Q&A with Fratello <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Q: What are your thoughts as you reflect on the season? A: I'm happy to be back and have a chance to coach. For the most part, I was really happy with the effort that the guys gave and what we were able to accomplish from the time we got in here. In the end, I honestly thought instead of going into the playoffs with a head of a steam, we went in the wrong way. We went in on a down slide. Probably our best chance (in the playoffs) was Game 2 when we were up five with a few minutes left. Winning that would have given us a whole new outlook coming home. You're 1-1, you're coming home and your energy level is up. But it didn't end that way. This league isn't a fantasy. But the biggest disappointment is how we finished up the regular season, going into the playoffs. Q: Don't you anticipate major changes to fit your style? A: We're going to look at our team and try to identify players. It's simple. You look at any business and you say 'What are our pluses and what are our minuses?' Let's evaluate it and think of the different ways we can get better. You can get better through draft, free agency and trades. For us to compete in this conference and in this division and have a chance to get past the first round, what do we have to do? When you're in the position that we're in, it's one of the most difficult to be in because if you stay the same way you are and don't change at all, you're probably not good enough to beat the guys in front of you unless they have a major collapse. So do you make a change? If you make a change and play it safe, will that make you good enough? Or do you gamble and take a chance, maybe give up a piece or two pieces that were a part of what got you there? If the gamble doesn't pay off you may go in the wrong direction. But that's the spot you're in when you're in the sixth, seventh or eighth position of playoff teams trying to climb and get better. Sometimes you have to take the gamble. There are no guarantees. But sometimes you have to gamble. Q: How much are you looking forward to a training camp? A: For me and our staff, training camp will be very important because we had multiple terminologies last year. What did they used to call it? What was I comfortable with? You've got to define things and pare it down so that everybody is on the same page. Training camp is where technique is taught and how you play certain situations. It's where you get an understanding of what the offensive philosophy is. I'm sure players struggled at times with what is our philosophy. Are we still doing it Hubie's way? Or are we trying to change over to a new way? We have to figure out who we are as a team and what we can do. But a lot of that depends on who is here. Q: There was an obvious problem with Bonzi Wells. Putting closure on the situation, what ultimately led to his departure? A: It was just in the best interest for the team. It was going to work better that way than any other way.</div> Source
Thanks for posting this, shapecity. I always appreciate Fratello's insight into any form of basketball, the man is simply a genius. I look forward to seeing what he does with the team in free agency, I hope to see "Fratello-guys". By "Fratello-guys" I mean guys who play basketball purely, with focus on defense and halfcourt offense. Halfcourt offense is a joy to watch when executed properly, and if anyone can employ a successful halfcourt offense it's Fratello.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks for posting this, shapecity. I always appreciate Fratello's insight into any form of basketball, the man is simply a genius. I look forward to seeing what he does with the team in free agency, I hope to see "Fratello-guys". By "Fratello-guys" I mean guys who play basketball purely, with focus on defense and halfcourt offense. Halfcourt offense is a joy to watch when executed properly, and if anyone can employ a successful halfcourt offense it's Fratello.</div> I hate to say it, but Mike Fratello cost us the playoffs by refusing to play Bonzi Wells, Stromile Swift, and Jason Williams. You can talk about the class acts that "Fratello-guys" are all day, but until they win me a playoff game, I'm going to prefer talent over purity.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I hate to say it, but Mike Fratello cost us the playoffs by refusing to play Bonzi Wells, Stromile Swift, and Jason Williams. You can talk about the class acts that "Fratello-guys" are all day, but until they win me a playoff game, I'm going to prefer talent over purity.</div> That's just how great of a coach Fratello is. He doesn't tolerate players who refuse to listen to him, act in an immature manner, etc. He really doesn't put up with it. Bah, I think he also realized that Memphis held little to no chance against Phoenix. It's all about respect, and if a player can't respect a coach should he expect the coach to respect him back? No, he shouldn't. Obviously, Bonzi did think the coach should've, so he probably spoke to Fratello about it in a condescending manner (he's a headcase, you know) - Fratello does not let that happen.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">That's just how great of a coach Fratello is. He doesn't tolerate players who refuse to listen to him, act in an immature manner, etc. He really doesn't put up with it. Bah, I think he also realized that Memphis held little to no chance against Phoenix. It's all about respect, and if a player can't respect a coach should he expect the coach to respect him back? No, he shouldn't. Obviously, Bonzi did think the coach should've, so he probably spoke to Fratello about it in a condescending manner (he's a headcase, you know) - Fratello does not let that happen.</div> Yeah, he is a great coach and I have tremendous respect for him. And just think the Knicks coulda had him
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">That's just how great of a coach Fratello is. He doesn't tolerate players who refuse to listen to him, act in an immature manner, etc. He really doesn't put up with it. Bah, I think he also realized that Memphis held little to no chance against Phoenix. It's all about respect, and if a player can't respect a coach should he expect the coach to respect him back? No, he shouldn't. Obviously, Bonzi did think the coach should've, so he probably spoke to Fratello about it in a condescending manner (he's a headcase, you know) - Fratello does not let that happen.</div> Nice time for Fratello to assert his authority, eh? The NBA Playoffs are the biggest stage of the year. He was just abusing his power. I don't care what's said in the locker room or how much respect a player has for a coach, the best players should play. Dahntay Jones recorded 33 minutes (I believe) in one game where Bonzi Wells didn't play at all. How can you tell me the Grizzlies wouldn't have had a much better chance with the more talented, veteran Wells in the game for those 33 minutes? How about the time Jason Williams started out with 5-5 FG shooting, including 13 of the team's 26 points, and then Mike Fratello benched him because of an exchange in a timeout? There's no telling how these things would have effected our team. You're not going to find an entire team of Shane Battier's in the NBA, and if you do, they're probably not going to be talented enough to beat the team of Ron Artest's. I'm tired of being swept in the playoffs because Fratello ruins the lineup.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nice time for Fratello to assert his authority, eh? The NBA Playoffs are the biggest stage of the year.</div> Sure. So the playoffs are exceptions, huh? That's like saying "Hey, do whatever you want, you don't have to listen. After all, it is the playoffs." He's simply being himself. He has been damn successful and I refuse to doubt him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> He was just abusing his power. I don't care what's said in the locker room or how much respect a player has for a coach, the best players should play. Dahntay Jones recorded 33 minutes (I believe) in one game where Bonzi Wells didn't play at all. How can you tell me the Grizzlies wouldn't have had a much better chance with the more talented, veteran Wells in the game for those 33 minutes? How about the time Jason Williams started out with 5-5 FG shooting, including 13 of the team's 26 points, and then Mike Fratello benched him because of an exchange in a timeout? There's no telling how these things would have effected our team. You're not going to find an entire team of Shane Battier's in the NBA, and if you do, they're probably not going to be talented enough to beat the team of Ron Artest's. I'm tired of being swept in the playoffs because Fratello ruins the lineup.</div> You don't care about the lack of respect that some players hold and exhibit for/towards coaches. Does this mean that Fratello can't care? This is his job in life, coach the team. If a player is out of line, he should be benched - I don't care the situation, there are some exceptions. This is not an exception, Memphis held barely any chance at all to advance to the 2nd round...really. Maybe the sweep wasn't Fratello's fault entirely? Hmm? Phoenix played a shot-for-shot game. Memphis couldn't keep up - simple as that. Memphis had no real shot, don't kid yourself. Am I allowed to support Fratello, VooDooChild? Gee, I sure hope so. Because I think that while there are people who dislike his agressive style, they can't argue with the numbers, and they indicate that Fratello is a damn successful coach considering the pitiful teams he's had to put up with. I really do support him, he has a great basketball mind and he doesn't like disrespect.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure. So the playoffs are exceptions, huh? That's like saying "Hey, do whatever you want, you don't have to listen. After all, it is the playoffs." He's simply being himself. He has been damn successful and I refuse to doubt him. You don't care about the lack of respect that some players hold and exhibit for/towards coaches. Does this mean that Fratello can't care? This is his job in life, coach the team. If a player is out of line, he should be benched - I don't care the situation, there are some exceptions. This is not an exception, Memphis held barely any chance at all to advance to the 2nd round...really. Maybe the sweep wasn't Fratello's fault entirely? Hmm? Phoenix played a shot-for-shot game. Memphis couldn't keep up - simple as that. Memphis had no real shot, don't kid yourself. Am I allowed to support Fratello, VooDooChild? Gee, I sure hope so. Because I think that while there are people who dislike his agressive style, they can't argue with the numbers, and they indicate that Fratello is a damn successful coach considering the pitiful teams he's had to put up with. I really do support him, he has a great basketball mind and he doesn't like disrespect.</div> It's sad that you are so desperate for attention that you have to type your post in condescending manner, with peremptory sentences such as "Am I allowed to support Fratello, VooDooChild? Gee, I sure hope so." If you're going to continue to post in this forum, please address your posts with a more reverent phraseology. When you don't, it just exploits your lack of adult experience and maturity. It would be plain ignorant to assume that the problems that Fratello had with Wells, Williams, and Swift didn't go on during the regular season. You personally have no idea what was going on behind the scenes during the playoffs, but let me just tell you that it was nothing different from anything that went on during the regular season. Fratello thought it would be a fun place to exert his authority, and it backfired in his face. Also, if you would go into the playoffs with the mentality that you can not win the series, then you wouldn't be a very good coach. The bottom line is that if Stromile Swift, Jason Williams, and Bonzi Wells played, it would be a much different series.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's sad that you are so desperate for attention that you have to type your post in condescending manner, with peremptory sentences such as "Am I allowed to support Fratello, VooDooChild? Gee, I sure hope so." If you're going to continue to post in this forum, please address your posts with a more reverent phraseology. When you don't, it just exploits your lack of adult experience and maturity.</div> I sincerely apologize. It was a joke, I really didn't realize you would take it so seriously. In all honesty, I'm sorry. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It would be plain ignorant to assume that the problems that Fratello had with Wells, Williams, and Swift didn't go on during the regular season. You personally have no idea what was going on behind the scenes during the playoffs, but let me just tell you that it was nothing different from anything that went on during the regular season. Fratello thought it would be a fun place to exert his authority, and it backfired in his face. Also, if you would go into the playoffs with the mentality that you can not win the series, then you wouldn't be a very good coach. The bottom line is that if Stromile Swift, Jason Williams, and Bonzi Wells played, it would be a much different series.</div> When did I say that I didn't think that they didn't go on in the regular season? I'm not surprised to hear that at all. Assume? Never did I assume that on any level. Fun place to abuse his authority? You seem to assume that Fratello did it for satisfaction, for "kicks" if you will. Which is absolutely ridiculous. Now, I have no inside source or anything of that matter (and I doubt you do too) but if I had to guess I'd bet a great deal of money on this little idea. Do you think that maybe the players went a bit far in their disrespect for Fratello when the playoffs swung around? I mean, I doubt that they thought that Fratello would bench them, right? So maybe they talked back a bit more, or rolled their eyes etc. Fratello has a job to do, he can't have that going on - so he does what he was told to do when he originally got the job (something of this nature, I'd imagine): "If you find that any given player is acting up, feel free to do what you feel is best for the team.". He did. I agree with him to a certain extent. If a coach doesn't have the respect of his players, whose will he have? With benching them, they realized just what can happen if you cross the line. Fratello made a huge point in benching them, he showed people everywhere that respect and conduct comes before all else. The players crossed the line, they had it coming 100%.
To be honest and quite short if you don't like Mike and the way he runs his team I suggest you start cheering for another one. All these guys who you continue listing are thugs and always will be...its all about them...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks Analyst:</div><div class="quote_post">I sincerely apologize. It was a joke, I really didn't realize you would take it so seriously. In all honesty, I'm sorry. When did I say that I didn't think that they didn't go on in the regular season? I'm not surprised to hear that at all. Assume? Never did I assume that on any level. Fun place to abuse his authority? You seem to assume that Fratello did it for satisfaction, for "kicks" if you will. Which is absolutely ridiculous. Now, I have no inside source or anything of that matter (and I doubt you do too) but if I had to guess I'd bet a great deal of money on this little idea. Do you think that maybe the players went a bit far in their disrespect for Fratello when the playoffs swung around? I mean, I doubt that they thought that Fratello would bench them, right? So maybe they talked back a bit more, or rolled their eyes etc. Fratello has a job to do, he can't have that going on - so he does what he was told to do when he originally got the job (something of this nature, I'd imagine): "If you find that any given player is acting up, feel free to do what you feel is best for the team.". He did. I agree with him to a certain extent. If a coach doesn't have the respect of his players, whose will he have? With benching them, they realized just what can happen if you cross the line. Fratello made a huge point in benching them, he showed people everywhere that respect and conduct comes before all else. The players crossed the line, they had it coming 100%.</div> They "crossed the line" all season, and I do know for a fact that the playoffs were nothing much different. I don't believe Fratello did what he did for the sake of abusing his powers. I feel he did what he did because he thought it was a great way to make a statement, and that statement ended up being "I'll bench my best players and take a loss if they don't respect me." I don't know about you, but I'd sacrifice respect for a win. Are you telling me that every coach to ever win a championship has had the respect of his players? Bodiddly14, I'm a fan of the Grizzlies because I live in Memphis and have seen every one of their games since they moved here. I'll always follow the team because I have that connection with them, but that doesn't mean I have to agree with every move the team's coaches and General Managers make (Jerry West is the worst. Bring back Billy Knight!).
I just saw where you posted about the lakers being possible chmpionship contenders?? One quick question who was the brain behind those three championships??? DING DING DING thats right... JERRY WEST!!!!! Don't say he is the worst, please.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bodiddly14:</div><div class="quote_post">I just saw where you posted about the lakers being possible chmpionship contenders?? One quick question who was the brain behind those three championships??? DING DING DING thats right... JERRY WEST!!!!! Don't say he is the worst, please.</div> Who are the Grizzlies' best players? Jason Williams, Shane Battier, Pau Gasol, and Lorenzen Wright. Any idea who brought them all to Memphis? Billy Knight. He was the man who traded Abdur-Rahim for the #3 pick, Wright, and Knight, and then brought in Battier and Gasol through that draft. Who has Jerry West brought us? He gave us Bonzi Wells, but in the long run that was a bad move for us. I would have preferred the cap room that Person's contract would have given us. He gave us James Posey, but this year James Posey was more of a hinderance than a help. He gave us Mike Miller, who is a great player, but he had to give up Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek to get him. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have Drew Gooden and Gordan Giricek. Then look at all the horrible draft moves he has made. In the top 20, he picked Troy Bell and Dahntay Jones, two players projected in the second round. He also passed up on Carlos Boozer and Dan Gadzuric for Robert Archibald. Then there was the brilliant drafting of Antonio Burks and Andre Emmett. Yup, we lost our second round draft pick this year for that one. So until he does something good for the franchise, I'm not going to give him any credit.
LOL Knight had the 4th and 7th pick or somthing like that. If JW was given the oppurtunity to draft as high I bet he could do 10 times better then Battier at #4 and Gasol at whatever the crap he was. Giricek and Gooden are really showing off I tell you what out in Utah and Cleveland man wouldn't they have helped win atleast one playoff game lol.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bodiddly14:</div><div class="quote_post">LOL Knight had the 4th and 7th pick or somthing like that. If JW was given the oppurtunity to draft as high I bet he could do 10 times better then Battier at #4 and Gasol at whatever the crap he was. Giricek and Gooden are really showing off I tell you what out in Utah and Cleveland man wouldn't they have helped win atleast one playoff game lol.</div> Pau Gasol was the #3 pick, and Shane Battier was the #6 pick. Look at some of the other picks: #1 Kwame Brown, #2 Tyson Chandler, #4 Eddy Curry, #7 Eddie Griffen, #8 Sagana Diop, #9 Rodney White. I don't see how any draft could have been better than Gasol and Battier. Considering that Pau Gasol was probably the best player in the draft, how could West have done better than him? And who would he have drafted better than Shane Battier? There was Richard Jefferson, but he wasn't necessarily on the radar for a #6 pick, and I can guarantee you that West wouldn't have taken him. Compare that to the drafting of Troy Bell, Dahntay Jones, Robert Archibald, Antonio Burks, or Andre Emmett. I think it's funny that you're making fun of Drew Gooden as well. He finished the season with 14.4 ppg and 9.2 rpg, proving to be one of the best up-and-coming big men in the NBA. He'll certainly have some All-Star bids in his future. If we kept him, we wouldn't be having to solve the problem of a week frontcourt, and we wouldn't be so overloaded on the wing. Giricek doesn't stack up well against Miller by himself, but he is a great role player who averaged 13.5 ppg for Utah in 2004. I don't think that you can say that a team would be better off with Mike Miller than both of those players. But hey, look on the bright side, West did manage to get us Ryan Humphrey in that deal.
Please! Gooden shoots 15 times a game!!! I could average 14.4 if you gave me 15 shots! He is also playing in the east! Trust me on this one VD he would not average those type of numbers in the wild west going up against the likes of... Well I shouldn't even have to start on this how about I say EVERY OTHER PF!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bodiddly14:</div><div class="quote_post">Please! Gooden shoots 15 times a game!!! I could average 14.4 if you gave me 15 shots! He is also playing in the east! Trust me on this one VD he would not average those type of numbers in the wild west going up against the likes of... Well I shouldn't even have to start on this how about I say EVERY OTHER PF!!!</div> This could go either ways. If you say that Gooden is a bad PF, then you are admitting that West drafting him at fourth over Nene Hilario, Amare Stoudemire and Caron Butler would be a mistake. Whatever side you take, you're definitely not applauding Jerry West's move.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bodiddly14:</div><div class="quote_post">Hey now I dont want to hear it Rockets fan we did u a favor in Stevie FRANCHISE! LOL</div> Unless you're going to add to the conversation then don't post at all. Also, incase you didn't notice, the West is not that superior to the East. The East has the defending champions and Shaq's Heat. Just look at some of the big men they have as well. There is Shaquille O'Neal, Jermaine O'Neal, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Emeka Okafor, Dwight Howard, Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace, Antwain Jamison, Antoine Walker, Eddy Curry, Tyson Chandler, and Chris Bosh, so it's not exactly a weak conference upfront. You also realize that every Eastern Conference team plays all the Western Conference teams too, right?
Jerry West's strong suit was never the NBA draft. Even with the Lakers he had a lot of terrible picks, but they are rarely talked about because of his draft day deal to land Kobe Bryant. Landing Kobe Bryant somehow erases all of the bad picks West has made. Also I don't think this trade would have ever happened if West wasn't 100% sure Shaq would become a Laker. I love Jerry West as a GM because of the class he brings to a team and organization. His greatest talent as a GM was the trades he was able to pull off and being able to lure free agents to Los Angeles. However, Jerry West didn't have the cap restraints GMs have to deal with now. I think having the responsibility to draft a player is extremely difficult. Most of the workouts showcase a player's physical ability, but there are no tests to figure out the heart and desire of a player. Most players don't put in the work to live up to their potential, a lot are not coachable, and some become complacent once they get a guaranteed contract. Not until their contract expires do they actually work hard again hoping to cash in on another long term guaranteed deal.
