I'm BACKKKKKKKK!!: The Steve Clifford Thread

[HornetJail]

In regards to the talking point of him not playing young players, what non bust draft pick did he have access to during his tenure? Kemba was the only player that Rich Cho drafted whom was worth a damn. To be honest, based off his roster construction he performed beyond expectations

Part of being a coach is helping young players along. When it's a chronic problem like it was under Clifford and his staff, it's an issue with the staff more so than the players. Where you get drafted is super important for a young player, especially when you draft young raw prospects like we liked to do (MKG, Biz, etc)

Look at the Spurs and Raptors and Warriors, you think they have a crystal ball in their scouting room? No they develop their talent over time.

Why was Kemba able to develop and the other players didn’t? The players we drafted had plenty of opportunity to get better but didn’t. It’s a chicken or the egg arguments, are those organizations just better at scouting talent than Rich Cho was?

the great ones usually figure it out regardless. Cousins in Sacramento, Love and Towns in Minnesota...

The fact you only have one success story to point out in nine years of Clifford coaching between here and Orlando kinda speaks for itself.

[JDR720]

Read on Twitter

[fatlever]

Williams is not Bamba. He's much more ready to play. Williams is a Clifford Roy Hibbert style dream. He always wanted a legit rim protector.

If anything MDA would have been bad news for Williams since he's all about small ball.

Now Kai, bouk are screwed. And there's a big chance Melo revolts if cliff tries to clip his wings.

Cliff will love Cody if he returns.

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[BigSlam]

I'm willing to give it a go.

Isn't structure and defensive discipline and accountability and the ability to actually run half court sets and professionalism and maturity something so many posters were screaming out for over the past year?

Cliff has the opportunity to introduce that. He's all about that. What if he coaches this squad to grow the **** up?

So many attributed the growth of players under Borrego to anyone and anything other than Borrego. Jay Hernandez has been touted as the rookie whisperer. What if he is left to keep developing the rookies - so that doesn't change - all the while Cliff works on making these kids professionals?

What if we do get to the playoffs and actually win a series. Would that be the worst thing to happen?

[Bassman]

At some point, you’d think Jordan goes into his bathroom, looks in that $10K mirror with LED mood lighting, and sees some truth.

“Yes, you ARE the GOAT…but you’re very average at most anything else…and you SUCK as an owner!”

He should be great, lending his amazing name, fame and North Carolina born influence to his home state team. Problem is he just will NOT stop making bad decisions. If you continue to make a string of bad hires, probably based on your “gut instinct”, at some point you STOP TRUSTING YOUR GUT.

Jordan won’t do that…he can’t do that…because it drove him to greatness.

Since I have no choice I will reserve heavy judgement on Clifford the dog until I see where he’s taking everything. All we can do is hope for the best, plan for the worst.

[JDR720]

Cliff will have to update his offense. Al Jefferson, Vuc and Dwight aren't walking through the door. This is the first time he hasn't had a 20/10 C on the team.

[Robot Rock]

Cliff will have to update his offense. Al Jefferson, Vuc and Dwight aren't walking through the door. This is the first time he hasn't had a 20/10 C on the team.

Agree. But Kemba also hit another level with Cliff. No reason to think LaMelo can’t. Cliff can’t hide behind veterans. There are only 3 on the roster.

[Robot Rock]

I will say the one player who Cliff is gonna absolutely hate most is James Bouknight.

[Liver_Pooty]

@misterglover

WHERE YOU AT FOO

Pretty sure he's in prison. Or married to Otto porter.

[Stun704]

Consensus is too negative, that usually means we will be pleasantly surprised

[Liver_Pooty]

Question. Do you guys think Clifford is a better coach than Borrego? I do.

[Robot Rock]

Question. Do you guys think Clifford is a better coach than Borrego? I do.

I bet Kemba’s opinion of Cliff is higher than LaMelo’s opinion of Borrego.

[Liver_Pooty]

Question. Do you guys think Clifford is a better coach than Borrego? I do.

I bet Kemba’s opinion of Cliff is higher than LaMelo’s opinion of Borrego.

To be clear I do not like the hire. At all. However I do not think it's the end of the world, and as far as pure basketball knowledge Clifford is a really, really good coach. We'll see how this goes.

[wilson115]

Just putting these here. No Clifford homer, just hoping for the best at this point.

Steve Clifford has a favorite stat he recites anytime someone asks about his team's new look. Last year, four of the top five teams in three-pointers made were also the final four teams standing in the NBA Playoffs: Golden State, Cleveland, Houston and Atlanta. Those four conference finalists generated three-pointers by having four shooting threats hanging around the perimeter in most of their lineups.

That was a far cry from last year's Hornets team that usually started two traditional big men and had bricklayers like Lance Stephenson, Gerald Henderson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist soaking up perimeter minutes.

"Last year, I believe we only played 4-out less than half the time," Clifford told SB Nation in a phone interview. "This year, we play 4-out almost 100 percent of the time."

https://www.sbnation.com/2016/3/29/11320144/charlotte-hornets-breakdown-analysis-offense-three-pointers-steve-clifford

The pick-and-roll is the staple of Charlotte’s offense; it makes up a league-leading 31.2 percent of the team’s plays. Kemba Walker, a speedy playmaking machine, is the centerpiece. Hornets head coach Steve Clifford has at his disposal a wealth of weapons that make for a deadly combo in a play called the “double high” pick-and-roll. This occurs when both the center and power forward set screens for the guard at or above the 3-point line.

With Walker running point, the double high screen is a headache for defenses. Using both bigs as shields so far away from the rim, especially when one of them can shoot like Kaminsky, creates a perfect environment for Walker’s offensive creativity.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2016/12/19/16077164/nba-pick-and-roll-lou-williams-kemba-walker-draymond-green-f9a1ec934a2a

[HornetJail]

Cliff will have to update his offense. Al Jefferson, Vuc and Dwight aren't walking through the door. This is the first time he hasn't had a 20/10 C on the team.

I am fully expecting a Vucevic or Valanciunas trade

maybe we'll manage to get Ayton, but I know better than to hope for that

[KingCat]

Minutes Predictions:

Plumlee - 45
Roizer - 45
Hayward - 45 (for 35 games)
Cody Martin - 40
Miles - 22
Melo - 17
Kai Jones - DNP
Mark Williams - DNP
James Bouknight - Expelled from the league as a request from the coach.

[LofJ]

I will say the one player who Cliff is gonna absolutely hate most is James Bouknight.

He liked Ramon Sessions enough and they're somewhat alike play style wise, but yeah you're probably right.

[Soul Rebel]

I know it's cliché to blame MJ as the root of the problem, but this offseason has proven that.

Borrego being fired was understandable....but there needed to be an improvement at the helm. Cliff ain't it.
Atkinson bailing was not "family". It had to come down to money and control.
The Miles news and potentially moving assets around to afford (or not even match) Miles next contract is problematic.
The draft pick at 15 was good. The logic to grab a FRP in '23 made sense, but the trade at 13 should have gotten more.
Re-hiring a guy you fired that doesn't fit the roster composition or league blueprint because you're scrambling to find a new HC is a bad look.

How was Sweeney or Cassell not a better fit for this team?

We are in for a long ride.....similar to what the Wizards had to endure. Possibly worse.

It's baffling how the GOAT can be this awful at running a franchise.

[JDR720]

Maybe Tepper will decide he wants to own all the major league sports teams in Charlotte.

He has similar issues to MJ, but he isn't cheap.

[MPM]

Woj: Steve Clifford has decided he won’t become the Charlotte Hornets’ head coach and will remain at home to make sure those damn kids stay off his lawn.