2013-2014 NBA Thread - IND @ WAS and OKC @ LAC on ESPN

[nelson999]

 

Man the NBA schedule makers really blew it this year. Two more lopsided match-ups on TNT tonight

You were so wrong about tonight

Not really both games sucked

 

[datznasty]

what text message?

Brooks was about to take the Portland job the yr after the Thunder went to the finals. He had also interviewed for the Magic and Bobcats job IIRC. He and Presti were kind of far apart in negotiations, he wanted over 4m x 4 yrs, I think Presti was offering 11 for 3, so he committed to the Portland job and then KD sent a text saying something like, "Let's go get'em one more time," or something to that effect on the day of or before Brooks was supposed to sign, next thing you know Brooks gets his 4yrs 16-18mil deal. Some of the details are hazy, let me find the story.

Fisher trollin' making all these shots now when it doesn't count anymore

Here it is
http://newsok.com/how-scott-brooks-could-have-wound-up-coaching-the-trail-blazers/article/3770823

Spoiler

When the clock ticked inside of what could best be described as a harrowing final hour of contract negotiations between Scott Brooks and the Oklahoma City Thunder last summer, the thing that ultimately kept the team's coveted free agent coach from now pacing the sidelines of the Portland Trail Blazers was a text message.
Photo - REACTION: Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks reacts during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Oklahoma CIty lose 114-104. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman
REACTION: Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks reacts during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Tuesday, March 19, 2013. Oklahoma CIty lose 114-104. Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman

It came from Kevin Durant.

“It was like the day before they got something done,” Durant said. “I think that day was the toughest.”

The message moved Brooks, who had been tied up in tense on-again, off-again talks that had put his future with the Thunder in jeopardy.

“During negotiations, it can be stressful at times,” Durant said. “One day it looks like something's going to get done and then the next it might not. So I reached out to him and just told him I loved him and let me know what happens.”

Thunder assistant coach Rex Kalamian, a close friend of Brooks, facilitated the conversation, encouraging Durant to reach out to his head coach and tell Brooks how he felt. Kalamian thought it would do a world of good. It was one thing for Durant to communicate his feelings about Brooks to the other assistants. It was a whole other, especially during those final days that were filled with doubt and frustration, for Durant to dial up Brooks directly.

“I'm the leader of this team,” Durant said. “And I don't think he had heard from me until that time. So I wanted to let him know that I wanted him back and I really enjoy playing for him. So that goes a long way, and I guess that helped him a little bit with his decision. I'm glad he's back. I'm glad he's with us.”

When the deal finally got done — a four-year extension that will pay Brooks roughly $4 million annually — both sides put smiles on their faces and said all the right things in front of the cameras. Their united front belied the battle that had taken place, with both sides suffering bruises by holding firm to their positions.

Brooks had helped the Thunder blossom into an elite team, rapidly developing players alongside his staff while doing all the right things as a loyal employee on the notoriously tightly run ship that's been crafted in Oklahoma City. He took the team to the Western Conference Finals in 2011 and the NBA Finals in 2012 and wanted to be compensated accordingly, for his sacrifices and his successes.

On the Thunder's end, there was a desire for continuity, a chief tenet of the franchise. But when the consummation of a deal dragged, it was natural to wonder whether the Thunder thought Brooks ultimately was the coach who could captain OKC to the title.

The differing attitudes had created a chasm sizable enough to stall talks that had originated before the start of the 2011-12 season. Numerous reports last summer cited sources that said Brooks had turned down multiple three-year offers in the neighborhood of $11 million.

Thunder general manager Sam Presti tabled negotiations during the team's playoff run, which set off both an unexpected waiting game and a flood of press coverage. Presti, one of the league's new age analytical executives, is believed to have a formula for everything, including what price Brooks should have been penciled in at — and the data on championship coaches didn't point to up-and-comers like Brooks but slanted heavily to older, more experienced coaches.

 

[sea manup]

scott brooks is not a bad coach, hes an average coach at best pretty much every fanbase out side of a few complain about their coach every game there are very few "good" coaches in the nba

 

[lawdog1]

There's been like one or two good games on TNT all season. The only one I can think of is the LAC-POR overtime game a couple weeks ago. Other than that, all blow outs.

 

[julius wrek]

Scott brooks is not a bad coach, hes an average coach at best pretty much every fanbase out side of a few complain about their coach every game there are very few "good" coaches in the nba

STAAAAAAAHP IT!

Julius F. Wrek

 

[dt43]

Man the NBA schedule makers really blew it this year. Two more lopsided match-ups on TNT tonight

Good call

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Man just imagine if KD never sent that text message the summer after the finals. Brooks would be coaching in Portland right now, don't know who the Thunder had in mind though at the time. I can't imagine Brooks is highly regarding amongst her colleagues in the profession, they have to see him as a guy who is just blessed with superlative talent.

I think a lot of it is based off where he took the team from young and inexperienced to learning how to win games. He managed to work with the talent around him and made the best of it. It's not easy for any coach to do that.

Look at Mike Woodson for example. The Knicks have a lot of talent around the team, but he still hasn't found a way to maximize his players strengths and teach them how to play composed basketball. The Knicks basically win games purely off talent.

Scoot Brooks is a decent coach and any GM or NBA exec. will share the same sentiment. I do agree that he's been a little complacent with the team now, in terms of adjustments to injuries. He's forcing Reggie Jackson to have the same role Westbrook has, but hasn't "mixed things up".

I guess we'll see where the Thunder goes as the season progresses. People are def. questioning what he's going do with the circumstances he's in now. Great coaches find a way to "weather the storm" and motivate their teams to continue playing the system.

 

[nelson999]

I just don't understand how you can leave the best scorer in the world on the bench for the entire 4th quarter when the game is within 15-18 points. if KD gets hot that lead could have been gone in a hurry. Brooks is a turd

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Not really both games sucked

The Thunder vs. Nuggets game sucked, but tonights games weren't as "predictable" as you thought. Just admit you were wrong, man

 

[awwsome]

Don't know how some of you are surprised by Brooks being Brooks

 

[nelson999]

Good call

Cause im sure you really enjoyed those games 

 

[Hank Scorpio]

Cause im sure you really enjoyed those games :x

The "schedule makers" base the schedule off the performances of teams from last season. How else are they going to figure out primetime match ups? It's called "forecasting" for a reason, dude.

That explains why teams like the Blazers and Suns aren't on national TV as much and the Lakers usually get primetime games.

 

[julius wrek]

Scott Brooks is not a coach.

He's a minute manager.

A lot of people want to give him credit for the development of youth on the team,

that distinction belongs to Rex Kalamian.

Julius F. Wrek

 

[iamjusayn]

Lol jordan Hamilton is really tryna stay in Shaw's dog house I see!

Bruh came in the game on his Bryant 24 swag! I'm not passin...





Fa nothin!

 

[nelson999]

The "schedule makers" base the schedule off the performances of teams from last season. How else are they going to figure out primetime match ups? It's called "forecasting" for a reason, dude.

That explains why teams like the Blazers and Suns aren't on national TV as much and the Lakers usually get primetime games.

Way to prove my point. anybody who thought the Lakers would be worthy of a prime time game this year should be fired. Even under the assumption that Kobe would be healthy

 

[julius wrek]

Please let the Inside the NBA crew call out Scott Brooks man...

Julius F. Wrek

 

[datznasty]

Rex is actually in charge of player development and even Harden for example gives him all the credit but if you want to give Brooks credit for an amazing track record of developing young players, I'm fine with that. But in terms of other things that go into coaching, adjustments, lineup management, x's and o's, he is below average. Take his unwillingness to adjust this broken *** starting lineup for example (especially against the Heat in the finals). His players like him and play hard for him so there's that, but again, what coach couldn't take this lineup and be contenders annually, particularly when you add that prior to Beverly's scrub *** gooning it up nobody on the Thunder had really sustained significant injury?

And at Fisher playing all hard that final possession to not let them get over 100 (they get a coupon for free queso if they do)

 

[abubakr shaheed]

If you start Kendrick Perkins you're a bad coach

 

[julius wrek]

Rex is actually in charge of player development and even Harden for example gives him all the credit but if you want to give Brooks credit for an amazing track record of developing young players, I'm fine with that. But in terms of other things that go into coaching, adjustments, lineup management, x's and o's, he is below average. Take his unwillingness to adjust this broken *** starting lineup for example (especially against the Heat in the finals). His players like him and play hard for him so there's that, but again, what coach couldn't take this lineup and be contenders annually, particularly when you add that prior to Beverly's scrub *** gooning it up nobody on the Thunder had really sustained significant injury?

And at Fisher playing all hard that final possession to not let them get over 100 (they get a coupon for free queso if they do)

Exactly, the media need to give the right man the proper credit though.

Julius F. Wrek

 

[yeezusdisciple]

scott brooks is not a bad coach, hes an average coach at best pretty much every fanbase out side of a few complain about their coach every game there are very few "good" coaches in the nba

I hope ur not srs. The team runs straight isos. There is no system in place. Dude got lucky he had durant westbrook nharden make him seems o good

 

[nelson999]

I hope ur not srs. The team runs straight isos. There is no system in place. Dude got lucky he had durant westbrook nharden make him seems o good

agree. that system don't look so good when Reggie Jackson, Sefolosha and Ibaka are the ones doing Iso's

 

[julius wrek]

Why we tahmbout Andre Miller like he dead?

Can you PLEASE talk about Scott Brooks' ineptitude.

Julius F. Wrek

 

[Vincent Van Goat]

First time seeing the actual footage of Andre Miller going in on Shaw during a timeout. The assistant coaches were just staring at him like... well damb.

 

[sea manup]

running isos is fine when you have durant, the thing is they have to get him the ball in side the 3pt line rather than handing him the ball 30 ft from the rim and telling him to go to work. no idea why durant and harden like to stand at the top of the arc and wait till the ball gets swung around to them, if durant would get the ball at the elbow every other time down he could average 35 easy

 

[hood17]

Well someone here locally is calling Rubio a draft mistake...so there is that. I just want Flip to trade him out East where we can get more picks. I don't see anything from a West team that has the right value.