tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267668027513828752.post3923639461969613904..comments2023-04-12T11:46:47.648-04:00Comments on Asylum for Ira's followers: In Pat I Trustkbboy80http://www.blogger.com/profile/00623525433385046692noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267668027513828752.post-17595007929094815462010-05-06T16:46:22.756-04:002010-05-06T16:46:22.756-04:00http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-...http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-miami-heat-dwyane-wade-s050610,0,59960.storyHD#1https://www.blogger.com/profile/05228028165979264563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2267668027513828752.post-81161354181421619362010-05-05T23:32:25.468-04:002010-05-05T23:32:25.468-04:00Pretty raw article... I have to write while watchi...Pretty raw article... I have to write while watching my daughter and she's sick right now. Overall, I think Riley has been good for the franchise. I'm not going to claim he is the epitome of what I look for in a coach/president, but he is pretty close.<br /><br />I appreciate the emphasis that he places on protecting the basket on defense. I appreciate how he is always looking for a dominant big man, because he wants to score more points in the paint. I appreciate that he looks like a mafia boss and always wears Armani suits.<br /><br />I actually think he probably learns more about the game every time he takes a step back from the team. It gives him more of a chance to look around and see what is going on around the league and the world.<br /><br />Ultimately, I believe that Riley, like Jerry Sloan, Phil Jackson, and Larry Brown can change the outcome of a game. Players are always the ones who win or lose the games, but the coach matters because this is the guy that calls the timeouts and manages the substitutions and calls the plays... on top of being the guy that has to prepare them physically and mentally for that moment when it comes.<br /><br />I always go back to that incredible game 3 comeback by Wade and company in the NBA Finals. Riley called a timeout and he did not talk to the team, he just wrote "season" on his white board and had them internalize that. The team came out with major focus and got it done. Wade obviously led the way like we all knew he could and he pulled off the miracle. I don't think SVG or Spo could have set the stage for the guys. I don't want to be mean, but I think SVG would have freaked out and Spo would have asked his assistant for ideas. <br /><br />Riley's downside seems to be that he needs his basketball players to have football player mentalities and there are only so many elite basketball players that can buy into gruesome practices and wanting it more than the opposition. I expect UD to be back with the team and hope Alonzo becomes an assistant coach when Riley comes back.<br /><br />We got a second round pick for SVG, I would be tickled pink if Spoelstra gets himself a job this off-season and we got compensation for it. I actually think he is a good young coach, but I hate watching coaches getting on the job experience when the seasons are so meaningful (SVG in 2004-05). <br /><br />As much as I prefer Riley over the majority of coaches in the league, the sad reality is that the players hardly respect anybody anymore. A lot of NBA stars prefer to have yes men at the head coaching position because they don't want a boss, they want a confidant who knows when to get out of the way.<br /><br />Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich are probably the best in the game right now, because they are better teachers. Riley probably butts heads with players too much to get his point across and only players that think of sports as war (Zo, UD, Kellen Winslow Jr.) can get behind that.Cyrus The Virushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139216579892672302noreply@blogger.com