[SMC0007]

Originally Posted by jthig32

Anyone expecting much better than this considering the injury problems and the roster is certifiably nuts in my eyes.

Also, the idea that Rick is only a good coach with a good team flies in the face of his work with the Pacers the year of the Malice at the Palace, where he took an absolutely decimated team to the playoffs and won a freaking playoff series.

Every team's fans are always going to have problems with their coach (the complaints of Spurs fans regarding Popovich and his rotation decisions is always the gold standard example) but vitriol directed at Carlisle, and the amount of expertism on boards like this that pretend they know what's best based on limited sample sizes and per 36 numbers always amuses me.

Which is not to say that I don't think coaches can be questioned or their moves debated, but for someone to sit back and say, with complete certainty, that this team would be significantly better if Bernard James were playing more absolutely blows my mind.

I don't take much issue at all with Rick's tactical decisions. I have questioned his approach in the locker room at times, but the player my concern was focused on (Collison) seems to be coming around, so what the hell do I know?

Rick's the #2 asset this organization currently has, and it's not particularly close between him and #3.

Donnie Nelson. But yea #4(Casey Smith) might be a ways back.