Inefficiency in sports: NBA Coaches

Professional sports are a meritocracy only on the field/court. In some cases like when gambling gets involved, it is not meritocratic on the field either. With the super rich tem owners coming in and deputing the team running to general mangers/presidents, we have had a new inefficiency. Cosying up to these bosses.  Friction between coaches/managers and team management is one of the primary reasons for the firing, not performance.

In the NBA, Alvin Gentry has the long history of managing teams to mediocrity. He may be one the best offensive minds in coaching, but that is not enough for a coach. Like Cricket and Runs, Baseball doe snot need more points to be scored. Also, being a me-too and following the current trend of Power and shooting is not how the next dynasty is going to be built. Alvin does not get fired even though his teams have defended badly and lost. His history of being with the San Antonio and Golden State warriors does not automatically qualify for a job.

ON the other side is Dwane Casey. He takes his team to its longest playoff Streak and the best regular season record and gets fired. Dwane's crime; being so good that it took Cleveland cavaliers under LeBron to defeat them. This is as stupid as when Nasser Al-Khelaifi fired Laurent Blanc. I am confident that Masai Ujiri will spend a lot of money in the off season to get some high paid stars and convince people everyone including himself that his decision was good. Most such general managers / presidents end up like Jerry Krause, but that does not change human ego, especially when such powerful positions are created in an inefficient system. Donald Trump is not the only one one who behaves like he does in the corporate world.

On that note, I congratulate Detroit Pistons on relieving Stan Van Gundy. I guess as a President and Head coach, there was no one he could blame. The Owner had to get involved. Maybe they can get Dwane Casey? In that line, here is a list of other NBA coaches who must definitely (With Alvin Gentry of course)
  1. Greg Popovich: Wait, hear me out. Iam aksing him to get promoted. Since taking over as the San Antonio head coach in 1996, he has turned the small-market San Antonio Spurs into a model of consistency. But at 69-years-old, it is only natural that he should think of his replacement. The US Basketball should make him a full time coach of the National team and involve him in Player development. 
  2. Rick Carlisle: He is the only coach in franchise history to win a NBA title for Mavericks. Rick Carlisle took Indian Pacers to top of Regular Season and lost to the team that previously fired him. He took the Dallas Mavericks who topped regular season the year before he came in and got them a championship. He has basked in enough of that glory while his teams are sliding. Time for hime to move.
  3. Mike D'Antoni: Like Greg Popovich. I think he must also leave club basketball to National teams. EVen though everyone loves his uptempo principles, Phoenix Suns in 04-05 and Houston Rockets this Season have been the only team that topped the Regular season. His American teams have not won anything. Time for Italian national team.
Doc RiversErik Spoelstra and Terry Stotts are on the hot seat and should perform this season. 

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