OT: Warriors Fire Mark Jackson

Submitted by LS And Play on

Golden State has decided to fire Mark Jackson. It seems like the firing had more to do with Jackson clashing with upper management than actual performance. The situation sounds very similar to what has been ongoing between Jim Harbaugh and the Niners front office. I wouldn't mind if the Pistons took a look at Jackson. Is it possible Izzo takes a look at the Warriors job (if offerered), considering Draymond Green is there and that team is ready to win now?

 

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24552739/report-warriors…

JeepinBen

May 6th, 2014 at 5:10 PM ^

I think the answers to Jackson's firings can be found here:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nba/2014/05/03/nba-clippers-warrio…

 

 

When Collins came out as the first openly gay player in the major North American professional sports, Jackson was asked how he saw the situation. He spoke highly of Collins and said he could play for the Warriors "if he had game" but also referenced his own "beliefs of what's right and wrong" and said he was "praying for (Collins) and his family." During what was a sensitive time, Jackson — whose team president, Rick Welts, was the first openly gay senior sports executive — was seen by some as insensitive.

 

 

I believe that the situation is a personal (probably religious and political in nature), not basketball issue with the owner and GM and Jackson

JeepinBen

May 6th, 2014 at 5:19 PM ^

I'd recommend reading the whole article as I think that Jackson's dual roles as a minister and coach didn't mesh well with other front office people and some of his players - I didn't mean to quote a section and make it sound like he was fired for one comment. It's an interesting article on the whole intersection of sports and religion, how some coaches do things a certain way while others behave another. I think there were most likely lots of "personal differences" between Jackson and his bosses that lead to this, I think that religious expression may have been part of it.

I don't know that there would be a discrimination suit involved, if he was an at will employee, or what but as is referenced elsewhere in the thread, NBA coaches are recycled pretty often for all kinds of reasons.

TheLastHarbaugh

May 7th, 2014 at 3:44 AM ^

It was a lot more than that.

There was the stripper blackmailing him drama from his first year as a head coach.

He had the whole "mole" issue last year.

Fighting with almost all of his assistant coaches, and having 2 of them fired/re-assigned in one week, which I don't believe has ever happened. Also, it's not like they were bad assistants. Brian Scalabrine was highly recommended by Tom Thibodeau and Doc Rivers. Darren Erman is thought of extremely highly in the NBA and already landed a job with the Celtics and was promoted.

There are also rumors that he attempted to turn the players against management, and created an "us vs. them" mentality that caused a lot of friction within the organization. He alienated the entire front office so much that not one person stuck up for him when they moved to fire him.

He didn't follow any of the orders management gave him to develop young players. Didn't hold many practices or work on anything. He just basically left the players up to their own devices. 

He was not particularly adept at Xs and Os. He also didn't do any prep work or game planning before games and was viewed as lazy.

It was a lot of things. The not liking gay people while having a gay team president issue probably didn't help, but it was probably pretty far down the list of reasons why they fired him.

boliver46

May 6th, 2014 at 4:34 PM ^

Due to Clashes with upper management - He's a winner which can heal a lot of rifts - but not apparently in Golden State.  I guess with all of their NBA titles and decades of success, they can afford to part ways with a winner.

/s

In reply to by boliver46

ghost

May 6th, 2014 at 6:40 PM ^

They were  on the right track before he got there.  Steph Curry and Klay Thompson are the reasons for that.  Not Mark Jackson.  

One of the big improvements the Warriors have seen is on defense.  The coach Jackson fired (Darren Erman) was in charge of the defense.

Michigan4Life

May 6th, 2014 at 4:50 PM ^

is his offensive set doesn't have a lot creativity and it stops when Steph Curry PnR doesn't work the first time. The offense was being helped more by Curry's shooting, vision plus Klay Thompson shooting than anything IMO.

That being said, he is a good motivator and knows how to push the player's buttons the right way.

Blarvey

May 6th, 2014 at 4:51 PM ^

The NBA must be the only place that will can a guy whose team improved every year for three years and matched some of the team's all-time best records after decades of sub .400 ball.

da3mite

May 6th, 2014 at 5:14 PM ^

Also, the NBA is the only league that has a team that fires a guy (George Karl) the year he wins Coach of the Year. 

I think the difference between professional leagues is with only 5 players on the court at one time, and 12-15 player rosters, overall talent is more transparent than the NFL for example, which features 22 starters and many more players playing regularly. Increased transparency in talent and superstar talent probably creates greater expectations on a year to year basis--warranted or not. 

LSAClassOf2000

May 6th, 2014 at 4:56 PM ^

Like others, I really don't see Tom Izzo ever leaving something that he's turned into his own thing (and a thing that works well generally at that) like Michigan State State basketball, although part of me says that Izzo wouldn't be a terrible fit necessarily for Golden State, but likely not the best fit regardless. I simply don't see the NBA as a place where Izzo would would do his best work. 

In any case, the list of potential candidates is interesting - Kerr, Hoiberg and according to one or two sites, Van Gundy is on their list as well. 

 

Ben v2

May 6th, 2014 at 5:03 PM ^

Jackson brings the following strengths to the table.

  • Great Motivator; his teams played hard all game all the time.
  • Big picture guy, does not dwell on x's and o's; very player-oriented.
  • Delegates a ton to assistants.
  • Excellent media presence.  Articulate, well spoken, represents the franchise with dignity.

Jackson also has his share of weaknesses.

  • Not a strategy guy; will not be able to draw up a play to win a game
  • Issues managing assistants; 2 guys were canned during April
  • Bizarre, hockey-like substitution rotations, sometimes with little regard for energy-level, foul situation, etc...
  • Tendency to rely on Steph Curry playing hero-ball to win games after falling behind huge in the 1st half

Jackson will win as long as he surrounds himself with strong assistants.  No one could win with the 2013/2014 Pistons, but Jackson would have done better than Mo Cheeks.

 

 

Ben v2

May 6th, 2014 at 5:11 PM ^

Other than Draymond Green, GS doesn't have any Izzo-esque ruffians (Antonio Smith, Zach Randolph, Goran Suton, and Derrick Nix, to name a few) who would battle on the boards and man up the Dwight Howards and the Tim Duncans.  Plus, Izzo would probably ask for personnel responsibilities, which GS will not give him.

AR-15

May 6th, 2014 at 5:12 PM ^

I doubt the star players on the Warriors resign when their contracts are up. they've publicly stated their support of Jackson and this might be the kind of move to turn their best players away. way to go.

Paps

May 6th, 2014 at 5:31 PM ^

I am okay with this fire.

As long as we get someone better.  Jackson is good, but others can do his job better.  It's just a matter of landing one of those people now

Swazi

May 6th, 2014 at 6:45 PM ^

I think the Warriors are going to try and hire Steve Kerr, and if he goes to NY, they'll hire D'Antoni. His system would work pretty well with that Warriors roster.

Mr. Yost

May 6th, 2014 at 6:51 PM ^

They make the playoffs, what, 1 time in the previous 17 years...then he takes them there 2 out of  years and has a better record each year?

I don't care what kind of problems he has with management, you're grown men, figure the shit out.

Unless he was doing something that was fireable or embarassing to the team...man up and work it out.

ghost

May 6th, 2014 at 7:17 PM ^

When you fire two assistant coaches in one year chances are you are the problem.  Especially when one of the coaches is immediately picked up by one of the best front offices in the leagues.

Mark Jackson isn't Greg Popovick, Phil Jackson, Jerry Sloan or anyone like that.  He's not Tom Thibodeau or Rick Carlisle  either.

He can be replaced.  Lional Hollins and Stan Van Gundy are both better options than Jackson and it really isn't close.

cbs650

May 6th, 2014 at 8:04 PM ^

one coach was secretly recording meetings and I'm sorry but Brian Scalaibrini is not someone who if fired as an assistant you should lose your job over. Jackson probably didn't kiss Jerry West butt and it that is why he was let go

fergodsake

May 6th, 2014 at 7:49 PM ^

I am speechless. Jackson was loved by the players and the fanbase. He was an outstanding coach that brought the best out of his players and revitalized the warriors franchise. This is an incredibly short-sighted decision.

Good luck to Mark Jackson, I'm sure he'll have lots of success wherever he ends up. Whichever team takes him will be getting a hell of a coach