SacKingZZZ wrote:
Yes, but it's also having the SKILL to do what is called for by the coach. Brad Miller isn't nearly as talented as either, but he could play the part better, and subsequently more effectively, than some of the more talented players out there.
It's hard to compare what Phil did in Chicago with what he's done in LA. They ran the offense in Chicago through Jordan who was a rare SG that could post up better than most PF's or C's. PG's in his system are typically similar, there is a reason for that and it's largely based on preference. The players change, sometimes the positions those players play change, but they more often than not, fit a certain criteria depending on what the team looks like. Those teams have the balance I was eluding to and direction in terms of personnel. Horry, Grant, Rodman, etc. at PF. Each unique, but all providing a defensive presence and toughness. Guys that can hit the 3 point shot are a must, pretty funny how 3 point shooters/plain old beefy dudes on the perimeter, typically of the big SF/combo F variety wind up getting time huh? Why guys like Radmonovic, Fox, Kukoc, Horry, Odom, now Ariza, etc. seem to always find minutes on his teams.
Nellie being a great coach or not is still based on your opinion. In your OPINION Rick Adelman is a great coach. Once again, he was brought up as an example of a coach seeking particular personnel.
Yes, if you plugged Shaq into a position where he was in the high post shooting jumpers, Brad would be more successful at that spot. But that is completely in line with my point. Even though Pau is basically the prototypical triangle big, he still wasn't as good in the system as Shaq because Shaq is the better player. That is Phil adjusting the system for the talent he has.
And that comparison with those forwards is kind of a stretch. Kukoc and Odom are similar, and Radman and Horry are kind of similar, but there's certainly nothing close to a consistent similarity between all of them. And for what it's worth, Radmonavic was traded in a salary dump, and the Lakers didn't miss a beat.
I'm not saying that there aren't certain types of players that Phil prefers that fit better than others, just that the system doesn't determine everything--not by a long shot. It's well known that Phil prefers bigger PGs for his system--yet Fisher has been around for a while.
