David Blatt is a former NBA coach

Good post Nate.

For me, the biggest tidbit I took out of the Windy call was how Spo (and really most good coaches/org) just REFUSE to make excuses. Especially, like Windy said, because you don't want the players to start taking on that excuse making mentality. It's just bad leadership.

I could not tell you the amount of excuses Blatt was/is throwing out after pretty much any loss. It was the most extreme when we were losing games to lottery teams(!) after Andy's injury and LJ dinged up.

mhi said:

Good post Nate.

For me, the biggest tidbit I took out of the Windy call was how Spo (and really most good coaches/org) just REFUSE to make excuses. Especially, like Windy said, because you don't want the players to start taking on that excuse making mentality. It's just bad leadership.

I could not tell you the amount of excuses Blatt was/is throwing out after pretty much any loss. It was the most extreme when we were losing games to lottery teams(!) after Andy's injury and LJ dinged up.

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Seriously, I swear people did not watch how much Spo grew up in Miami.

Yes he used to suck, but the guy became a great coach.

That's why I said I would swap Blatt for Spoelstra in a fucking heart beat and not think twice about it.

But before someone thinks I want Blatt fired, I don't.. I'm happy with Blatt; but I take exception to folks automatically putting him over championship level coaches who have proven their worth. Blatt's got a long way to go before he is in that tier.

gourimoko said:

Seriously, I swear people did not watch how much Spo grew up in Miami.

Yes he used to suck, but the guy became a great coach.

That's why I said I would swap Blatt for Spoelstra in a fucking heart beat and not think twice about it.

But before someone thinks I want Blatt fired, I don't.. I'm happy with Blatt; but I take exception to folks automatically putting him over championship level coaches who have proven their worth. Blatt's got a long way to go before he is in that tier.

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People would be stupid not to swap for Spo at this point. LeBron respects the hell out of him. It took Spo a year to earn that though.

Edit: I apologize, my post was problematic and it is not my place to give such an argument. I should have realized that nothing good will come out of it.

I guess I'm just tired of the negativity surrounding Blatt and wanted to vent my frustrations. Lets hope that the game today makes us all feel a bit better!

Tazoz said:

I tried to think of a way to argue against your post without creating further antagonism. Unfortunately, it's nearly impossible because the post is perfectly written to incite mob mentality in others. Using patriotism and us versus them rhetoric is problematic in such discussions unless you want to start a flame war or increase the amount of hatred and fear in other fans.

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He's not being patriotic, he's stating the fact that the NBA is the highest form of basketball in the world. Unless you disagree with this, there's no reason to involve patriotic or nationalistic feelings.

He's also demonstrating how condescending some of the European posters are being by saying that we should simply trust Blatt because he's not only smarter than us, but the players, the managers, and basically the Association by and large.

Literally, the word "stupid(er)" has been used with respect to posters, players, and now Griffin the GM who built the team, simply to defend David Blatt.

It's absurd.

gourimoko said:

He's not being patriotic, he's stating the fact that the NBA is the highest form of basketball in the world. Unless you disagree with this, there's no reason to involve patriotic or nationalistic feelings.

He's also demonstrating how condescending some of the European posters are being by saying that we should simply trust Blatt because he's not only smarter than us, but the players, the managers, and basically the Association by and large.

Literally, the word "stupid(er)" has been used with respect to posters, players, and now Griffin the GM who built the team, simply to defend David Blatt.

It's absurd.

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I'm also annoyed with those posters, so I completely agree with you. Unfortunately, as with any generalization, others get hurt in the process and my post reflected that. I calmed down and realized that I made a mistake.

There is indeed a huge gap between the NBA and Europe in athleticism and talent but there is no real reason to think that a system that has been proven to work in Europe will fail miserably in the NBA. So far the defensive scheme using JJ and TT has been mostly successful. We came back from some large deficits to win close games using the system.

Playoffs are obviously a different story altogether but until we see the system in practice in such games, it is at best arguable that the system will crush and burn. In the end, Blatt's schemes are new and fairly unique, it had some nice results in Europe and in the NBA so far. If the scheme doesn't work, I'm sure Blatt will adapt to the situation and change his system to fit the situation. He wants to win just as much as anyone else and he does seem to have an open mind.

Gilbert took a risk when he hired him as a coach and hopefully that risk will pay off in the long run. In the mean time, he is your coach and there really isn't any good reason to believe that Gilbert made a serious mistake in hiring him. He is winning games and the team looks great most of the time. The team is playing Blatt's basketball and his system. I assume that Gilbert saw Blatt's system in play before hiring him and hired him with the belief that the system will work just as well in the NBA. You might disagree with Gilbert's reasoning but it doesn't matter in context of Blatt. He is still doing the job he was hired to do and expecting him to be any other coach seems a bit pointless.

I think a lot of Blatt's adjustment issues were pretty predictable, to be honest. Communicating with the American media, handling NBA egos, and rotations in an NBA game with 12 minute quarters.

He's got room to improve. He's made mistakes. But he shows flashes of brilliance. He's got a wonderful basketball mind and that has translated to the NBA in some tangible and intangible ways. I like how he's battled through some rough moments and I like where he has the team at right now.

For me, I wouldn't swap him with Spoelstra, just because of this roster make-up and the fact that Riley wouldn't be here. I respect Spoelstra, and am not saying Blatt is better yet at all....but I just don't think Spoelstra would be a good fit in this situation and I also think he's at least PART of the reason why LeBron chose to leave the Heat, as silly as that may sound.

InBoobieWeTrust said:

I think a lot of Blatt's adjustment issues were pretty predictable, to be honest. Communicating with the American media, handling NBA egos, and rotations in an NBA game with 12 minute quarters.

He's got room to improve. He's made mistakes. But he shows flashes of brilliance. He's got a wonderful basketball mind and that has translated to the NBA in some tangible and intangible ways. I like how he's battled through some rough moments and I like where he has the team at right now.

For me, I wouldn't swap him with Spoelstra, just because of this roster make-up and the fact that Riley wouldn't be here. I respect Spoelstra, and am not saying Blatt is better yet at all....but I just don't think Spoelstra would be a good fit in this situation and I also think he's at least PART of the reason why LeBron chose to leave the Heat, as silly as that may sound.

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What makes you think that?

For the record, I think Spo is overrated. He's not a bad coach, but he's not a great one either. Generally overrated by most. Above average though for sure.

Rob said:

What makes you think that?

For the record, I think Spo is overrated. He's not a bad coach, but he's not a great one either. Generally overrated by most. Above average though for sure.

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I just think that LBJ didn't want anymore of the Spo/Riley disciplinary type of aggressiveness. He wanted a little more control. Kind of like how Thibs and intense coaches lose certain players after 3-4 years.

InBoobieWeTrust said:

I just think that LBJ didn't want anymore of the Spo/Riley disciplinary type of aggressiveness. He wanted a little more control. Kind of like how Thibs and intense coaches lose certain players after 3-4 years.

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Gotcha. I'd agree with that.

InBoobieWeTrust said:

I just think that LBJ didn't want anymore of the Spo/Riley disciplinary type of aggressiveness. He wanted a little more control. Kind of like how Thibs and intense coaches lose certain players after 3-4 years.

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Yeah, I think this is on the money actually... Good point.

InBoobieWeTrust said:

I just think that LBJ didn't want anymore of the Spo/Riley disciplinary type of aggressiveness. He wanted a little more control. Kind of like how Thibs and intense coaches lose certain players after 3-4 years.

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Hopefully Lebron wins the big one here now that he gets more "control", because damn the irony if he escaped the discipline which netted him two NBA titles.

Zeus69 said:

Hopefully Lebron wins the big one here now that he gets more "control", because damn the irony if he escaped the discipline which netted him two NBA titles.

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For better or worse, LeBron wants "his" title. One that he can singularly own and be given credit for.....even if chasing it means possibly not winning another one.

I think Riley's bullshit really wore on him. Even though LeBron carried that team, Pat tried to inject himself at critical moments to look like he was ultimately in charge of or responsible for their destiny.

madmadworld said:

So unless you post here x # of times a day. or kiss up on everything they delete your posts. ok
understood

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No, we just grant vacations to posters who troll-post and then complain about moderation. Enjoy it.

I think this thread is pretty good evidence that differing opinions are welcome.

Zeus69 said:

Hopefully Lebron wins the big one here now that he gets more "control", because damn the irony if he escaped the discipline which netted him two NBA titles.

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I'mWithDan said:

For better or worse, LeBron wants "his" title. One that he can singularly own and be given credit for.....even if chasing it means possibly not winning another one.

I think Riley's bullshit really wore on him. Even though LeBron carried that team, Pat tried to inject himself at critical moments to look like he was ultimately in charge of or responsible for their destiny.

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The irony is that despite that discipline it was really LeBron going into his bag of tricks to save the Heat's ass the last 3 years there.

I still feel that LeBron's sluggish start to the season was not only 4 grueling years of finals trips. But the way in which Miami's system wears its players down. Its just difficult playing 20 games without your running mate, Wade, on the floor.