2013-14 NBA Western Conference Predictions

The NBA season is under way and that means it’s time for a NBA preview.Actually, it means we're a little over due for a NBA preview, but it's never too late to talk about the NBA. In this two part preview I will tackle projecting the NBA playoff picture in the Western Conference. My associate, Ryan, will project the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Let’s not delay this any further. Let the countdown begin!  

8. New Orleans Pelicans

They’re young, they’re inexperienced, and they’re going to make the playoffs. Led by second year big man sensation, Anthony Davis, the Pelicans are an exciting athletic group of baby-faces that are ready to take the NBA by storm. Okay, maybe not by storm, but they will bring a light rain, and that’ll be good enough for an 8th seed out West.

The addition, or should I say theft of Jrue Holiday from the Philadelphia 76ers, gives this team a floor generally capable of leading them to the playoffs. While this team is probably a good 2-3 years from actually contending, they’ll be an entertaining watch all season long.

7. Memphis Grizzlies

The Grizzlies drop a few spots in the Western Conference this year, but they’ll still make the playoffs and they’ll be a live dog for a first round upset. The 7th seed ranking isn’t so much based on feelings that I believe they’ve regressed; it has more to do with other teams improving in the off season. Memphis did not make a splash in free agency and they unjustifiably fired their coach, Lionel Hollins, a man who led them to the Western Conference Finals of the NBA playoffs last season. Their playoff run included upsets over the Los Angeles Clippers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Somehow, that wasn’t enough for Hollins to keep his coaching gig in Memphis. Instead the Grizz brought in rookie head coach, David Joerger. I guess anytime you can replace a head coach that took your team deeper in the playoffs than any other coach in franchise history, with an unproven wildcard, you have to do it, right?   There wasn’t enough change in Memphis, and unfortunately the one move they did make was a mistake.

6. Minnesota Timberwolves

Kevin Love. This guy is a basketball player through and through. If I had man crushes, I would have one on him, but I don’t, so stop talking about it. He will lead the league in rebounds. He will win the defensive player of the year award. And he will also lead his team in scoring. Love is asked to be the best player on both ends of the floor, every night, in order for his team to be successful. (Please take a moment to appreciate the responsibility that is being tossed on the back of Love.) And successful they will be.

Ricky Rubio will emerge and finally take that giant step forward that everyone has been waiting for. Don’t be surprised when Love and Rubio find themselves in New Orleans for the 2014 All Star Game. The Wolves are primed to make things messy in the west, and I like it.

5. Golden State Warriors

Run. Score. Run. Score. Run. Score. The Warriors are going to do a lot of both of these things, more than any other team in the league actually. Stephen Curry proved he belongs in this league and hushed his doubters. (Raises hand.) The kid can shoot, we knew that, but what has impressed me is that he’s a much better passer than I thought, and he has the ability to create his own shot, a must in order to be a consistent scorer in this league.

The addition of the uber athletic Andre Iguodala, to go along with the Warriors high speed offense, has a lot people picking the Warriors to go all the way to the NBA Finals. I think that’s asking a bit much at this point and may be an overreaction to their breakout playoff run last season. I love their talent on the offensive end, but I worry about their depth on defense. That lack of depth is going to make it tough for Golden State to compete with the big boys out West come playoff time.

4. Oklahoma City Thunder

I’m not that high on the Thunder, despite having them ranked 4th in the west. There are a lot of question marks surrounding this team. They have Kevin Durant who can score a mammoth amount of points, which is great, but I haven’t seen his game expand since he came into the league. Personally, I think the guy’s career is moving in the direction of Carmelo Anthony and away from the likes of LeBron James, who is undeniably the greatest basketball player in the Milky Way, still I do not like the way Durant’s career is trending. I would like to see him become a better passer and improve on the defensive end. He has been in the league long enough for these skills to have developed; I fear he may never live up to his full potential.

The Thunder also have Russell Westbrook, who actually showed me more by not playing last year. (Westbrook was injured in game 2 of the NBA playoffs in 2013.) With Westbrook playing cheerleader the Thunder seemed lost and were eventually knocked out by the aforementioned Grizzlies. Durant can score, but what else can he do? Does he make teammates better? I’m not sure. The Thunder’s championship window may be closed. 

3. San Antonio Spurs

Like a villain in a bad horror movie, the Spurs never die. I was 100% wrong when I wrote that they had, back in 2011, after they were bounced in the first round of the playoffs. But like the Spurs tend to do, they came back fighting and scrapped their way to a Chris Bosh rebound and a Ray Allen 3 in the final seconds of game 6 from winning the NBA title in 2013. I will never count the Spurs out again, and neither should you.

They have the best front office in all of sports. They make incredible decisions with all personnel, and that goes beyond basketball decisions. I’ve never been to a Spurs game, but I imagine you could eat off the toilet seats in the arena’s restrooms because management would instinctively hire the Michael Jordan’s of janitorial services to clean their facilities. San Antonio, we are not worthy.

2. Houston Rockets

Dwight Howard playing with a chip on his shoulder. Dwight Howard playing with a marquee scorer for the first time in his career. (Don’t kid yourself Laker fans, Kobe Bryant is no longer elite, and he never will be again.) Dwight Howard playing because he wants to play.

Howard was not happy in LA. He didn’t want to be there, I don’t think LA really wanted him there either. Howard was not playing to his ability at all. The greatest effort he did show was at the end of the year, after Bryant had been side-lined with injury. Well, now Howard is happy again and he doesn’t have to worry about a superstar passed their prime, being unwilling to pass the torch. Howard is the man in Houston and he’s ready to show it.

1. Los Angeles Clippers

I’ve been telling anyone who would listen that Chris Paul is the second best player in the NBA, and in the 2013-2014 season he is going to prove it. Go ahead, tilt your head, raise your eyebrows, call me stupid. But by April, 27th 2014 you’ll be a believer. The guy can shoot, pass, defend, pretty much whatever needs to be done, Paul can do. The feeling out process with Blake Griffin is over; Paul knows what he has there.

The Clippers also made some offseason signings in Matt Barnes and JJ Reddick to improve their depth. Oh, and they also replaced one of the worst coaches in the NBA, Vinny Del Negro, with one of the best coaches in the NBA, Doc Rivers. The Clippers ceiling is high. If Rivers can turn “Lob City” into ”Lob n Lock City”, the Clippers will be waiting for whoever comes out the East.

Here’s how the playoffs will play out…

Predictions

First Round

(1)Clippers over (8)Pelicans in 5
Pelicans aren’t contenders yet. The Clippers will make quick work of these young guns.

(2)Rockets over (7)Grizzlies in 6
Grizzlies will put up a little fight, but Rockets should cruise into the second round fairly easy.

(3)Spurs over (6)Timberwolves in 7
I went back and forth on this one. Really wanted to take the Wolves, San Antonio is just too deep.

(5)Warriors over (4)Thunder in 6
This will be a really fun series. In the end the Warriors will simply outrun their opponent.

Conference Semi-finals

(1)Clippers over (5)Warriors in 7
Clippers depth will be the difference and Doc will have these guys playing proper defense come playoff time.

(2)Rockets over (3)Spurs in 6
The Lone-Star State showdown will be won by the Houston Rockets. Somewhere Mark Cuban will be crying. Too much James Harden and Howard will out work the Spurs bigs in the post.

Conference finals

(2)Rockets over (1)Clippers in 7
There will be new blood in the NBA Finals in 2014. Dwight Howard will finally get to the NBA’s biggest stage. Can he cement his legacy by adding a championship ring to his impressive NBA resume?

2013-14 NBA Eastern Conference Predictions

         The 2013-14 NBA season has begun and dissimilar to recent seasons the Eastern Conference is littered with threats to dethrone the Miami Heat.  To follow is a breakdown of how I feel the Eastern Conference standings will play out by seasons end. Then I will break down the outcomes of each series, leading to my wildly anticipated pick to be this years Finals representative out of the East.

8 – Atlanta Hawks

      Stuff I like: The Al Horford and Paul Milsap combo and double-teams that will leave Kyle Korver open.  Rebounding. Taking care of the ball will benefit this team and help compensate for the struggles defensively.  The Hawks edge out the Cleveland Cavaliers for the 8^th seed.

      Stuff I don't like: Gaping hole at small forward, where journeyman DeMarre Carroll brings his career 4.2 PPG on 42% from the field to the Hawks starting lineup.  Kyle Korver will slide there in spots, becoming a liability defensively and a one-dimensional offensive threat.  They will lack consistency defensively and will struggle to get even average perimeter performance.  Really thin bench as well.

7 – Milwaukee Bucks

Stuff I like: Great depth and a mostly veteran team.  Larry Sanders and Ersan Ilyasova pose matchup problems for most East teams.  O.J. Mayo will benefit playing in small market Milwaukee because nobody will be watching him, unlike some instances in his playing career.  Luke Ridnour has always been productive and compliments the frontcourt with his ability to stretch the floor. 

        

Stuff I don’t like: Undersized backcourt and will struggle to get guard penetration to spoon-feed the bigs.  Brandon Knight will be in a similar situation as he was in Detroit, with a crowded stable of ball-handlers around him.  It wasn’t a situation he thrived in with the Pistons and I don’t see a difference with this Bucks team as constructed. 

6 - New York Knicks

          Stuff I like: Carmelo Anthony is a pure scorer in his prime, and his numbers offensively will be up there amongst the NBA’s best throughout the season.  Raymond Felton is steady but lacks any game-changing qualities.  Andrea Bargnani compliments Melo nicely.  His floor spacing allows Anthony room to operate on the drive and adds a reliable kick out option.  If the Knicks play inside-out and get consistent penetration they are a dangerous offensive team.

         Stuff I don’t like: Tyson Chandler out 3-6 weeks sets them back.  J.R. Smith being a primary scoring option throughout games does not seem to be a recipe for success.  Defensively there are holes everywhere.  I don’t see where Iman Shumpert or Tim Hardaway Jr. fit within the framework of this roster.  The Knicks take a step back and a Melo soap opera regarding his impending free agency keep New York relevant, though they are not a title threat. 

 

5 – Detroit Pistons

         Stuff I like: Greg “Moose” Monroe looks to be a perfect fit at the Power Forward spot, and has been playing like a man that wants a big contract.  Resign him, now.  The Andre Drummond, Monroe, and Josh Smith frontline is only matched by the Pacers, and defensively the Pistons will be able to protect the rim.  Doing so will get the Pistons out in transition with regularity, catering nicely to the athleticism peppered all over this roster.  Brandon Jennings was a savvy signing to compliment this roster, and has made excellent decisions in the early going.  Jennings is also an underrated defensive player and does not have to shoot in volume to help this team win games.  It’s a great fit.

        

Stuff I don’t like: Chauncey Billups is not an NBA starter at this point in his career. The extended minutes he has played early on are troubling, though I anticipate they will decrease as the season progresses.  The bench rotation needs to be addressed and it lacks depth in the frontcourt.  Tony Mitchell is a raw prospect and expectations on his contributions should be tempered.  Jonas Jerebko is too undersized and lacks a clear skill set to play any particular frontline position.  Charlie Villanueva clearly is not good at NBA basketball, leaving little to work with in the frontcourt rotation.  Luigi Datome will eventually assume backup small forward duties, though he will be a liability defensively.  Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will eventually start at shooting guard, but his learning curve hinders the growth of the Pistons into a finals threat at least for this season.  Poor long-range shooting efficiency will be an Achilles heel as will free-throw shooting. 

4 – Brooklyn Nets

          Stuff I like: An abundance of talent.  Loaded frontcourt. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, playing in complimentary offensive roles, perfectly suited to what they are capable of bringing to the table at this stage of their careers.  Brook Lopez has the complete package as a center.  Deron Williams has four other players on the court with him that can all play the pick and roll two-man game with him.  This lineup works and the chemistry will come quickly. 

        

Stuff I don’t like: Age sticks out.  Whether the Nets can hold up and avoid significant injury through the duration of the season will be critical.  Even the supporting cast is largely elderly.  Reggie Evans, Andrei Kirilenko, and Jason Terry all have key roles for the Nets and will need to be healthy and productive if the Nets are to compete at a championship level.

3 – Chicago Bulls

         Stuff I like: The Bulls get one of the NBA’s most dynamic talents back with the return of Derrick Rose.  The Bulls front line is still very imposing on both ends with Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer still very much at the peak of their powers.  The Bulls defend with more intensity than any other team in the East and can now get out in transition with Rose back at the helm. 

        

Stuff I don’t like: D-Rose is going to need some time to return to peak form, which will cost the Bulls seeding in the East.  The Bulls bench is relatively thin, particularly in the frontcourt where Taj Gibson is the only notable contributor.  Mike Dunleavy will not serve as the bench scorer he was enlisted to be, and will rely on being spoon-fed by Rose penetration.  If Dunleavy can get consistent looks on good execution he will still not shoot a high enough percentage to warrant his place in the rotation.  It’s a puzzling fit and I think the signing hurts Chicago this season.  Luol Deng is not an explosive enough player at the small forward position to take pressure off of Derrick Rose late in close games, and perimeter scoring overall will be limited for the Bulls. 

2 – Miami Heat

         Stuff I like: Lebron James is the greatest basketball player on planet Earth and he happens to play for the Heat.  Chris Bosh will have his most impactful season with the Heat. For the first time in his tenure he will be sought out by his teammates to contribute offensively on a consistent basis.  Ray Allen is still playing at a high level, and the Heat know exactly what they are and what they need to do in order to be successful. 

         Stuff I Don’t Like: Lebron's back hurts already.  Contributions from the Heat bench will not be as plentiful this season.  The Heat lack consistent point guard play and they are still soft inside.  Dwyane Wade will continue to regress, and the Heat logged major mileage on their key players through the last 3 seasons.  The Heat will not overpower the top-tier teams in the East with their talent this time around. 

1 – Indiana Pacers

        

Stuff I like: The Pacers have the look of a team that is hell-bent on a Finals run.  They have an unmatched front line with Roy Hibbert, David West, and emerging superstar Paul George.  The have the ‘energy guy’ in Lance Stephenson, and have become one of the deeper teams in the league with the return of Danny Granger, who was injured throughout last season’s conference finals run.  Granger gives the Pacers yet another offensive threat late in close games. 

        

Stuff I don’t like: Guard play is an issue for the Pacers.  They will need more reliable ball-handling in order to dethrone the Heat.  Outside shooting will also need to be more consistent as teams will pack the paint on the Pacers ferocious front line.  It will be interesting to see how the Pacers execute down the stretch of close games now that Paul George is established as a superstar level player.  Their success lies in the framework of the inside-out offense and any deviation from that will spell trouble for the Pacers. 

Playoff Breakdown

Conference Quarterfinals

(1)Indiana over (8)Atlanta: 4-0

-                       -     The all business Pacers will dismantle the Hawks and the overmatched Atlanta bigs will not be able to compete with the superior Pacers frontcourt.  The Pacers handily advance to round 2. 

(4)Brooklyn over (5)Detroit: 4-3

      -    The upstart Pistons get a valuable learning experience in a 7 game slugfest with the Brooklyn Nets, eventually falling to a team with a critical size advantage at point guard.  Deron Williams ability to play with his back to the basket against the pesky Brandon Jennings will pay dividends for the Nets, and veteran Brooklyn big men will keep Andre Drummond in foul trouble and negate his impact, gaining a slight edge over feisty Detroit. 

(3) Chicago over (6)New York: 4-1

     -     The wildly disappointing Knicks will see their season end with a first round exit to the fiercely defensive minded Bulls.  The Melo free agent drama will be a huge distraction as the 2013-14 season comes to a close, and the Knicks will be faced with a pivotal crossroads heading into the 2014-15 season.  The Knicks will have no answer for a revitalized Derrick Rose.  Carlos Boozer will also have stellar performances throughout the series to carry the Bulls.  

(2) Miami over (7)Milwaukee: 4-0

     -     Chris Bosh’s ability to stretch the floor maintains Miami’s prominent offensive advantage in this series.  The Bucks will not be able to contain penetration and the Heat will toy with Milwaukee throughout a one-sided series. 

Conference Semi-Finals

(1)Indiana over (4)Brooklyn: 4-2

   -       On paper this series would seemingly be a 7 game thriller, however the second round will see Brooklyn’s age catching up with their declining SF/PF combination.  Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett will not be able to sustain high level performances throughout the series and the Pacers stout defense will eventually break the Nets.  Deron Williams will be forced to rely on his jumper and the Nets will struggle to control the paint.  Pacers move on.

(2) Miami over (3)Chicago: 4-3

   -       The most hyped of all the playoff rounds, this date with destiny for Chicago will end equally as sour as their previous attempts to defeat the Heat.  Derrick Rose as the only true scoring option eventually spells the collapse of the Bulls, who will give the Heat a grueling 7 game battle, but fail to come out on top.  Lebron will be too much for even the Bulls defense to handle. 

Conference Finals

(1)Indiana over (2) Miami: 4-3

 -         The rigorous second round series with Chicago will tire Miami, and be to much to overcome facing the brutal physicality of the Pacers. The Pacers will have dedicated their regular season to the goal of home court advantage against the Heat.  It will pay off, as Paul George will out-duel 2013-14 MVP Lebron James in a classic 7 game series for the ages.  The miles will catch up with the Heat’s big three and the Pacers will represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals.  

NBA Draft Recap- I Want to be like Dirk

The 2010-2011 season is over.  The Dallas Mavericks played the role of Cinderella as they defeated the evil stepmother, LeBron James and the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals.  Dirk Nowitzki finally got his ring and will go down as one of the all-time greats.

Great! That was last year.  And for fans of teams not from Dallas, it's time to look toward next season, starting with the draft.  The addition of young guys to build a team around or for some, just adding the missing ingredient and becoming a contender.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had the privilege of having the first overall pick in draft.  The first time since taking Lebron James in 2003.  Unfortunately for the Cavs, there was no LeBron in the draft this year.  No sure thing, no definite game changer, no king.  Nonetheless, they still had to take someone - their pick: Kyrie Irving out of Duke.

Irving might become a solid player some day, but I don't believe he is number one overall pick caliber today.

One, he was injured most of his freshman and lone year at Duke, playing in only 11 games.  He is by no means proven.  The Cavs currently have four point guards on the roster, including Irving.  For a team trying to get past the destruction left by the departure of LeBron James, I think they could have used the pick more wisely.

Say, on the second overall pick, made by the Minnesota Timberwolves, Derrick Williams out of Arizona.  Williams put his talents in the spotlight during Arizona's NCAA Tournament run.  And it was impressive.  The guy can play both ends of the floor, dunks with authority, blocks shots, and plays physical.  If I had the number one pick, I would have taken Williams.  But I don't run an NBA franchise, so what do I know.

The European Invasion - I want to be like Dirk!
Four of the next five picks would be players from overseas.  It appears as though teams are looking for the next European sensation following the epic title run and victory by the German born Dirk Nowitzki.  As Joe Dumars can remind you, it's hard to spot how talent from foreign land will translate into the NBA.  Remember when Darko Milicic was taken second overall by the Detroit Pistons, behind LeBron James and ahead of stars like Dwayne Wade, Chris Paul, and Chris Bosh to name a few?  To say that Darko was a disappointment is an understatement.  He was down right disastrous.  Of course not all European players are going to be flops, but it's a gamble at the highest of stakes.  Good luck to the new wave of Euros joining the NBA ranks, you're going to need it.

Kemba and Jimmer
Kemba Walker, NCAA Tournament MVP and UCONN star was taken eighth overall by the Charlotte Bobcats.  At the seventh pick the Detroit Pistons passed on Kemba and went with another guard in Brandon Knight from Kentucky.  As a Pistons fan, this made me very sad.  Kemba is a proven leader and a winner.  He lead the UCONN Huskies to a perfect post-season record, winning the Big East Tournament followed by the "Big Dance", the NCAA Tournament.  In fact, Kemba beat Knight and the Kentucky Wildcats in the semi-finals of the tournament.  I love Joe Dumars, but his luck has run out and it's time he go.

The next pick at number nine and heading to the Sacramento Kings was Jimmer Fredette out of BYU.  Everyone knows Jimmer can shoot.  And he can also....  Well, he's a good shooter.  He's never played defense.  He can't really create shots without the ball in his hand and he's not a true point guard.  Conclusion: his game doesn't transate to the NBA.  He will be the Tim Tebow of the NBA.  Most people will be rooting for him, but he'll never have a dramatic impact on the game.  However, he's the perfect pick for the Sacramento Kings.  The Kings were trying to leave town following the 2010-2011 season because the owners wanted a new arena.  But, as of now they are staying in California's capital for at least one more year while they try and figure out a solution to the arena problem.  Jimmer will sell seats, jerseys, and popcorn.  He's a fan favorite and following the draft, the Kings season ticket sales saw an increase in revenue.  This will work for the Kings for a season, until everyone realizes Jimmer is more like Adam Morrison than Jim Morrison.

All in all, it was a fairly weak draft year that provided a few story lines and little hype.  Only time will tell exactly how good this years draft prospects are, but I wouldn't hold my breathe in anticipation.
   

J.OWEN Rants

The Los Angeles Lakers have hired the man that will proceed Phil Jackson, who has won more Championships as a coach than anyone in history.  The lucky individual who will attempt to fill the giant shoes left by Jackson's retirement, is Mike Brown, former Cleveland Cavaliers coach and a former "Coach of the Year" winner.  In light of the hiring, many of the "experts" on ESPN have been making a big deal out of the fact that the Lakers didn't consult with Kobe Bryant before signing Brown to be the next head coach of LA's top team.

Last time I checked, Kobe was an employee of the Los Angeles Lakers and not the other way around.  I didn't think he owned stock in the team.  I don't believe he has an office or a desk.  I was almost certain his responsibilities within the organization pertained to hitting jump shots and playing defense, and not making the hiring decisions.

The Lakers didn't consult with Kobe Bryant before picking their new head coach, because it's not his call.  The cashier at your local Target doesn't get to put his two cents in when the store needs a new manager and Kobe shouldn't expect the luxury of getting to pick his new boss either.

Death of a Dynasty: The San Antonio Spurs

This past weekend, as week 9 of the first round of the NBA playoffs came to an end, the San Antonio Spurs became just the third number one seed to lose to an eight seed in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.  The defeat came at the hands of the younger, more energized Memphis Grizzlies team that proved they are a powerful force and ready to contend.


More devastating than the early exit from playoffs, is the likelihood that the dynasty the Spurs had become over the past decade is seemingly dead.

The Spurs have won 4 NBA Championships since 1999 and are one of only five teams that has taken home the title since the turn of the millennium.

The Spurs have been one of the most accomplished franchises in all of sports over the past 12 years.  The organization is ran with a class and professionalism that is seldom found in the modern world of sports.  And even though the Spurs finished the regular season with the NBA's best record, the veteran laced team ran out of gas, and simply couldn't keep up with the quicker, more youthful Grizzlies.

What now?

Tim Duncan is one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the hardwood, but at 35 he is no longer the player that won back-to-back league MVP awards in 2002 and 2003.  A 35-year-old is young in most professions, but in the NBA a 35-year-old has one foot in the nursing home.  Enjoy the Hall of Fame, Tim.

Manu Ginobili, arguably the Spurs best player, is no spring chicken either, he turns 34 in July.  Still, Manu has had one of his greatest season as a pro and made a case for consideration as the MVP. Unfortunately for the Spurs, Ginobili injured his elbow late in the year and was forced to miss game 1 of the playoffs.  Ginobili would play the rest of the series with the assistance of a gigantic elbow brace that limited his movement, and ultimately handicapped his performance.

Injuries have plagued the Spurs throughout the last couple of seasons.  They looked poised to give it one last hooray in 2011, but came up way short.  With the advanced ages of its core, it appears, for now, the dynasty in San Antonio is no more.

R.I.P. San Antonio Spurs Dynasty - (1999-2011)

Jerry Sloan Steps Down

It's a sad day in the NBA as reports have been confirmed that longtime Utah Jazz coach, Jerry Sloan, is resigning.  Sloan, was the longest tenured coach in all of professional sports, having coaching the Jazz for the past 23 years. 

In a time in which teams change coaches like Manny Pacquiao changes weight classes, that's saying something.  The society we live in is obsessed with flash and Hollywood stars, many people have probably never heard of Jerry Sloan nor do they appreciate what he has been doing in the NBA for the past couple of decades.  This is not surprising since Sloan coached in Salt Lake City, a city not exactly on top of the list for the next season of MTV's Real World.

Truth is, Sloan was never fully appreciated among those who follow the NBA.  During his time in Utah, Sloan became 3rd all-time in coaching wins.  He racked 1,221 total victories before he resigned.  Despite only one losing season, 8 division titles and two trips to the NBA Championship while with the Jazz, Sloan never won a "NBA Coach of the Year" award.  Jerry Sloan was able to create a culture of winning in Utah even after high-profile superstars Karl Molone and John Stockton had left.  This is impressive because NBA free agents aren't necessarily jumping at the chance to take their talents to Utah.  Sloan took the players he was given and turned them into winners.

Now it seems this old school coach may no longer fit in with the new age, pampered athletes we see today.  Apparently, Sloan and all-star point guard Deron Williams got into an argument after Wednesdays loss to the Chicago Bulls.  It is rumored that Sloan called a play and Williams ignored his coaches orders and ran his own play.

Unfortunately, today's athletes believe they are bigger than the game and lack respect for their coaches and those who came before them.  In Sloan's press conference he stated, "my time is up".  When your players won't let you do your job, I suppose it is.  Sloan resigned, he did not retire.  This leaves a chance for a comeback.  I hope to see him pacing down the sidelines in the future and if we as fans are lucky enough to see Jerry Sloan coach again, hopefully this time we'll appreciate the accomplishments we are witnessing and show this hall of fame coach the respect he deserves.

If you're interested in learning a little more about Jerry Sloan, ESPN has a great article about him.