Michael Jordan

All posts tagged Michael Jordan

“Hey Phil…We don’t want you either!”

Posted by fantasyfurnace on June 16, 2012
Posted in: NBA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 15 comments

So the Zen master and former Knick legend Phil Jackson came out and told the world that he doesn’t want to coach the Knicks because …”they have a clumsy team.” First of all, the last time I checked, no one from the Knicks organization even considered Jackson for the job…

Secondly, if one were to read between the lines, what Phil is saying is  that he would prefer to coach a team that was the favorite to win the NBA Championship. A team with every piece in its place. A team that needs nothing except someone to fill the coaches seat at the game, and who will get all the credit at the end of the season. That’s the team Jackson is looking to coach.

And that’s the one mar on his legacy. He has won eleven championships with at least two superstars on every team. Whether it was Michael and Scottie or Kobe and Shaq. I mean take a minute and ask yourself has Phil Jackson ever coached a team that shocked you by winning the NBA Championship?

The Furnace wants to know what championship(s) Jackson won that was surprising or unpredictable? Photo: nbanewscorner.blogspot.com

The point of the matter is that Jackson has no intentions of seeking to coach a team that challenges him to make them better. He’s already been there and done that and now into his sixties, he has nothing to prove and is no longer motivated enough to coach again. I think he just enjoys the attention and being temporarily relevant.

When questioned about the Orlando vacancy, Jackson said that the Magic play in a city too far from his Montana home. So clearly what he’s saying is “I really can’t be bothered. Just give me my rocking chair, a bag of popcorn, and my flat screen. I’ve got 11 rings and kind of got upset that the Knicks never even approached me for their coaching job.”

Well, we have some news for you Mr. Jackson…We really don’t want you either! Nor do we need you. We just gave a three year contract to a coach who turned around one franchise, is eager to face the challenges of turning another team into a viable contender, and, get this Phil, ended the past season going 18-6 in his last 24 games. No other coach in the NBA finished their last 24 games with a record like that! Not Popovich, not Rivers, not Spoelstra, nor Brooks. No one.

“No vacancy at Madison Square Garden Phil” Photo: tusconcitizen.com

Personally, I think if Phil Jackson was the Knicks head coach it would only serve as a distraction and add more drama to a team that has no problem creating its own. All eyes, microphones, and attention should not be on the  head coach of a team but on the players themselves and the product they put on the floor every night.

So stay put in Montana Phil. The sooner you shut up, the sooner your legacy will be restored to its pristine original self.

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Another shot by Patrick Ewing is rejected!

Posted by fantasyfurnace on May 30, 2012
Posted in: General, NBA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 10 comments

Although retired from the NBA for almost a decade, former Knick icon and hall of famer Patrick Ewing seems to be having his shots at a head coaching job blocked. His latest rejecetion came on Wednesday from former rival, “Space Jam” co-star, and close friend, Michael Jordan.

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has eliminated Patrick Ewing from consideration for the head coaching job in Charlotte. Photo: biography.com

I must admit that the news came as a complete surprise to me because I didn’t feel that any of the other candidates posed a severe threat to Ewing. I mean, Jeff Van Gundy, Pat Riley, or Phil Jackson had not been considered for the Bobcat’s position, so it wasn’t like the competetion was stiff or anything-although sources are now saying that Jerry Sloan has now been added to the list, and more than likely will bring his hall of fame credentials to Charlotte.

 ”Jordan has been subject to biting criticism for hiring too many cronies and ‘yes’ men through the years, and merely inviting Ewing for the interview started to inspire those kind of shots at Jordan again.”  This was the reasoning for Patrick’s elimination this morning. If you’ll remember he impressed Detroit general manager Joe Dumars in an interview for the Pistons’ head coaching job last spring. But apparently not enough to hire him…

It’s beginning to look like Patrick’s quest  has turned into the ’Willie Randolph Syndrome’ all over again, for as with Willie,  the process took an inordinate amount of time and interviewing before he finally landed a mangerial  gig; which, it should be noted, was  quite a successful one. Remember he finished his 2nd season with the Mets at a league’s best 97-65 and missed going to the World Series by one game.

Ex Met manager Willie Randolph, currently the third base coach of the upstart Baltimore Orioles. Photo: Wikopedia

 Mark Jackson’s rookie year with the Warriors was less memorable, but unlike Randolph who coached with the Yankees for 11 years, Jackson had no  prior coaching experience whatsoever. Yet another reason why someone should give the ‘Big Guy’ a shot.

And now, with Stan Van Gundy’s dismissal from the Orlando Magic, it appears that Ewing will  be looking for any coaching job.

I’ll try to  be optimistic about this. I mean if Mark Jackson can go from the broadcast booth to head coach of the Golden State Warriors, then there has to be hope for Patrick and his nine years of being an assitant coach with Houston and Orlando as well as his ability to work with and groom the tempermental megastar Dwight Howard.

As the Magic’s assistant coach, Ewing has been credited with the grooming of Dwight Howard’s career. Photo: orlandosentenial.com

Hopefully, perspective owners/G.M.’s will not come up with any more reasons NOT to hire him; just reasons for why they WANT to hire him!  And  hopefully it will be sooner rather later…

Will Michael make his best move yet as Bobcats Owner?

Posted by fantasyfurnace on May 9, 2012
Posted in: NBA. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 5 comments

Michael Jordan, who acquired the Charlotte Bobcats in 2010, has been criticized throughout the league and media for some of the decisions he’s made (and not made), and for not being aggressive enough in helping the franchise to steadily improve. His club, who had lost their last 23 games of the season needs a change. This week Michael has made a move that we had written about back on April 3rd, when we asked why Patrick Ewing isn’t coaching in the NBA.

Former Georgetown and Knick great, Hall of Famer Patrick Ewing deserves a shot as the Bobcat’s head coach. Photo: battlewives.com

The Bobcats have extended invitations for interviews for the vacated coaching job, which became available when Paul Silas & Charlotte parted ways, to Michael Malone and Patrick Ewing. With Paul Silas at the helm, the Bobcats posted an NBA worst 7-59 record, and had the lowest winning percentage (.106) in NBA history. Although Malone is highly regarded around the league, he still is under contract with the Golden State Warriors for another two years. Personally, after eight years as an assistant coach, his last five under Stan Van Gundy with the Orlando Magic, I not only hope that Patrick lands the gig, I would be surprised if he is bypassed by his long time friend and former court rival Michael Jordan.

It’s just the right move at the right time. Patrick has paid his dues and done his job(s) well. Under his tutelage, Dwight Howard has developed into one of the leagues foremost successful centers. Ewing would not have stayed on as an assistant if Van Gundy didn’t think of him as an asset to the club. Detroit Pistons general manager Joe Dumars interviewed Ewing for his franchise’s head-coaching job last spring and was impressed with him, but passed. I don’t think Michael will do the same.

 If anyone knows the competitiveness, the work ethic, and the desire to win that Patrick possesses, it’s Michael Jordan. Back in the ’90′s they were rivals and warriors but when they left the court they became close friends. I remember being at the Garden the night that Patrick Ewing’s #33 jersey was raised to the rafters. I recall the ovation he received from the fans who knew he gave his all every single time he took the court. And sitting court-side, among dozens of Ewing’s peers from that time and from years gone by, was one Michael Jordan. It was who Jordan received the second loudest ovation on that starry night and perhaps that was only fitting.

Good friends to this day, Michael and Patrick would make a great team in moving the Bobcat’s franchise up from the cellar to respectfulness around the league. Photo: nurize.com

I think the Hall of Famer will get the coaching job also because he only has one place to take the Bobcats in 2012-2013, and that’s up. Should they be lucky enough and nab Kentucky Wildcat 6′ 10″ Anthony Davis with the first overall pick in the draft, that would surely make the Bobcats instantly more competitive. They have a 25% chance of pulling that off and well, you never know. Patrick will help to guide last year’s 7th overall pick in the draft Bismark Biyombo. D.J. Augustin and UCONN standout Kemba Walker make for a nice PG exacta and another former 1st round pick from Duke, Gerald Henderson can light it up at the 2. A couple of choice moves in this year’s draft and Patrick could help begin the turn around in Charlotte right out of the gate.

The only other person under consideration with Ewing and Malone, is former Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan- who the Bobcats do not need. They need someone fresh and hungry like Patrick who has been a winner since his days under John Thompson at Georgetown, to lead them to where wins are the rule and not the exception. No one will work harder and put themselves in a better position to win than Patrick Ewing. None of the other two will coach with the drive and enthusiasm of Patrick Ewing. And more importantly, none of the other two candidates are as close with the owner as Patrick Ewing.

Michael, do the right thing. Make this your best move since acquiring this club. Give the ‘Big Guy’ his first shot as head coach. He deserves it and you need him…it’s a Slam Dunk!