R.I.P. Mr. Daly........I still don't think the bad boy teams of the 80's get enough credit for how great they were...
Daly deserves a lot of the credit - or the blame, depending on your point of view - for ushering in the kind of physical, defense-oriented teams that made deep playoff runs (and still do) in the NBA. Along with Jerry Sloan and Pat Riley, Chuck Daly revolutionized the NBA. Anyone who was able to keep egos like Dennis Rodman's and Isiah Thomas' in check, and make use out of marginal talents like Bill Laimbeer, and win championships, is worthy of high praise. Daly was a great coach. The NBA community will miss him, certainly.
What I didn't know is that Daly was a paid consultant for the Memphis Grizzlies front office. RIP to a HOF.
Sad day....RIP Mr. Daly. The 1988 Finals is my first NBA memory that I vividly remember. I "hated" you and your team since you were facing the Lakers in the finals. When I say that I mean it with the utmost respect. I "hated" you and your team just because you were soo damn good, which you proved in the 89 finals by sweeping the Lakers in Kareem's final year. You are a true champion and did it the right way. You were taken way too early from us.
