Reggie Theus' Future and near exit

[Nicky Nix Nook]

You could put phil Jackson on this team, and he can't make miracles out of a team full of injuries and rooks. Rookies need experience and time to improve, unless they're a first draft pick who can make instant impact.

Rick Adelman, Greg Popavich, and Jerry Sloan are ALL better coaches than Phil Jackson. The triangle is FAR more simple than most people think, and Jackson is probably the most overrated coach of all time. He's had the best player to ever play the game on his team, and Kobe Bryant (as good as Jordan?) and Shaq in his prime. You have to try and not win a championship with those guys.

[RIPskaterdude]

See ya later Theus

[Cruel_Ruin]

Well, Reggie, it was nice knowing you.

[pillwenney]

Rick Adelman, Greg Popavich, and Jerry Sloan are ALL better coaches than Phil Jackson. The triangle is FAR more simple than most people think, and Jackson is probably the most overrated coach of all time. He's had the best player to ever play the game on his team, and Kobe Bryant (as good as Jordan?) and Shaq in his prime. You have to try and not win a championship with those guys.

None of those guys won before Phil came around. And triangle isn't even his offense, it's Tex Winters, but that's not where Phil's strength lies. What makes Phil a great coach is how he mentally prepares his teams. He is the most proven and probably the best there is at massaging egos and instilling a winning attitude into his teams. When his teams are equal in talent to other teams, and it's an even head-to-head matchup, his teams almost always step it up.

[cdt3]

So you really think Jackson wins any championships without Michael Jordan. Michael would have won those championships with anyone coaching. Shaq and Wade won a championship for Pat Riley. Riley just happened to be the the coach in the warmest city because Shaq only likes to live in warm cities. Does Popovich have any many rings without Tim Duncan? No. Maybe 1. Do they deserve some credit for keeping things together, of course. That is the coaches job. Could Adelman got this team an eight seed this year? Probably but not gauranteed. Theus is a rookie coach and will make rookie mistake. Just like Hawes looked bad last year and worked hard and is improved, Theus will improve as a coach because he is a hard worker also. I see his work ethic rub off on these guys, they just need some toughness which comes from playing time. Beno and Hawes are only in their second year of serious starter minutes and still developing. Jason, Douby, Shelden, and Greene aren't getting enough minutes to develop. BJax is not successful in more than 20 minutes now since he is old. I remember Kobe Bryant throwing up airballs against us in his first couple playoffs seasons, it happens to everyone. Failing makes you work harder in life.

[pillwenney]

So you really think Jackson wins any championships without Michael Jordan. Michael would have won those championships with anyone coaching. Shaq and Wade won a championship for Pat Riley. Riley just happened to be the the coach in the warmest city because Shaq only likes to live in warm cities. Does Popovich have any many rings without Tim Duncan? No. Maybe 1. Do they deserve some credit for keeping things together, of course. That is the coaches job. Could Adelman got this team an eight seed this year? Probably but not gauranteed. Theus is a rookie coach and will make rookie mistake. Just like Hawes looked bad last year and worked hard and is improved, Theus will improve as a coach because he is a hard worker also. I see his work ethic rub off on these guys, they just need some toughness which comes from playing time. Beno and Hawes are only in their second year of serious starter minutes and still developing. Jason, Douby, Shelden, and Greene aren't getting enough minutes to develop. BJax is not successful in more than 20 minutes now since he is old. I remember Kobe Bryant throwing up airballs against us in his first couple playoffs seasons, it happens to everyone. Failing makes you work harder in life.

When did I say anything remotely close to that? I'm not saying you don't definitely need the players. You do. But the best players still won't quite be able to make it over the hump usually without the best coach.

[SadKingsFan]

Would Greg Popovich win titles without Tim Duncan? of course not, so lets not make crazy statements. Phil jackson is not "overrated".

[RoyalCourtJestr]

Phil is supremely overrated. Twice he's been handed a team already with all-star/superstar calibur players, and what happens? Rings. Has he ever legit had a team without a superstar? Not really.

[pillwenney]

Phil is supremely overrated. Twice he's been handed a team already with all-star/superstar calibur players, and what happens? Rings. Has he ever legit had a team without a superstar? Not really.

Nobody is saying that he would have won without them. But it's also important to note that different coaches are good at different things. Rick Adelman is good with x's and o's. Phil is great at getting his teams mentally prepared. Muss is great at making powerpoint presentations, etc.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

Would Greg Popovich win titles without Tim Duncan? of course not, so lets not make crazy statements. Phil jackson is not "overrated".

I think Popovich combines Adelman's X's and O's and Jackson's mind control powers and that is why I think he is the best active coach.

How can you conclusively say Jackson is not overrated. Even if you disagree, it's not by any means "crazy." If Eric Musselman had Phil Jackson's teams, he would probably have ALMOST just as many rings. If Rick Adelman had the teams PJ's had, he WOULD have just as many rings.

I'm not saying Jackson is a bad coach, I am saying he is behind Popovich, Adelman, and Sloan. (I may replace Adelman with Sloan)

[Wolfay]

Jackson is one of the greatest coaches ever even though I don't want to admit it. Your team can be loaded with talent and still mess it up. Jackson's understanding and teaching of the extremely complex triangle offense, in addition to his Zen philosophy aren't ordinary coaching traits. Has any coach won it all without a superstar? For Christ's sake people... 9 rings with a 70%+ winning record is no accident.

Jackson, Popovich, Adelman, and Sloan would be my order of current coaches. If Pat Riley were still coaching, I would put him ahead of Adelman and Sloan.

[pillwenney]

Would Greg Popovich win titles without Tim Duncan? of course not, so lets not make crazy statements. Phil jackson is not "overrated".

I think Popovich combines Adelman's X's and O's and Jackson's mind control powers and that is why I think he is the best active coach.

How can you conclusively say Jackson is not overrated. Even if you disagree, it's not by any means "crazy." If Eric Musselman had Phil Jackson's teams, he would probably have ALMOST just as many rings. If Rick Adelman had the teams PJ's had, he WOULD have just as many rings.

I'm not saying Jackson is a bad coach, I am saying he is behind Popovich, Adelman, and Sloan. (I may replace Adelman with Sloan)

No he wouldn't. It wouldn't be close. The teams would still be very good, but especially the Lakers--they would have never had any kind of chemistry whatsoever with Muss coaching. Jordan might have been able to overcome Muss's ineptitude for a couple years, but even that's a stretch.

And I don't think Rick would have won as much. Rick's teams haven't historically been very mentally tough and Phil's have, and there's a reason for that. Rick did a great job of putting his guys in a position to succeed, but it's not like Phil's any slouch either. The triangle has flat out worked time and again. Having said that, I'd also take Phil for a contending roster because Phil at least has shown some willingness to adjust his game plan. Rick draws up great game plans, but if they don't work, he just sticks by them like glue anyway.

I will say though that I would definitely take Rick if I had a less talented team.

[Nicky Nix Nook]

Would Greg Popovich win titles without Tim Duncan? of course not, so lets not make crazy statements. Phil jackson is not "overrated".

I think Popovich combines Adelman's X's and O's and Jackson's mind control powers and that is why I think he is the best active coach.

How can you conclusively say Jackson is not overrated. Even if you disagree, it's not by any means "crazy." If Eric Musselman had Phil Jackson's teams, he would probably have ALMOST just as many rings. If Rick Adelman had the teams PJ's had, he WOULD have just as many rings.

I'm not saying Jackson is a bad coach, I am saying he is behind Popovich, Adelman, and Sloan. (I may replace Adelman with Sloan)

No he wouldn't. It wouldn't be close. The teams would still be very good, but especially the Lakers--they would have never had any kind of chemistry whatsoever with Muss coaching. Jordan might have been able to overcome Muss's ineptitude for a couple years, but even that's a stretch.

And I don't think Rick would have won as much. Rick's teams haven't historically been very mentally tough and Phil's have, and there's a reason for that. Rick did a great job of putting his guys in a position to succeed, but it's not like Phil's any slouch either. The triangle has flat out worked time and again. Having said that, I'd also take Phil for a contending roster because Phil at least has shown some willingness to adjust his game plan. Rick draws up great game plans, but if they don't work, he just sticks by them like glue anyway.

I will say though that I would definitely take Rick if I had a less talented team.

agree to disagree

[KingInExile]

Looks like Randy Whittman is out in Minnesota with a record similar to the Kings and after only a 5 game losing streak.

[Smills91]

Would Greg Popovich win titles without Tim Duncan? of course not, so lets not make crazy statements. Phil jackson is not "overrated".

Yes he is.

[deNIEd]

11 more games for the year,

6 home games, 5 road games, 3 back to backs, against 8 playoff teams.

What would you guys consider successful?

I believe we will go 3-8, finishing the year off at 8-24, .250%