http://www.insidehoops.com/jackson-wolves-011405.shtml Interesting article on how Phil Jackson would help this team if he replaced Saunders as coach. What do you think? Would you welcome such a coaching change, and when?
Nope. The problem that grew while Phil Jackson was coaching in LA was the simple fact that his franchise player, Kobe Bryant, no longer wanted to play under Phil's philosophy. The problem currently occuring in Minnesota is quite similar. People's motivates have come into question, player's are complaining about contracts, and it's looks as though KG is the only player who actually wants to be in Minnesota as things currently stand. So you can insert Phil Jackson into the situation, but if his players have no desire to be playing ball in Minnesota to begin with, he'd have just as difficult a time in my opinion.
I get the impression that the whole contract issue with Sprewell and Cassell are being blown out of proportion. While they were winning in the beginning of the season, people said that it looks like they put it behind them. Now that they are losing, everyone wants to blame it on the contract. When was the last time those players even complained about the contract? Haven't anything about it from Cassell since the regular season started. Perhaps Flip Saunders should go back to playing the players which won for him last year. Last year with Olowakandi in the lineup, the Wolves' record plummeted. The Kandi man hasn't done anything this year to justify continuing to play him, so why doesn't Flip bench him? I expected the Wolves would be as good as last year despite the aging of Cassel and Sprewell because Sczcerbiak would be with the team all year. Even though he's played well, it doesn't seem to have helped the team much. If they can trade him for an above average perimeter defensive player, I think that could only help them.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">I get the impression that the whole contract issue with Sprewell and Cassell are being blown out of proportion. While they were winning in the beginning of the season, people said that it looks like they put it behind them. Now that they are losing, everyone wants to blame it on the contract. When was the last time those players even complained about the contract? Haven't anything about it from Cassell since the regular season started. </div> It's not Cassell, Sprewell is the problem in this case, imho. This team somehow reminds me of the Clippers 2002-2003 where everyone was only playing for his own stats. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Perhaps Flip Saunders should go back to playing the players which won for him last year. Last year with Olowakandi in the lineup, the Wolves' record plummeted. The Kandi man hasn't done anything this year to justify continuing to play him, so why doesn't Flip bench him? </div> Kandi started only 14 times out of 30 games played, he averages 18 minutes per game, so that's not the main problem, main problem is that he's not good enough for a starting C and we really don't have anyone good enough for a starting C. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I expected the Wolves would be as good as last year despite the aging of Cassel and Sprewell because Sczcerbiak would be with the team all year. Even though he's played well, it doesn't seem to have helped the team much. If they can trade him for an above average perimeter defensive player, I think that could only help them.</div> We have an above average perimeter defensive player in Hassell, at least he was one last year, we just don't use him the way we should use him => coaching problem. Don't like the idea of Phil, but I see where you're coming from. Flip isn't doing the right things at the moment and maybe he needs to be replaced.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">I get the impression that the whole contract issue with Sprewell and Cassell are being blown out of proportion. While they were winning in the beginning of the season, people said that it looks like they put it behind them. Now that they are losing, everyone wants to blame it on the contract. When was the last time those players even complained about the contract? Haven't anything about it from Cassell since the regular season started. Perhaps Flip Saunders should go back to playing the players which won for him last year. Last year with Olowakandi in the lineup, the Wolves' record plummeted. The Kandi man hasn't done anything this year to justify continuing to play him, so why doesn't Flip bench him? I expected the Wolves would be as good as last year despite the aging of Cassel and Sprewell because Sczcerbiak would be with the team all year. Even though he's played well, it doesn't seem to have helped the team much. If they can trade him for an above average perimeter defensive player, I think that could only help them.</div> The contract situations are only blown out of proportion depending on how you look at it. There are so many different things wrong with this team right now... On the case of contract stuff...it is having an effect here: Sprewell is being a big *****. If he wasn't focused on making more money than hes worth and played basketball we wouldn't have a problem, at least with one player. If he could be a man, and go out and play hard every night, we would be a little better. Sam obviously isn't as motivated as he could be either due to contract problems, but at least he plays hard 80% of the time. Maybe these guys need to be told how, if you want to be payed more, you gotta earn it first, or else they arent worth it to the team. Maybe Spree needs to realize he hasn't been an all-star team for a couple years and no one cares about the family he needs to feed. If he wants more money he should play like it... You mentioned something about how Olowokandi should be taken out of the starting line-up, that sounds great...but who replaces him? Johnson isn't much better... So, as much as it hurts to have Olowokandi, who apparently never learned how to play Center, or basketball for that matter, in the starting lineup, we have no other choice. Other problems include guys not knowing what their role on the team is. Wally is a good example of that. Since no one except KG really has a set role on the team right now, and Sprewell, Olowokandi, Cassel, take your pick, tend to not do shit out on the court, Wally becomes very aggressive and tries to be the center of the offense. This just causes conflict with other teammmates, etc. etc. since Wally was really intended to be a very effective role-player this season. To the question at hand: Would Phil Jackson fix this? Not at all. I may sound biased, but my opinion is that Flip is a whole lot better than Phil( I share the "Phil was lucky" opinion) The center of the teams problems are the players and their attitudes. Everyone suffers from certain players' shitty attitudes. Look at KG, even he has been struggling because the players dont try , or Wally is trying to take over the team on the court, or Mark Madsen cant catch a pass, or Olowokandi cant rebound or do a lay-up, take your pick of scenarios...it's even hard for KG to be motivated on this team right now.
Phil Jackson would not do any better than what Flip is doing. Quite frankly, I am not that impressed with Jackson even when he won championships with the Bulls and Lakers. Flip is a darn good coach who should not worry about his job. It's not his fault. It's the players fault. They have to go the get the job done and start playing better. It's not Flip's fault that Olowokandi is horrible and that Latrell and Sam has aged. It's not Flip's fault that Wally and Troy and others are not being smart with their shot selection. All Flip can do is have his team be prepared for the game and conduct great practices. When it comes to gametime, it's the players that have to perform. I don't think there needs to be coaching change. Flip is a darn good coach in his own right. He is not the problem. The players are and you can bet the players will go before Flip goes. McHale and Glen Taylor believes in Flip so don't think a coaching change will happen. Besides Phil has no interest in coaching the Wolves. Heck I doubt he will ever coach in the NBA again.
I agree with my fellow member Timberwolf. I really don't think Phil Jackson would be doing much better than Flip is. Flip has been through it all in Minnesota, I think one bad start to a season shouldn't get him fired. I trust him and his coaching, and I also trust McHael to make the right move.
Plus Jackson and McHale will never be on the same page. There will always be disagreements with those two. You gotta put up and deal with McHale. Now I know Phil was able to beat Jerry West, but that's because Phil was able to influence Dr. Buss not to mention he was dating Dr. Buss's daughter. Taylor got Kevin McHale's back and he is not letting McHale go so forget Jackson coming to Minnesota. Flip and McHale work well together and they both enjoy working with each other. Now if there was problem between those two, I would be concerned.
