Kim Hughes Relieved of Duties - That Didn't Take Long
by Steve Perrin on Apr 15, 2010 12:38 PM PDT
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PrintThe Clippers just announced that interim Coach Kim Hughes has been relieved of his coaching duties. Here's the link to the Press Release.
Obviously, this was not unexpected. Hughes didn't figure to be more than a placeholder from the minute he took the job. It would have taken an impressive close to the season in order for Hughes to get serious consideration as the head coach going forward, and 8 wins in 33 games made this a fait accompli.
It's not particularly fair to Hughes. The message from the organization when they made the move in February was that the season was over. That message was reinforced significantly a couple weeks later when Marcus Camby was sent to Portland. Hughes found himself with a roster featuring nine free agents, three brand new rotation players, and a major motivation problem. It goes without saying that part of Hughes' job was to try to motivate them anyway. But the deck was stacked against him from the start.
I like Hughes - a lot. He's by far the most honest coach I've ever dealt with, perhaps to his own detriment at times. He's also a pretty funny guy. And he knows his hoops. But when you dig into his results as a head coach for the Clippers, the 8-25 record is probably the least bad news. The team was dismal statistically, and non-competitive in most of those 25 losses. Their point differential under Hughes dropped them to third worst in the NBA on the season. For a guy that took the job talking about defense, his team was particularly bad on that side of the ball. Again, I don't think any of this is really Hughes' fault. But it's not NOT his fault.
I asked Kim once what he thought was better for getting a head coaching job in the NBA: a career assistant coach's resume, or a resume with an unsuccessful interim head coaching gig? In other words, would future employers give him credit for having been in the first chair, or discredit him for doing poorly there? He didn't want to answer that per se. He said he was happy for the experience he was getting, and thought he was learning a lot.
What does this say about the coaching search? Nothing really. In fact, if it's possible to say less than nothing, then the final paragraph of the press release probably succeeds:
A search for a new coach has already begun. There are no leading candidates. In order to maintain the ability to take advantage of the widest sample of available and quality coaches, there will be no stated completion timetable. When and if it is deemed appropriate, the Clippers’ Communications Department will issue official progress updates. Any speculative information concerning the search which appears in the news media or emanates in a form not directly attributed to the Los Angeles Clippers should not be considered valid or reliable.
That clears that up.
Good luck to Kim Hughes in his future endeavors.
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Dwayne Casey
http://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA
The Clippers fired interim Kim Hughes, team says. Dallas assistant Dwane Casey has emerged as top candidate for the job.
The press release may not say it, but Wojo is saying Casey is the lead man.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 12:41 PM PDT reply actions
Woj's two earlier tweets say...
Ed Stefanski interviewed Dwane Casey twice last year and source close to Sixers GM says “He loved him.” Philly may have to move fast….should it want to hire Casey this time, because sources say he’s moved to top of Clippers search. OKC almost hired Casey over PJ Carlesimo.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Apr 15, 2010 12:54 PM PDT up reply actions
MDSR
We all criticized MDSR and said he was terrible, but the team actually did better when he coached. Maybe he wasn’t the worst coach in the game?
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 12:42 PM PDT reply actions
Only a few thought that
most just knew it was time for a change. We will find out soon if the change was a positive or negative one.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:27 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
MDSr was a poor coach. Now they need to hire a good coach. Whatever happens, that doesn’t change the facts about MDSr’s coaching skills (or lack thereof).
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
He said worst coach
but of course there are worse coaches than MDsr. It’s the same as any profession, you got to cut the bottom 20% of the fat to stay viable.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:02 PM PDT up reply actions
He was the worst coach.
There’s been a few posts on it. A historically bad coach. I feel bad for Hughes inheriting the mess Dunleavy put together.
No, he wasn't the worst coach
those are the “worst” comments. There is always someone better and always someone worse 99.999999999% of the time.
He was a below average coach for a very long time which is what made him stand out as those kind of coaches normally don’t get the opportunity to be below average for so long. A career .462 winning pct as a head coach isn’t bad and he did it for 2 historically bad franchises (Bucks and Clippers) for a good chunk of it.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, I guess there's caveats to everything.
But let’s not quibble, I’m sure glad he’s gone, and I hope we score someone much, much better.
+1
Casey has all the tools to be a successful HC. Skills, demeanor, respect, and a healthy Blake Griffin. I’m all in favor of finding our Scott Brooks, Lionel Hollins, or Avery Johnson.
Boo Byron Scott!
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's doing down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Apr 15, 2010 12:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I bet Scott is off the table for now.
It’s sounding very possible that Phil Jackson leaves after this season. I bet Scott wants to wait to see if that happens.
Yep
would be a disaster. He’s obviously eyeing the Lakers job and given his previous history with Baron this could become another run of Clipper jokes.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions
Agreed on both counts.
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
i don't get it...
why not just demote him back to asst? But, i guess it wouldn’t matter much since the new coach would bring his own peeps…
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
yes...as i was writing it!
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
by Lawler's Law on Apr 15, 2010 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions
this is kaman's guy...
wasn’t he instrumental in bringing him along? more crap for kaman to sulk over…
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
by Lawler's Law on Apr 15, 2010 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Kaman's no dummy
I’m sure he saw the writing on the wall. I’m sure Hughes will find another job as an assistant somewhere.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
MDSR and Hughes both loved Kaman
wouldn’t be surprised if we shopped him now.
Not saying we should, but he was pretty close to untouchable when MDSR was running the ship, I doubt that is still the case.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 12:51 PM PDT reply actions
Probably true
I think you make a good point. Not that I want to trade Kaman. But they are probably more open to it.
I think this season was interesting for Kaman. He started great, made the All-Star team as an alternate, and then proceeded to tank the rest of the season (with pretty much everyone else).
But what became apparent was that he absolutely cannot carry an offense by himself, which is fine. What’s not fine is that it also started to seem like he can’t be very effective if he’s not the focal point of the offense. That’s quite a dilemma for a player with the kind of salary he commands.
Kaman not a number 1 option
I think Kaman has been out of place the last few yrs. We over utilize the guy. He should be a complimentary player and not the number 1 option.
I’m fine sending him somewhere in a sign and trade if it gets us a big chip, but if he’s back next yr I hope he is option C or D, not option A, B, C and D which is what it seemed like this yr.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I think we all knew Kaman
was never a number 1. He’s like Big Z in Cleveland. He’s there, but will never be the #1 option on the team
I think he is a little more then a big Z
he is a number two or a number 3 I would say Z is more like a number 4 or number 5.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
Big Z was definitely a #3 at worst in his prime
Skilled big man, decent rebounder and defender.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 5:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh thought you meant currently
if you mean in his prime then I agree Big Z was very decent, not great but decent.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
David Lee
Trade Kaman, and then David Lee becomes an option? A Griffin/ Lee front court w/ Smith & DJ coming off the bench sounds good to me. Draft a SF to help strengthen that spot hopefully.
Only problem with Lee Griffin front court is
that we would be extremely undersized and Lee doesn’t like playing center. He only did it because he had to. And I don’t see Griffin being a very good undersized center.
LeBron or Bust !!!!
ok guys, i really hope its not casey, he is known as a control freak which we suffered with dunz for 7 years. I personally have been wanting marc jackson because he is respected, he has ties to the organization and was one of the best pg’s in the game. He will light a fire under baron…im praying for marc jackson, and i hope we trade kaman for Bosh..lets go clippers..we need to bring in players who are fierce..
???
What tells you Mark Jackson is respected? This is at least his third year trying to get a gig, and no one has bitten. You’d think he try to get be an assist in that time, but dude is wating for someone to come to him like he’s a hot commodity.
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's doing down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Apr 15, 2010 12:58 PM PDT up reply actions
"Mama there goes that man"
I hate when he says that, it’s totally irrelevant to this discussion, but I had to bring it up.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I can't find the mute button fast enough when he says that.
But to further exasperate the point, Jackson has done nothing. If you’re willing to take a chance with Mark Jackson then get Sam Cassell instead. At least Sam has one year experience as an assistant.
+1
I would love Sam if we go that route.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
If Clippers Want Fans To Come Back...
…assuming they don’t get LBJ and his Chosen Coach, then bringing in Sam Cassell would be the absolute no-brainer best decision. Dwane Casey is fine, but Sam I Am would bring a little life back into a seriously brain-dead organization.
i don't get way everyone says that if lbj comes here
he would have his choice of coach? why would he make a decision about coaching? what if his coach of choice is not available? of the other teams with cap space, why would the CLIPPERS leave it to a player to choose the coach? Because it’s the CLIPPERS???
Roger Sterling: To my knees, Don. They're bringing to my knees!"
by Lawler's Law on Apr 15, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Because that's one thing we'd be willing to offer him that no one else could
We have a vacancy and we could ask for his input. Personally I don’t think we can wait that long as free agency doesn’t start for another 2.5 month and all the good coaches will be taken by then.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't know why LBJ
would choose a team, who can’t even figure out whose their head coach is.
+1
An inability to choose a head coach, and a confidence that the choice is the right one, is a signature of dysfunction.
Didn't say it was a good idea
but it is something no one else could offer. It’s like moving into a luxury building and having a concierge. You might never use the service but you appreciate the fact you have the option.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Okay...
But it seems more like buying into a luxury building where there is no building. “And up there, on top, that’s where the penthouse will be, that’s where you’ll be staying, if you squint your eyes a little I think you can imagine what it will be like. Oh yeah, sure, concierge, running water, even an elevator, we’ll have all that stuff too. We’ll be breaking ground any day now”
Oh there is a building
and there are even some staff members walking around. But the printer doesn’t work, the internet connection is slow, 1 of the 4 elevators is always broken, it takes a week before anyone shows up to repair something and security lets random people (such as the opposing team fans) inside the building.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Happened With Michael Jordan
He didn’t like Doug Collins, and wanted Phil Jackson. His wish was granted. Much easier to grant the wish if there’s no one to push out to begin with.
Jordan didn't push for Collins dismissal
he actually liked Collins. That’s why he hired him to coach the Wizards.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 5:42 PM PDT up reply actions
I Don't Think That's Correct At All
Read “The Jordan Rules” by Sam Smith. Read any Skip Bayless column concerning Jordan’s and Collins’ relationship. Jordan ran Collins off as soon as he had enough juice.
If you're the Clippers, you're job is to find a head coach who isn't me.
Drives me nuts, 50% of Jackson’s lines are:
“If you’re [insert proper noun of choice], your job is to [insert verb of choice].”
by benoit benjamin's two left shoes on Apr 15, 2010 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Uh...
Casey is not known to be a control freak. He’s paid his dues, has head coaching experience, and his TWolves team actually performed quite well given the circumstances and personnel. He was given a raw deal in Minny.
Instead you want a bad color commentator with zero coaching experience? Who exactly is he respected by? And the guy you want is MarK Jackson. Marc Jackson played center for the Warriors.
huh?
Not sure about his coaching credentials, but Mark Jackson is a great color guy – “hand down, man down!”. He and JVG are hilarious…
I think he's pretty amusing
I think the report between him and JVG is unique due to their history as player and coach.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Bosh is fierce?
Dude quit on the season on a team actually in the playoffs.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
This was before that.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Says who?
His stats were still strong. In his last game before he broke his face he had 42 points. In fact his last full 5 games he scored 126 points with 47 rebounds. I think injuries slowed him down a couple of times this year but he had a great year overall.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:39 PM PDT up reply actions
I think his face was broken
it’s no like he pulled his “groin” muscle.
I'm not a Raps fan
Search Bosh quit. That’s an opinion that’s out there.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
So some rapid fans are looking for a fall guy
kind of how people view Kaman and Baron here. The only guys who cross my mind of giving up on a season in recent years have been AI and Vince Carter.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL - just b/c someone says something doesn't make it true
Bosh was basically saying that others on the team quit
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
If anyone on the Raptors quit
it was probably Hedo. Ouch, the Raptors are going to regret that signing for awhile.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Hedo didn't quit
He was never that good. They got the player they thought they were getting.
He’s a nice piece, but not worth what they paid.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Couple of points
1. You don’t know. I think that Bosh might have just a tad bit better of an idea than you.
2. Hedo was a good player. In the right system. When he was younger.
But just keep telling us all the way it is (you of the classic “Durant is average” opinion)
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Yeah
That Shaq guy probably doesn’t know what he is talking about.
But I’m sure you do.
Hey, should those padawans keep waiting for Hughes to turn the team around and run, run, run?
You said many, many, many times that this was a playoff team. So you believed this team would win 50 games? Wow, you should have been behind GMDSr then. Missed opportunities I suppose.
And looky here, it wasn’t CMDSr dragging the team down since they got so much worse when he left.
If there is a silver lining on the season, it pretty much conclusively proves once and for all that you are fail made flesh.
If you have any good sense you’d probably slink back into the darkness, but before you go, let me thank you one last time for being part of the movement to throw away the rest of the 09-10 season and inspire the team to play a truly embarrassing brand of basketball. At least we have a baseline for what it looks like when a team has actually quit on its coach.
Coaches don't matter. - Bill Simmons, The Book of Basketball
Wow, looks like
you’ve been chomping at the bit to lash out lamenting for your long-lost sub .400 hero. Unfortunately, your argument (that’s being kind to you) falls as flat as most of yours (you of the “Durant is average,” Donaghy conspiracy theories).
But why not hit a couple of your quick silly points.
First, the team was both emotionally and physically decimated by the time they got around to ditching your hero (three years too late). There’s nothing Hughes could do. They were not going to salvage the season, particularly with the Camby debacle he eigineered at the end. Just so we are clear – the team sucked with him and got much worse after because of the trades and mess he left everyone with. It will take a long time for them to climb out of that hole.
Second, I never said the team would win 50 games. In fact, I said the team would never get to .500 with your hero at the “helm.” There was a little window there when I thought maybe they were putting something together, but like everything with your hero, that was a mirage. Of course, the way your hero was talking about the team, they were indeed a playoff team and only he could get them there. I think it’s safe to say he was wrong in that.
Third, you are welcome for whatever I did (did I really do anything?) to hasten the departure of the sub .400 coach who was never going to get us anywhere. By the way, if he is to be believed, he failed on his own and relieved himself of his duties. Or do you think he was lying about that? Hmm.
While we’re on the subject, let’s look back. You had SEVEN YEARS with your hero at the helm. What did that bring us? Seven years of horrible sub .400 ball. One year above .500. One playoff year. Six losing seasons. Generally uninspired horrible basketball. No winning in sight.
With that record, don’t you think it’s time for a change? Or are you that set in your ways. Don’t answer that – we already know.
As with any change, there will be an adjustment period. It is now up to management to find a good coach (not a bad coach like your hero) to get things going here. It will take a while though, because thanks to your hero we are stuck with BD (whom even you hate) for three more years. Every time he shoots a quick three or fails to defend you can think wistfully about your dude like I’m sure you do – late at night. The rest of us will, i think, support the new regime.
In summary, I think you’re an interesting guy. I don’t know that many people who wax poetic about the good old days when the good old days sucked. They of course reflect a sub .400 team over 7 years that could never quite play well enough to win consistently. Yeah, that’s what most of us here aspire to. In fact, let me think about it a bit – you’re really the only person I know who really wants to go back. I’m sure you know what that says about you.
Hey John R – it’s a scary world out there. But I think most of us would rather venture out than continue to lie down and take it. God it must suck to be you.
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Mwhite and I were disappointed you two didn't show up for CN Night
I for one like watching undercard fights.
For the record though, Shaq made the Rupaul comment because Bosh was complaining about the lack of 3 second violations (on a night Shaq scored 45 points). I have no idea how it must feel to try to keep Shaq out of the paint but even 3 seconds must feel like an eternity when your up against Shaq.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 5:47 PM PDT up reply actions
I feel sorry for the guy
Seriously, I’d like to start a collection. He obviously needs a handout.
I don’t really care about the Bosh thing – I just get tired of watching people who know nothing pontificate constantly.
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
I'm game for a beer though any time
"[Fans are] not technically a lot of times savvy. They don't understand and they don't weigh issues the way that [I] weigh them."
Mike Dunleavy, Sr.
Weird... I was just about to type that exact same heading...
Bosh will be considered fierce when he stops avoiding contact.
Shaq said it, the Ru-Paul of big men. I never realized just how much he dances around people until I really started watching closer.
Still don’t understand why he’s a max-FA. 7 years in TOR, one winning season.
"Buckle your seat belts, folks. This one's doing down to the wire." -The inimitable Ralph Lawler.
by Gordon for President on Apr 15, 2010 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Well it depends
compared to a lot of the guys with max contracts out there he is worth it. Just think Larry Hughes, Michael Redd, Rashard Lewis, Zach Randolph, Peja, FElton, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson are virtually max players. Bosh is certainly better than all of them.
I kind of see Bosh more like a Pau Gasol type. Would be a terrific number 2 option on a team.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
The moral of the story
is that very few players truly deserve a max deal, yet too many players get it.
Wade and Lebron are the only guys in this class that truly deserve it, but several will get it.
That said, I am so sick of losing and desperate to win that I wouldn’t complain if the Clippers slightly overpaid Amare or Bosh and gave them a max.
I don’t support a max offer to JJ or Gay, but I’d love to add them.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions
Well thats kind of dark side of the max
if anything Lebron and Wade are worth MORE than the max. Not only do they win on the court but they win at the box office too. The market (for the most part) determines the value of the player. If you want to steal the top talent for another team you’ll have to offer them more than their current employer, exactly the same as any other business.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
The econonmics of it all...
There are a few kinds of contracts (max contracts and rookie contracts in particular) that have a fixed limit of what you can pay. If you consider that ‘true’ max players (LeBron, Wade, Dwight Howard, Kobe) are paid correctly, than most other players in the NBA are overpaid. If you consider that the other guys are paid correctly, then the true max guys are UNDERPAID. The fact is, we’re dealing with a VERY scarce commodity here – there’s one LeBron James, so in a true supply and demand system, there’s no telling how much he’d make (MJ was making $25M per season IN THE 90’s). But that scarcity extends to Chris Bosh and Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay and Rashard Lewis and Zach Randolph as well. You pay what you have to pay, you pay more than the other guys are willing to pay, and that’s how you get the player. So either everyone is overpaid (except the true max guys and a few rookies) or no one is overpaid.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Apr 16, 2010 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions
Hughes tells it how it is
reallisa
Hughes got the news around 7:30 this morning in a meeting with GM Neil Olshey and team president Andy Roeser, Roeser via conference call
Hughes:“I’m not even in shock.I just wish it could have worked out better.I told them I appreciate you letting me know now rather than June”
Hughes said he talked w/the players via phone and just finished talking to Eric Gordon. “I’m already bored,” Hughes said. He wasn’t kidding
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 1:27 PM PDT reply actions
Glad to hear that Hughes received better treatment than what Dunleavy got. Hughes may not have turned the team into a winner, but he was a respectable interim coach.
Not even a face to face?
They need to man up and have these discussions face to face at least.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know how it went down, but BGE’s post indicates that Olshey met with Hughes in person. Roeser was the one on conference call. Although personally, I hate early morning meetings so I’d rather find out I was being let go at the end of the day.
No way. At least after you get canned in the morning you can leave. Sitting through a day of work and then getting fired….
by Michael White on Apr 15, 2010 7:58 PM PDT up reply actions
What's up with the defensive posture...
I thought the press release was fine until the last paragraph. Who writes these things? This is a continuation of the poorly worded and weirdly almost despicable dismissal of Dunleavy wherein they “cut all contact”. Huh?
It reminds me of cold war era Russian statements coming out of Moscow. “Don’t ask, we won’t tell you, because you really have no right to know.” Uh… do you hate the press… do you hate the fans… or both?
hard to say
I agree… sometimes they just put out some weird stuff. I mean, most of the press releases are standard boiler plate things, but when they depart it’s totally out of left field.
Don’t forget, Donald Sterling is the guy that lays out his own ads in the LA Times rather than getting graphic pros to do it. And it shows. The press releases sometimes smack a little of that. “I want it to say exactly this.” But I’m just speculating, I don’t know.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Apr 15, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
That's what I was thinking too...
It’s so weirdly worded… “In order to maintain the ability to take advantage of the widest sample of available and quality coaches, there will be no stated completion timetable.” It’s as though it was translated from Chinese or something. It really isn’t hard to believe DTS is cooking these things up himself.
Yes...
and it says that no one in the front office has the balls to even suggest the proof read it for him. That doesn’t bode well for the bigger decisions.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions
He's in charge...
A high school friend of mine used to be a big wig in ad sales at the Times. She has some amazing stories about DTS and his Times’ ads. The guy does things his way or you don’t do business with him.
In this world, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant. Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. - Elwood P. Dowd
by Steve Perrin on Apr 16, 2010 9:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Too bad
Hughes is clearly a good dude. It’s too bad that he couldn’t do a little bit better during his interim gig. But getting the axe sooner rather than later seems best.
I wonder about the Kaman relationship. It seemed as if they were strongly attached to each other. But Kaman didn’t flourish when Hughes moved up to the coaching spot.
I have to say I was a little disappointed that Hughes didn’t gamble more when he was coaching, going for broke since he had nothing to lose. It really couldn’t have gone any worse. But maybe he had spent so much time working for MDSr that a certain conservatism was ingrained in him, or maybe it was always there and that’s why MDSr liked him.
We knew he was going to give DJordan additional minutes, but beyond that, and not calling every play from the sidelines, things weren’t so different from how they were under MDSr, except that the defense wasn’t as good. The roster was significantly worse, with Camby and Thornton gone.
Outlaw’s leash was much too long, especially on a team playing no defense. When the defensive woes surfaced so quickly and things were bad, it seems like it would have been a good idea to play Collins (defense) and Novak (hitting perimeter shots) instead of going with the basic Kaman-Gooden replaced by DJordan-Smith lineup, and hoping that Gooden, Blake and Outlaw would help the team. Even though the Clippers were the worst defensive team in the league, there was never much in the way of what would Don Nelson do to mix things up right now. It didn’t matter. Seems like things could have been a little bit more fun, however.
Camby's absence made a difference
Thornton’s did not, just needed to point that out.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Thornton
I actually thought we could have used him some games, Outlaw was terrible. He clearly was still rusty and not fully recovered from his injury.
Not saying a huge difference, but Thornton played well for Washington.
by The Blake Griffin Era on Apr 15, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Erm no
Thornton played exactly the same for the Wizards as he played for us. Neither Outlaw or Thornton would have made a difference.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/t/thornal01.html
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Eerie
You’d think AT’s stats would have changed a little. When you wrote “exactly the same,” you were exactly right.
"i know huh........freakin clippers man.....its like a wild ride rooting for this team....gotta love em....(sometimes) lol" In GrIfFin We TrUsT
nope you are wrong
Thornton played better than Outlaw
better on/off rating (82games)
well for the Clips at least
it would be kind of unfair to use Thornton’s numbers with WAS
That's skewed
Of course AT had a better on/off rating, the Clippers were a much better team then. Outlaw got to play with even more depleted 2nd unit. Look at how bad all the new players were (Gooden, Outlaw and Blake). If your going to cherry pick stats at least be fair. Thornton had a -3.8 on the Wizards.
If you look at PER, Outlaw was actually better than AT was.
But this isn’t a debate over who is better, neither player was going to save this sinking ship. At least we cleared cap room by moving Thornton and Telfair.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Hughes got a raw deal.
Once Camby and others got traded, he had no shot, as is the case with almost all interims. So many free agents who knew they weren’t getting to playoffs, lots of your typical season-is-over-who-cares injuries, all this takes a huge toll.
I said months ago I love Hughes for his candor, and he is a real intelligent guy. He did great things with Kaman over the years, and helped Jordan develop. I wish he could have gotten a fair shake but really had no shot from the start.
Anyway, Steve did a nice job on this post. Good luck to Kim.
http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/news/story?id=5091385
Hughes said he’d noticed Davis playing better and more freely since he took over as coach in early February, but that the point guard still has “more work to do.”
“I don’t know what limited him, and really I don’t care because really that’s between he and Mike [Dunleavy],” Hughes said. "He’s tried to be a leader the last 40 percent of the year, I’d concur with that.
“But he still has more work to do if he truly wants to be in a running team, and be a transition team, like he did in Golden State, that means he’s got to get his body weight down to around 205. If he does that next year, that’s showing me that he does want to be a leader and play that way next year.”
9:21 LAC - Offensive foul on C. Smith
by LancasterGordon4Eva on Apr 15, 2010 4:08 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the link
For those keeping faint hope alive that MDSr was the primary culprit behind Clipper woes, it turns out that the team does a fine job of losing without him. - citizen zhiv
that's a horrible assesment by Hughes
it worked in GS because of the personnel
JRich, Barnes, Monta, Al Harrington, SJax… these guys are gazelles, never get tired, shoot great from deep, and can take 95% of the people at their respected positions to the hole
Not that I totally disagree
But JRich, Barnes, Harrington and Jax absolutely cannot “take 95% of the people at their respect[ive] positions to the hole.”
I do agree though that the Clips don’t have the personnel to be a running team. We don’t nearly have the athletic talent. Even guys who have that talent like EJ tend to jog up the court. I saw countless times when Baron would sprint up the court only to have zero swingmen running lanes next to him.
But Baron does need to get in better shape no question.
I thought Baron was in pretty good shape this year
he even dunked it a few times. I don’t think Hughes was really being critical of him, he just said it like it is.
FA in 2010.
by ClipperChuck on Apr 15, 2010 6:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Not really
I just listened to the interview and the only thing which Kim said about Baron is that he’d like to see him lose 10 lbs and play at 205 because Baron wants to run and being lighter would help. Personal opinion, I think that’s good advice for Baron.
i thought it was interesting what he said about kaman
paraphrased “i’m sure kaman enjoyed scoring 20 a game but a team won’t make the playoffs with him as the #1 option”
i’ll miss hughes’ candor
by Joe Wolf's Mullet on Apr 15, 2010 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
What's Not To Like.
Nice post on Casey circa 2009 on reclinergm.com, “Casey interviewed for a second time”. I don’t know how to link, perhaps nation member can for me.
Apparently Rhino played for Dwayne Casey his rookie year.
Come on Craig. Re-sign and then get Casey over here.
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