Goodbye Phil, Hello Mike Brown?

In most sports what is more important than what is actually done (strategically speaking) is that the players are all pulling in the same direction.

Players can make in-game and between game adjustments to better their performance but the coaches can make it so several players make adjustments that makes kind of a 1+1=3 effect.

So more important than what is actually contained in the message is that the coach gives the player a context to work together in and a clear game plan where players accept their roles, whatever it is in the system.

With all that being said I have no idea if Brown will be a good coach for the Lakers or not but I am sure they have done their research.

It strikes me that, just as certain players are better suited to certain teams, certain coaches are better suited to certain teams. No one really knows how Mike Brown might mesh with Los Angeles; we can only conjecture. I personally don't believe one can evaluate his likelihood of success based on what he has done elsewhere.

A few years ago, Doc was being roasted because the Celtics lost something like 18 consecutive games. "Fire Doc" was the title of every fourth thread at BDC. It was only after the Celtics shipped out several players Doc had helped to develop in return for KG and Ray that people realized, in retrospect, that he was pretty good in working with young players.

So then the hue and cry went out that he couldn't succeed with an ego-laden veteran team. So he took care of that bullcrap in one season.

Now he'll presumably be here for five years, and I expect the inveterate bleaters will be beating their gums about how Doc can't work in a rebuilding environment. Funny how that works.

So, while the conjecture about Mike Brown and the Lakers is fun, I'm personally going to wait until we have some....oh what's that word?. Oh yeah, some FACTS with which to work.

Sam

Joe Torre might not be recognized as the best MLB Manager, but he is viewed as getting the best or one of the best at managing superstar players and keeping them on the same page.

In Torre's first 15 years as a Manager with the Mets, Braves and Cardinals, he never won 90 games. It's funny what talent will do for a manager/coach. Torre became the Manager of the Yankees and won 90 games in 11 of the next 12 seasons...

At this point to say that Mike Brown won't be a successful/championship winning coach with LA is like saying in 1994 that Joe Torre would never be a championship winning Manager.

I think I could coach a Yankees team

WHat is your opiion of Brown TJ? Are stoked or mediocre on the hire?

Jeb

I do like Brown as a coach.
LA needs some new ideas, new schemes, new blood.
I do not want to see the triangle as the basis of LA's offense.
That is why I am pretty happy that Shaw/Rambis (still under contract with Minn) didn't get hired.
I am very happy that LA didn't go with an old re-tread like Adelman or a Larry Brown type coach. Even though I think Jerry Sloan is a very good coach, I think that he can no longer get his message across to young NBA players.
I do think that Brown caved to LeBron too much but what else was he to do? That was LeBron's city and he seemed to have more power and leverage then Brown did.

sam wrote:It strikes me that, just as certain players are better suited to certain teams, certain coaches are better suited to certain teams. No one really knows how Mike Brown might mesh with Los Angeles; we can only conjecture. I personally don't believe one can evaluate his likelihood of success based on what he has done elsewhere.

A few years ago, Doc was being roasted because the Celtics lost something like 18 consecutive games. "Fire Doc" was the title of every fourth thread at BDC. It was only after the Celtics shipped out several players Doc had helped to develop in return for KG and Ray that people realized, in retrospect, that he was pretty good in working with young players.

So then the hue and cry went out that he couldn't succeed with an ego-laden veteran team. So he took care of that bullcrap in one season.

Now he'll presumably be here for five years, and I expect the inveterate bleaters will be beating their gums about how Doc can't work in a rebuilding environment. Funny how that works.

So, while the conjecture about Mike Brown and the Lakers is fun, I'm personally going to wait until we have some....oh what's that word?. Oh yeah, some FACTS with which to work.

Sam

come on Sam, don't be an old fuddy duddy, have some fun with conjecture and hypothesis.

Mike Brown goes from the forgotten Cavaliers to the unforgettable Lakers, from Cleveland to LA in one swell foop, asks for $4+ million and gets it? Plus, we don't have to look at Phil Jackson's face anymore! He's my latest hero. Book deals, network tv, Mike's future is bright no matter what happens to the Lakers.

Red said coaches don't have to do much instruction in fundamentals. Red put in a system - fast break, hellacious defense - and found players to make it go. No question Mike will put in a system to make it look like he's earning his filthy lucre. It will doubtless feature Kobe and more Kobe.

The Lakers and the Celtics may be down and out in April, but they'll be back in October hunting for bear. Injuries and stamina will be their biggest challenges, same as this year. How much you wanna bet Mike Brown knows this. If he's as smart as he seems, if he's slick, he's already talking to Kobe about where to go from here.

He coached James and now he's coaching Bryant. Meet the new coach, same as the old coach.

tjmakz wrote:I do think that Brown caved to LeBron too much but what else was he to do? That was LeBron's city and he seemed to have more power and leverage then Brown did.

How is that any different that what he will be faced with in Kobe?

mrkleen09 wrote:

tjmakz wrote:I do think that Brown caved to LeBron too much but what else was he to do? That was LeBron's city and he seemed to have more power and leverage then Brown did.

How is that any different that what he will be faced with in Kobe?

1) There is more to the Lakers then just Kobe.
2) Kobe does not have to have the ball in his hands nearly as frequently as LeBron did.
3) Mike Brown knows that he will probably outlast Kobe as an employee of the Lakers.
4) Cleveland wanted to keep LeBron happy so he would re-sign with them long-term. Brown doesn't have to fear that Kobe will leave if he gets on his wrong side.

Yeah, Kobe is a dream to work with.

Hey Jeb--How are you doing?????

Rosalie

Rosalie

In hospital. Did not have major surgery but it will happen very soon ( 2weeks)

Thank you all for asking and caring it means plenty.

JeB

God Bless you my friend, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Time to get you better so that we can have some real conversations about
these guys we all love so much!!!!

Rosalie

I haven't been a huge Mike Brown fan based on his tenure in Cleveland, but he did come out of Gregg Popovich's system, so he can't be all bad. It's certainly a great opportunity for him to show that he can coach in the NBA.

From what I can tell, Jim Buss is taking over from his dad, and this was apparently his decision. Jerry Buss has been a great owner who's made savvy decisions and put quality basketball people in charge. I'll be surprised if his son is up to the task. I haven't been impressed so far. What gets me about this hire is that Jim Buss supposedly made the decision based on interviewing Mike Brown and being impressed, but he didn't interview anyone else. That's just nuts, and it sounds like someone making an impulsive decision and trying to exert their authority. I've also heard that Jim Buss wanted to "clean house" and get rid of anyone associated with Phil Jackson, which again sounds impulsive and emotional.

I've always liked Rick Adelman and thought he was the best candidate. Brian Shaw deserved to be interviewed.

Kobe will be a handful to deal with. He's going to be difficult regardless, considering his skills are diminishing and he's not going to accept that gracefully. If he doesn't like the coach, you can look up "petulant" in the dictionary and find Kobe's picture there. Phil had a unique personality and set of credentials that made him as good as it gets as far as managing Kobe, so anyone else, especially an outsider, will face some obstacles. Good luck, Mike Brown. You're going to need it.

Outside

Jeb,

So are they dealing with your infection or whatever made your fever spike? It's good to see you're posting, but I wish you were doing it from home.

Outside

I am not sure what the fascination is with Rick Adelman.
Would the Lakers really want to sign Adelman to a long term contract knowing that he would be the second oldest coach in the league and knowing he hasn't been to the NBA Finals since 1992?

He has always seemed very bland to me as a head coach.

TJ,

I happen to think Adelman did a good job in Houston. He had horrible luck with Yao's injuries, yet his teams competed well and played hard. He went to the finals twice in Portland but ran into Jordan's Bulls. His Sacramento team in 2002 came within a whisker of winning the title. Not that records mean everything, but he's 945-616, which is pretty darn good. I've always liked his demeanor, which I consider more "controlled" than "bland."

Besides the fact that I like him as a coach, I think he was a good fit for LA, because the Lakers in general and Kobe in particular would respond best to a veteran coach. I don't care if Adelman wouldn't want to coach five years -- I'd just want three out of him to make the best of their current championship potential. After that, Kobe will be gone or a shadow of himself, and their window will be closed.

Anyway, that's my thinking. You don't have to like him. Doesn't matter anyway at this point. We'll see how Mike Brown does.

Outside

Outside

Yes exactly the same thing (stent). It is fixed and next week i go see my surgeon to actually make a mothafilln appointment to play out the last 5 minutes of this bad ass 4th quarter and have this major surgey.

Good luck Jeb....keep us in the loop and keep your head up my friend.

Sending prayers and good vibes your way

I like the hiring. I think Mike Brown is an excellent coach and is considered to be a defensive coach. Was an assistant with SA and did a great job in Cleveland. Could not win the big one because there was always a better team out there. Was Jerry Sloan a great coach? How about Jeff Van Gundy? How about Larry Bird?

Winning a Championship is no easy task.

Congrats to Brown for landing another high profile job.

Dboss

Dboss
Totally agree with your opinion about winning the big one.
When evaluating a player or coach I never consider the "RING" factor. There are so many factors that go into being a champion that I personally find it difficult to rate on a single factor alone.
swish

Outside wrote:I haven't been a huge Mike Brown fan based on his tenure in Cleveland, but he did come out of Gregg Popovich's system, so he can't be all bad. It's certainly a great opportunity for him to show that he can coach in the NBA.

From what I can tell, Jim Buss is taking over from his dad, and this was apparently his decision. Jerry Buss has been a great owner who's made savvy decisions and put quality basketball people in charge. I'll be surprised if his son is up to the task. I haven't been impressed so far. What gets me about this hire is that Jim Buss supposedly made the decision based on interviewing Mike Brown and being impressed, but he didn't interview anyone else. That's just nuts, and it sounds like someone making an impulsive decision and trying to exert their authority. I've also heard that Jim Buss wanted to "clean house" and get rid of anyone associated with Phil Jackson, which again sounds impulsive and emotional.

I've always liked Rick Adelman and thought he was the best candidate. Brian Shaw deserved to be interviewed.

Kobe will be a handful to deal with. He's going to be difficult regardless, considering his skills are diminishing and he's not going to accept that gracefully. If he doesn't like the coach, you can look up "petulant" in the dictionary and find Kobe's picture there. Phil had a unique personality and set of credentials that made him as good as it gets as far as managing Kobe, so anyone else, especially an outsider, will face some obstacles. Good luck, Mike Brown. You're going to need it.

Just wanted to revisit my initial post since the initial reports I read that they had only interviewed Mike Brown were apparently incorrect. I read yesterday that they did indeed interview Brian Shaw and another coach (probably Adelman). So that removes my biggest criticism of the hiring. If they interviewed all three guys and preferred Brown, then Brown is their man. We'll see how he does.

Outside