Bob Hill's got to be sitting there wondering what the hell he did to deserve this. First, the Spurs can him after David Robinson gets hurt; Popovich tanks the season and S.A. winds up with Duncan and Hill gets the shaft.
Now, the Sonics will likely finish the year at the bottom of the league, with a good chance at Oden ... and Hill will probably get fired.
Larry Brown would be the worst thing to happen to this team. He sells out his players to the media and wants to trade everyone or quit after the second season. He's a genius, but he's also a joke.
The turnaround isn't coming guys. Time to trade Ray.
He might take a one year contract. He is already getting 30+ million from the Knicks and the Pistons.
Larry (or someone like Larry) is exactly what this team needs. They need a coach who understands clock management, and can emphasize team defense. Look how many games the Sonics have lost in the last few minutes by a few points after having a large lead. Defense, defense, defense. The bigs are all young and inexperienced, so you need a good team system to compensate.
In case everyone forgot we had a coach like that who everyone in town loved, but somehow ended up leaving. His name was Nate McMillian. You might have heard of him.
(Side note: How many of you would trade re-signing Nate for re-signing Ray? I know I would.)
Nate McMillan as a coach doesn't stand remotely close to where Ray Allen stands as a player in this league. You'd be downgrading if you took Nate over Ray. But you'd be a total fool to let someone like Hill coach a team with Ray and Rashard in it.
What we need is a strong center and a coach and this team can be a contender in the NW conference. Not this season though. This season's long over.
The idea is if we re-signed Nate we could of used the money earmarked for Ray to get someone younger, who knows how to play defense. Probably for less money. Plus the likely sign and trade players (think Magette) we'd have gotten. I wish we'd done that.
Nate stunk 4 of his 5 years in Seattle and couldn't develop players.
No coach would ever take a 1 year deal and frankly it is a ludicrous suggestion.
Coaches in that situation have virtually no leverage over the players who are signed long term and given that the team is trying to get a new arena built going through 3 or 4 coaches in the same number of years is absolute folly.
it doesn't matter how long a coach has been around or how long he is going to be around. championship teams play hard for any coach. fact is, hill is not a good coach and he needs to go. to keep him would be a ludicrous suggestion and folly.
Hey now! Forget about the coach! The players win games! They are what we think they are!
C'mon - think about having Artest (tough, wants to win games) instead of Lewis (regularly lambasted for being soft and disappearing at the end of games). It needs to happen!
Artest won't finish a season, and he isn't there when you need him. Need proof? How about Artest in Indy? 2004 and 2005 Division Champs, best record in the East (2004) strong team with Jermaine O'Neal, Harrington and a non-injured Tinsley. Still couldn't get it done. In fact, Artest's emotional bone headed foul on Richard Hamilton cost the Pacers the game and the series in 2005.
This team needs a coach. It needs a coach who can manage the clock, call timely timeouts, and stress defense.
It also needs a veteran center to go along with all the kids. The Sonics are soft, soft, soft in the middle.
How many coaches do you suggest we go through before admitting the combo of players we have is the problem? You think the last 4 coaches haven't been stressing defence? Since bad defence has been our trademark for several seasons now, it should be obvious to anyone not a total idiot that this combo of guys will not get it done defensively. Trade Lewis (we should have gone after Iverson), trade Collison (guy just cannot finish), trade Swift and get some experience & toughness!
Perhaps I'm a total idiot, but what tough, experienced player do you get for Collison, and Swift? I don't really think that Rashard is the problem. But suppose you trade Rashard, Collison and Swift... who is available? Ron Artest maybe, but he has proven to be pretty unreliable. No doubt he brings experience and toughness though. Coaches make a huge difference, and Hill does not stress defense. With Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour, you have a very quick backcourt that could use traps and pressure defense, allowing the inexperienced frontcourt to at least setup a defense. You could employ help defense and double teams consistently to makeup for the weaknesses of the kids. There are lots of things you could do with this roster that would help on the defensive end.
So... who do you get to make this team a contendah?
I know how to give this team toughness. Fire Hill. Make Fortson player/coach. Give him full authority. Sure, there's a chance we could see the first reverse PJ Carlesimo but one thing the team wouldn't lack is toughness.
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Bob Hill's got to be sitting there wondering what the hell he did to deserve this. First, the Spurs can him after David Robinson gets hurt; Popovich tanks the season and S.A. winds up with Duncan and Hill gets the shaft.
ReplyDeleteNow, the Sonics will likely finish the year at the bottom of the league, with a good chance at Oden ... and Hill will probably get fired.
Wow. Shure would be cool to see Lewis, Allen, Wilcox and Oden together. Man, I sure hope the Sonics stay local.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sold on Hill. Maybe the Sonics can pick up rebuilding master Larry Brown!
Larry Brown would be the worst thing to happen to this team. He sells out his players to the media and wants to trade everyone or quit after the second season. He's a genius, but he's also a joke.
ReplyDeleteThe turnaround isn't coming guys. Time to trade Ray.
He might take a one year contract. He is already getting 30+ million from the Knicks and the Pistons.
ReplyDeleteLarry (or someone like Larry) is exactly what this team needs. They need a coach who understands clock management, and can emphasize team defense. Look how many games the Sonics have lost in the last few minutes by a few points after having a large lead. Defense, defense, defense. The bigs are all young and inexperienced, so you need a good team system to compensate.
In case everyone forgot we had a coach like that who everyone in town loved, but somehow ended up leaving. His name was Nate McMillian. You might have heard of him.
ReplyDelete(Side note: How many of you would trade re-signing Nate for re-signing Ray? I know I would.)
Nate McMillan as a coach doesn't stand remotely close to where Ray Allen stands as a player in this league. You'd be downgrading if you took Nate over Ray. But you'd be a total fool to let someone like Hill coach a team with Ray and Rashard in it.
ReplyDeleteWhat we need is a strong center and a coach and this team can be a contender in the NW conference. Not this season though. This season's long over.
Santa skipped my house! I'm pissed! At least I have cookies and milk to eat.
ReplyDeleteThe idea is if we re-signed Nate we could of used the money earmarked for Ray to get someone younger, who knows how to play defense. Probably for less money. Plus the likely sign and trade players (think Magette) we'd have gotten. I wish we'd done that.
ReplyDeleteIs this site taking the week off?
ReplyDeleteLet's start some rumors/buzz about trading Rashard for Ron Artest. It could work!
ReplyDeleteNate stunk 4 of his 5 years in Seattle and couldn't develop players.
ReplyDeleteNo coach would ever take a 1 year deal and frankly it is a ludicrous suggestion.
Coaches in that situation have virtually no leverage over the players who are signed long term and given that the team is trying to get a new arena built going through 3 or 4 coaches in the same number of years is absolute folly.
it doesn't matter how long a coach has been around or how long he is going to be around. championship teams play hard for any coach. fact is, hill is not a good coach and he needs to go. to keep him would be a ludicrous suggestion and folly.
ReplyDeleteHey now! Forget about the coach! The players win games! They are what we think they are!
ReplyDeleteC'mon - think about having Artest (tough, wants to win games) instead of Lewis (regularly lambasted for being soft and disappearing at the end of games). It needs to happen!
I'm behind you on Artest.
ReplyDeleteArtest won't finish a season, and he isn't there when you need him. Need proof? How about Artest in Indy? 2004 and 2005 Division Champs, best record in the East (2004) strong team with Jermaine O'Neal, Harrington and a non-injured Tinsley. Still couldn't get it done. In fact, Artest's emotional bone headed foul on Richard Hamilton cost the Pacers the game and the series in 2005.
ReplyDeleteThis team needs a coach. It needs a coach who can manage the clock, call timely timeouts, and stress defense.
It also needs a veteran center to go along with all the kids. The Sonics are soft, soft, soft in the middle.
How many coaches do you suggest we go through before admitting the combo of players we have is the problem? You think the last 4 coaches haven't been stressing defence? Since bad defence has been our trademark for several seasons now, it should be obvious to anyone not a total idiot that this combo of guys will not get it done defensively. Trade Lewis (we should have gone after Iverson), trade Collison (guy just cannot finish), trade Swift and get some experience & toughness!
ReplyDeletePerhaps I'm a total idiot, but what tough, experienced player do you get for Collison, and Swift? I don't really think that Rashard is the problem. But suppose you trade Rashard, Collison and Swift... who is available? Ron Artest maybe, but he has proven to be pretty unreliable. No doubt he brings experience and toughness though. Coaches make a huge difference, and Hill does not stress defense. With Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour, you have a very quick backcourt that could use traps and pressure defense, allowing the inexperienced frontcourt to at least setup a defense. You could employ help defense and double teams consistently to makeup for the weaknesses of the kids. There are lots of things you could do with this roster that would help on the defensive end.
ReplyDeleteSo... who do you get to make this team a contendah?
Evans 14, 14 two days ago.
ReplyDeleteget a new post
ReplyDeleteI know how to give this team toughness. Fire Hill. Make Fortson player/coach. Give him full authority. Sure, there's a chance we could see the first reverse PJ Carlesimo but one thing the team wouldn't lack is toughness.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Pete and Paul, it's been a week! Give us sumtin!
ReplyDeleteIt's horrible - a whole week and nothing for our fans. However, as a Catholic with a Jewish last name, I think I get a free pass at the holidays.
ReplyDeleteFor what it's worth, I've finally cobbled together some fresh crap for you to sort through now.