The Steve Clifford Thread 2.0 - Off the Cliff we go

tondi123 · Post #41 » by **tondi123** » Tue Jun 30, 2015 5:28 pm

Unless we've got a plan that includes having Curry and Thompson suiting up for us next season, throwing our team identity out of the window to play copy cat when we have nobody even approaching the level of either of those guys makes no sense. There is more than one way to build a successful team in the NBA. Do we need to improve our 3pt shooting? Of course. Do we need to do it at the expense of everything else? No, but that seems to be where we are heading, at least for one season until a team with great rebounding and defense wins it all at which point we will do another 180 and start pretending we are someone completely different.

mrfixit · Post #42 » by **mrfixit** » Wed Jul 1, 2015 2:04 pm

I am all for acquiring good 3 pt shooters. However, if we are still running Kemba isolations, then our new 3 point weapons wont even have an open shot.

Eoghan · Post #43 » by **Eoghan** » Thu Jul 2, 2015 4:26 am

mrfixit wrote:I am all for acquiring good 3 pt shooters. However, if we are still running Kemba isolations, then our new 3 point weapons wont even have an open shot.

You're new here so it's okay you don't know this. You see, you have to believe in the magic of #spacing. If you sacrifice enough talent and defense at the altar of #spacing, your team will turn into the 2008 Orlando Magic. Al Jefferson will morph into a DPOY. It's gonna be great.

Braggins · Post #44 » by **Braggins** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 5:25 am

Does Clifford have to do better than the 8th seed to keep his job? If we something like go .500 and get 7th/8th and lose our first round 1-4, does he get extended?

RollingWave · Post #45 » by **RollingWave** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 7:28 am

Braggins wrote:Does Clifford have to do better than the 8th seed to keep his job? If we something like go .500 and get 7th/8th and lose our first round 1-4, does he get extended?

If they get a win from the Cavs probably, say what you will of Steve, he at least gave the team an identity at long last, that alone is worth a lot.

I'd say as long as the team finish over500 Steve gets extended

BeesWax · Post #46 » by **BeesWax** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 1:48 pm

Our plan was completely thrown under the bus for Clifford and his terrible ability to coach offense. If he can't get to the second round he should be fired.

Post #47 » by **JDR720** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 3:20 pm

If we dont make the playoffs with a good record and have a really competitive series he should be replaced. also if he cant make a good (above average at least) offense he should be fired. pretty much 45+ wins, really good playoff series and top 10 in both offense and defense.

catch20two · Post #48 » by **catch20two** » Sun Jul 12, 2015 4:27 pm

JDR720 wrote:If we dont make the playoffs with a good record and have a really competitive series he should be replaced. also if he cant make a good (above average at least) offense he should be fired. pretty much 45+ wins, really good playoff series and top 10 in both offense and defense.

Lofty expectations.

Braggins · Post #49 » by **Braggins** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:28 am

catch20two wrote:
JDR720 wrote:If we dont make the playoffs with a good record and have a really competitive series he should be replaced. also if he cant make a good (above average at least) offense he should be fired. pretty much 45+ wins, really good playoff series and top 10 in both offense and defense.

Lofty expectations.

I find it really depressing that a lot of people dont aim any higher than getting smoked as an 8th seed. I would have already fired Cliff if it was up to me, but now that we've spent all our assets to give him a chitty roster built around his vision we should demand success from him. If we are first round fodder again and he gets extended I see it as a clear sign that our front office is not serious about building a legit team, just reaching for the 8th seed for marketing purposes.

HornetJail · Post #50 » by **HornetJail** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:33 am

Braggins wrote:Does Clifford have to do better than the 8th seed to keep his job? If we something like go .500 and get 7th/8th and lose our first round 1-4, does he get extended?

Monty Williams was fired for getting the 8th seed out west. Granted, the Pelicans have Anthony Davis, but outside of him they don't have much at all. There is no doubt in my mind that this team can win 45 games if healthy, even with Al holding us back.

BeesWax · Post #51 » by **BeesWax** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:46 am

He should have been gone this summer so anything less than a very good season and a trip to the second round where we are competitive means he has to go. We bent over backwards to give him all the pieces he needs after getting him what he ask for last season so he better achieve.

EwingSweatsALot · Post #52 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:07 am

I think we need to get to the 2nd round or at least be extremely competitive in the first, 6 or 7 games.

People look at last year and say wow, that's a huge jump from that. That's a lot to expect after last year.

Two years ago we made a huge jump, we made the playoffs. We took a leap that we shouldn't have. Last year should have been two years ago. Two years ago should have been last year. We have hit the stepping stones that we should hit to get into that second round arena. Out of order, but we have hit them. We have checked those boxes and we need to check the next one on the list this year. If we don't make the playoffs or go out in 4 or 5 games again, it's a no brainer that he needs to be gone.

catch20two · Post #53 » by **catch20two** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 1:18 am

If Clifford pull off his insane 2nd and 4th quarter substitutions that cost us several games and remain stubborn with it until we're about 10 game below .500 again then he need to be fired midseason. Hopefully that doesn't happen because I want to be excited about the success of the team next year more than complaining about the faults like I did this past year.

EwingSweatsALot · Post #54 » by **EwingSweatsALot** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:16 am

catch20two wrote:If Clifford pull off his insane 2nd and 4th quarter substitutions that cost us several games and remain stubborn with it until we're about 10 game below .500 again then he need to be fired midseason. Hopefully that doesn't happen because I want to be excited about the success of the team next year more than complaining about the faults like I did this past year.

Like in games where he wouldn't sub Kemba in until 5 minutes left and how he would keep our situational offensive guys when we were up 6 instead of defensive guys and we would blow the lead because we were a sieve on defense.

If that happens again, it shows he hasn't grown as a coach, and no roster that Cho gives him should matter. Coaches can grow and get better like players do. I haven't seen that happen with Cliff yet, and if it doesn't then I am with you, he needs to go ASAP.

Braggins · Post #55 » by **Braggins** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:29 am

Remember guys, it wasnt his fault. He had no choice but to close games with Neal and Marvin over MKG and Zeller. Its the only chsnce we had to win. All those crazy things he does are part of his philosophy. They likely arent getting corrected.

Eoghan · Post #56 » by **Eoghan** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 2:55 am

I honestly believe that if Clifford wins one playoff game he'll keep his job.

Braggins · Post #57 » by **Braggins** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:02 am

BrotherDave wrote:I honestly believe that if Clifford wins one playoff game he'll keep his job.

I do too, unfortunately. I honestly hope we start off awful so he gets fired and Al possibly gets moved. I really dont want the extremely low expectations this fanbase has to keep this guy employed by sneaking into the playoffs with a dummy proof roster. I know people hate when fans root for the team to lose, but I honestly feel like its in the best interest of the franchise long term.

BeesWax · Post #58 » by **BeesWax** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:06 am

Firing BRD is very much what is best for the team both long and short term.

Mystical Apples · Post #59 » by **Mystical Apples** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:10 am

The thing going against Clifford is new parts that play multiple positions. There's versatility but it's going to take longer to figure out player combos, offense to defense / defense to offense substitutions. Could be too late by the time it's sorted.

catch20two · Post #60 » by **catch20two** » Mon Jul 13, 2015 3:13 am

Can't wait to see Cliff close games with Kemba/Lin/Batum/Marv/Al. Lol