Which NBA Coach Would You Play For?
Later today, Pat Riley will be inducted into the Hall of Fame. I was too young during Riley’s LA Showtime days to remember him then, but my guess would be that everyone in the League secretly wished that they could play for him.
(No, it’s not for the same reason that people go to play for John Calipari – even though there’s something about the slicked back hair that exudes, “I’m gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse.”)
What’s the chance that Mike D’Antoni – the guy whose team has played a run-first, run-second brand of ball as close to the ’80’s Lakers as any team in the League today – loses that widespread appeal among players when he starts with the Knicks? Though Riley’s teams in New York were successful, they weren’t exciting because of their offensive firepower. Similarly, it wouldn’t be a shock to many people if D’Antoni not only loses some of that “7 seconds or less” philosophy, but also if he loses his appeal among players in NYC.
With Mike D now running the Knicks, which NBA coach would you prefer to play for?
September 5th, 2008 at 7:51 am
rangerjohn (mccain in '08) says:
POP!!!! nuff said
September 5th, 2008 at 8:11 am
S-SiN says:
I would play for Phil Jackson. That fact alone automaticaly has put people into title consideration AND you’d get to ball with #23 or #24. now beat that mccain-pop-whatever..
September 5th, 2008 at 8:28 am
craig990 says:
I’d say Phil or Pop!
I’d even consider Jerry Sloan, Nate McMillan, or Coach K
@Dime… again i ask
What ever happened to that NBA Losers List?
Can you bring it back please?
September 5th, 2008 at 8:30 am
craig990 says:
Coach K doesnt coach the NBA.. but.. im sure he would be a good coach if he made that transition from College to NBA Head Coach.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Prof. TX says:
Rudy T.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Coop says:
I would play for Pat Riley so I could say the following to him, man to man:
‘Riley, you are a integrity-free piece of dirt, and you should thank your lucky stars every day that you are both rich and, in some bizarre circles, respected. I hate you!’
I would then pull my trousers down (pants, to the Americans among you) to reveal a tattoo that reads ‘don’t believe the riley’ across both cheeks.
Or Larry Brown, so I could say:
‘Nice job in NY, Larry. Karma’s a bitch, eh? All that nomadic weaseling around, neurotic self-promotion and you go to your favourite city of cities and oh, what happened? YOU FUCKED IT UP, LARRY! YOU FUCKED IT UP!!!!’
eND.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Ross says:
Popovich. Nobody complains in his system, and he keeps everyone in check.
Oh yeah, and 4 championships.
September 5th, 2008 at 8:49 am
goonther says:
Mike brown – so I could tell him how much of an assbag he is
September 5th, 2008 at 8:51 am
goonther says:
And then cunt punt his sandy vagina across the room
September 5th, 2008 at 8:57 am
RENO says:
PHILL, POP, D’ANTONI, AND B. SCOTT.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:07 am
josh tha roc says:
coop ur an angry dude…but i do enjoy your rants.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 am
YOUNGFED says:
I love to play Doc “The ToadMan” Rivers.
September 5th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Phileus says:
Why did you post the OKC Thunder logo for a Knicks-related post?
Oh FUCK ME, it’s the Knicks logo and not the OKC logo! Well sorry about that mates! How could I EVER have gotten them mixed up???
September 5th, 2008 at 9:11 am
justice says:
I i could be in the nba i wouldn’t give a damn who i played for…but Byron Scott,Calipari,Lenny wilkins,paul hewitt are all my favs maybe even skiles the get in my face and tell me like it is coaches always do good with me
September 5th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Phileus says:
As for the real question, I would go for Jerry Sloan. Players (like me) with not so much talent are always maximised by hard-ass coaches who enforce an all-heart, borderline “dirty” style of play. How many times have you gone to the playground and bumped into an annoying guy who has 0 talent on offense, but bugs your ass on D as best as his untalented self can?
September 5th, 2008 at 9:18 am
YOUNGFED says:
Typing waaaaaayyyyy too fast.
I meant “I’d love to play for Doc “The ToadMan” Rivers.”
September 5th, 2008 at 9:41 am
bsteezy3 says:
I’ve always liked Doc Rivers–he was a good coach in Orlando (too bad Grant Hill was always hurt), and he seems to get respect from his players. Just look at him in last year’s finals. He always seemed under control during the stressful parts of the game. Those soundbytes were classic…
Honorable Mention: Phil Jackson (U ever hear about what he told a mascot when it jumped into the players’ huddle? “Get the fuck out of our huddle before I kick your ass!” I love it); Jeff Van Gundy (He’ll take a punch for his players! Look back at the Zo/LJ fight!); Why not Avery Johnson? (I have an affinity for point-guards turned coaches.)
September 5th, 2008 at 9:59 am
rangerjohn (mccain in '08) says:
s-sin
1st off #23 isnt in the league anymore and i would rather play with #21,20,and 9 before i would want to play with “throw me under the bus bryant” also known as “the player formerly known as #8.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:01 am
isotope says:
Call me a homer but i cant underestimate the heart of a champion. Rudy T, b4 his health problems.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:06 am
slicrick says:
sam mitchell … yeah i said it! fuck what y’all think!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:08 am
loganlight says:
I got to think that playing for Mike D would be a dream. I could get the green light to fire at will so long as it was in the first 7 seconds of the shot clock!
But when I think about winning, I would really like to play for Phil Jackson. There are always those guys out there who claim that MJ was the reason the Bulls were so successful and not the Guru. So I would really be interested in hearing and seeing how he treats his players…
A close second? Byron Scott.
September 5th, 2008 at 10:13 am
James says:
Mike Brown son
September 5th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Ian says:
pop even if i get that what the fuck are you doing look he gives manu and parker
comon 4 rings and NO ONE ever has a problem playin for him
September 5th, 2008 at 10:31 am
bsteezy3 says:
I know he’s retired, but I’m gonna mention him anyway: Larry Bird. He knows the game, and his teams were gave the MJ-Bulls a serious run in their second three-peat years. Besides, I’ll always remember after the Bulls beat them in the Conference Finals, some dumb ass announcer (Jim Grey maybe?) asked him RIGHT AFTER THE GAME, “So, who are you gonna be rooting for in the finals?” Bird’s reply: “I don’t care-we’re not in it.” Yes…that’s what I wanna hear from MY coach…
September 5th, 2008 at 10:41 am
Michorizo says:
Stan Van Gundy … because he is a porn star…imagine all the chicks he could pull for us. And not those groupies that follow teams from city to city, any playa can get that…I am talking about those straight nasty sluts that will and know how to do everything and anything!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:42 am
craig990 says:
#
September 5th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Coop says:
I would play for Pat Riley so I could say the following to him, man to man:
‘Riley, you are a integrity-free piece of dirt, and you should thank your lucky stars every day that you are both rich and, in some bizarre circles, respected. I hate you!’
I would then pull my trousers down (pants, to the Americans among you) to reveal a tattoo that reads ‘don’t believe the riley’ across both cheeks.
Or Larry Brown, so I could say:
‘Nice job in NY, Larry. Karma’s a bitch, eh? All that nomadic weaseling around, neurotic self-promotion and you go to your favourite city of cities and oh, what happened? YOU FUCKED IT UP, LARRY! YOU FUCKED IT UP!!!!’
eND.
HAHAHAHA LMAOOO.. this deserves comment of the day!!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:43 am
craig990 says:
Coop says:
I would play for Pat Riley so I could say the following to him, man to man:
‘Riley, you are a integrity-free piece of dirt, and you should thank your lucky stars every day that you are both rich and, in some bizarre circles, respected. I hate you!’
I would then pull my trousers down (pants, to the Americans among you) to reveal a tattoo that reads ‘don’t believe the riley’ across both cheeks.
Or Larry Brown, so I could say:
‘Nice job in NY, Larry. Karma’s a bitch, eh? All that nomadic weaseling around, neurotic self-promotion and you go to your favourite city of cities and oh, what happened? YOU FUCKED IT UP, LARRY! YOU FUCKED IT UP!!!!’
eND.
HAHAHAHA LMAOOO.. this deserves comment of the day!!
September 5th, 2008 at 10:44 am
YOUNGFED says:
RangerJohn stop hatin’ just for the sake of hatin’. Can’t nobody be bitter all the DAMN time. In the words of Great Barack Obama “It’s Time For Change!!!”
September 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
dapro says:
Phil Jax
His credentials are at all time status
September 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
dapro says:
Mike Woodson gets a close second
September 5th, 2008 at 10:57 am
MSkittle says:
Nobody wants to play for Riley! His demanding practices are feared by the players.. I think Nate McMillan and Byron Scott are more like the coaches that players want to play for
September 5th, 2008 at 10:57 am
heartbreaker85 says:
id like to play for donnie nelson, just so i could average 10+ points a game without having to play a lick of defense, and just jacking up shots faster than paris hilton’s next video
September 5th, 2008 at 11:30 am
rodnets says:
Not being a great player, either one of these:
Don Nelson: I’ll be jacking threes without contempt or system.
Sam Mitchel: His gameplans are memorable, because he doesn´t remember who we are playing against nor the players.
Mike Brown: You don´t have to be a player to follow his “give it to lebron” plays from 1 to 5.
Peace
September 5th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
David Brandon says:
i would have to say Doc and Pop.
doc b/c he seems like he’s able to get a solid read about each player and how to motivate them to success.
pop b/c he’s pop!! he’ll bust your ass on one end of the court and as youre heading back down the court, next thing you know, youre an all star. most coaches wouldnt be able to control a ginobili and turn him into an all star or let tp9 go to rack so often and showcase his interior skills. pop seems like he’s able to give players just enough freedom to operate within his specified system. and when that compromise happens for both parties, you get rings…
September 5th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
bballinca says:
Pop or Scott.
September 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Jason says:
Jerry Sloan – I love his high wing pick and roll plays on offense.
Mike D’Antoni – I just love his overall system
September 5th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
johnsacrimoni says:
Can’t believe no one mentioned Rick Adelman, he’s a true player’s coach.
September 5th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
A-Slam says:
Nate McMillan
September 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
S-SiN says:
Amen A-Slam!
No one else I think mentioned Nate!
D’Antoni and Pop are both obviously elite coaches, but Nate has decades before he’s done, he, Byron Scott, Doc and Mark Jackson (in the future) are the new era. by the way Mike d, Pop and Nate were all on Team USA staff this summer.
I still say Phil is in the class of his own. not riley, not red auerbach, nor red holzman, chuck daly, don nelson, lenny wilkens… this can go on and on. Phil Jax is the best ever in the biz, so I would play for him if I had a first pick
September 5th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Stepper says:
Love to play for isiah, what? lol
September 5th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Kudabeen says:
Favorite Coaches: Nate McMillan and Larry Brown – Guys that reward hustle and teach the game.
Would say Byron Scott, but he seems to only get along with one player in particular (Chris Paul) and he tolerates the rest based off their relationship/chemistry with CP3 on the court. Love his philosophy and intensity. Just need to hear more player feedback on him.
I would play for just about all of them. As long as they are willing to coach me. It’s easier to say who I wouldn’t play for:
PJ Brown – Don’t trust him and I still remember the reports following from players like Rod Strickland and Juwan Howard about who he treats ‘certain’ players. I don’t care how long ago it was.
George Karl – Never thought he was a great coach. He always had heady lead guards to run things on the floor, but I never attributed his teams’ success to his Xs and Os or motivational abilities. Now he is a ghost of what he used to be, which is even worst. He just sit back and watch things breakdown.
Randy Whittman – Shouldn’t even have a head coaching job. No command at all.
September 5th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Amar says:
Kud — PJ Brown, or PJ Carlisemo?
I’d want to play for a player’s coach, maybe Mo Cheeks, Nate, or Byron (but if you ask Kidd, he’s not that great when the going gets tough).
September 5th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
GEE... "Smokey, you been eating corn?" says:
Fa real I would want to play for (and I know he never coached in the L.) Coach John Thompson II. Nasty defense, slappin the floor with both hands and gettin in ya stance and giving it whole game.
Always knowing you got a big man to kick it in to that is going to do work.
Yea JT fa real.
Currently I would say T. Porter and I ain’t even seen dude coach yet, but I think he gone come with some good stuff.
September 5th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
QueSt??? says:
nate mcmillan
September 5th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
GEE... "Smokey, you been eating corn?" says:
LOL @ PJ Brown.
September 5th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Diego says:
LOL re. post 25.
I always thought Stan Van Gundy was that Chris Farley character from Saturday Night Live who lived in his minivan down by the river.
September 6th, 2008 at 2:47 am
Benjamin says:
I would love to play for Byron Scott, Nate mcmillan or Phil Jackson
peace
September 6th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Smooth says:
Phil Jackson – this man once said he took LSD & it was a life changing experience he said he didnt have a better basketball season in the nba as a player it made him see everything in a whole new light LOL how could you not pick The ZEN MASTER