gets to a point during the regular season where rookies are no longer rookies, vets have to take accountability, and coaches have to stress the bad points. What PJ has done obviously is create a culture where NO ONE is encouraged by him and universally the team has just given up. It's one big collective digression that I can't foresee improving next year.

We need a coach that is going to be respected by his players, but balances it out with a level of understanding that is going to make his players want to play even harder for him the next time around. I am tired of Presti dealing w/ only people with San Antonio connections (all of his trades have been done w/ those were with him at one point @ the Spurs or currently are with the Spurs) , he needs to come to the realization that PJ is just not the right fit.

PJ Carlesimo got lucky w/ a Seton Hall team that was talented, and then inherited a virtual championship level franchise in Portland and proceeded to ruin them too. The guy is one of the most overrated coaches of all time and has shown nothing in his track record to indicate he can take an NBA team to another level (other than DOWN).

Please please basketball gods, relieve us of Carlesimo!

[D5150]

if i had the time or desire to go over your insane diatribe point by point and poke it full of holes i would. maybe tomorrow. but your first point on durant being virtually the same player today as he was in the first month? just flat out wrong. and after i read that statement, well...............

[wiff]

PJ will still be coaching this team at the start of next season but I'm hoping for a swift axe.

Let's hope they bring in a guy with vision and grit, a guy with a championship pedigree on numerous levels. A guy who simply doesn't take any crap. A man with direction!!!!!!!



























http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGrQ38-pp0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXQdOsoM_nc&feature=related

[D5150]

i will say this wiff, you are consistent.

[djthesonicsfan]

Well, it's true. PJ is an aweful coach. The only reason he's here is because Presti knew the crap he would wind up dragging the franchise through during the rebuilding process. Which he's done remarkably well. Even if the Cavalier trade was terrible. I think PJ's gone before the 2009 draft.

[jenn_gp]

PJ's not going to get fired for at least another two years. He's a lame duck coach coaching a lame duck team that's only looking to be competitive in OKC.

[TheUrbanZealot]

if i had the time or desire to go over your insane diatribe point by point and poke it full of holes i would. maybe tomorrow. but your first point on durant being virtually the same player today as he was in the first month? just flat out wrong. and after i read that statement, well...............

Ok, why don't you specify the improvements in Durant's game that are sooo glaring?

I'm not sure if you are defending PJ or just glorifying Durant, but i'll presume it's the latter. Even I, as much as I like Durant, can't evade REALITY. And besides, it's not like I am putting him at fault- I am blaming it on PJ.

Durant and Green have NOT improved. Statistically, mentally, etc from their first month. At least not the way you'd expect 2 top 5 picks to improve. PJ has done a magnificent job of stunting their development...

[D5150]

you're right anjonez, durant has not improved at all this year. not one bit.

[Radiohead311]

VAN GUNDY!!!

Jeff is tight with that whole San Antonio crew that Presti came from. And he's one of the best coaches in the world even though he's not coaching at the moment.

[big L]

Van Gundy!?! Great announcer, mediocre coach. No imagination, NO flexibility!

[nwsports253]

Pat Summit! lol

[jambalaya]

PJ is transitional as folks have said. I agree he will go sometime between Jan 2009 and April 2010.


As for some discussion of the comments by TheUrbanZealot:

"- Kevin Durant ... is virtually the same player he was the 1st month, AND is turning the ball over more than ever."

The first part was a reasonable enough prespective thru end of Febraury but there is a key point on the other side since. He drifted downward month to month in FG%, defensive rebounding, blocks and steals until a bounce up in Feb. He improved on assists and turnovers a bit til regressing in March. modestly on assists, sharply on turnovers. 3 pt % improved from Nov to Dec but cratered in Jan. and he has shied away from it since. In general I'd agree that by most of the stats he is more the 'same' player he was in November than that 'different' though there is one large main difference- he has been a far better shooter in March.


"- Jeff Green is actually playing WORSE than he was at the beginning of the year, and is even more timid than he was."

It is amixed bag:
He is per minute scoring less and rebounding far less from SF position compared to PF he started at, but his defense is improved as is his passing and his 3pt shot in March.


"- Chris Wilcox actually DIGRESSED this year."

His PER, FG% and rebound rate are all down slightly and his turnover rate is up slightly.

"- Luke Ridnour is a shadow of his already mediocre self"
I don't disagree overall as the numbers show it is his worst year since he was a rookie but it is a bit complicated- he has had 3 bad months and 2 decent ones. Inconsistency has been common is his career.

"- Nick Collison has made more boneheaded mistakes than ever."
Overall he is having a slightly better year than last year with some career bests but he is at career low on true shooting% and turnovers.

Complicated cases. I add these stats to the discussion.

[Patches Pal]

At the start of the year the whole team was playing like last year. Wilcox and Collison would grab a rebound and throw it out to the wings. KD and Wilkins would launch a three which would rattle off. More recently the interior guys are looking for their own offensive game and the wings are driving to the rack. Everyone is getting better shots. This is why the long losing streak ended. The stats suggest to me they are better year over year and second half versus first half. Petro is in the mix, too after learning from Mark Bryant and Kurt Thomas to play like a big man. Earl is having his one of his best years as a pro.

[D5150]

thats exactly right patches. you cant balme the coach for all of the problems and then just overlook the fact that watson is having a damn good year. earl has improved throught the season. does pj get any credit for that?

[Dick Tate]

This is why the long losing streak ended.

?
Must be talking about the previous long streak.

[D5150]

yeah, this streak may last a little longer.

[LarBrd33]

Enough.

[Ex-hippie]

^^ Please, no, not this troll again.

LarBrd, for the love of god, please just leave us the f**k alone on this board. We do not like you. We do not value your input. Scram.

[D5150]

wow larbrd, you are a bigger turd than i had thought. enough man. really, enough.

[TheUrbanZealot]

wow larbrd, you are a bigger turd than i had thought. enough man. really, enough.

Just forsake of curiousity, what did larbrd say in his thread that was wrong?