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So the Jazz should have moved away from their greater strengths to provide AK the chance to reach his potential? Meh. I love AK. He's one of the funnest players to watch when he's on his game. I think he has a unique genius in his ability to get his hand on the ball and disrupt plays with a special kind of finesse. I don't hate AK and I don't doubt that he could have been used in a way that would resulted in better performance for AK, but would that have also resulted in better performance of the Jazz team he was on? On that point I'm not so sure.
 
Gameface said:
So the Jazz should have moved away from their greater strengths to provide AK the chance to reach his potential? Meh ... I don't doubt that he could have been used in a way that would resulted in better performance for AK, but would that have also resulted in better performance of the Jazz team he was on? On that point I'm not so sure.
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The only thing I can say is that I believe a rising tide raises all ships. Case in point: The Spurs last year moved significantly away from their traditional strengths and adapted not only to their personnel, but the changes in the game as a whole--and were once again one of the very best teams all while an aging Duncan/Ginobili/Parker trio still thrived.

This isn't news, but bears repeating: the Jazz under Sloan never significantly changed strategy or tactics. e.g.: Defending the 3, using the 3, defensive schemes, even substitution patterns and time out usage were essentially iron-clad and set in stone. And here's the thing: His approach was demonstrably successful. Sloan's wins/losses do not lie, nor does his or his team's reputation for hard play night in and night out.

Av_-PYWCEAECnaE_crop_exact.jpg

HOWEVAH:

Sloan's refusal to adapt to anything created many casualties along the way. The ability to win in the playoffs, the ability to beat the Spurs, player alienation. Most were insignificant and matters of taste, some were not. The biggest one is AK.
 
Magic Spray said:
The only thing I can say is that I believe a rising tide raises all ships. Case in point: The Spurs last year moved significantly away from their traditional strengths and adapted not only to their personnel, but the changes in the game as a whole--and were once again one of the very best teams all while an aging Duncan/Ginobili/Parker trio still thrived.

This isn't news, but bears repeating: the Jazz under Sloan never significantly changed strategy or tactics. e.g.: Defending the 3, using the 3, defensive schemes, even substitution patterns and time out usage were essentially iron-clad and set in stone. And here's the thing: His approach was demonstrably successful. Sloan's wins/losses do not lie, nor does his or his team's reputation for hard play night in and night out.

Av_-PYWCEAECnaE_crop_exact.jpg

HOWEVAH:

Sloan's refusal to adapt to anything created many casualties along the way. The ability to win in the playoffs, the ability to beat the Spurs, player alienation. Most were insignificant and matters of taste, some were not. The biggest one is AK.
Click to expand...

Sloan refused to acknowledge the 3 point shot existed, true. However, to say he never adapted or changed anything is just wrong.

The Jazz went from one of the best slow paced, half court, defensive teams, to I've of the best fast paced, offensive, transition teams. They went from Sloan calling all the plays, to the point guard calling all the plays.

It's funny that all the AK lovers (not you specifically) are saying Sloan's best coaching was when he key AK be himself that one season.

Reality is, the Jazz were barely .500 and missed the playoffs that year. I knew it's easy to look back on the Stockton to Malone years and say it was all them, but the reality is the Jazz were never the favorites with Stockton and Malone. They were old, and every year the media said it was finally the year they would fail due to age. Yet every year, the Jazz exceeded expectations. Even in the finals years, the Jazz were supposed to suck before the season began, and then supposed to lose in the playoffs.
 
SaltyDawg said:
Sloan refused to acknowledge the 3 point shot existed, true. However, to say he never adapted or changed anything is just wrong.

The Jazz went from one of the best slow paced, half court, defensive teams, to I've of the best fast paced, offensive, transition teams. They went from Sloan calling all the plays, to the point guard calling all the plays.

It's funny that all the AK lovers (not you specifically) are saying Sloan's best coaching was when he key AK be himself that one season.

Reality is, the Jazz were barely .500 and missed the playoffs that year. I knew it's easy to look back on the Stockton to Malone years and say it was all them, but the reality is the Jazz were never the favorites with Stockton and Malone. They were old, and every year the media said it was finally the year they would fail due to age. Yet every year, the Jazz exceeded expectations. Even in the finals years, the Jazz were supposed to suck before the season began, and then supposed to lose in the playoffs.
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I would say that every year the media thought that the jazz would fail due to age, it was just because the media didn't understand how great, durable and hard working stockton and malone were.
So I give the credit to stockton and malone for continually working thier butts off to stay competitive and I also think that alot of sloans reputation is based off of those two guys.

I think sloan was a great motivator and that is about it.
He was horrible at making adjustments, calling timeouts, taking advantage of missmatches and in some cases developing and utilizing talents (AK).
Having said all of that, i think that AK's problems were more of his own fault than sloans. (though sloan probably deserves a little blame too)

I was glad to see ak gone and i also was ready for sloan to leave a few years before he actually did.
 
SaltyDawg said:
It's funny that all the AK lovers (not you specifically) are saying Sloan's best coaching was when he (let) AK be himself that one season.

Reality is, the Jazz were barely .500 and missed the playoffs that year.
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You speak the truth of 1000 suns.
 
SaltyDawg said:
It's funny that all the AK lovers (not you specifically) are saying Sloan's best coaching was when he key AK be himself that one season.

Reality is, the Jazz were barely .500 and missed the playoffs that year. I knew it's easy to look back on the Stockton to Malone years and say it was all them, but the reality is the Jazz were never the favorites with Stockton and Malone. They were old, and every year the media said it was finally the year they would fail due to age. Yet every year, the Jazz exceeded expectations. Even in the finals years, the Jazz were supposed to suck before the season began, and then supposed to lose in the playoffs.
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As to that being the best coaching job by Sloan, it might have been.

They had nobody. AK was their best player, that should tell you a lot. Can you name very many of the starters on that team let alone the other players and tell me with a straight face they were talented enough to play .500 ball? At least with the statues you expected a decent record.
 
"Kirilenko is really the godsend of this free agent class. He understands how to play the game and can execute. While he may never take over a game scoring wise, he can potentially dominate everywhere else."
Wolves blogger after today's win.
 
If not spectacular, AK was solid in his regular season Twolves debut: 10 points on 4-7 FGs and 2-3 FTs, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block, and 2 TO's in 31 minutes.
 
Minnesota's 2 best players missed the game. We'll see how AK does when they get back and he's the 5th option.

Maybe they'll stay out long enough to where it's not an issue (doubtful).
 
SaltyDawg said:
Minnesota's 2 best players missed the game. We'll see how AK does when they get back and he's the 5th option.

Maybe they'll stay out long enough to where it's not an issue (doubtful).
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Sorry but you have no clue. He will never be 5th option.
 
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