[McDunkin]

Assistant NBA coaches have seen better days. According to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has elected to give former NBA player, resident Association novelty and current assistant coach Brian Scalabrine the Lawrence Frank treatment:

"In what’s become an increasingly dysfunctional atmosphere, Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson has forced a reassignment of assistant coach Brian Scalabrine, league sources told Yahoo Sports. Ownership and management have been strong advocates of Scalabrine and his performance on the job, sources told Yahoo Sports. Nevertheless, Warriors officials decided that as long as Jackson is the head coach, he’ll have control of his coaching staff. It is immediately unclear what kind of a role to which the Warriors will transition Scalabrine, but management has no intention of letting him leave the organization, sources said."

Though the report doesn’t bode well for Scalabrine, it’s Jackson that Wojnarowski unloads on. He says that Jackson continues to have problems "managing his coaching staff and creating a functional work environment," which could ultimately lead to his own removal. In the meantime, Scalabrine can seek the advice of banished Brooklyn Nets assistant coach Lawrence Frank. Rookie head coach Jason Kidd demoted Frank—who previously coached Kidd—back in December, citing "different philosophies," per the New York Post’s Tim Bontemps. While Kidd was heavily criticized for how the situation unfolded, Jackson later defended his decision.

"To me, I think too much was made of it," Jackson opined in January, via the New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy. "I think it’s clownish." Of course Jackson saw the criticism as ridiculous. He and Kidd are cut from the same mold. Known for speaking in hyperbole, Jackson has also had problems with assistants in the past, Wojnarowski reveals. Jackson and former assistant Michael Malone, who now coaches the Sacramento Kings, would apparently go "weeks" without speaking to one another. No surprises there, given how Jackson bristled on the subject of control while waxing support of Kidd. "There’s no difference of opinions with my staff and I," he deadpanned, per Bondy. "They give suggestions. Some I go with. Some I don’t. But at the end of the day it’s my decision and we are united in whichever way we decide to go. If you have a problem with that, you should not be my assistant coach." Chances are Scalabrine has found himself reassigned for acts of betrayal and disunity that are actually refusals to submit to Jackson’s stubborn will. We don’t really know. But we do know that Kidd’s previous decision, however unfair, incited change. The Nets were 5-12 when Kidd relegated Frank to clipboard purgatory (or something like that). Since then, they’re a more impressive 32-20, firmly planting themselves in the Eastern Conference playoff conversation.

Maybe the Warriors, who are 44-27 and in sixth place in the Western Conference, will experience similar success. Maybe Scalabrine’s removal will spark change, serving as the kind of shakeup that allows them to shoot up the standings. Or maybe this is just an example of one coach exhibiting his power and authority over another, no deeper or more profound meaning intended.

http://m.bleacherreport.com/articles/2005600-mark-jackson-reportedly-forces-reassignment-of-warriors-coach-brian-scalabrine?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national?is_shared=true

[Moon RiverParticipant]

Should have stayed in Chicago.  He was a rock star there and Thibs loved him.

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I think everyone loves the guy. I remember watching him play. He was always the least talented and least athletic guy on the court. When he did get to play he gave it everything and he always seemed to do more positive on the court than negative which is amazing when he was always the mismatch. 

[doubledribblerParticipant]

I think everyone loves the guy. I remember watching him play. He was always the least talented and least athletic guy on the court. When he did get to play he gave it everything and he always seemed to do more positive on the court than negative which is amazing when he was always the mismatch. 

[Moon RiverParticipant]

Should have stayed in Chicago.  He was a rock star there and Thibs loved him.

[King CaluchaParticipant]

 No one messes with the white mamba!

[King CaluchaParticipant]

 No one messes with the white mamba!

[ChewyParticipant]

 I have my "Free Mamba" sign made. Where are we holding the protest?

[ChewyParticipant]

 I have my "Free Mamba" sign made. Where are we holding the protest?

[capecodderParticipant]

 Loved in Boston and did a great job on TV during the 2012-13 season 

[capecodderParticipant]

 Loved in Boston and did a great job on TV during the 2012-13 season 

[Fun one partyParticipant]

 Mark Jackson messed with the icon known as the White Mamba that’s a no no.Momma their goes that man.

[Fun one partyParticipant]

 Mark Jackson messed with the icon known as the White Mamba that’s a no no.Momma their goes that man.

[bloodshyParticipant]

I began to dislike this guy when he was on the Jazz and attempted to lead a mutiny of bench players against HOFer, and one of the most humble/great guys ever, John Stockton.

I didn’t like him as a player or commentator and I think he is a sub-par coach. This year he has taken what is probably a top-5 teams in the league (in terms of talent) to where they are fighting to be in the playoffs at all. GSW are only 2 games ahead of 9th in the West right now. A minor slip could drop them out of the playoffs altogether. Yes, the west is beastly, but this team should be better than they are.

Booting the White Mamba just seems like another dysfunctional move by a guy w/a checkered leadership history.

 

[bloodshyParticipant]

I began to dislike this guy when he was on the Jazz and attempted to lead a mutiny of bench players against HOFer, and one of the most humble/great guys ever, John Stockton.

I didn’t like him as a player or commentator and I think he is a sub-par coach. This year he has taken what is probably a top-5 teams in the league (in terms of talent) to where they are fighting to be in the playoffs at all. GSW are only 2 games ahead of 9th in the West right now. A minor slip could drop them out of the playoffs altogether. Yes, the west is beastly, but this team should be better than they are.

Booting the White Mamba just seems like another dysfunctional move by a guy w/a checkered leadership history.

 

[Author]

Posts