Worst in-game coaching decision you've ever seen

[Mr MoJo Risin]

1969 finals when Lakers' coach Butch van Breda Kolff benched Wilt

[BlackFalconGSW]

Mark Jackson calling a timeout on a 5-on-3

Mark Jackson refusing to call timeouts when Spurs made their big comeback (127-129 ot loss WCSF, we were up 16 late in 3rd) still mad about it.

[khufure]

I know Clippers fans gonna laugh at this one.

Vinny Del Negro. This is how all his plays ended up


Have too many fond memories of this one to not post it

[Kabookalu]

[druggas]

Pop taking Duncan out (twice) and costing the Spurs a title they had in their hands.

[Duffman100]

Thank you. I was about to try and find this. He subbed Gray in for this possession and had Gray run a double team at Kobe Bryant.

Putting players in position to succeed.

[NBA Fan 1234]

Thank you. I was about to try and find this. He subbed Gray in for this possession and had Gray run a double team at Kobe Bryant.

Putting players in position to succeed.

looks more like a screen that was set poorly than a double team haha.

in recent memory - probably popp not having duncan in at the end of game 6 to grab a rebound. i was really confused when i saw it live and im still perplexed today.

[mitrandil20]

Pop's.
It must have been an Evil Genius that forced him to act like that, there's no other explanation in a win-it-all-or-demolish-your-morale-last-30-seconds play. Just no. Please.

[narmerguy]

The duncan decision was not that bad. Would you rather have a guy to rebound a three and hope that a three is being missed, or have a guy who will defend the three well enough in the first place? If you say Duncan could have guarded out at the 3pt-line, then how's he going to help your rebounding anyway if your plan is to stick him at the 3pt line?

[IrishBeatdown]

Vinny Del Negro.

[wutevahung]

I guess I'm one of the few who didn't think taking Duncan out was all that bad Miami was down by 3, so Pop could either put in (a) a rebounder (Duncan) or (b) someone else to guard the 3. Not both. He chose the latter, and it didn't work out. Bad result? Obviously. Bad decision? Only in hindsight. I have to think there are some worse than that, even if they weren't as critical.

Exactly.

People often confuse bad plays with bad outcome, but it is all WHAT IF, gotta play with the percentages.
Spurs forced the first missed shot, and couldn't get the rebound. if Duncan was in the game, maybe there wouldn't have been a rebound to begin with.

[mopper8]

I guess I'm one of the few who didn't think taking Duncan out was all that bad Miami was down by 3, so Pop could either put in (a) a rebounder (Duncan) or (b) someone else to guard the 3. Not both. He chose the latter, and it didn't work out. Bad result? Obviously. Bad decision? Only in hindsight. I have to think there are some worse than that, even if they weren't as critical.

why couldnt duncant defend bosh from three? its not like he has to worry about bosh going to the hoop...youre conceeding the 2 pointer

It's not about guarding Bosh, it's about guarding Lebron on the switch. Re-watch the play, Diaw has to step out to prevent Lebron from stepping into a wing 3, forcing him to shoot from 27 feet instead. But you can't do that and crash the boards (while he was stepping out, Bosh was diving to the rim).

edit:





Duncan wouldn't have made a difference, if he stepped out like he should've (like Diaw actually did) he would've had the same problem Diaw did--Bosh had a 15 foot headstart and Diaw's momentum was in the wrong direction.

[LBJVirus218]

Last year when the Cavs were beating the Heat 71-48 and did not call a timeout or make a substitution until AFTER the Heat made a run and took the lead. The game solidified to me what a horrible coach Byron is/was.

*Edit I looked it up
http://www.espncleveland.com/common/mor ... t_id=14791

Turns out he did one sub. He put Gibson in for Shaun Livingston lol.

[BK nets BK]

Every desicion avert Johnson has ever made

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[serp]

Every desicion avert Johnson has ever made

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Let's add PJ to that club . Especially every time both continued the play Reggie Evans and Gerald Wallace together even though the team couldn't score like at all for like a full quarter.

[Old School]

Pop going with Ginobli on-the-ball instead of Parker, down the stretch of games 6 & 7. Cost them the title.

Taking Duncan out was also unforgivable and stupid. Those two moves alone knocks Pop out the top 5 coaches of all time IMO.

[bullsnewdynasty]

Last year when the Cavs were beating the Heat 71-48 and did not call a timeout or make a substitution until AFTER the Heat made a run and took the lead. The game solidified to me what a horrible coach Byron is/was.

*Edit I looked it up
http://www.espncleveland.com/common/mor ... t_id=14791

Turns out he did one sub. He put Gibson in for Shaun Livingston lol.

That's not bad coaching, that's called tanking.

[Joel Embust]

Sonics coach Bob Hill stepping in bounds causing Rip Hamilton to fall to the ground on a three-point attempt, resulting in three free throws for Detroit.

[BlackFalconGSW]

Last year when the Cavs were beating the Heat 71-48 and did not call a timeout or make a substitution until AFTER the Heat made a run and took the lead. The game solidified to me what a horrible coach Byron is/was.

*Edit I looked it up
http://www.espncleveland.com/common/mor ... t_id=14791

Turns out he did one sub. He put Gibson in for Shaun Livingston lol.

That's not bad coaching, that's called tanking.

or just sucking?

[Lin Your Face]

Isiah benching Zach Randolph based on the theory it would stimulate Eddy Curry's offense looks even more ridiculous in retrospect.