The following is my analysis of new coaches in the Western Conference.
Mike Brown (L.A. Lakers): Let's get it out of the way. It is a near impossible feat to step into the great Phil Jackson's shoes and fill them overnight. Phil leaving was his choice, not the organization's. Too much criticism for the Brown hiring is unwarranted. I don't think there was any hiring to be made that wouldn't be met with similar skepticism. Adleman and Larry Brown come to mind as possibilities, but even then, none of those coaches have the zen of ten to prove worthy of tenure.
Think about what Mike Brown walks into. He sets up shop in one of the biggest cities in America surrounded by glitz, glamour, smog, and people who expect as much perfection on the basketball court as they do from their hairstylist. Surely I'm generalizing, but the prevailing attitude is relevant. Brown is inheriting a championship worthy team filled with players who, while not in the twilight of their careers, are certainly not as young as they used to be. This is also a squad that in spite of a semi-ironic name change clearly has its issues off the court regarding chemistry and Lord knows what else. Not being caught up on gossip rags and reality television, I'm not the guy to tell you that aspect of the game. Brown certainly does have his hands full. With that said, he's also walking into a place where Kobe Bryant is your starting 2 guard, Andrew Bynum and Matt Barnes fix to be healthy, Mr. Peace steps out of the beguiling triangle, Shannon Brown improves every year, and two of the most versatile bigs in the league, Gasol and Odom, are still in the tail ends of their respective primes. I feel pretty safe saying Brown's glass is half full.
Regarding this team's window closing, I personally don't get the debate. Kobe is noticeably showing the effects of his years on the grind for the first time I can remember, but he's still Kobe, and I challenge you to drop him out of the ten best players in the league this season (15, maybe). D. Fish may well be over the hill, but Steve Blake is backing him up. Everyone else of championship importance, excluding Bynum, may not be a spring chicken, but if the Spurs can keep in going for as long as they have, and the Celtics can be favored in the East before that regrettable trade, I think we're at least two seasons away from this being a true discussion.
Regarding Brown as a coach, I think this past year's playoff run by the Heat shows us that the success of the Cavs had a little more to do with Mike Brown than one might have initially thought. LeBron certainly makes all the difference, but to have the best record in the East two years in a row and a Finals visit with LeBron and relative nobodies as of now trumps a star-studded Heat team coming off a Finals loss that in hindsight wasn't as close as it felt in the moment.
Brown's teams always hung their hat on defense and rebounding hard. Of course, a lot of that had to do with LeBron having next to no jumper early in his career, but nonetheless, Brown loves the little things, and after being destroyed almost single handedly by JJ Barea this past May, perhaps a dose of the little things is just what Dr. Buss ordered. I am curious to see what happens on offense. So much of what happened in Cleveland was LeBron dominating the ball, driving and dishing to West, Gibson, and the great Donyell Marshall. The Lakers will need more formal sets and ball movement to properly utilize their wealth of talent.
Mike Brown is not Phil Jackson, but he is Mike Brown, and Phil Jackson did just get dismantled by the title-bound Mavs. Until proven otherwise, Brown may have the tools to hold a metaphorical mirror up to this Lakers squad and get the Lake-show back on track before the title window closes for the foreseeable future.
Mark Jackson (Golden State): Let's be honest, when it comes to catchy mantras, Mark Jackson is second to none. However, I question how the 2-3 zone known as "hand down, man down" will translate to the sidelines. Now, I tend to think that anything that steps away permanently from Nellie-ball is a step in the right direction, but here is a man with absolutely no coaching experience to his name. Definitely a risky pick for the Bay Area. With that said, you don't get to be third all-time in assists without knowing a bit more than catchphrases.
The point guard truly runs the team and is, in a sense, responsible for knowing everyone else's role as a position and individual so that you can get your teammates the ball where they and the consequent team can be successful. As fun and admittedly easy it can be to make fun of Mark Jackson, the St. John's alum is no dummy. With a re energized Monta Ellis, a presumably healthy Steph Curry, Dorrel Wright's breakout season, and a ton of youth around him, perhaps Jackson can grow into coaching as his squad grows into playing. If he can get David Lee to be the 20-15)player he's capable of being, the Warriors may well have picked up the steal of the coaching market. Mama, there goes that coach.
Kevin McHale (Houston): A solemn moment of silence for McHale's announcing career. There are a couple commentators a really enjoy, but his honesty, analysis, and levity in his work made him by far my favorite analyst. It was great to have a guy who knew at heart that it was just a game and still managed to be insightful and intelligent. I'll miss him this season, assuming we play it. Houston is not an easy place to roll into as they come off a fire sale of most anyone of value this past year and Yao calls it quits. Former Suns backup, Dragic, has some promise, and they still have the human army knife, Luis Scola and the hardest working man in high-tops, Chuck Hayes. Lowry and Martin appear to be flourishing and Patterson appears to be on the verge of blossoming. With that said, Rick Adleman was always great at making the most out of what he had. McHale's gig is definitely a rebuilding one, but he's got some blue collar guys that can help his cause in the long run. Coming off a brief coaching stint in Minnesota, clearly rebuilding is something McHale is comfortable with attempting.
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