Setting aside how that’s a normal day in the life, I’d prefer to give the guy a chance. I do get why so many other fans are incensed by this hiring. There were a lot of other candidates out there, and some actually coached basketball over these past few years. Mark Jackson is known as a TV personality, an espouser of conventional wisdom. He has no cachet as a molder of teams, and the justification for Lacob’s move appears ominously based on “personality.”
But, I would caution those who think they know Jackson from his TV commentating: You don’t. Announcing is a projection of whatever “personality” is thought to work best, it’s not a coaching Bar Exam. Citing a football example: John Madden was a fantastic HC, but the booth often reduced him to “Boom!” Per basketball: Doc Rivers was never my favorite announcer, but few are better-gifted at calling plays out of a timeout.
Years ago, John Amaechi visited Cal–he was on a college tour, prompted by his coming out as the first gay player in NBA history. I asked him about secretly brilliant athletes, if any of them were much smarter than we’d been led to believe. The response was quick:
“Mark Jackson.”
Then Amaechi–between swigs of Earl Grey–energetically waxed on about how he could have the most spectacularly trenchent conversations with Jackson, how fans just did not get that side of the man. Perhaps this conversational intelligence won’t help Mark in the locker room, but file it away if you’re judging this guy based on his televised discourse.
Though I’m weary of the jockocracy’s tendency to make ex-players–especially ex-point guards–into coaches, I don’t see the numbers in assuming the worst during what might be a long lockout. Like yelling at a goose, it’s more masochistic than cathartic. And though people would be historically wise to doubt the Warriors, there is a difference between doubt and thoughtless dismissal.
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Who cares. When is the last time coaching experience had anything to do with the Warriors success?
Given that the owners have committed to hiring experienced assistants, even though they may demand a higher salary, I think this is a great hire for the Warriors. Even though I liked Keith Smart, I think it’s great we are getting some new blood in an organization which has been stagnant for years.
Trade Monta For Iggy. Draft Bismack Biyombo or Kenneth Faried. Dump Beans for a Serviceable Big Man.
Curry
Iggy
D.Wright
D.Lee
Udoh/Amundson/Biyombo
Not bad!
Obviously Jackson has got something to give, I’m just assuming he is new to broadcasting and he just needs to ease into his own comfort zone… public is the biggest critics of all…
Jackson was a hell of a player in his day and certainly knows fundamentals. He could be the Doc Rivers type of coach, seeing as they were both good point guards in their days. I am interested to see what happens to the Warriors now that they have Jackson as coach and West in the Front Office.
Give Lacob some credit. If anything he knows how to hire the right people. That’s how you build organizations and make billions of dollars in the process. Experience is not a prerequisite to being successful at a new job. The wrong guy with the right experience is still the wrong guy. The right guy can grow into the job provided he has the support staff behind him. Already, Malone is on board. So take Lacob’s recent history into account; partnering with media mogul Guber, hiring super agent Meyers and most importantly bringing in Jerry West, You have to respect Lacob’s talent and West’s wisdom even if you don’t agree with the Mark Jackson hiring. Chances are they are right and you’re not.
Momma there goes that man!
i’m not dismissing jackson due to his (terrible) skills as a broadcaster; that would be foolish and nonsensical, those are two completely different jobs and his tv personality doesn’t in any way have anything to do with his basketball mind behind the scenes. However i am highly skeptical of them hiring someone who has absolutely no coaching experience in any capacity and has never been on the scouting/personnel side of the equation in the nba. I will give him a chance and hope to see him do well, and by all accounts he is a sharp basketball mind with a good understanding of the game; however i just fail to see how he is more qualified than any of the other candidates who have actually coached before and aren’t learning this job on the fly for the very first time.
Arjun’s comment had more depth than this entire post did. You came real weak here Strauss.