| Sunday, March 19
By Frank Hughes
Special to ESPN.com |
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So the NBA had its league marketing meetings in Denver this week, trying
to figure out a way to spice up their product and get the bumbling masses
streaming back into their arenas.
Personally, I can't believe they didn't invite me to attend. I've given
them so many good ideas already.
|  | | If Chris Ford gets another coaching job, Frank Hughes might go over the edge. |
Of course, they never listen, so it didn't surprise me that I didn't get
my gold-engraved invitation to the soireé. But that won't stop me from
chucking out ideas for them to ignore even further.
Here's my latest idea for improving the game: STOP HIRING THE SAME OLD
CRUSTY COACHES.
This summer is going to be the perfect opportunity for the NBA to get an
influx of energy, new ideas, new strategies, a new regime, if you will --
which they probably won't, but hey, it's their seats that are empty.
OK, let's look at this. When the NBA season ends sometime in late-June,
there could be nine coaching vacancies, with perhaps more to come, depending
on which teams possibly swoon in the final quarter of the season, or in the
playoffs.
The known openings already will be in Dallas, where Don Nelson came to an
agreement with new owner Mark Cuban in which he would step down from his
coaching duties; in Detroit, where George Irvine, Alvin Gentry's interim
replacement, does not want the job; in Indiana, where Larry Bird, leading his
team to the best record in the East, has worn out his welcome; in
Washington, where Darrell Walker likely will be replaced by Michael Jordan's
hand-picked coach; and in Los Angeles, where the Clippers' Jim Todd has not
exactly turned things around.
In addition, Vancouver's new owner Michael Heisley likely will want to
bring in his own people, especially now that Lionel Hollins has lost 10
straight; the rumor in New Jersey is that when George Steinbrenner
officially takes charge, he is going to clean house; and with Golden State
mired at the bottom of the Western Conference yet again, there is some
question whether Garry St. Jean will be back. Added to that list could be
Rick Pitino in Boston and Lenny Wilkens in Atlanta.
That's nine new slots to be filled. And if I see any of those slots going
to Mike Fratello or Chris Ford or, God help us, Bill Fitch or K.C. Jones or
John Lucas or Bob Hill or Brendan Malone or Don Casey or any of the other old
hats, or if any of the coaches who get fired get recycled to another team, I
may just have to throw down the gauntlet to King David and issue a stern
warning.
There are far too many new, qualified applicants out there who deserve a
chance at running their own teams instead of going for the same names over
and over and over. In New Jersey, you hear because Steinbrenner is involved,
he wants a big-name coach.
Who? Fratello? He's a big-name coach? Why, because his mug is on TV
working the telestrator so effectively? If he was that good, he wouldn't have
gotten fired in Cleveland.
Hasn't Doc Rivers proved the point that you don't have to have a long
litany of head coaching experience on your resume to be an effective head
coach. He has taken a group of really, really, really, really mediocre
players and has them vying for a playoff berth. Could Fratello do that? I
doubt it. Maybe it's because Rivers is a new breed of coach, he has new
ideas, he has different ways of relating to them.
Listen, I'm not saying that coaching is rocket science, and that a bunch
of new coaches are going to implement an entire new system and brand of
basketball, but maybe they can instill something different that was missing
before. Maybe they can get cities like Orlando, which expected the worst, to
get excited about a team that is really, really, really, really mediocre.
Remember how much excitement there was in Los Angeles earlier this season,
when the Clippers looked like they may be legitimate contenders for a .500
season? And then Ford went through his coaching routine -- "Mo, mismatch,
take him," or "Lamar, mismatch, take him" -- and there they are, the Clippers
again.
I don't understand these owners. I don't get why they keep hiring the same
names. How has Chris Ford ever distinguished himself that he keeps getting
hired over and over and over? But owners want to be "safe." Quite obviously,
they made some unsafe decisions over the course of their lives or they
wouldn't be owning an NBA team. Now they have to make the safe decision.
C'mon, take a chance, I'm begging you.
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So you say it's a lot of money to invest in uncertainty. These guys are
eager. They want a shot to prove themselves. They'd accept a two-year
contract. If they are no good, get rid of them. If they turn out to be great,
you got a steal. If you fire them after one season, you only have to pay one
year, instead of the three or four years you're paying the more established
names. How many coaches are the Clippers' currently paying off, three or
four? Thank God they played it safe.
There are plenty of names out there. They have pedigree. They just haven't
gotten a chance. In Seattle, there are two guys who could be head coaches
tomorrow if somebody takes a chance: Nate McMillan and Dwane Casey.
McMillan is of the Doc Rivers mold, a former player who takes no crap from
today's player because he is not that far removed from being today's player.
Casey was an assistant to George Karl for several years, is an assistant to
Paul Westphal and has been the head coach of Japan's national team. You think
he hasn't picked up some knowledge along the way?
That's just one city. There are names all over. Right there on the
Clippers bench, you got two guys with 143 championship rings between them:
Dennis Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Give 'em a shot.
Isiah Thomas has become one of the most smug individuals in the game, but
I bet he can coach. Hire him. Bill Laimbeer's name has come up. You think he
wouldn't make a soft team like the Pistons tougher?
In Milwaukee, you've got Terry Stotts; how about Byron Scott; Larry Drew
is in Detroit, and he never got his shot after spending seven seasons with
the Lakers; why not Stan Van Gundy, assistant to Pat Riley and brother of
Jeff Van Gundy; Phil Johnson, Jerry Sloan's longtime assistant, never has had
his own team, and I'd love to see another Sloan protege.
There, that's 11 names right there, and there are plenty more out there,
including some in the college ranks.
You want their names, too? Jesus, do I have to do all your work?
Frank Hughes covers the NBA for the Tacoma (Wash.) News-Tribune. He is a regular contributor to ESPN.com. |  |
Fouled Out: We want the inside stuff
