Mark Jackson fired by Warriors

[dirt_dobber]

Mark Jackson fired by Warriors
http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2014...state-warriors

The Golden State Warriors have fired coach Mark Jackson, the team announced Tuesday.

The move comes after the Warriors were eliminated in the opening round of the playoffs, falling to the Los Angeles Clippers in Game 7 on Saturday night.

The Warriors were 121-109 during Jackson's three-year tenure.

"It's never easy to make a decision of this nature," general manager Bob Myers said in a statement. "Mark has accomplished many good things during his three years with the organization, including his role in helping elevate this team into a better position than it was when he arrived nearly 36 months ago. We're appreciative of his dedication and commitment since his arrival and are extremely grateful for his contributions. However, as an organization, we simply feel it's best to move in a different direction at this time."

Added CEO Joe Lacob: "Mark Jackson has had a big impact on the improvement of our team and the success that we've had over the last couple of years. Nonetheless, we must make some difficult decisions in our day-to-day operations of the club and this would certainly qualify as one of those examples. We wish Mark the best of luck in his future endeavors and thank him for his contributions over the last three years."

[dirt_dobber]

some funny espn comments.............

Lesson? NOBODY DEMOTES BRIAN SCALABRINE

[DevinHarriswillstart]

NBA coach is a tough job. 50+ wins ain't good enough anymore. Not sure what other coach could have brought the Clippers to 7 games with no true center other than a gimpy O'Neal. I'm not even a fan of Jackson, but I'm just curious who would do a better job that is available.

[dirt_dobber]

Jackson had a rep as a great motivator but poor X-O's coach.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

I'm not even a fan of Jackson, but I'm just curious who would do a better job that is available.

That's why it makes no sense to fire Jackson - I don't see anyone out there who is clearly a better coach... Why simply go for something "different" after the excellent season GS just had? Continuity, alone, can offer better returns going forward.

[EricaLubarsky]

It'll be interesting to see who replaces him. Jackson isn't the best, but I cant think of a better coach that is available.

[BPo001]

Not sure you if you consider them better, but both Van Gundy's are available as is Lionel Hollins.

[jthig32]

All the smoke out there is that this is about personality and not about basketball. The place was falling apart around him if you believe the people close to the situation. Basically his players (most of them) loved him and the rest of the organization couldn't stand him.

Also was an article recently stating that he was borderline forcing his Christianity onto the team, which was enjoyed by the Christians on the team and alienating others (specifically Bogut).

He also stated in a radio interview recently (I tried to find an article and couldn't) that he doesn't really watch a lot of film during the playoffs. Thinks it's a waste of time. Okey dokey.

[rmacomic]

"Mama, there goes my job."

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by Underdog

That's why it makes no sense to fire Jackson - I don't see anyone out there who is clearly a better coach... Why simply go for something "different" after the excellent season GS just had? Continuity, alone, can offer better returns going forward.

Man, given the Mavericks history with firing successful head coaches before, during and immediately after "winning" seasons, it's a wonder anyone here is surprised how this can happen. It happened to Motta, McLeod, Nelson, and Johnson. Highly-regarded but unsuccessful coaches have also been on surprisingly short leashes even--Buckner, Cleamons both being fired after less than two seasons.

It's not just a matter of who's out there who's a better coach. Sometimes the interpersonal stuff between coaches and management or coaches and ownership has just gotten so toxic, or the philosophical divide has become so great that a club HAS to make a change, even at the risk of taking a step backward in the short-term. (There were plenty of doubters when Cuban replaced Johnson with Carlisle.)

And people may have forgotten that Jackson's name surfaced as the "close friend" of a drug dealer (upon said drug dealer's arrest), shortly after being hired. Okay, one bad break, not his fault. But then, not long after, Jackson was caught up in a blackmail scheme for having had an affair with a pole dancer. Okay, ..uhm...two unlucky breaks.

Then Jackson got crossways with his top assistant, Mike Malone, who was named Assisant Coach of the Year, with the general assessment being that Jackson was jealous that Malone got more credit than he did for managing the Warriors' schemes. Malone reportedly departed under acrimonious terms for the Sacramento Kings, though Jackon denies it. Okay, is something going on here?

Then Jackson has similar problems with two more assistants THIS year, firing/demoting/reassigning them in the last quarter of the season, with Jackson all the while denying that his team was operating under dysfunction. Then rumors of Jackson not wanting Jerry West, who was working as a consultant to the Warriors, to observe his practices, though Jackson denies this too. Abrasive and defensive with the press as well. Always turmoil, always denial.

Even with the Warriors' newfound and modest degree of success under Jackson, and the fact that most of his young teams seems to love him, it gets harder and harder to look past the fact that SOMETHING weird is always swirling around Jackson's head--either personally, or as a manager. From what I've read, I think they'd have fired him even if he'd gotten past the first round. Even Jackson seemed to be looking elsewhere, having reportedly put out feelers for both the Clippers and Nets jobs, which ultimately went to Rivers and Kidd. Jackson was also reportedly demanding a huge raise with his contract extension.

Also, not ALL of Jackson's players (Bogut, reportedly) responded well to his motivational tactics, which included a heavy-handed dose of religious-based bonding, but which was at first coercive and then exclusionary to players who refused to buy in. Jackson was manipulating the psyches of his young players like a high school coach, developing personal loyalty based on shared religious affiliation, instead of teaching them to approach the game as a business, and as the professionals that they are. Sounds a little cultish, actually. A young player like Curry doesn't even realize that Jackson was doing this to leverage his own short-term professional security (i.e., trying to make it more difficult for ownership to fire him by manipulating his players' loyalty) instead of helping them to develop professional attitudes that would be in the longer-term best interests of the players.

As for coaches who can do what Jackson did with the Warriors? George Karl might well do better. Rick Adelman too. D'Antoni even. You put D'Antoni with the Warriors this year and Jackson with the Lakers this year, and you get about the same results--50-something wins in Oakland, and damned little defense; worst season in Lakers history for Jackson. Lionel Hollins, Byron Scott, Avery Johnson---any of them might be able to wring 50 wins and a first-round exit out of the Warriors. Lawrence Frank? Stan van Gundy? Maybe, maybe not. (Jeff van Gundy? Probably not.) The players might not be as favorably disposed to any of those coaches, but there's plenty of coaching talent out there who could accomplish what Jackson did, and probably more in the long-run. Warriors are even willing to look at Kerr and Hoiberg, figuring they're worth the longer-term gamble.

When you start totaling up Jackson's liabilities as a manager, it wasn't that difficult a decision to make. And when you look around at the coaching talent that's out there and available? It's a little surprising that they didn't let him go sooner.

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by dirt_dobber

Jackson had a rep as a great motivator but poor X-O's coach.

Woj also said that he wasnt into game prep much at all. Just a weird situation. Motivational speeches only go so far. I dont think it had anything to do with basketball in why they fired him. With that said, their team is stacked.

[Underdog]

All of this information about Mark Jackson is new to me, but now I get why he was canned.

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

Also, not ALL of Jackson's players (Bogut, reportedly) responded well to his motivational tactics, which included a heavy-handed dose of religious-based bonding, but which was at first coercive and then exclusionary to players who refused to buy in.
...
Lionel Hollins, Byron Scott, Avery Johnson---any of them might be able to wring 50 wins and a first-round exit out of the Warriors.

Interview session question 5: What would you propose as a solution to motivational problems in the locker room?

Avery Johnson: I'd confront the combative players during shower time, when they are most vulnerable, and perform a suplex if they don't back down. Wait wait wait, can you ask the question again?

[dirt_dobber]

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

Interview session question 5: What would you propose as a solution to motivational problems in the locker room?

Avery Johnson: I'd confront the combative players during shower time, when they are most vulnerable, and perform a suplex if they don't back down. Wait wait wait, can you ask the question again?

must spread rep.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by DirkFTW

Interview session question 5: What would you propose as a solution to motivational problems in the locker room?

Avery Johnson: I'd confront the combative players during shower time, when they are most vulnerable, and perform a suplex if they don't back down. Wait wait wait, can you ask the question again?

I can picture that.

Avery is probably not ever going to be mistaken for a players' coach. That is, if he ever gets another opportunity. At least he had the 'humility' (if that's actually a word that can be used in the same paragraph as Avery) to do a little stint as an assistant beforehand, unlike Jackson. Avery probably gets one more chance at some point, most likely in his hometown next time an opening arises. Maybe Houston when McHale gives up the ghost.

Jackson will probably get another opportunity too, maybe immediately, and he may even be successful. (Is anyone wondering whether D'Antoni's resignation is all just a big coincidence?) But long-term I think it's going to depend on how fast he learns that you need more than a loud voice and an aggressive personality to successfully manage a team.

Three additional nuggets about Jackson that I read this morning:

1) When the Warriors hired him, they wanted him to move to the Oakland/San Francisco area full-time, and he steadfastly refused. Should've been a red flag to Warriors ownership before they even hired him. ("Thanks for interviewing with us, Pastor, and vaya con DÃ*os.") He and his wife had established a church in Los Angeles, and he wanted to continue to pastor that church in the off-season. He would frequently fly from SF to LA on Sundays to preach at his church, schedule permitting. Part-time NBA coach, part-time preacher. It kind of gave ownership the impression that Jackson wasn't willing to commit 100% to the franchise, and that he was in fact attempting to use the GSW gig as a springboard to a higher-profile (and higher-paying) job, in a bigger market like LA or NY.

2) When NBA Assistant Coach of the Year Mike Malone parted ways with Jackson for Sacramento (reportedly on bad terms), Warriors management urged Jackson to hire an experienced tactician as his lead assistant. Jackson, already insecure about getting credit for the team's success in the wake of Malone's departure, stubbornly refused and instead elevated his friend and former teammate Pete Myers to the lead spot. Who? Problem was that Myers is completely UN-regarded as an NBA entity. Jackson was seen as valuing personal loyalty over professional competence.

3) Compounding matters about the competence of his assistants, Jackson brought another friend, Lindsey Hunter, on to his staff. Ethan Strauss on ESPN True Hoop points out that Hunter had a reputation for being a destabilizing influence and underminer in previous stops at Chicago and Phoenix, and that Jackson's firing marked the third consecutive time that Hunter's hiring coincided with a head coach being fired within a year of Hunter's joining a team in a quasi-coaching position (in Chicago in 2009 with Vinny Del Negro, where Hunter was added to the roster as a 39-year old player, with Del Negro being bounced in 2010 ; and in Phoenix with Alvin Gentry, who hired Hunter as a player development coach, only to see Hunter ascend to the interim coaching position when Gentry was fired, leapfrogging veteran assistants Dan Majerle and Elston Turner).

Hunter also caught some spotlight in Phoenix when it was pointed out that he had been suspended by the NBA for performance-enhancing drugs (which he laughed off as being his wife's diet pills) and for being part of an ongoing FBI investigation into mortgage fraud (which he didn't laugh off). Hunter was said not to've gotten along with either dismissed assistant Scalabrine, or dismissed assistant Erman, who was discovered to be secretly recording conversations between Myers, Hunter, and players, because Erman believed the other assistant coaches were badmouthing him behind his back.

So Jackson's judgment was again called into question for the quality and integrity of assistants he brought onto his staff, and he was again seen as cultivating loyalty over competence. One of the things that Lacob told Jackson in his termination interview is that he (Jackson) needed to learn to manage better both up (ownership) and sideways (assistants).

At his next stop, Jackson's success will likely hinge on whether he can keep his own ego in check, and whether he feels secure enough with ownership to hire competent x-and-o guys, and whether he feels secure enough to share the credit with them, while being a player motivator and game manager. His coach/preacher schtick will not play well in a lot of cities, particularly the bigger-markets that he wants to be in. But it might be perfect for place like OKC, which is said to be the only team in the NBA that has an invocation before games. If Scott Brooks flames out again this year, would Thunder management consider Jackson, who shares a strong religious faith with Durant? Would Jackson consider leaving the more glamorous LA/NY markets to take a job in the heart of flyover country in OKC? A lot of questions for time to answer.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Good stuff Kerr.

[spreedom]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

I can picture that.

Avery is probably not ever going to be mistaken for a players' coach. That is, if he ever gets another opportunity. At least he had the 'humility' (if that's actually a word that can be used in the same paragraph as Avery) to do a little stint as an assistant beforehand, unlike Jackson. Avery probably gets one more chance at some point, most likely in his hometown next time an opening arises. Maybe Houston when McHale gives up the ghost.

Jackson will probably get another opportunity too, maybe immediately, and he may even be successful. (Is anyone wondering whether D'Antoni's resignation is all just a big coincidence?) But long-term I think it's going to depend on how fast he learns that you need more than a loud voice and an aggressive personality to successfully manage a team.

Three additional nuggets about Jackson that I read this morning:

1) When the Warriors hired him, they wanted him to move to the Oakland/San Francisco area full-time, and he steadfastly refused. Should've been a red flag to Warriors ownership before they even hired him. ("Thanks for interviewing with us, Pastor, and vaya con DÃ*os.") He and his wife had established a church in Los Angeles, and he wanted to continue to pastor that church in the off-season. He would frequently fly from SF to LA on Sundays to preach at his church, schedule permitting. Part-time NBA coach, part-time preacher. It kind of gave ownership the impression that Jackson wasn't willing to commit 100% to the franchise, and that he was in fact attempting to use the GSW gig as a springboard to a higher-profile (and higher-paying) job, in a bigger market like LA or NY.

2) When NBA Assistant Coach of the Year Mike Malone parted ways with Jackson for Sacramento (reportedly on bad terms), Warriors management urged Jackson to hire an experienced tactician as his lead assistant. Jackson, already insecure about getting credit for the team's success in the wake of Malone's departure, stubbornly refused and instead elevated his friend and former teammate Pete Myers to the lead spot. Who? Problem was that Myers is completely UN-regarded as an NBA entity. Jackson was seen as valuing personal loyalty over professional competence.

3) Compounding matters about the competence of his assistants, Jackson brought another friend, Lindsey Hunter, on to his staff. Ethan Strauss on ESPN True Hoop points out that Hunter had a reputation for being a destabilizing influence and underminer in previous stops at Chicago and Phoenix, and that Jackson's firing marked the third consecutive time that Hunter's hiring coincided with a head coach being fired within a year of Hunter's joining a team in a quasi-coaching position (in Chicago in 2009 with Vinny Del Negro, where Hunter was added to the roster as a 39-year old player, with Del Negro being bounced in 2010 ; and in Phoenix with Alvin Gentry, who hired Hunter as a player development coach, only to see Hunter ascend to the interim coaching position when Gentry was fired, leapfrogging veteran assistants Dan Majerle and Elston Turner).

Hunter also caught some spotlight in Phoenix when it was pointed out that he had been suspended by the NBA for performance-enhancing drugs (which he laughed off as being his wife's diet pills) and for being part of an ongoing FBI investigation into mortgage fraud (which he didn't laugh off). Hunter was said not to've gotten along with either dismissed assistant Scalabrine, or dismissed assistant Erman, who was discovered to be secretly recording conversations between Myers, Hunter, and players, because Erman believed the other assistant coaches were badmouthing him behind his back.

So Jackson's judgment was again called into question for the quality and integrity of assistants he brought onto his staff, and he was again seen as cultivating loyalty over competence. One of the things that Lacob told Jackson in his termination interview is that he (Jackson) needed to learn to manage better both up (ownership) and sideways (assistants).

At his next stop, Jackson's success will likely hinge on whether he can keep his own ego in check, and whether he feels secure enough with ownership to hire competent x-and-o guys, and whether he feels secure enough to share the credit with them, while being a player motivator and game manager. His coach/preacher schtick will not play well in a lot of cities, particularly the bigger-markets that he wants to be in. But it might be perfect for place like OKC, which is said to be the only team in the NBA that has an invocation before games. If Scott Brooks flames out again this year, would Thunder management consider Jackson, who shares a strong religious faith with Durant? Would Jackson consider leaving the more glamorous LA/NY markets to take a job in the heart of flyover country in OKC? A lot of questions for time to answer.

Must spread rep... good stuff, as always, Kerr.

[mac222b]

Jack.Kerr really bringing it. Must spread rep.

Loved Mark Jackson the player from his time at St. Johns onward. Seems like a bit of a phony idiot though. That rah-rah religious bullshit gets old real fast. Especially from a guy consorting with and being extorted by pole dancers.

Also one of the worst game managers in the league. There are easily 100 more qualified to coach that team. They will most likely be better next year with a new coach that actually knows what the hell he's doing. Personally, I hope they hire a professed atheist

[DirkFTW]

Originally Posted by mac222b

Personally, I hope they hire a professed atheist

Why, would they do a bad enough job to take the team out of contention?

Personally, I hope they hire Reggie Miller and Spike Lee to co-coach the team, telling them disagreements are resolved in favor of whoever speaks the loudest. And then salt the arena ruins.

[Kidd Karma]

This had more to do with the Lacobs, yes his son is the Assistant GM, all 25 years of him. There was an incident where Jackson requested that Kirk Lacob not talk to his assistants. I'm sure that rubbed junior wrong and he went crying to daddy. My question, Lacob made his money in start ups, would he give this responsibility to his son for one of his Investment companies....probably not. Reaks of the Jones's.

I don't think there were major issues with the players, it had a lot to do with the administrative staff. Staff felt it was hard to get along with Jackson. Jackson was always looking over his shoulder. Even today he commented that how does the "NBA experts" get word that he (MJax) was already in a meeting with management and was fired already....and the meeting had not started yet. There were "sources" on that administration staff leaking a lot of inside information to "NBA writers." The same day fired assistant coach Darren Erman (fired for recording conversations) was hired by the Celtics, words surfaces as to the reason why he was fired. Keep in mind Joe Lacob was a minority owner of the same Celtics that hired Erman.

This team did not give up on MJax. You don't get to Game 7 minus your starting center with the team giving up on MJax. They were 2 minutes away from taking the series and heading into Round 2. This team on the floor did not give up on MJax, they battled to the end and laid it all on the court at Staples in Game 7.

In addition why did Erman tape the conversations with Jackson? Seems Jerry West and Jackson was not on the same wavelength. Jackson didn't want West at practices. Seems West has a bit of a negative streak. Insider word is that West wanted Dion Waiters, Warriors ended up with Barnes....every chance West gets, he'll rip Barnes....that's the same "constructive criticism" West gave at practices, he'd rip into everyone. So back to the taping, seems West felt Jackson was bad mouthing him, so he Lacob and Erman collaborated on the taping of conversations with Jackson. Erman was with the Celtics during the time Lacob was a minority owner there as well. So there is some connection pre Warriors. Like I said, the reason why Erman was let go was not public until the day the Celtics re-hired Erman.....there's a rat in Warrior kingdom and he's the boss.

MJax issue is a simple offense, is that related to lacking the x's and o's definitely but he had his team jumping through walls for him....it's difficult to get that at the NBA level. Jackson got it. He's downfall was not getting the right assistants next to him. He had Malone the first 2 years, but felt he really needed a Tex Winter type next to him. Problem was seems everyone was after his job backstabbing him. I credit him with the development of Curry/Thompson and keeping 1-15's attention all season and having them ready at a moment's notice.

I think they should have kept him and hired a couple of veteran assistants to go alongside him.

[Kidd Karma]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

I can picture that.

Avery is probably not ever going to be mistaken for a players' coach. That is, if he ever gets another opportunity. At least he had the 'humility' (if that's actually a word that can be used in the same paragraph as Avery) to do a little stint as an assistant beforehand, unlike Jackson. Avery probably gets one more chance at some point, most likely in his hometown next time an opening arises. Maybe Houston when McHale gives up the ghost.

Jackson will probably get another opportunity too, maybe immediately, and he may even be successful. (Is anyone wondering whether D'Antoni's resignation is all just a big coincidence?) But long-term I think it's going to depend on how fast he learns that you need more than a loud voice and an aggressive personality to successfully manage a team.

Three additional nuggets about Jackson that I read this morning:

1) When the Warriors hired him, they wanted him to move to the Oakland/San Francisco area full-time, and he steadfastly refused. Should've been a red flag to Warriors ownership before they even hired him. ("Thanks for interviewing with us, Pastor, and vaya con DÃ*os.") He and his wife had established a church in Los Angeles, and he wanted to continue to pastor that church in the off-season. He would frequently fly from SF to LA on Sundays to preach at his church, schedule permitting. Part-time NBA coach, part-time preacher. It kind of gave ownership the impression that Jackson wasn't willing to commit 100% to the franchise, and that he was in fact attempting to use the GSW gig as a springboard to a higher-profile (and higher-paying) job, in a bigger market like LA or NY.

2) When NBA Assistant Coach of the Year Mike Malone parted ways with Jackson for Sacramento (reportedly on bad terms), Warriors management urged Jackson to hire an experienced tactician as his lead assistant. Jackson, already insecure about getting credit for the team's success in the wake of Malone's departure, stubbornly refused and instead elevated his friend and former teammate Pete Myers to the lead spot. Who? Problem was that Myers is completely UN-regarded as an NBA entity. Jackson was seen as valuing personal loyalty over professional competence.

3) Compounding matters about the competence of his assistants, Jackson brought another friend, Lindsey Hunter, on to his staff. Ethan Strauss on ESPN True Hoop points out that Hunter had a reputation for being a destabilizing influence and underminer in previous stops at Chicago and Phoenix, and that Jackson's firing marked the third consecutive time that Hunter's hiring coincided with a head coach being fired within a year of Hunter's joining a team in a quasi-coaching position (in Chicago in 2009 with Vinny Del Negro, where Hunter was added to the roster as a 39-year old player, with Del Negro being bounced in 2010 ; and in Phoenix with Alvin Gentry, who hired Hunter as a player development coach, only to see Hunter ascend to the interim coaching position when Gentry was fired, leapfrogging veteran assistants Dan Majerle and Elston Turner).

Hunter also caught some spotlight in Phoenix when it was pointed out that he had been suspended by the NBA for performance-enhancing drugs (which he laughed off as being his wife's diet pills) and for being part of an ongoing FBI investigation into mortgage fraud (which he didn't laugh off). Hunter was said not to've gotten along with either dismissed assistant Scalabrine, or dismissed assistant Erman, who was discovered to be secretly recording conversations between Myers, Hunter, and players, because Erman believed the other assistant coaches were badmouthing him behind his back.

So Jackson's judgment was again called into question for the quality and integrity of assistants he brought onto his staff, and he was again seen as cultivating loyalty over competence. One of the things that Lacob told Jackson in his termination interview is that he (Jackson) needed to learn to manage better both up (ownership) and sideways (assistants).

At his next stop, Jackson's success will likely hinge on whether he can keep his own ego in check, and whether he feels secure enough with ownership to hire competent x-and-o guys, and whether he feels secure enough to share the credit with them, while being a player motivator and game manager. His coach/preacher schtick will not play well in a lot of cities, particularly the bigger-markets that he wants to be in. But it might be perfect for place like OKC, which is said to be the only team in the NBA that has an invocation before games. If Scott Brooks flames out again this year, would Thunder management consider Jackson, who shares a strong religious faith with Durant? Would Jackson consider leaving the more glamorous LA/NY markets to take a job in the heart of flyover country in OKC? A lot of questions for time to answer.

Moving to the Bay Area was not part of the original agreement, in their last meeting yesterday Joe Lacob did say he should have had it as part of the contract. But if say his church and fam was rooted in Oakland, he would not have been the first and last man out of that gym as he was many of days during the 3 year tenure. So there goes that theory.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

Moving to the Bay Area was not part of the original agreement, in their last meeting yesterday Joe Lacob did say he should have had it as part of the contract. But if say his church and fam was rooted in Oakland, he would not have been the first and last man out of that gym as he was many of days during the 3 year tenure. So there goes that theory.

Appreciate the extra information. It fleshes some details out, and casts some other things in a different light. Hadn't even read about the Jackson/Kirk Lacob dispute, but that's just stupid on Jackson's part. And if it happened recently, as reported, then it sounds like Jackson was as soured on the Warriors as they were on him, and that he was ready to burn bridges as he got to them. That's not just arrogance, but self-destructive arrogance. Whether he's an Assistant GM or a VP for Daddy's Company, the boss's son may only be 25 now, but he'll always be the boss's son, and it looks like he's taking on a managerial role in the family business.

Re Jackson relocating to the Bay Area, here's what Lacob said:

Q: How much of an issue was Jackson not moving his family up here or buying a house in the Bay Area?

A: “We did not require Mark to do that when he was hired three years ago. In retrospect – and I think he would agree – maybe it would have been a good thing. But we did not require it, so we cannot blame him. Would we require it in the future? I think we would.”

Not requiring it as a contractual obligation is one thing. Wanting him to do it, encouraging him to do it, and wishing that they had required it says to me that it was definitely on their mind.

Kawakami wrote a week ago:

Mark Jackson coaches the Warriors in Oakland but keeps his home base in Southern California, which is a small detail but the details matter.

They especially matter when team ownership has expressed a desire for Jackson to establish at least partial residence here.

That issue was raised when co-owner Joe Lacob and Jackson’s agent held brief contract extension talks last off-season, according to an NBA source.

Lacob’s request was dropped even before the contract discussions were tabled, the source said, and neither side has ever acknowledged that the conversations happened at all.

So it was an explicit issue at least as far back as a year ago. It sounds like Lacob brought it up (again), Jackson pushed back on the issue (again), and Lacob let it drop because the contract extension negotiation didn't appear to be going anywhere anyway.

I don't think there were major issues with the players, it had a lot to do with the administrative staff. ....This team did not give up on MJax. You don't get to Game 7 minus your starting center with the team giving up on MJax. They were 2 minutes away from taking the series and heading into Round 2. This team on the floor did not give up on MJax, they battled to the end and laid it all on the court at Staples in Game 7.

Definitely agree with you here, even though you didn't see Bogut rushing back to play with a fractured rib. I think the one thing that everybody agrees on is that Jackson had the most important players on the Warriors in the palm of his hand, and that they went as far as they did in large part due to that. Whether that level of commitment was sustainable, or whether it was enough to get the team to the next level is far less certain.

[EricaLubarsky]

SVG to GSW?

[spreedom]

Well, that would be a clear upgrade for the Warriors if they got SVG. Huge fan of him as a coach.

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by spreedom

Well, that would be a clear upgrade for the Warriors if they got SVG. Huge fan of him as a coach.

One caveat: SVG has seemed to have a somewhat caustic interpersonal style with players. Wondering if the Warriors current situation might require a bit more...delicacy...at the moment?

[EricaLubarsky]

The Golden State Warriors have already contacted Steve Kerr and Stan Van Gundy for their head coaching vacancy, and may interview as many as 12 potential candidates....The Warriors are also expected to contact the Chicago Bulls about the possibility of interviewing Tom Thibodeau....They're also believed to be considering the merits of former NBA head coaches Lionel Hollins, Mike D'Antoni, George Karl and Jerry Sloan, and college head coaches Fred Hoiberg and Kevin Ollie, and are waiting for assistants David Fizdale, Alvin Gentry and Nate McMillan, the latter two former head coaches, to complete playoff runs.

FYI

http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/artic...es-5464399.php

[TripleDipping]

Originally Posted by EricaLubarsky

FYI

http://www.sfgate.com/warriors/artic...es-5464399.php

D'Antoni makes sense.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

D'Antoni makes sense.

I don't think he makes sense for them. Those players already throw up anything they want. The team needs more defensive discipline and a better Xs and Os coach.

[Underdog]

Originally Posted by TripleDipping

D'Antoni makes sense.

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

I don't think he makes sense for them. Those players already throw up anything they want. The team needs more defensive discipline and a better Xs and Os coach.

So, D'Antoni makes sense... For us Mavs fans.

[Melonhead]

http://jazzbasketball.wordpress.com/...ohn-stocktons/

Kind of long but great insight into Jackson as a player. Growing to really dislike him

[Jack.Kerr]

Originally Posted by Melonhead

http://jazzbasketball.wordpress.com/...ohn-stocktons/

Kind of long but great insight into Jackson as a player. Growing to really dislike him

Thanks for posting. I had seen an allusion to this post the other day, meant to go back and look it up, but hadn't yet.

“I’m a born leader, and if people take that as manipulation, then maybe they haven’t been around leaders,� he (Jackson) says.

Great quote. He really was born to be a snake-oil preacher. He could probably make a lot more money as a televangelist than as a basketball coach.

Also, completely overlooked story on these boards so far is that Jackson was in San Antonio for Game 2, attempting to interview for a position on Stotts' staff.

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/05/08/s...s=iref:nbahpts

[Melonhead]

Originally Posted by Jack.Kerr

Thanks for posting. I had seen an allusion to this post the other day, meant to go back and look it up, but hadn't yet.



Great quote. He really was born to be a snake-oil preacher. He could probably make a lot more money as a televangelist than as a basketball coach.

Also, completely overlooked story on these boards so far is that Jackson was in San Antonio for Game 2, attempting to interview for a position on Stotts' staff.

http://www.nba.com/2014/news/05/08/s...s=iref:nbahpts

I literally started choking on the sandwich I was eating. That's gold. Funny I told a buddy something similar "snake in the grass" when I think of Jackson now

[Five-ofan]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

I don't think he makes sense for them. Those players already throw up anything they want. The team needs more defensive discipline and a better Xs and Os coach.

You know they are an elite defensive and average ish offensive team right?

[Five-ofan]

Originally Posted by mac222b

Jack.Kerr really bringing it. Must spread rep.

Loved Mark Jackson the player from his time at St. Johns onward. Seems like a bit of a phony idiot though. That rah-rah religious bullshit gets old real fast. Especially from a guy consorting with and being extorted by pole dancers.

Personally, I hope they hire a professed atheist

At the risk of turning this into a political thread too, this is a load of crap. You can't decry him for speaking his religious beliefs at work and then say that you hope they hire someone based on their profession of religious beliefs. Well correction obviously you can say it, you did. It just makes you look foolish.

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

You know they are an elite defensive and average ish offensive team right?

Maybe during the regular season, but not during this year's playoffs. You might be able to chalk some of that up to Bogut being out, but I think it more has to do with them being exposed on that end. It was chuck up, run and gun time when it mattered most.

[Five-ofan]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Maybe during the regular season, but not during this year's playoffs. You might be able to chalk some of that up to Bogut being out, but I think it more has to do with them being exposed on that end. It was chuck up, run and gun time when it mattered most.

I think the vast majority of that was having bogut out

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by Five-ofan

At the risk of turning this into a political thread too, this is a load of crap. You can't decry him for speaking his religious beliefs at work and then say that you hope they hire someone based on their profession of religious beliefs. Well correction obviously you can say it, you did. It just makes you look foolish.

I was actually joking. I'm all for people having a right to their beliefs. Also believe in my right to criticize said beliefs(or, rather, the application thereof) as foolish if I consider them so. Also, in my right to look foolish!

For perspective, imagine the roles reversed where an "evangelical atheist" coach turns his fellow "nonbelievers" against the teams practicing Christians.
Sounds absurd, right? Thats all I was after...

Btw I could care less what your beliefs or politics(or anyone else's on this board)are FiveO. I respect your opinions and value your contributions around here. Thats all that matters. And honestly I spend enough time on here that I'm actually happy to see someone betray something personal/political in nature on the rare occasions when that in fact happens. Its easy to forget that we all have separate lives aside from a shared obsession with Mavs/Basketball

[mac222b]

Originally Posted by DevinHarriswillstart

Maybe during the regular season, but not during this year's playoffs. You might be able to chalk some of that up to Bogut being out, but I think it more has to do with them being exposed on that end. It was chuck up, run and gun time when it mattered most.

They did not play with discipline on the offensive end in these playoffs. GS has to get better at valuing possessions to take the next step.

A better coach will long way in that regard, especially a coach that is better at handle rotations and minute distribution.

[Five-ofan]

Originally Posted by mac222b

I was actually joking. I'm all for people having a right to their beliefs. Also believe in my right to criticize said beliefs(or, rather, the application thereof) as foolish if I consider them so. Also, in my right to look foolish!

For perspective, imagine the roles reversed where an "evangelical atheist" coach turns his fellow "nonbelievers" against the teams practicing Christians.
Sounds absurd, right? Thats all I was after...

Btw I could care less what your beliefs or politics(or anyone else's on this board)are FiveO. I respect your opinions and value your contributions around here. Thats all that matters. And honestly I spend enough time on here that I'm actually happy to see someone betray something personal/political in nature on the rare occasions when that in fact happens. Its easy to forget that we all have separate lives aside from a shared obsession with Mavs/Basketball

I am Christian but my point isn't that. If he was an atheist and you'd said that had no place in basketball, I hope they hire a self professed evangelist, it would have been equally foolish. Hope they hire the best coach no matter his(or her) beliefs(or since we're mavs fans hope they hire the worst. Religion should have nothing to do with it

[DevinHarriswillstart]

Originally Posted by mac222b

They did not play with discipline on the offensive end in these playoffs. GS has to get better at valuing possessions to take the next step.

A better coach will long way in that regard, especially a coach that is better at handle rotations and minute distribution.

That was part of my point. D'Antoni will no in way shape or form help them discipline anything. No discipline on offense and doesn't even care about defense.