12/21/24
May 11, 2015
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
David Blatt tried to call an illegal timeout with 8.4 seconds left last night nearly handing the game to the Bulls, then tried to draw up a final play that involved LeBron inbounding the ball rather than having the ball in his hands.
LeBron overruled him and drained a clutch jumper to win game four.
Jack Armstrong (who I usually can't stand) argued that LeBron might be the most capable player-coach possibility we've had in a while (he listed Steve Nash and Jason Kidd as others.) In practice at least, it's hard to imagine the duration of his peak years in Cleveland being anything other than a window-dressed version of that where a coach is in place with more social capital to overrule LeBron than LeBron has to overrule him.
posted by dfleming at 11:43 AM on May 11, 2015
"We're going to have the greatest player of his generation not involved in the play! They'll never expect it!"
"Yeah... there's probably a reason they won't, Dave."
posted by Etrigan at 11:56 AM on May 11, 2015
Hi Dave - it's your agent. Just wanted to send you this link saying Helvetica was recently voted best resume font. Thought you should know. - Agent Gary
posted by dfleming at 12:08 PM on May 11, 2015
"Yeah... there's probably a reason they won't, Dave."
Would have also accepted, "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that."
posted by yerfatma at 12:15 PM on May 11, 2015
"We're going to have the greatest player of his generation not involved in the play! They'll never expect it!"
Well, you know, it worked out so well with the Seahawks this past Super Bowl.
posted by NoMich at 12:54 PM on May 11, 2015
LeBron might be the most capable player-coach possibility we've had in a while
Some would say he already is and has been starting with his previous stint in Cleveland where he had the previous coach fired.
No question he is the best option on the court offensively. Only 1 player in the league that can defend him well on a regular basis (Kawhi Leonard). As long as he wants the ball he should have it.
He is not capable of being a player coach because of his makeup. (His emotional involvement often results in defensive lapses .. someone needs to be in place to keep his head out of his ass).
If there ever is a player coach I'd suggest someone like Chris Paul, Tony Parker, or Tim Duncan would be a prime candidate (as would Steve Nash if he were still playing).
posted by cixelsyd at 01:14 PM on May 11, 2015
Goal line technology for the win. Nobody knew this one went in but the player who headed it.
posted by rcade at 05:14 PM on May 11, 2015
Blatt isn't helping matters with this grandiose comparison to excuse his timeout mistake: "A basketball coach makes 150 to 200 critical decisions during the course of a game, something that I think is paralleled only by a fighter pilot."
posted by rcade at 08:31 PM on May 11, 2015
I've never played any sort of electronic or video game but it seems to me that Blatt is doing the skilled enthusiasts in that realm of endeavor a disservice by not acknowledging them as well.
posted by beaverboard at 06:58 AM on May 12, 2015
A basketball coach makes 150 to 200 critical decisions during the course of a game, something that I think is paralleled only by a fighter pilot
I'd been operating under the misconception Blatt was getting a bit of a raw deal for being an outsider, but the quotation suggests he really is an idiot. It doesn't even make sense. Are we talking about in a 48-minute period? What about surgeons, concert musicians, chefs . . . seriously, it's coaching a game Hannibal Smith.
He is not capable of being a player coach because of his makeup. (His emotional involvement often results in defensive lapses
Even ignoring the dog whistle that's doesn't hunt. He's the best defensive player I've ever seen in 3 decades of watching the game. As a Celtics fan I've had the displeasure of seeing him in lots of high pressure games and he's the only person I can recall who makes the other team's fast breaks feel risky/ interesting. And for a guy who has his head in his ass, he sure remembered how many time outs there were.
posted by yerfatma at 08:31 AM on May 12, 2015
A basketball coach makes 150 to 200 critical decisions during the course of a game, something that I think is paralleled only by a fighter pilot
"Do I suggest to LeBron that we go small at the 4 for the next few minutes now or later?"
posted by dfleming at 09:08 AM on May 12, 2015
The Europa League is widely seen as a poisoned chalice in England, a second-rate competition that traps decent teams trying to compete for the Champion's League by sapping their resources. And that's if you properly qualify. There's now a spot given to the team with the highest Fair Play rating (yellow and red cards, basically). West Ham are in line for the honor with Everton right behind. Given the two teams play each other this weekend, there's some concern it could turn into a card fest.