The Importance of Coaches

We tipped off the 2014-15 NBA season on Tuesday with a very different landscape than we ended the previous one just over four months ago. LeBron James returned to Cleveland, and then the free agent dominoes started falling. Pau Gasol ended up in Chicago, Chandler Parsons in Dallas, Trevor Ariza in Houston. But there are also nine teams starting the year with new coaches. Some are proven winners (Stan Van Gundy, Lionel Hollins), some are not (Flip Saunders, Byron Scott), while most of the rest are rookies (David Blatt, Quin Snyder, Steve Kerr, Derek Fisher). Then there's Jason Kidd, who forced his way out of Brooklyn with a failed power move and got traded to Milwaukee.

How important are NBA coaches really, though? Outside of a select few elite coaches, people seem to think all the rest can be easily replaced. Ultimately, it's the players playing the game, not the coaches, right? They're just there to manage egos, talk to the media, and draw up out-of-bounds plays at the end of games.

Not at all. Coaches are responsible for putting their players in position to succeed. Maurice Cheeks had Josh Smith playing 20 feet away from the basket last season. Ty Corbin threw the scoring load on Gordon Hayward as if he was Kevin Durant. And now, neither of them coach an NBA team. On the flip side, look at how Gregg Popovich turned Danny Green, a guy who couldn't make the team in Cleveland, into a key piece during their championship run. Gerald Green and Miles Plumlee became important players for Jeff Hornacek in Pheonix's sudden resurgence after riding the bench in Indiana the year before.

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(Chart by Kirk Goldsberry of Grantland)

NBA coaches have to be able to adjust their coaching styles to their personnel. We saw how miserably Mike D'Antoni failed with the Lakers the past two years. He tried to bring the fast-paced, offense-first style he had in Phoenix a few years prior to an older group of guys with different skill sets. Even after Dwight Howard left, he still didn't adapt his offense to better fit his best big man, Pau Gasol, and in consequence, a very good player was forced to come off the bench for a bad team. Stan Van Gundy did more with less when Howard was in Orlando. He took the team, made Howard the centerpiece, and surrounded him with role players that fit. Van Gundy made it to the Finals with a team whose second best player was Jameer Nelson or Rashard Lewis. 

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On the second night of the season, LeBron made his official return to Cleveland. He did his powder toss ritual, and he was home. That night was also the beginning of the season for his rookie coach, David Blatt. The Knicks won, and Blatt ended up taking some heat for his use, or lack thereof, of his bench. Shawn Marion and Mike Miller only played 13 minutes combined, while LeBron and Kyrie Irving played 43 minutes a piece. Now, remember all the way back to 2011. That Heat "big-3" with their new coach, Erik Spoelstra, started the season 9-8 before going on to play in four straight NBA Finals. Developing some level of consistency is essential for that type of run. Blatt, like Spoelstra, will have to figure out how to distribute the minutes if the Cavs hope to compete for a title. Popovich found that perfect balance last year when the Spurs trudged through the playoffs for their fifth ring in fifteen years. None of his players played more than 30 minutes per game (according to basketball-reference.com), and they still managed a 62-20 record in the brutal Western Conference. Not all teams have the luxury of being able to play every man on their roster, but all teams need to develop some level of consistency, from on-court decisions to general consistency throughout the organization as a whole.

Everything that occurs within the team is part of the coach's responsibility. A good coach can improve a basketball team (see Charlotte Hornets). A great coach can change the path of an organization for years to come (see L.A. Clippers). In the end, they all have to draw up out-of-bounds plays and talk to the media, but that's only a tiny part of his overall importance to the team.

They're Back! For Round 2

Once again, the NBA season began with many doubting the San Antonio Spurs. Coming off a devastating Finals loss with their core another year older, few expected the Spurs to return to the Finals in an extremely competitive Western Conference. They came into the playoffs with the best record in the NBA despite missing key players for many regular season games. The next man stepped up, and Gregg Popovich's machine kept humming along. Now they're back in the NBA Finals and better than they were a year ago.

The Miami Heat began their season as the title favorite. They had just won two in a row. Why wouldn't they be there for a third? The Bulls lost Derrick Rose early in the year, essentially eliminating them from title contention, but the Indiana Pacers got out to a 40-12 start by the time the all-star break rolled around. They were in first place in the Eastern Conference, and it seemed as if we were destined again for a grueling seven game series between Indiana and Miami to see who would represent the East in the Finals. This time, Indiana would be playing game seven at home. No one was sure about the health of Dwyane Wade or the consistency of Chris Bosh, and the path to a 3-peat looked extremely difficult. In the end, the Pacers collapsed, and the Heat took the Eastern Conference with relative ease, capped by a dominant game 6 performance where they controlled Indiana from start to finish.

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We will see the same extraordinary matchup we saw last year. I think, this time, the outcome will be different. As much as I hate betting against LeBron James, I believe the Spurs will win this series in seven games and hoist the trophy on their home court, like the Heat did last season. 

The Spurs lost Gary Neal and DeJuan Blair over the offseason, both serviceable, yet replaceable NBA players. Marco Belinelli stepped in to fill Neal's role while a combination of Jeff Ayres and Aron Baynes, along with more minutes for Boris Diaw, replaced Blair. More importantly, Manu Ginobili, who was nonexistent at times during the Finals last year, seems rejuvenated. He played a huge role in the Spurs' victory over Oklahoma City and will need to maintain the same level of production for the Spurs to beat the Heat. Another advantage the Spurs have: home court advantage. Miami didn't need it against Indiana, but it made a noticeable impact on their title run last year. 

The Heat, on the other hand, struggled to replace what they lost. Mike Miller was amnestied after the end of the season last year. They have to rely on Rashard Lewis, a less reliable shooter, to take, and make, the shots Miller did during their 2013 campaign. Shane Battier has become less consistent in every aspect of his game. His shooting percentages dropped across the board, but most importantly, his 3-point percentage decreased drastically, from very good at 43.0% in '12-13 to below league average at 34.8% in '13-14 (according to basketball-reference.com). The extra burden falls on LeBron's shoulders. Wade has pulled his weight with his impressive playoff performance so far, but in order to beat the Spurs, LeBron will need turn in four otherworldly games.

As long as Tony Parker's ankle is not an issue, the Spurs will be taking home the 2014 NBA title.

Spurs-Thunder for the West

Russell Westbrook's insane tomahawk in the Thunder's game 5 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

The Thunder are 2-1 against the Spurs since Serge Ibaka's game 3 return with the home team taking each game. The Spurs looked as though game 3 and 4 never happened in their game 5 victory last night. Their shooters were hitting shots, and Tim Duncan gave them a vintage performance with 22 points and 12 boards.

The D Wade Maintenance Plan

The Miami Heat coddled Dwyane Wade the entire 2013-14 regular season. He missed 28 games, mostly due to his recurring knee troubles. They put an enormous amount of pressure on LeBron James to carry the load for them, and, for the most part, he did. The Heat wanted to save their more fragile star for their fourth attempt at a Finals run in four years. 

So far, their strategy has worked. Wade was magnificent for the first two rounds and has been for the last three games against the Pacers too. In game three last night, he constantly penetrated into the teeth of the defense. Wade created many midrange floaters for himself in addition to a few easy baskets for cutting teammates. 

Coming into the series, I believed Lance Stephenson would outplay Wade in the individual matchup. Stephenson has played great, but Wade is currently playing at another level. He has been incredibly efficient from the field in all three games this series and has consistently frustrated the Pacers' bigs with his crafty array of midrange finishes. Wade has been the more valuable player thus far.

In order for the Heat to win their third straight championship, Wade must maintain his high level of play. If he falters, the Heat may not be able to get out of the Eastern Conference, even with the one game lead they've already built. They need a legitimate second scoring threat to be able to continue their quest for a three-peat. 

Spurs-Thunder Will Be Over in 5

I did not have a chance to see many of the San Antonio Spurs games during the regular season. The only games I saw them play were against the woeful Lakers, where they looked unstoppable, and the Thunder, where they looked over-matched in terms of speed and athleticism. The Spurs lost all four matchups versus Oklahoma City during the regular season, but you would not have known that watching last night.

The Spurs' offense ran like clockwork for most of the night. They moved the ball and got into the paint at will. Tony Parker exploited Russel Westbrook's aggressive defense by baiting him on pick and rolls before he would crossover, gaining a step on him towards the basket. Normally, Serge Ibaka is there to minimize the effect of the gambles by the Thunder's perimeter defenders, but with him out of the lineup, they had to rely on slow-footed Kendrick Perkins, Nick Collison, and Steven Adams. Neither Perkins nor Collison have the athleticism to stop guards once they get into the lane, and Adams is still learning the nuances of pick and roll defense in the NBA. Parker shredded the Thunder for 14 points and 12 assists on 50% shooting, while only committing one turnover. Manu Ginobili did the same in the third quarter.

Difference between Wizards' Games 4 and 5

We saw two completely different Washington Wizards teams in games four and five.

Randy Wittman made game four all about the old guys. Andre Miller, Al Harrington, and Drew Gooden played extended minutes. They played well in those minutes too. Gooden brought the same energy he had for the previous four games. Harrington came off the bench at the start of the second quarter and sparked the first major run by the Wizards with three steals and six points in the quarter. Andre Miller worked CJ Watson in the post and created a couple beautiful fadeaways for himself in the middle of the lane.

The problem with relying on your wily veterans is that they're not where they once were in terms of physical ability. Drew Gooden wasn't on a roster at the start of the 2013-14 NBA season. Al Harrington is currently playing for his seventh NBA team. Andre Miller was the eighth pick in the 1999 draft. That was fifteen years ago! After his starters blew the lead created in the second quarter, Wittman decided to stick with his bench bigs for most of the fourth quarter. Marcin Gortat sat alongside Nene while Harrington and Gooden played crunch time. Five years ago, I wouldn't mind the move, but you have to stick with the guys you've trusted all year to win you the game down the stretch. Instead, Harrington and Gooden took a couple ill-advised threes. Then, Trevor Ariza threw the Wizards' last hope a foot behind Bradley Beal as he was curling off a screen.

Forgettable Game 3 for Wizards

After taking the first game at home, the Wizards have now dropped the last two, including their first of the series at home.

Let's start with what I liked: Nenê in the high post. 

Despite his poor shooting effort, Nenê was very effective in the high post. Nenê's ability to space the floor with his midrange shot, soft touch, and court vision allow the Wizards to run their offense through him. Every time Nenê touches the ball in the high post, he puts significant pressure on the defense. Either Bradley Beal or John Wall comes off Nenê to receive the handoff, curl towards the paint, or quickly change direction back towards the baseline. The defender has to make a split-second decision on how to defend the play. George Hill, when guarding Wall, goes under Nenê every time in an attempt to force Wall into a midrange jumper. I liked Wall's willingness to use his quickness off the dribble to get into the paint and create easy scoring opportunities for Marcin Gortat and a slashing Trevor Ariza in the first half.