yep, not a lot of defense in the backcourt for them right now (at least they get some offense from guys like Morris and Rivers).
I hate it for them too. If they were healthy, or at least Murray was, they might be the Western Conference favorites for me with the Lakers hobbled. Without him I just can’t see them doing it with Jokic alone
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I still can’t believe they gave him three shots on that phantom foul late in regulation and then upheld it on replay. I didn’t see any contact on the replay ESPN showed.
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I thought they artfully weaseled out of that by calling it before the shot. Shouldn’t have happened, but coulda been much worse.
yes, they changed the call to on the floor and side out of bounds
Wow stevens to the celtics front office, have to wonder if he makes a run at juwan. He tried to hire as an assitant awhile back.
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That’s not really enough for me to think there’s much of a connection there. But it is hilarious after IU fans thought they could get Stevens and now he’s not even gonna be coaching at all
I’m a little confused by this move for Stevens. You don’t see a lot of young, reasonably successful coaches move into the front office from what I can recall. I’m sure it happens though (?). There are more guys who have done it toward the end of their careers or as a stepping stone move into coaching.
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It’s very odd. But if anyone can pull it off its Stevens. I’ll be curious if he permanently moves to the FO or if he ever gets back into coaching. I’m sure it’ll be speculated every year until it happens.
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I see the Suns as the WC favorite as long as CP3 is healthy. They’re balanced and can defend plus they have Book who can carry his team if needed to.
Also about Stevens leaving the coaching ranks… I remember it being a talking point at the time that Beilein was partially convinced to go to the NBA by Stevens telling him how great the NBA coaching lifestyle was. And now just a couple of years later Stevens retires from NBA coaching. Lol. Not all that it’s cracked up to be apparently.
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I think we underestimate how burned out the players and coaches are from the whole abbreviated season directly after the bubble. I think Stevens ends up coaching again in the not too distant future.
Also, if it was 3-4 years down the line I’d be worried about losing Juwan. I just don’t see him doing it this year with his other son (most likely coming on board). I also don’t see him doing it to the school that he loves so much.
Not sure this means Stevens would say coaching in the NBA isn’t great or that he didn’t enjoy it. Seems like he just wants to try something else? Fits with most of his career moves.
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I believe the actual role of coaching in the NBA has changed in recent years. The players have a ton of influence and control over the game. Coaches maybe more on culture and buy in. I’ve said it before, Juwan will be a great candidate to coach in the NBA. He came from a world class organization that knows how to win. His relationship with players and respect from them will be a huge benefit for him at the next level. OH, and he can coach/teach the NBA game.
So in the last 15months we have now had two prominent former college coaches(beilein and stevens) resign from nba jobs because they are “burnt out”. I think we can torch the narrative that exists in nba media circles that the nba is such a better lifestyle because coaching in the nba is just about basketball(1000% not true). Yes theres longer summers in the nba and no recruiting but the season is way longer and the travel is more brutal, theres way more media obligations and scrutiny and your managing huge egos with wild personalities that you dont get to choose. The two are much closer than most would think. At the top of college basketball(top 10ish jobs) theres likely a better quality of life.
Neither of them resigned from burnout though?? I mean Beilein was fired. We’ve heard nothing from Stevens.
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Woj says burnout
beilein resigned because he couldnt handle it and both sides realized it, theres tons of stuff out there about stevens being burnt out
Fair enough, although that specifically mentions the Bubble which was a unique circumstance
That’s not burnout.
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