2023-2024 General NBA Season Thread

[PedroKsBambino]

Basically the same resumé Kerr had when he took over for GS: all-time elite shooter; handsome metrosexual with annoyingly perfect hair; likable dude who says much less (and fewer) dumb things on TV than most of his colleagues.

I don't think that's quite true---Kerr spent three years as an exec (essentially GM I believe) beore moving to coaching, and some additional team as a team investor prior to that (not totally clear what that meant, but was also with Suns so given the GM role after suggests to be me he was involved the whole time) Plus he was at least a summer league coach previously. He was far more involved with team operations than Reddick has been to date. I'd argue that playing for Jackson and Pop is also pretty unique preparation, but YMMV on that I guess.

Steve Nash is the best comp I can think of.

Seems like co-hosting a podcast with Lebron is actually Redick's most important credential here (not to discount how thoughtful he is, to be clear). Though I fully agree on the metrosexual handsomeness and perfect hair aspects!!!

 

[Montana Fan]

Basically the same resumé Kerr had when he took over for GS: all-time elite shooter; handsome metrosexual with annoyingly perfect hair; likable dude who says much less (and fewer) dumb things on TV than most of his colleagues.

Add Steve Nash to that group. Luckily for Kerr he fell into a super team and let the players play, knowing that if he tried to be too bossy, Draymond would punch him in the mouth.

 

[Kliq]

I'm pretty excited for the JJ Redick era in LA. I hope the Lakers draft Bronny too. Just a full blown circus.

 

[lovegtm]

Add Steve Nash to that group. Luckily for Kerr he fell into a super team and let the players play, knowing that if he tried to be too bossy, Draymond would punch him in the mouth.

The Warriors weren't remotely a superteam before Kerr came. He came to a team coming off 1st and 2nd round exits. He then drastically revamped their offense to emphasize split cuts, and gave Draymond a way bigger role eventually.

It's one of the better coaching jobs in NBA history imo, if you value title-level coaching over "dragged a bad team to the 7th seed" coaching, which I do.

 

[Sam Ray Not]

Add Steve Nash to that group. Luckily for Kerr he fell into a super team and let the players play, knowing that if he tried to be too bossy, Draymond would punch him in the mouth.

Haha, he had experience with getting punched in the face with MJ!

He did a bit more than "let the players play," of course — starting with completely sh*tcanning Mark Jackson's Jurassic offense that was dead last in the NBA in passes per possession and had peak Steph standing in the corner and finishing #6 in MVP voting, behind Joakim Noah.

Went 140-24 in his first two seasons, with roughly the same roster Mark Jackson led to a #6 seed and first round exit. He made a smart choice picking GS with early-peak Steph/Klay/Dray over the Melo-era Knicks (thank his daughter deciding to go to Cal). But the "Superteam" wasn't a thing until he helped create it.

Edit: what lovegtm said.

Edit #2: I agree, tho: Nash checked all the same boxes (elite shooter, well-spoken white metrosexual with a nice haircut). Just didn't seem to have the coaching knack.

 

[slamminsammya]

People still use “metrosexual”?

 

[Sam Ray Not]

People still use “metrosexual”?

I’m old, lol.

 

[benhogan]

He did a bit more than "let the players play," of course — starting with completely sh*tcanning Mark Jackson's Jurassic offense that was dead last in the NBA in passes per possession and had peak Steph standing in the corner and finishing #6 in MVP voting, behind Joakim Noah..

Player buy-in, once Kerr scrapped the pound the rock, potted plant, ISO-heavy offense, must have been off the charts.

 

[Montana Fan]

The Warriors weren't remotely a superteam before Kerr came. He came to a team coming off 1st and 2nd round exits. He then drastically revamped their offense to emphasize split cuts, and gave Draymond a way bigger role eventually.

It's one of the better coaching jobs in NBA history imo, if you value title-level coaching over "dragged a bad team to the 7th seed" coaching, which I do.

Yeah, you’re right. I remember the move from Lee to Green as being very positive. I’m wont to discount Kerr’s value when I recall the start the W’s had with Luke Walton.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

I like JJ as a commentator, so this is a loss from that perspective.

I also think odds are he is less helpful to the Lakers than a more experienced coach, so that is a win! However it suggests Lebron is going back there, which is not at all surprising but still not as good as him leaving for elsewhere from a Celtics perspective.

I dunno. Many ex-players were great coaches right out of the gate….Doc, Bird, etc etc. I’m sure he’ll add a veteran Asst and let’s be honest as to who is running the team. He’s their KC Jones and will be fine so long as the team is fine. There isn’t a coach that is going to move the needle on that team.

 

[Spelunker]

Haha, he had experience with getting punched in the face with MJ!

He did a bit more than "let the players play," of course — starting with completely sh*tcanning Mark Jackson's Jurassic offense that was dead last in the NBA in passes per possession and had peak Steph standing in the corner and finishing #6 in MVP voting, behind Joakim Noah.

Went 140-24 in his first two seasons, with roughly the same roster Mark Jackson led to a #6 seed and first round exit. He made a smart choice picking GS with early-peak Steph/Klay/Dray over the Melo-era Knicks (thank his daughter deciding to go to Cal). But the "Superteam" wasn't a thing until he helped create it.

Edit: what lovegtm said.

Edit #2: I agree, tho: Nash checked all the same boxes (elite shooter, well-spoken white metrosexual with a nice haircut). Just didn't seem to have the coaching knack.

You could have given me infinite time guessing on infinite typewriters and I never would have come up with Joakim Noah once finishing 4th in the MVP race.

 

[cheech13]

Yeah, you’re right. I remember the move from Lee to Green as being very positive. I’m wont to discount Kerr’s value when I recall the start the W’s had with Luke Walton.

Kerr is a good coach but I’ll always remember Ty Lue absolutely eating his lunch in the 2016 Finals.

 

[slamminsammya]

Kerr is a good coach but I’ll always remember Ty Lue absolutely eating his lunch in the 2016 Finals.

What happened between Lue and Kerr in that finals?

 

[snowmanny]

I didn’t know there were “official” frontrunners.

 

[Justthetippett]

View: https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1794058321755853055?s=46

I think JJ would have been better served working on a staff for a year or two, but I get it: take the job when you have the chance. Also not a ton of pressure to be honest. This isn't peak LeBron expecting to win titles. Obviously they'll want to compete but no one would be surprised with a first or second round exit again.

I also think he won't help them much, which is good for the Celtics.

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1794803883933364251

 

[bosockboy]

Lebron taking the league minimum is not happening.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

the Lebron/Bronnie entertainment twofer is great stuff.

I personally think Cleveland is more likely than Phoenix, and the Lakers are the likely outcome, but as they try to get Durant not to ask out I get the leak.

 

[slamminsammya]

View: https://twitter.com/esidery/status/1794803883933364251

lol what a dumpster fire that would be

 

[the moops]

Lakers have three picks and a combo of good salary (Reaves), decent salary (Rui, Vanderbilt, Vincent), filler salary (Russell). I don't think Lebron is going anywhere and Lakers throw enough picks plus good to decent salaries at someone for a third all-star

 

[bosockboy]

Lakers have three picks and a combo of good salary (Reaves), decent salary (Rui, Vanderbilt, Vincent), filler salary (Russell). I don't think Lebron is going anywhere and Lakers throw enough picks plus good to decent salaries at someone for a third all-star

Might be able to cobble together assets for Trae Young.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Might be able to cobble together assets for Trae Young.

Oh I would love this. Please give up your depth and future for Trae Young and Bronny James to team with 40 year old Lebron and mid 30s Anthony Davis.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1795847167321808930?t=Tyi9BUF057LcdZDTLAwykw&s=19

 

[ElUno20]

I was genuinely stunned. Thought he was gone after next year for sure. Good for him getting a massive bag for dealing with a dumpster fire of a roster.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1795927071535100414?s=12&t=LSsJvqCJl2p3dvLVjRSdXw

 

[RorschachsMask]

Awful

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1796370502484652086

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1796535168142094517

 

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

This anecdote may not belong here but it needs attention. KG is a really good, natural story teller imo.
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/C7pLr9gudOS/?igsh=MTBlZjE4YzMxOA==

 

[InstaFace]

How that's not subtitled "Game - Blouses", I'll never understand.

 

[DeadlySplitter]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1796751924261224904

 

[ElUno20]

I know it's then lakers so i shouldn't be surprised but i can't believe they are going to hire JJ. Like i wont believe it until i see him on the sidelines coaching them.

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1798101053935951947

 

[Euclis20]

I know it's then lakers so i shouldn't be surprised but i can't believe they are going to hire JJ. Like i wont believe it until i see him on the sidelines coaching them.

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1798101053935951947

They are going to hire Lebron's podcast buddy, then they are going to draft his son. 39 years old and still running the most valuable franchise in the league, good for him.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

They are going to hire Lebron's podcast buddy, then they are going to draft his son. 39 years old and still running the most valuable franchise in the league, good for him.

Good practice for him in 2-3 years after he pays the $4B franchise fee to run the Las Vegas Zips.

 

[RorschachsMask]

This is cool

View: https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1798376522782543951

 

[Senator Donut]

I know it's then lakers so i shouldn't be surprised but i can't believe they are going to hire JJ. Like i wont believe it until i see him on the sidelines coaching them.

View: https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1798101053935951947

Amazing that in my lifetime the Clippers have become profligate spenders while the Lakers are extremely thrifty.

JJ is probably going to be a good coach some day, but that will be really hard to accomplish coming straight from broadcasting. Joe Mazzulla is probably a good comparison, though at least JJ will have a full offseason to hire a staff.

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

Amazing that in my lifetime the Clippers have become profligate spenders while the Lakers are extremely thrifty.

JJ is probably going to be a good coach some day, but that will be really hard to accomplish coming straight from broadcasting. Joe Mazzulla is probably a good comparison, though at least JJ will have a full offseason to hire a staff.

I have to disagree here. Joe has 11 seasons as an assistant coach including 3 in the NBA.

JJ has 15 years as a player and 3 years as a broadcaster/podcaster.

 

[BaseballJones]

You could have given me infinite time guessing on infinite typewriters and I never would have come up with Joakim Noah once finishing 4th in the MVP race.

He finished 12th too the year before, averaging 11.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks, while being on the all-defense team.

 

[BaseballJones]

This is cool

View: https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/1798376522782543951

Obviously he's one hell of an athlete. To be an NBA player and also an Olympic athlete in another sport entirely? That's incredible, actually.

 

[Kliq]

He finished 12th too the year before, averaging 11.9 points, 11.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.1 blocks, while being on the all-defense team.

IIRC it was very time and place thing, but Noah was outstanding in 2013-2014 which was peak Thibs ball. The Bulls didn't have Rose or Deng for most of the season, and still won 48 games just grinding people to death and Noah was the heart and soul of the team with his incredible defense and his passing and screen-setting on offense.

 

[Tony C]

Good story. I've never been able to hate on D-Wade, other than how he spells his name

I'm embarrassed to admit that I've probably read/heard his name 100s if not 1000s of times, and until I read this comment my eyes had skimmed over how his first name is spelled all that time. Who knew? Not me....

Basically the same resumé Kerr had when he took over for GS: all-time elite shooter; handsome metrosexual with annoyingly perfect hair; likable dude who says much less (and fewer) dumb things on TV than most of his colleagues.

Best thing about JJ is how little he talks. Really love that and will miss it if he gets this (or another) job.

 

[128]

View: https://twitter.com/wojespn/status/1798668676016836889



This does not appear to be a bogus account.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

I mean….if you’re Hurley maybe you want a new challenge?

but it’s a team run by an aging star with a lack of assets and a shaky front office. Is this really the place you’d go?

I guess it’s as high profile as it gets and you get Lebron.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Excuse me while I go throw up.

 

[SemperFidelisSox]

He should wait to see what happens in the Finals. A better job might open up.

 

[Dr. Gonzo]

He should wait to see what happens in the Finals. A better job might open up.

Why would he want to deal with Kyrie?

 

[BaseballJones]

We hate to say it here in Boston but the HC of the LAL is about as high profile a job as there is in the sport. In 2023, Hurley signed a 6-year, $32 million deal. I'm sure the Lakers would make that seem like chump change.

Would obviously be a devastating blow to UConn, and there's not remotely any guarantee that Hurley will do well in the NBA. But I'm sure - especially if the money is what I think it could be - it will be hard for him to say no. He's always wanted to coach in the NBA.

 

[tims4wins]

I thought JJ was taking the job? This is an interesting twist.

I don't think Hurley's style is going to play in the NBA. Or at least, it won't play for long periods, but that may be true of most/all coaches.

 

[JCizzle]

The amount of in-game complaining that will come from him and LeBron on the same team…phew that is going to be insufferable.

 

[bosockboy]

If he was willing to leave UK seems smarter and could’ve got the same money.

 

[128]

Would obviously be a devastating blow to UConn, and there's not remotely any guarantee that Hurley will do well in the NBA.

If Hurley flops, there'll be a long line of big-time college programs eager to hire him. It's a no-lose proposition for him, unless he absolutely can't bear the thought of leaving Storrs.