Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Cheery Kwanza. All that good stuff. Let’s just wrap it up with a good ole Happy Holidays.
Tex Winter says there’s an easy answer to that question in the headlines. “Phil Jackson is a patient man,” he said appreciatively the other day. “He’s the most patient guy in the whole Lakers organization.”
Jackson’s going to need all that patience and more as he helps this talented young roster on its way. He’s having a heck of a year picking his way through some challenging options on the Lakers roster (of course a lot of coaches would like to have Jackson’s problem, scratching their heads and deciding who gets minutes among all the talent).
Patience is in short supply these days. And not just in Lakersville, where Winter notes that expectations have soared among fans, executives, owners and players and coaches themselves.
Although expectations for the Lakers have long since shot out of the atmosphere, Phil Jackson is one of those few coaches secure in his status (he goes for his 1,000 regular-season coaching win on Christmas day against the Celtics). It is worth pointing out, however, that even Jackson got fired in 2004 (and the writer of this blog has stated more than once that Jackson deserved to be fired in 2004, just as he was the perfect choice for rehiring in 2005).
Still, as Winter notes, these are dangerous times for NBA coaches.
“That’s why in the business of being a head coach the worst thing in the world that can happen to you is that expectations are too high and you disappoint fans,” Winter said. “A lot of head coaches have lost their jobs this year because of that.”
Of all the firings that bothered Winter, he pointed to the release of Reggie Theus as head coach of the Sacramento Kings. “I don’t think he had the real opportunity he needed to show what he could do,” Winter said of Theus. “But that’s the territory these days in the NBA. It’s easier to fire the coaches than it is to fire the players.”
In the NFL, player contracts allow for their release. Which raises an interesting question in the NBA, where contracts are guaranteed despite performance. If you could fire 10 players around the league, who would be on your walking list? Who would you put out in the cold for Christmas? And why?
4 Comments
I would fire any and all of the ego-maniacs who fail remain humble to the fact that they get paid VERY well to be grown men playing a boys game. Like it or not – they are roll models – and if they are not up to THAT challenge… then in my view, they can walk
Who would I fire?
Marburry.
Here’s who I would hand a pink slip:
Stephon Marbury – egomaniac, malcontent, cancer, and the most overpaid ’star’ of all time
Ricky Davis – always a knucklehead and a loser, but his production (or lack thereof) this season tips the scales
Jamaal Magloire – how much money can you squeeze out of one ASG appearance?
Jerome James – yes, he is still earning an NBA paycheck
Mark Madsen – his only skill is his awful dancing at championship parades
I have based my firings on the malcontents, the sooks, the headcases and the down right over payed:
Stephon Marbury
Baron Davis
Erick Dampier
Jamaal Tinsley
Tracy McGrady
Steve Francis
Ricky Davis
Antoine Walker
Marko Jaric
Shawn Marion
Damon Jones
Bobby Simmons
Stromile Swift
Trenton Hassell
Eddy Curry
Jerome James
Kenny Thomas
Etan Thomas
Fire them all! Someone will fill the void left by these selfish black holes. If only they realized every day what a gift it is to play basketball for a living. They worked so hard to get into the NBA, but now they need motivation and accountability to give their best effort every game…