I blame Cliff (final rant)

[Eoghan]

Nah, that is 100% on the players. You can do all the coaching you want, it's up to the players to go out on the floor and execute.

Coaches can't run out there and play defense or get buckets, any coach will tell you that.

Even Dunlap would have improved upon the record last year with this roster.

I severely disagree with your notion on good defense being 100% up to the players. Teams become good on that end because they execute their coach's schemes. Of course, you need the right personnel for the task. But it doesn't happen just by itself.

We might have been better record-wise even if we had Dunlap this year but it doesn't seem like he could have improved our defense. We have 82 games of evidence on how his overloading schemes didn't work. We were simply a mess.

Schemes are just theory, they are only made relevant with successful application i.e. player effort. You can scheme all you want, they could be great schemes, but they won't matter if the players don't buy in. This is why coaches are more likely to get the ax, it's just easier to change coaches and hope that this new one will get the players to buy in and apply effort instead of tuning out the coach and getting lazy. It's a player's league.

[LamarMatic7]

Schemes are just theory, they are only made relevant with successful application i.e. player effort. You can scheme all you want, they could be great schemes, but they won't matter if the players don't buy in.

...and that's why we have to appreciate Clifford. Our guys have definitely bought in, got pass a mini-slump in January and are playing their asses off for him.

[Elden Payton]

He's one of the best rookie head coaches in a long time imo.

He's got a lot to learn but it's evident he's a basketball lifer.

He'll only get better imo.

[vorbis]

i think part of what has worked about clifford is his experience in NBA locker rooms. he knows how to connect to the players. his supporting staff is probably the best the bobcats have ever had, as well. the anecdote about him approaching pargo about garbage time, and pargo's reaction to that, i think speaks to clifford's professionalism and ability to treat the players with respect and in a way that they respond.

sustained success will be the ultimate barometer of both him and the front office. however, i think clifford has proven beyond a doubt that he's a capable head coach in the NBA. that's a level of success that neither sam vincent or mike dunlap ever achieved, IMO, and i was more bullish on dunlap than some others.

that's not to say i haven't disagreed with some of his decisions and moves. particularly in regards to playing time and rotations. but i do think he's the right guy for the job for the charlotte nba team. at least right now he is.

[HornetJail]

He's one of the best rookie head coaches in a long time imo.

He's got a lot to learn but it's evident he's a basketball lifer.

He'll only get better imo.

What Jeff Hornacek has done with that "poo-poo-platter of talent" down in Phoenix is pretty damn impressive too.

[Elden Payton]

He's one of the best rookie head coaches in a long time imo.

He's got a lot to learn but it's evident he's a basketball lifer.

He'll only get better imo.

What Jeff Hornacek has done with that "poo-poo-platter of talent" down in Phoenix is pretty damn impressive too.

Yeah he's been great too!

Although despite how bad they were last season, they were still better than us!