Who should be the next coach of the Washington Wizards?

[Rafael122]

My issue with Shaw is that he might bring in the triangle offense, and that worked so well with Rambis in Minnesota.

[MikeTheKid]

^^^ I was literally about to ask today how would the Wiz do in the Triangle offense if we were to hire Brian Shaw. I forgot about Rambis using that system in Minny. You would have to fully assume that Shaw is going to bring in the triangle, Phil used to praise Shaw for finding new ways using the triangle offense when the Lakers were dominating a few years ago

[Nivek]

Just about any offensive system can "work" with the right players.

[nate33]

From what I understand of the Triangle, we do not really have the right people to run it. The Triangle seems to feature slashing swing men, a spot-up shooting PG, and post players who can pass. We have a passing post player in Nene, but we lack the rest of the pieces. The Triangle also tends to take the ball out of the hands of the PG, which is the exact opposite of what we want to do with Wall.

I'm sure there are ways to tweak the Triangle to make it work better with our personnel, but it still seems like we'd be trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. I think it's fairly obvious that we'd be better off with a PG centered offense.

[Nivek]

Is a PG-centered offense is what's best for the Wizards? In his 1st two seasons, Wall has been high usage and low efficiency, which is not a combination that usually leads to a successful offense regardless of the system. I'm not pushing for the triangle, just wondering aloud if running a Wall-centric offense is really what's best for the team.

[nate33]

Is a PG-centered offense is what's best for the Wizards? In his 1st two seasons, Wall has been high usage and low efficiency, which is not a combination that usually leads to a successful offense regardless of the system. I'm not pushing for the triangle, just wondering aloud if running a Wall-centric offense is really what's best for the team.

Well, I think the notion of a PG-centered offense is based on Wall showing significant improvement this offseason. If Wall doesn't improve much going forward, then he's really just an average NBA player and he shouldn't really be a factor in any decisions we make, whether it's offensive system or personnel.

[7-Day Dray]

Interesting Dat. Laimbeer first? Do we really know enough about
him as a potential coach outside of the WNBA to take that kind of
chance on him?

No arguments on the rest of your list.

Wasn't he an assistant coach for Minnesota a few years ago?

[doclinkin]

Is a PG-centered offense is what's best for the Wizards? In his 1st two seasons, Wall has been high usage and low efficiency, which is not a combination that usually leads to a successful offense regardless of the system. I'm not pushing for the triangle, just wondering aloud if running a Wall-centric offense is really what's best for the team.

An interesting question. Evidence suggests a balanced attack works best in the new era, you do need attacking perimeter slashers who can finish at the rim, with mid-range competent front court players and long range threats to provide bail-out three balls and keep defenses honest.

I'd say the best models for John Wall's success would be the Celts' Rondo and the Spurs' Tony Parker. If Nene can maintain his decent efficiency on that mid-range shot (or if Keviiin can continue to improve as he has been; and if Anthony Davis lands here as well) and John can improve his strength to finish at the rim and improve his midrange shot a couple notches we can build something like a Spurs-Lite. Funnel possessions through high percentage bigs, based on penetration from the unmatched speed of Johnny Ballgame more than thread-the-needle passes

We'd need our Ginobili/Pierce, a shot creator when all else breaks down, a slasher/shooter/scorer who is also a glue guy. OKC's Harden, say. Or the best possible version of MKG.

I don't think anyone believes the JWall we've seen the past few years is a finished product. And his shortcomings are evident to himself as well. But I do think there are systems that could take full advantage of what he does well without imagining he will become a 3 point sniper anytime soon.

Parker and Rondo each have won championships as high-usage Points. If you squint you can see Johnny in a simialr role.

[hands11]

Is a PG-centered offense is what's best for the Wizards? In his 1st two seasons, Wall has been high usage and low efficiency, which is not a combination that usually leads to a successful offense regardless of the system. I'm not pushing for the triangle, just wondering aloud if running a Wall-centric offense is really what's best for the team.

An interesting question. Evidence suggests a balanced attack works best in the new era, you do need attacking perimeter slashers who can finish at the rim, with mid-range competent front court players and long range threats to provide bail-out three balls and keep defenses honest.

I'd say the best models for John Wall's success would be the Celts' Rondo and the Spurs' Tony Parker. If Nene can maintain his decent efficiency on that mid-range shot (or if Keviiin can continue to improve as he has been; and if Anthony Davis lands here as well) and John can improve his strength to finish at the rim and improve his midrange shot a couple notches we can build something like a Spurs-Lite. Funnel possessions through high percentage bigs, based on penetration from the unmatched speed of Johnny Ballgame more than thread-the-needle passes

We'd need our Ginobili/Pierce, a shot creator when all else breaks down, a slasher/shooter/scorer who is also a glue guy. OKC's Harden, say. Or the best possible version of MKG.

I don't think anyone believes the JWall we've seen the past few years is a finished product. And his shortcomings are evident to himself as well. But I do think there are systems that could take full advantage of what he does well without imagining he will become a 3 point sniper anytime soon.

Parker and Rondo each have won championships as high-usage Points. If you squint you can see Johnny in a simialr role.

This is what you always need to be really good. It is the Elephant in the living room that I have been talking about for years. Now I don't mind that we haven't found it yet. There was lots that needed to get straighten out on this team which they have been doing.

But at the end of the day, that is a huge piece to add. In todays game that player can even be a hybrid SG type like Kobe or a strong SG who can drive like Wade, but you need that all around player PP, Manu, Durant, LeBron. I don't think MLG is going to be that player. He is a defensive specialist from what I have seen and read for other here. I guess he could possibly develop some offense but that would take some time.

[Rafael122]

OK, after reading a couple of articles this morning, this guy is moving up my list: Mike Budenholzer. Right hand man of Coach Pop for 20 years, and he's in his early 40s. Ya think he might know a thing or two about coaching?

[Nivek]

Good stuff, doc. I can envision Wall in that Rondo/Parker type PG role -- if he improves. As nate said, if Wall doesn't come back next season with some significant upgrades to his game, the team has to start de-emphasizing his role in the offense. They can't be a good team with its biggest possession user being so inefficient.

With Wall -- IF he doesn't come back improved (I expect him to be better after an offseason of focused work, I'm just talking about the hypothetical here) -- reducing his usage wouldn't really be to make him more efficient because analysis of his game log didn't show that his efficiency was related to his usage level. On average, usage and efficiency are connected -- but not in his case. Reducing his usage would be about re-allocating the shots to more efficient teammates.

[fishercob]

OK, after reading a couple of articles this morning, this guy is moving up my list: Mike Budenholzer. Right hand man of Coach Pop for 20 years, and he's in his early 40s. Ya think he might know a thing or two about coaching?

He might!

But it's these types of analyses that worry me. I'm guessing 95% of us couldn't pick Budenholzer out of a lineup. JOerger too. 99% of us have never heard them speak. A huge part of coaching is the ability to connect with players and motivate them. People speak with such certitude about guys that they know nothing about other than what's on paper. What is it about Bud that makes you think he'd be right for this group?

Not trying to pick on you, Raffy. I just would like to see people admit that they don't know more than they do when it comes to coaches -- especially relative unknowns.

[Rafael122]

OK, after reading a couple of articles this morning, this guy is moving up my list: Mike Budenholzer. Right hand man of Coach Pop for 20 years, and he's in his early 40s. Ya think he might know a thing or two about coaching?

He might!

But it's these types of analyses that worry me. I'm guessing 95% of us couldn't pick Budenholzer out of a lineup. JOerger too. 99% of us have never heard them speak. A huge part of coaching is the ability to connect with players and motivate them. People speak with such certitude about guys that they know nothing about other than what's on paper. What is it about Bud that makes you think he'd be right for this group?

Not trying to pick on you, Raffy. I just would like to see people admit that they don't know more than they do when it comes to coaches -- especially relative unknowns.

I completely agree tho, and I bit my lip yesterday because I wanted to say something about Joerger and just "hot assistant coaches" (which is something we're probably gonna hear for the next few weeks) is that if they flop, this team is going to have to start all over, i.e. finding a new coach, new system. It's a cycle, get rid of one, hire a new one, he flops, fire him, hire a new one, etc. That's why Stan is at the top of my list, sure he's a retread but he's a damn good coach. He's automatically going to command respect from his players, unless they all turn into primadonnas like Dwight.


....but then I think, fisher...Tom Thibodeau....

[doclinkin]

With Wall -- IF he doesn't come back improved (I expect him to be better after an offseason of focused work, I'm just talking about the hypothetical here) -- reducing his usage wouldn't really be to make him more efficient because analysis of his game log didn't show that his efficiency was related to his usage level. On average, usage and efficiency are connected -- but not in his case. Reducing his usage would be about re-allocating the shots to more efficient teammates.

I don't think the team would have to even ask. If you look at the late-season run Johnny Streak helped win that series of games by finding the hot hand and leading his teammates to easy buckets. He seems pretty low-ego to me, and his post-game breakdowns are on point every game. He talks at that fast-clip mumble but when you break down exactly what he said he's got a very good heads-up read of what's working and what went wrong. That's the best sign of a player who is likely to improve: 'do they get it?' and do they want to.

The rest is just work. And he's never struck me as a lazy sort of cat.

[fishercob]

That's the best sign of a player who is likely to improve: 'do they get it?' and do they want to.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjBqXaftZcE[/youtube]

[dobrojim]

air-u-dite

[Ruzious]

air-u-dite

Michael Jordan's new line of sneakers?

[dobrojim]

watch the vid Fish posted

[Chocolate City Jordanaire]

Count me as different, but at the time I totally agreed with McGee on the "Can't say I do".

Perhaps McGee was being petulant. He repeatedly did the wrong think in pick-and-roll defense and Coach Wittman was IMO understandably frustrated. I just think the coaching staff went far with it and went personal with it, and I don't know that Javale felt that way at all.

At the time of the video, Randy Wittman was quite critical Javale IMO. Pam McGee and the Wizards brass were at loggerheads with one another. McGee was considered and embarrassment by many because of his many WTF moments and blooper reel nightly footage on TBS and ESPN. In all of that, I thought it was as much character assassination and exaggeration of missteps as much as anything else.

Moving forward, Denver did something the Wizards did not do. That adapted to McGee's shortcomings and did not vilify him. They start a big body, Mozgov or Koufas, actually. Yet, McGee generally got the bulk of the minutes at C and he finished games for the most part. Using McGee in empty post sets allowed him to crash the boards and give weak side help as the shot blocker that he is. They maximized what McGee could do instead of lamenting and fomenting on what he cannot do.

I'm just glad things have worked out well for McGee. If Nene stays healthy, this is a win-win for all parties.

That video shows a guy local fans might have thought petulant. However, not two months since leaving DC, Javale (and Nick Young) have already exploded with increased popularity on the national scene.

What I take from that: Do not be surprised if there is a market for Andray Blatche, and that once he's gone he may do well elsewhere.

Getting back on topic: A great coach will get the best out of players, somehow, some way. Randy did some great coaching the last three to six weeks of the season.

Who will be the next coach of the Wizards?

[dobrojim]

I think it's a bit of overstatement to say THE WIZARDS vilified him.
He was certainly ridiculed in the media but the Wizards had him
out there as their starter on a nightly basis. That's hardly vilification.
They worked with him to help him to get better. I would say they
didn't give up until he was traded.

I've no idea who the next coach will be. I wonder if the Pop asst coach Buden...
will be the guy. I wonder what their time frame is.