<< I happen to agree with your statements about seeing how nellie progresses with this team. If they are every bit as competitive in the finals as their regular season record shows I see nothing but downside in replacing him. >>
If their regular season record is any indication, they should win the title this year, which would make us all happy. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]
<< And in all fairness some of my comments about little whistle were tongue in cheek. I actually like little whistle a lot, but there is a risky element to hiring donnie over don. And I think fairly because he hasn't even been a head coach anywhere that I know of. >>
I agree there's risk in making Donnie head coach in that there's a possibility the team might not fare as well. Also, I see your point about him not having NBA head coaching experience. At the same time, though, many NBA coaches tend to do the best at their first stop, so don't know if that matters. Also, I'm willing to take the risk with Donnie because I don't think that Nellie is a championship coach, and I think Donnie might be. Let's hope he proves me wrong.
<< Since I didn't know Jackson's history I looked it up. As far as experience in being a head coach he really has a lot more than little whistle, at least 5 full years of head-coaching experience including a championship. Here's some tidbits I got off the web somewhere:
After a year he rejoined the Nets and did some television commentary on television, then he returned to coaching with the Albany Patroons of the Continental Basketball Association, also coaching summers in Puerto Rico. In five seasons in Albany, Jackson steered the Patroons to a league title and won a CBA Coach of the Year Award.
Jackson left the Patroons after the 1986-87 season with a 117-90 career record and landed a job as an assistant coach with the Chicago Bulls. Jordan had just won his first of seven straight scoring titles in 1986-87, but under Collins the Bulls had gone 40-42. Jordan averaged 35.0 points in 1987-88 and Chicago improved to 50 wins, but was ousted in the playoffs. >>
I meant NBA head coaching experience, and even though Donnie has done a lot of head coaching work internationally (remember the near debacle in Sydney?), I see your point about Jackson's CBA work. Still, I think Donnie has enough experience to get the job done, and enough familiarity with the team to make a seamless transition into the position.
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