Knicks · Head coaching in today's NBA (page 1)

gunsnewing @ 6/11/2014 9:14 AM
Phil expressed his disdain for the current state of head coaching the NBA when he said he fel th league has moved away from strategic and complex offensive systems. Systems that were developed and perfected through 70yrs of experience. The triangle, motion offense, any system that promotes team basketball etc

With coaches like Phil Jackon, Jerry Sloan & Don Nelson out of the league you are getting a lot of boring basic vanilla basketball. Over reliance on pick n roll, ISO and 3's as Phil explained.

In my opinion the reason for this is because coaches are going from the court and right into headcoaching. They are not paying their dues as assistants under true basketball savants and spending years learning every aspect of the game. Hence the vanilla offenses. These young coaches spill their cliches and players see right through them and don't buy in. Fisher means everything he says and I think his message will get through to the players and they will respect him as if Phil was the one coaching the team.

Too many assistant coaches and coaching specialists in the NBA masquerading as Head Coaches. It is hurting the game. It's bad enough that players aren't learning the fundamentals of the game in high school and through college. It's bad enough that there are way too many teams today and the talent is therefore diluted with non-NBA level talent.

I'm glad Phil sees this and will do everything he can to help Fisher be in tune with every aspect of being an NBA head coach.

martin @ 6/11/2014 9:30 AM
gunsnewing wrote:Phil expressed his disdain for the current state of head coaching the NBA when he said he fel th league has moved away from strategic and complex offensive systems. Systems that were developed and perfected through 70yrs of experience. The triangle, motion offense, any system that promotes team basketball etc

With coaches like Phil Jackon, Jerry Sloan & Don Nelson out of the league you are getting a lot of boring basic vanilla basketball. Over reliance on pick n roll, ISO and 3's as Phil explained.

In my opinion the reason for this is because coaches are going from the court and right into headcoaching. They are not paying their dues as assistants under true basketball savants. Hence the vanilla offenses.

Too many assistant coaches and coaching specialists in the NBA masquerading as Head Coaches. It is hurting the game. It's bad enough that players aren't learning the fundamentals of the game in high school and through college. It's bad enough that there are way too many teams today and the talent is therefore diluted with non-NBA level talent.

I'm glad Phil sees this and will do everything he can to help Fisher be in tune with every aspect of being an NBA head coach.

Don't disagree with that but I'd also add that players are much younger and much more inexperienced - you mentioned fundamentals and that has a lot to do with it. Highlight dunks, ESPN, YouTube coverage may also give us a hint about what priorities players focus on. My guess is that there is a major downward trend in both age and college bball experience over the past 30 years.

yellowboy90 @ 6/11/2014 9:48 AM
You mean like kurt rambis, jim Clemmons, and all the phil assistants paid their dues under a basketball savant?

I think it is more complicated than that. Also, when has phil not express a disdain for other coaches? He never thought highly of sloan or pop.

BigDaddyG @ 6/11/2014 10:12 AM
martin wrote:
gunsnewing wrote:Phil expressed his disdain for the current state of head coaching the NBA when he said he fel th league has moved away from strategic and complex offensive systems. Systems that were developed and perfected through 70yrs of experience. The triangle, motion offense, any system that promotes team basketball etc

With coaches like Phil Jackon, Jerry Sloan & Don Nelson out of the league you are getting a lot of boring basic vanilla basketball. Over reliance on pick n roll, ISO and 3's as Phil explained.

In my opinion the reason for this is because coaches are going from the court and right into headcoaching. They are not paying their dues as assistants under true basketball savants. Hence the vanilla offenses.

Too many assistant coaches and coaching specialists in the NBA masquerading as Head Coaches. It is hurting the game. It's bad enough that players aren't learning the fundamentals of the game in high school and through college. It's bad enough that there are way too many teams today and the talent is therefore diluted with non-NBA level talent.

I'm glad Phil sees this and will do everything he can to help Fisher be in tune with every aspect of being an NBA head coach.

Don't disagree with that but I'd also add that players are much younger and much more inexperienced - you mentioned fundamentals and that has a lot to do with it. Highlight dunks, ESPN, YouTube coverage may also give us a hint about what priorities players focus on. My guess is that there is a major downward trend in both age and college bball experience over the past 30 years.


Also, there's more player movement then there was 20, 30 years ago. Coaches have to build offenses that can be easily absorbed. Plus, how many coaches out there have the job security and time to install the systems that they want? Pop and Carlisle? Coaches are always on the hot seat and that gives them little incentive to experiment.
knicks1248 @ 6/11/2014 11:18 AM
I think the rules changes dictate the system, especially from a defensive stand point. The lack of polish big men limits any kind of inside presence in todays game. what we have now (and what stern always wanted) is a face up Euro style game, where post play is almost non exsiting.

MDA seem to have set the stage of todays NBA game, and thats why if you don't have great guard play, your toast.

I highly doubt the triangle will be the system we run on a regular, we may see some variations of it, and Fisher knows the rule changes dictate the system which is why he didn't commit..

BigDaddyG @ 6/11/2014 11:49 AM
knicks1248 wrote:I think the rules changes dictate the system, especially from a defensive stand point. The lack of polish big men limits any kind of inside presence in todays game. what we have now (and what stern always wanted) is a face up Euro style game, where post play is almost non exsiting.

MDA seem to have set the stage of todays NBA game, and thats why if you don't have great guard play, your toast.

I highly doubt the triangle will be the system we run on a regular, we may see some variations of it, and Fisher knows the rule changes dictate the system which is why he didn't commit..


Yeah, zone defenses have also helped to give today's defenses the upper hand along with advanced scouting. There are no secrets in today's game. Plays are constantly broken and players need to disciplined in looking for their second and third options.
fishmike @ 6/11/2014 2:32 PM
its not the coaches, its the pupils. Two things have ruined fundamental team ball.
1)Nobody stays in college any more. Its one and done if you have talent
2)Michael Jordan

The greatest player of our time and most iconic sports figure was also an iso guy. 1-1 or 2-2 basketball, iso, beat your man, drive and dish. Be like Mike.

BigDaddyG @ 6/11/2014 2:45 PM
fishmike wrote:its not the coaches, its the pupils. Two things have ruined fundamental team ball.
1)Nobody stays in college any more. Its one and done if you have talent
2)Michael Jordan

The greatest player of our time and most iconic sports figure was also an iso guy. 1-1 or 2-2 basketball, iso, beat your man, drive and dish. Be like Mike.


I also wonder how many of these college programs are suited to developing players for the pros. Is a year at Kentucky really that much better than a year with a stable NBA franchise. There are a lot of high profile programs out there that I feel have done crappy jobs developing kids for the League. How many times have you seen a guy get recruited and noticed three years later that he's ensentially the same player.
Knixkik @ 6/11/2014 3:28 PM
Head coaching has changed because teams aren't recycling coaches anymore. Years ago, free agent coaches like George Karl would be actively pursued by most teams with head coach openings. Now everyone is trying to go against the grain and find a different strategy with higher risk but potentially higher reward. So while these new coaches don't have a system established, many teams view that as a good thing. It's a gift and a curse at the same time.
sidsanders @ 6/11/2014 3:29 PM
fishmike wrote:its not the coaches, its the pupils. Two things have ruined fundamental team ball.
1)Nobody stays in college any more. Its one and done if you have talent
2)Michael Jordan

The greatest player of our time and most iconic sports figure was also an iso guy. 1-1 or 2-2 basketball, iso, beat your man, drive and dish. Be like Mike.

aau circuit has really done some bad stuff for pre college kids. i wouldnt put things on the 1/done college kid, its what happened before they even got there now.

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