Nurlman

Here's the thing. Let's say it is as Steve Belkin says it is - that as the appointed NBA Governor, it is his right and duty to approve/deny all NBA business. Further, it is his call, and his call alone. WHY TAKE A VOTE? If it's Steve's call and Steve's call alone, why don't the rest of us (p'nrs) go home? We'll smoke cigars, enjoy each others' wine cellars and discuss art. We'll visit with our wives and decide on a smashing vacation spot. We'll discuss how much we're pledging to the symphony this season. But there's no reason to discuss Hawks business, Steve's got that covered.

I understand he was a guest at Rafael Palmeiro's home last week.

Perhaps David Stern has the ability/authority to clarify the role of Governor and what the Governor's charge is, vis-a-vis the will of his ownership group.

Belkin could say he can't be removed as governor by the other owners per the terms of the p'ship agreement. That may be true and the judge might agree. The partners could say, OK, but by virtue of the unilateral veto he's chosen to exercise, he's violated the terms of the p'ship governance (I'm assuming there is an unambiguous term in there calling for majority rule), then they ask the court for injunctive relief, which would be non-monetary means of returning the p'ners to their status prior to the violation by the one party. The court might order the court requiring Belkin to execute the trade as per the p'ship agreement or being removed as NBA governor by the court, since that would be the least expensive, most effective means of putting the parties (the other partners) closest to the position they were in before Belkin violated the p'ship agreement.

What's with the ambivalence about Zaza? His 36 min/gm numbers are like 12 ppg/11 rpg/2 blks. 74% on FT. Good defensive rep. 21 yrs old. What's not to like? Another real good upside gamble, IMO.

Well, I think since the issue underlying the injunction is really the partnership agreement, the judge probably has the p'ship agreement in his hands and should be able to make a fairly quick decision. But he may want to work out his reasoning, which can take some time. Since they've granted the temporary injunction and scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, the court has already acknowledged that time is of the essence and should move with dispatch, as they say.

Lawyer/lurker here. Haven't posted in a while (since Kruger walked the plank!), too disgusted with the state of the franchise, now getting interested with BK's good teardown and smart drafting that got the team to this point. Taking any action that legally binds the team against the wishes of the majority of its owners isn't quite as cut-and-dried as some might suggest. Belkin's lawyers would argue that Belkin has to undertake some action that legally binds the team. What he's actually done is take some action that blocks the team from undertaking some action that legally binds the team, against the wishes of the majority of the partners. At least that is what Belkin's lawyers will argue Tuesday. What the Levenson/Gearon lawyers will need to pursuade the court is that Belkin's act had the affirmative impact of binding the team to a specific contractual status (i.e., not trading with the Suns) against the wishes of the majority of the owners, and that that type of construction can be interpreted from the words in the agreement (i.e., if the Governor has the power to block the team from a binding agreement, that power, when exercised against a binding agreement is subject to the same terms of the partnership agreement). I think it's a very close call and could well be decided by the jurisprudence of the judge (activist or strict constructionist) and the lawyering of the lawyers (how well they frame/research the issue and sell their case). As a lawyer, it's a fascinating issue. I hope they're able to get rid of the bum (Belkin). I think the price is a little steep, but it's thinking outside the box and the timing is right to take a bold step. If you sign JJ and think he can play the point and run the team and he can't, you've overpaid for an A-list shooting guard who can defend and is a quality guy. If you miss on a draft pick, you wind up with Doug Edwards.

I just wish I gave enough of a rat's ass to put something like that together myself...

Lon's dismissal sure has made a difference to the team, hasn't it? How about that effort against the Nets last night? Diesel, you - and all your hatin' buddies - were right. The team needed to get that crappy college coach out of the way, then they will run a structured offense with actual plays, take care of the basketball, and play defense. Don't give me that crap about 75 year old Chuck Daly or any of your failed recycles. That doesn't wash. IT WAS NEVER A COACHING PROBLEM. This is a flawed team. Three key starters don't play defense. The same three starters are turnover prone, and don't take care of the basketball. The club has plenty of finishers and no initiators. Until the mix is changed, this club isn't going to win for Daly, Red Auerbach, Larry Brown, Pat Riley, Phil Jackson, or anybody else you bring up. So, again, congratulations. Getting rid of Kruger really made all the difference, didn't it? Morons.

I still think you're wrong, but this sux. Let's get a new coach in here and find out.

Right on the money. I would add that if you're going to have Reef and Dog at forward and JT at the point, your 2 has to be able to handle the basketball - and Ira, an excellent swingman, simply isn't that guy. We have the finishers, but we don't have enough initiator/ballhandlers on the floor. Without a trade, the only hope we have is if Dion brings enough consistent defensive intensity that Lon will start him and play him 30-34 mpg.

Lon is a fine coach. Folks see the stoic sideline demeanor and think he lacks fire. Not so. - He is an exceedingly patient teacher. - He has virtually no ego. - If he has a problem with the way someone is playing, he's not going to run off at the mouth to Jeff Denberg (or Jason Walker ;-)) - you'll see it in the player's minutes. How grateful do you think Glenn Robinson is to have his boss come to him and tell him what he needs, rather than running to the media to complain? Do you think that Jason Terry cannot benefit from additional teaching running the point? Have not many Hawk players developed nicely over the last three years? Lon is void of ego. The players are the thing. It is never about Lon - it's about the team. There are very few NBA coaches who are difference makers. I think Chuck Daly was one. I think Doc Rivers is one, Phil Jackson, Rick Adelman, Don Nelson, maybe the guy in Detroit. Most of the guys on your lists are not difference makers - they're guys without jobs. Although Lon has had well-documented blips in his game-management coaching that he needs to improve (substitution patterns chief among them), I think he's a difference-maker -- because of the way he relates to people, the way he teaches basketball, the way he removes himself from the equation. Some of the criticism he receives on this site is completely called for. I thought the "good nurturing mother, bad hunting father" piece a few weeks ago was interesting - he is a teacher first - but I'm not sold that he can't hunt and gather. The blanket stuff you heap on him, Diesel - "Here is why we suck. Coaching. Here are 10 stiffs to replace him. I give him til December 19. That's the Diesel deadline." That's just disgruntled fan crap. On December 20, with Lon still in the coach's seat, the Diesel deadline past, the team (which has now played a whopping 20 games with its new center and small forward) still improving, what will you say then? A more cynical person might suggest that whatever you say, it won't be constructive.

He pays very well. He gives me Sundays off, and he never criticizes my driving. He talks to me a lot through the little window between the front and back seat. Why, just last week, he said, "I suppose fish get awfully tired of seafood - what are your thoughts, Nurlman?" Also, a couple weeks ago, I suggested to him that he stop substituting the whole bench at one time so that the team wouldn't lose momentum - he thought that might work, so he's been trying it more often. Say Diesel, is there anything you'd like me to mention to him? I'm picking him up for the 9:30 shootaround tomorrow...

You're really making us think! Thanks for the insightful and original commentary.

Email is as useless as [censored] on a boar hog.

...and their 2 is going nowhere soon.

Lon issued himself and his club a public challenge before the season -- drew the line right where it should be. This team should be in the playoffs. Of course, he didn't say, "If not, we should lose our jobs, me included", but that's really what he's saying. I believe if the team doesn't make the playoffs, he'll resign - and I think he should. The playoffs are the right standard for this rebuilding club with great promise but some remaining holes, particularly at the 2 (not a Newble slam - the man is a 3). Now, as to this season - they've been uneven after playing all of 20 games together. Tough road games in there, several back-to-backs. The last three games have been very nice. Turnovers way down. Some semblance of taking care of the basketball. Generally good energy, good defense. Obvious offensive talent, sometimes no flow, but again, improving. I think the next challenge for the team is to continue to keep turnovers down, play good team defense and create offensive flow consistently in the tough road games and second night of back-to-backs (where they have been a patsy). Looking forward to the next quarter of a season.

Actually, Walter has supported his points -- usually pretty well -- and he gets frustrated when Diesel doesn't agree. And Walter, Diesel won't agree. Not in a million years. Doesn't matter how well you support your points, he's not changing his mind... ...unless you do. ;-)

Fix #1. Diesel, tell Pete to get to work on that. Beautiful. And I gotta tell ya - I busted out laughing when I saw your signature picture. Very nice - and so appropriate!

These guys are missing the point. JT is generally effective - but he's the only guy who can handle the ball and initiate plays. Newble can't play any better than he did last night, but he's a finisher, not an initiator or handler.

I didn't say Daly was "unwelcome", I said he doesn't want this job - for the same reason that Red Auerbach doesn't want the job. As Thurgood Marshall said at his retirement press conference, "Why am I retiring? Are you serious? It's because I'm OLD!" And I was talking about these coaches on their merits, not comparing them to Kruger. I'll leave that to you - you've got all the answers. I'll tell you this, though -- you give Chuck Daly or anybody else you can think of -- Phil Jackson, anyone -- one halfway decent ballhandler out of 12 roster spots and the guy's offense is going to struggle, turn the ball over and not be consistent. Lon ain't the greatest coach the NBA has ever seen, but he's not the steaming turd you make him out to be. This team has real personnel gaps - at guard - that all the coaching in the world won't help. Book it.

Daly? Again - Daly is 72 years old. Surely you understand what that means. He's had a long, successful career. He's playing golf. He doesn't want this job, not for $5m per year. For the record, Larry is 62, Phil is 56 and Hubie is 69. Your point, I guess, is that older guys can coach. Larry's 10 years younger, Phil's 15, and eyebrows raised all over the league when Hubie took the Memphis job. Greg Hill? You mean Bob Hill - at least that's the out-of-work coach you've mentioned in several of your previous lists. If not, let me know who Greg Hill is. Ainge? From his resignation press conference at Phoenix, which is closer to his home and had an exciting young team when he left: “I love coaching, but anybody can coach,” Ainge said. “My wife has just one husband and my children have just one father. I don’t believe I’m jumping ship. I’m diving overboard to save my family.” He cited a time recently when one of his teenage sons told him he was becoming too distant. “And I couldn’t disagree with him,” he said. A younger daughter had lamented him always being away when daddy-daughter camp outs took place. Career records: Brian Hill 222-227 .494 Bob Hill 113-108 .511 M Dunleavy 398-390 .505 Come on, Diesel, you'll have to do better than that. Who were all the other failed, out of work coaches you were mentioning last week? Sidney Lowe? Lionel Hollins? Kevin Loughery? Doug Moe? As a point of information, Van Gundy is contractually bound in his agreement with the Knicks not to coach another team this year or next.

I sent the post more or less verbatim to Pete and got the following reply (within hours, no less): I think you appraisal of our ballhandling is fairly accurate and we are working daily to cut down on the foolish turnovers we seem to have every night to date. We are also talking to teams daily to explore trade options which would address our weaknesses as a team. I appreciate your comments and hope we are able to earn your continued support as the season progresses. Pete Babcock

First, note the spelling. Mine is correct. Yours, in all 430 posts where you call for him to be the next Hawks coach, is not. Chuck was born July 20, 1930, which makes him 72. Chuck got his first coaching job with Cleveland in 81-82, where his half season interim record was 9-32. He then took his flagship job, Detroit, where for three years his teams were good but not contenders. After a number of years of playing together and improving, his Pistons won back to back titles. After that, he never won more than 50 games in a season again. His tenures with New Jersey and Orlando were notable only for their mediocrity - he averaged 43 wins for his three full seasons before he quit, midseason, in 1999. My points: 1) Chuck was a [censored] of a coach, but he's 72. Leave him alone, he's tired. 2) It took Chuck years to develop that Detroit team to its pinnacle. 3) When Chuck had imperfect rosters, his teams were just a shade over .500. Season Team W L Pct. Playoff W-L Pct. 81-82 Cleveland 9 32 .220 0 0 -- 83-84 Detroit 49 33 .598 2 3 .400 84-85 Detroit 46 36 .561 5 4 .556 85-86 Detroit 46 36 .561 1 3 .250 86-87 Detroit 52 30 .634 10 5 .667 87-88 Detroit 54 28 .659 14 9 .609 88-89 Detroit 63 19 .768 15 2 .882 89-90 Detroit 59 23 .720 15 5 .750 90-91 Detroit 50 32 .610 7 8 .467 91-92 Detroit 48 34 .585 2 3 .400 92-93 New Jersey 43 39 .524 2 3 .400 93-94 New Jersey 45 37 .549 1 3 .250 97-98 Orlando 41 41 .500 0 0 -- 98-99 Orlando 33 17 .660 1 3 .250 Totals 638 437 .593 75 51 .595

After having a chance to shake the disgust out of my head after this latest debacle, I think I know what the lion's share of the problem is (even though I turned it off in the third quarter). JT is not a terrible ballhandler - a bit careless at times - but he's virtually the only one on the roster. He's about the only one who penetrates or initiates plays. Other teams know this and are focusing their efforts on him. Most of the time he's on the floor with 4 forwards, many of whom have stone hands, which makes him less effective than he'd be with at least one secondary playmaker. Newble brings energy, defense, dirty work, and an improved outside shot, but he's not a ballhandler. When JT is on the bench, it's Email, and Email is - well, a CBA player, I'm afraid. Glover is a scorer and adept at creating his own shot and finishing, but is not a ballhandler or initiator. Dickau would help but he's not really the answer - he's another small point guard. Several people have suggested trades for 2 guards that can handle a bit, and I think they have the right idea. The problem is not that JT is not a fine player -- he is. But he has to play the point for defensive reasons and the two guard that plays alongside must be able to create, defend the perimeter, contribute some to the offense, and most importantly, take care of the basketball. That's a tall order, and we don't really have anyone who can do it. There have been many here who have suggested trading JT, and I have always disagreed with that. But unless they can match him with the right two guard, they may be right. I suppose the shorthand for what I've suggested is "chemistry". In a chemical reaction, there needs to be enough of both agents to get the desired reaction. Here, we have plenty of guys who can finish, but not enough who can create opportunities for others, initiate, and TAKE CARE OF THE BASKETBALL.