Mark Jackson

Golden State Warriors: Why Firing Mark Jackson Was the Wrong Move

Apr 21, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson looks on during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Clippers in game two during the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

This article was originally published on Golden Gate Sports.

The Golden State Warriors have officially fired Mark Jackson. Some of the criticism about his coaching was justified, and Jackson wasn’t a perfect coach. However, firing him was the wrong decision for this team.

Perhaps the most important reason why firing Jackson was not a smart move was that he received unwavering support from the players. The Warriors’ players have the utmost respect for him, they listened to him, they trusted him fully, and they believed that he would guide them to play their best. Often, motivating a team and getting them to buy into a system and a coach’s methods can be the hardest part of coaching, and this was one of Jackson’s strengths.

Coach Jackson brought out the best in his players, partially because he was very open and honest with them. Jackson’s influence could also be seen in how relaxed the team was in Game 7, how confident they were throughout the season and in the playoffs, and how the players didn’t fear the big moment.

In fact, based on his fine work with the Warriors last season and his impact on the team’s chemistry, both Andre Iguodala and Jermaine O’Neal wanted to sign with the Warriors last offseason. The Warriors could’ve potentially persuaded big-name free agents to sign with them this summer because of Coach Jackson’s reputation around the league and his player-friendly coaching style.

All the players were vocal about their support for Coach Jackson, especially Stephen Curry. He badly wanted Jackson to remain the head coach, and Curry spoke about his love for Coach Jackson to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle after Game 7.

“What Coach has gone through this year has been unlike anything I’ve seen – just the amount of distractions, the circus that has been around him and the decisions he has had to make,” Warriors point guard Stephen Curry said. “I love Coach more than anybody. For him to be in a position where his job is under scrutiny and under questions is totally unfair.

“It would definitely be a shock to me if anything like (a firing) would happen. I’m definitely going to voice my support for Coach to anybody that asks me all summer.

“He deserves to be our coach next year, and we’re going to come back and build off of the momentum we’ve gained over the past three years and continue to grow as a team. I want Coach Jackson to be that guy leading us.”

The Warriors should’ve listened to Curry, because he’s the face of the franchise and a fan favorite. Curry is the ultimate professional and will adjust to a new head coach, but it’s not smart for the Warriors to start to ignore their superstar. It’s unlikely Curry will get so upset that he’ll want to leave the team, but the Warriors definitely need to involve him in the process of hiring a new head coach.

Whoever they hire to be the new head coach will be Curry’s fourth head coach in just six seasons. Curry will play hard for anyone and could succeed in many systems, but it seems slightly unfair to make him adjust to yet another new coach and new system.

Apr 24, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob reacts after a call against the Los Angeles Clippers during the fourth quarter of game three of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Golden State Warriors 98-96. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to upsetting the players by firing Jackson, the Warriors could potentially hurt themselves in terms of on-the-court production. Jackson certainly could’ve improved on his rotations, play-calling, and decision-making. However, if they don’t find the right replacement, some players might struggle adjusting to a new system or having to play a new system in general.

Joe Lacob has a “win now” mindset, and he wants immediate success, which Jackson apparently didn’t bring. He needs to understand that in the NBA, success is long-term not short-term. Look at Oklahoma City. It takes time to develop a core of players and a coach’s system. Jackson had to improve on some aspects of his coaching, but he wasn’t given the opportunity to build on the success he developed.

It seems as if Jackson’s “strained” relationship with management was one of the main reasons why he was fired, which is just unfair. Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group agreed with this statement in a recent article that he wrote before Jackson was fired.

“Logic says work to fix his weaknesses instead of starting over. It would be a shame if the playoff streak has to end because of office politics.”

Thompson also made a good point in that same article when he said:

“But just as Jackson is responsible for his locker room, management is responsible for the team.”

Lacob and Myers will need to make some changes to the roster in the offseason, so it’s also their duty to make this team better and put them in a better situation to succeed.

For such a risky move, in terms of disappointing players and fans, the Warriors better back up firing Jackson by hiring a fantastic new head coach. Joe Lacob and Bob Myers are incredibly smart people, so they’ll do their best to find the best possible coach out there for this team. They have to hope though that the risks involved with this decision pay off and that ultimately the benefits will outweigh the costs.

Not all personnel moves are going to be liked by everyone in the organization and all of the fans, and that’s fine. Lacob and Myers’ jobs aren’t necessarily about making everyone happy, but they have to make sure they hire not just a good coach but a great coach that they know will fluorish. If not, this situation could get really ugly, really fast.

Firing Mark Jackson won’t completely shatter the organization. The Warriors still have an immense amount of talent, and they can potentially contend for a title next season. It all comes down to if Lacob and Myers hire the right coach though, and if that head coach can lead the Warriors to more wins next season than this season.

One last thought, thanks to Mark Jackson for bringing the Warriors out of irrelevance and making them a legitimate threat in the Western Conference. He instilled an effective defensive system, and he brought a winning mentality to the Warriors. He truly changed the culture, and he should be greatly commended for that.

Golden State Warriors: Thoughts on Game 7 and the Season

Apr 27, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

This article was originally published on Golden Gate Sports.

The Golden State Warriors lost a heartbreaking battle in Game 7 of their first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers. Some might classify this season for the Warriors as “disappointing,” because, with that Game 7 loss, they failed to advance the Western Conference semifinals after doing so last season. However, this is far from the truth.

The Warriors’ franchise had been stuck in mediocrity or the basement of the NBA for so long, so to see a Warriors team in a Game 7 and with that strong of a desire to put up a fight for all 48 minutes was absolutely inspiring and far from disappointing. The Warriors displayed that fight and determination throughout the 2013-2014 season.

The Warriors were the underdogs going into this series, and as usual, not one ESPN analyst picked them to win this series. The Warriors perform best when they’re underestimated though. They showed in this series against the Clippers that they have the ability to overcome being the less talented team in a series with their heart, team chemistry, and motivation.

Both teams faced adversity in this series. The Clippers went through a devastating scandal involving their owner, Donald Sterling. It completely changed their franchise, and it affected their focus at points in the series.

However, the Warriors had to face adversity as well. Before the playoffs started, Andrew Bogut fractured his rib and was ruled out of the playoffs. Based on his significant impact in the playoffs last season, this was a huge blow to the Warriors. Their confidence didn’t waver though.

Without Bogut, the Warriors easily could’ve lost this series in four games. The fact that they were able to push this series to seven games without their defensive anchor, their rim protector, their hard screen setter, and their token tough guy was extremely impressive on many levels.

The Warriors can learn a lot from this season, and they can take a lot away from their Game 7 loss.

First of all, the Warriors proved in the playoffs that they are truly a tough team. Bogut’s emergence as an extremely effective defensive anchor certainly added toughness, but the Warriors were still viewed as a “fake tough” or “soft” team by many other NBA teams this season. The way the Warriors battled with the Clippers, matched their physicality, and weren’t afraid of the Clippers’ size in the frontcourt showed that they are one of the toughest teams in the NBA.

Draymond Green is a significant part of their newly established toughness. He is the ultimate competitor, teammate, and enforcer out on the court. He isn’t afraid of anything, and he’s a winner. The Warriors’ toughness as a team really showed when Green was put in the starting lineup.

Apr 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors players begin to celebrate with head coach Mark Jackson after defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves at Oracle Arena. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 130-120. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

Second, Mark Jackson has been heavily criticized this season, but he showed in the playoffs why he’s the right coach for this team. This article isn’t about why Jackson needs to remain the Warriors’ head coach (more on this later…), but we’ll get into a few reasons why he should stay now.

One of the biggest criticisms about Jackson has been his questionable rotations and allocation of minutes. As the series progressed, Jackson decided to go with a small-ball lineup by starting Green, and he played Harrison Barnes more as a stretch four. He also moved away from his lineups of just bench players and mixed in his starters well. Jackson made the proper adjustments, and he should be commended for that.

The Warriors also played so hard throughout the series and never gave up, despite being overmatched at times. This type of determination and fearlessness should be partially attributed to Jackson. He inspires this team to be the best that they can be.

Many players, including Stephen Curry, stepped up in crunch time and proved to not be afraid of the big moment. That is a testament to Jackson’s personality, coaching, and confidence in his players. With Jackson’s guidance, Curry truly grew into a leader for this team, and he led this team’s fight to prove themselves.

Third, as mentioned before, the Warriors proved that they possibly have the most heart of any team in the NBA. They played a near perfect game of basketball in Game 7, and even though they didn’t reign victorious, they showed that they will never give up, no matter what.

What should be remembered about their Game 7 loss and their 2013-2014 season in general is the determination and the fight that they showed on a regular basis.

This Warriors team is hungry, and they will certainly make another run in the playoffs next season. Who knows how far the Warriors could’ve gone with Bogut healthy, and if Bogut is healthy next season, this Warriors team will be even more dangerous.

Entering this season, many people put high expectations on the Warriors. Although the Warriors might not have met those unfair expectations, they set up even bigger expectations for next season based on their performance in this series, and that is a big accomplishment and a testament to Coach Jackson.

Warriors fans should be incredibly proud of this Warriors team. Game 7 was an unforgettable battle that showed this team’s identity and heart to everyone in the NBA. Warriors fans should be excited for next season. The Warriors will be stronger and even more determined than ever.

What Do the Golden State Warriors Have to Do to Force Game 7?

Apr 27, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first quarter in game four of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

This article was originally published on Golden Gate Sports.

The Golden State Warriors’ first round playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers has been an emotional roller coaster, on and off the court. The Warriors have had to overcome a serious injury to their defensive anchor, Andrew Bogut, and the Clippers have had to overcome a horrible scandal involving their owner, Donald Sterling.

On the court, the series has been extremely competitive, physical, and entertaining. The Warriors won Game 1 and Game 4, and the Clippers won Game 2, 3, and 5.

Besides Game 4, the Warriors haven’t played great basketball during the series, so the fact that they’re down just 3-2, with their center out, is extremely impressive. The Warriors face a must-win situation in Game 6, so what do the Warriors have to do to force a Game 7?

There are a lot of things they need to improve on or fix from Game 5. First of all, Stephen Curry is going to have to show a little more of the Steph Curry from the 2013 playoffs in Game 6. Throughout this series, the Clippers have done a great job, except in Game 4, containing Curry, limiting his shot attempts, and forcing him into tough shots.

The Clippers have forced Curry to be a distributor, which sometimes works for the Warriors. However, Curry committed eight turnovers in Game 5 and only made five field goals. Curry has to become more of a scorer than a distributor and limit his turnovers in Game 6, if they want to get to Game 7.

This isn’t just on Curry though. The Warriors could do a better job getting Curry some better looks. Mark Jackson could continue to run the high pick-and-roll, but they have to run it higher up and not so close to the free throw line. This will drive DeAndre Jordan further away from the basket and could potentially create more opportunities for Curry to dribble to the three-point line for a shot or drive to the basket for a shot or a trip to the free throw line.

Also, if Curry is ever guarded by Darren Collison, like he was at times during Game 5, and not Chris Paul, he needs to exploit that matchup. He had success against Collison in Game 5, and those will be his best opportunities to score.

Apr 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) posts up on Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) during the first quarter in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Second, the Warriors need to stay out of foul trouble, which is hard to do against a team that is known for their flopping and dramatic style of play. In Game 5, the Warriors clearly struggled when the Clippers went at the Blake Griffin-Draymond Green matchup early, because it led Green into foul trouble.

The Clippers shot 41 free throws in Game 5, which is a lot, but it’s even worse because the Warriors shot only 19 free throws and made just 13 of them. The Warriors need to knock down their free throws, especially when they’re given so few opportunities.

The Warriors are bound to be called for more fouls than the Clippers because of the Clippers’ flopping the Warriors’ use of the hack-a-Jordan strategy, but they need to find a way to stay out of foul trouble, especially Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, and Green.

Third, speaking of small ball, the Warriors need to continue to run the small ball lineup of Curry, Thompson, Iguodala, Green, and David Lee. It’s their only chance to be successful against the hefty frontcourt of the Clippers.

With that being said, they need to utilize the strengths of their small ball lineup more. The Warriors need to push the ball more and get into fast breaks. This limits Jordan’s impact on the defensive end and gives the Warriors some easier scoring opportunities.

In Game 4, the Warriors first used the small ball starting lineup, and they finished with 27 fast break points to the Clippers’ seven. In Game 5, the Clippers won the fast break battle 21-13.

This cannot be the case in Game 6. The Warriors need to get into transition, and they need to limit the Clippers’ fast break opportunities, especially early on in the game when the Clippers are establishing their rhythm.

Apr 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors forward Andre Iguodala (9) goes up for a dunk against the Los Angeles Clippers during the third quarter in game five of the first round of the 2014 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

Fourth, the Warriors’ bench needs to step up. Steve Blake and Jordan Crawford have done close to nothing in this playoff series, and they’re seeing less playing time because of it. Harrison Barnes was great in Game 4, and they will need him to be efficient and effective if they want to advance to Game 7. Barnes should post up less and look for easier scoring opportunities in transition and on open threes.

In Game 4, the Warriors got 29 points from their bench, and in Game 5 they got just 19. The Clippers have a deeper bench and more players who can create their own shots, so they will most likely win the bench battle on a game-to-game basis. However, the Warriors’ bench still needs to step up, in limited minutes, in Game 6.

In Game 6, the Warriors need to contain Paul and Griffin, even if that means giving Hilton Armstrong or Ognjen Kuzmic a chance to guard Griffin. They also need to play lockdown defense as a team and focus on that end of the court. If they focus on defense, it can lead to more fast break opportunities, which will take pressure off their offense.

On offense, they need to run their small lineup effectively, run high pick-and-rolls, get Curry more shots, and drive to the basket and stay aggressive if their threes aren’t falling.

Hopefully in Game 6 the Warriors and Clippers can move past all the off-the-court distractions. The Warriors need to play Game 6 as if it’s their last game of the season, because it easily could be. If the Warriors can go back to playing their brand of basketball, they will win Game 6.

Golden State Warriors: Looking Ahead To The First Round

Dec 25, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (30) calls out to his teammates against Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) during the fourth quarter at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

This article was originally published on Golden Gate Sports.

It’s official. The Golden State Warriors, the sixth seed in the Western Conference, and the Los Angeles Clippers, the third seed, will face each other in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

To start out the preview of this matchup, let’s just say that the Warriors and the Clippers do not like each other, on and off the court. It seems like almost every time they play each other, there’s some type of scuffle and usually several technical fouls given out.

In addition, much of this tension has carried over to their relationships off the court. Most teams attend chapel with their opponent before each game, but the Warriors and Clippers refuse to attend chapel together.

Although their dislike for each other started just a couple seasons ago, there is certainly a rivalry between these two teams. This is why this first round matchup will be so entertaining.

It’s almost like it was meant to be. Both these teams have risen from pretenders to contenders in the past few seasons, and they both believe that they’re better than the other team. They also both play exciting brands of basketball, and whenever they play each other, the games are incredibly competitive, physical, and entertaining.

The Warriors and the Clippers faced each other four times during the regular season. Their first two contests were fairly close, and the next two contests were blowouts. They split the games 2-2.

Let’s take a look at some of the factors that could decide which team wins this playoff series.

One of the key factors to this series is that the Warriors will be without Andrew Bogut, who is out indefinitely with a fractured rib. The Warriors will struggle without Bogut for several reasons.

Mar 2, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) during their game against the Toronto Raptors at Air Canada Centre. The Raptors beat the Warriors 104-98. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

First of all, Bogut is the Warriors’ defensive anchor and rim protector. He doesn’t just block shots, he changes shots, changes how offenses attack the rim, and he defends the weak side extremely well. He also sets great screens on offense. These simple explanations don’t fully explain how important he is to the Warriors, offensively and defensively, as a whole.

Second, without Bogut, the Warriors will have trouble containing the Clippers’ size. Blake Griffin is a beast and is having an MVP-type of year. DeAndre Jordan isn’t a huge offensive threat, but his athleticism can really hurt the Warriors’ frontcourt.

It will be difficult for the Warriors to win the frontcourt matchup with the Clippers, but they could win the backcourt matchup.

Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson make up one of the best backcourts in the NBA. The Clippers will most likely send multiple defenders at Curry to try to force him into turnovers and bad shots.

Chris Paul defends Curry well and forces him to turn the ball over a lot, so this could be a tough matchup for Curry. They have played against each other so much during the NBA season and they work out together in the offseason, but these two often bring out the best in each other.

Curry has been playing at a whole other superstar level recently though, and it seems like no one will be able to stop him.

In terms of defense, the Warriors’ perimeter defense is one of their strengths. Andre Iguodala, Thompson, and even Curry at times, to a lesser extent though, are all great defenders and can lock down or contain whoever they’re guarding.

The Warriors could have difficulty with defense in the frontcourt though. Even if they decide to start Draymond Green at power forward, to guard Griffin, or Jermaine O’Neal at center, to guard Jordan, they will still face some trouble defensively, given the Clippers’ size and athleticism.

In order to limit the Clippers’ frontcourt offensively, the Warriors might want to employ the hack-a-Jordan philosophy. Jordan is shooting 42.8 percent on free throws, and the Clippers, as a team, shoot 73 percent on free throws, which is 26th in the NBA.

Griffin has improved as a free throw shooter, but in the right situation, the Warriors might want to foul him too. They need to be careful though, because Griffin does a lot of “flopping,” and the Warriors, especially Green, can’t afford to get into foul trouble.

Nov 23, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) and Los Angeles Clippers center DeAndre Jordan (6) stand during a break in play against the Sacramento Kings during the fourth quarter at Staples Center. The Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Sacramento Kings 103-102. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

The Warriors also need to be active on the boards. The Clippers give up 43.7 rebounds per game, which is 25th in the NBA, so the Warriors need to take advantage of that.

On offense though, the Warriors could benefit greatly from going small and playing Green at power forward and Lee at center. Warriors fans are well aware of Lee’s defensive deficiencies, but offensively, he could succeed in a smaller lineup.

As a center, Lee thrives because he’s able to utilize his quickness against slower, bigger centers. Also, as a center, he doesn’t have to fight for space in the paint, which he often has to do with whoever is playing center for the Warriors.

Lee needs space to work in the paint and in post-ups in order to be effective. This is why he plays so well alongside Curry and Thompson. The Splash Brothers space the floor, and the Lee is able to work inside the paint and around the rim.

The Warriors will certainly face some tough matchups in the starting lineup, but the Clippers might also have an edge in terms of their bench and coaching. The Clippers have Jamal Crawford, Darren Collison, Danny Granger, Matt Barnes, Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, and others all coming off the bench. That is an extremely deep bench with lots of different players who could hurt the Warriors.

The Warriors have had a fairly inconsistent bench this season. Steve Blake, Jordan Crawford, Harrison Barnes, and Marreesse Speights will be called upon for significant contributions off the bench, and they will have to step up big if the Warriors want to pull off the upset.

In terms of coaching, the Clippers might win the coaching category too. Although Mark Jackson led the Warriors to the Western Conference semifinals, Doc Rivers has won a championship. He has more experience, and he’s a defensive mastermind.

Jackson knows how to motivate his team and could out-coach Rivers in that sense, but it’s yet another challenge the Warriors will have to face.

With all this being said, the Warriors have more heart than possibly any team in the NBA. They will not give up, they will give their best, and they will put up a fight. They won’t go down easy, so don’t expect this series to be over quickly.

Prediction: Clippers win in 7

Golden State Warriors: Is Mark Jackson In Trouble?

March 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson watches game action against the Los Angeles Clippers during the first half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

This article was originally published on Golden Gate Sports.

In the past couple weeks, much of the discussion about the Golden State Warriors has been about Mark Jackson. Many Warriors fans want Jackson to be fired, because they believe the Warriors haven’t lived up to expectations. They have classified the 2013-14 season as disappointing, despite the Warriors’ 46-29 record.

Does this mean Jackson’s future with the Warriors is in trouble? Not exactly…

On the court, his allocation of minutes, his play-calling, his rotations, and his decision-making have all been criticized this season, some of it warranted and some of it not.

Off the court though, Coach Jackson is one of the best motivators in the NBA, and often, motivating players can be the hardest task of all for a coach.

Coach Jackson isn’t a Gregg Popovich type of coach. Popovich is a master of both play-calling and motivating his players. However, Coach Jackson is still learning and developing as a coach. This is his third year of coaching in the NBA, and even though he could improve in certain areas, he’s not by any means a bad coach.

Tim Kawakami brings up a good point that Coach Jackson could use another top assistant coach, besides Pete Myers. Last season, Michael Malone, now the head coach of the Sacramento Kings, was Jackson’s top assistant, and many fans have discussed how much his absence this season has affected Jackson.

Despite the rumors that Jackson and Malone would go for weeks at a time without speaking to each other, Malone was known as the X’s and O’s coach for the Warriors. He drew up the plays in timeouts and in close-game situations, and many people believe that’s a skill that Jackson lacks.

Malone was also the “defensive coordinator” of the Warriors. However, in Malone’s absence, the Warriors rank fourth in the NBA in opponent field goal percentage at 43.6 this season after ranking fourth last year too. The Warriors haven’t seen a decline in their defense since Malone left, so Jackson has to be given credit for that.

In addition to the drama associated with the Malone situation, Jackson had trouble with another assistant coach, Brian Scalabrine, this season. About a week or so ago, it was reported that Jackson forced a reassignment of Scalabrine to the Warriors’ D-League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors. This isn’t huge news because Scalabrine was the fourth assistant coach, but it does further the drama about Jackson’s “strained” relationship with the front office.

Jackson has one year left on his contract, and there hasn’t seemed to be any talks between Jackson and management about a contract extension.

In fact, there have been other rumors that Jackson might leave the Warriors after this season to coach the New York Knicks. Of course, this is all speculative at this point.

Also fueling the rumors of tension between Jackson and the front office, Joe Lacob hasn’t spoken out in support of Jackson since the Scalabrine reassignment.

However, Bob Myers showed support for Jackson yesterday in an interview with KNBR. Here are some quotes from the interview:

 

 

 

Along with Myers, many of the Warriors players have openly supported Jackson. Stephen Curry has been the most vocal about it. He said he loves playing for Jackson and he supports him 100 percent.

The Warriors’ other captain, David Lee, has also supported Jackson. Sam Amick of USA Today Sports spoke to Lee about this:

“We have one of the best locker rooms, in my opinion, in the whole league,” said Lee, the ninth-year pro who played his first five seasons with the Knicks. “I’ve been on teams that had awful chemistry and the coaching staff is constantly arguing with players and vice versa, and there has been none of that here. The word ‘dysfunction’ (which has been used in the media to describe the Warriors) is one that we’ve been laughing about, almost making a joke out of it, like are you serious?

“We trust Coach Jackson. We trust each other as teammates. There’s not a whole lot else you can worry about. Our chemistry is great. I think that we have a chance to do special things this year, so I’m just not going to let this bother me. We believe in Coach.”

Jermaine O’Neal has also been vocal about the situation, and he told Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Gourp that he might even consider coming back for a 19th year in the NBA just so he can play for Coach Jackson again.

“It’s a couple reasons why I will come back,” O’Neal said Saturday. “This fan base, this organization is first class, and obviously my teammates are great, as well.

“But the No. 1 reason that I will come back and play another year is because of Coach Jackson. I’m absolutely, 100 percent positive about that. He makes it easy to come in this gym every day, and there’s not a lot of coaches that do that.”

O’Neal also said that all the criticism of Jackson and the discussion about firing him is “ridiculous.”

Fans set high, yet somewhat unfair expectations for the Warriors this season. The Warriors are currently 17 games above .500, which is nothing to complain about.

Fans expected the Warriors to contend for a championship this season, but they seem to forget that it takes a few years for young teams, like the Oklahoma City Thunder for example, to grow and develop into title contenders. These unfair expectations have unfortunately fallen on the shoulders of Jackson.

Jackson isn’t the best coach in the NBA. However, for both the Warriors and Jackson, becoming an elite team or an elite coach is a long process. Jackson can improve on some of his rotations and play-calling, but he is a significant reason why the Warriors have the impressive record that they have.

Jackson has been the perfect coach to get the Warriors out of the dirty doldrums of dysfunction, but is he the right coach to get the Warriors a championship? Only time will tell. As of now, Jackson shouldn’t be fired, especially since the Warriors’ best player, and face of the franchise, is a diehard supporter.

Stephen Curry and Others Show Support for Mark Jackson
(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

(Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

When news broke out about the reassignment of former assistant coach Brian Scalabrine, the rumors about Mark Jackson’s future with the Golden State Warriors started swirling.

This has been a hot topic for much of the Warriors’ season, and whether it’s warranted or not, this piece of news added fuel to the fire for people who want Coach Jackson fired.

The face of the franchise, Stephen Curry, has been very vocal about his support for Coach Jackson. Monte Poole of CSN Bay Area with the report:

Curry has consistently expressed unwavering support for Jackson, and has shown no indication of backing off in the face of mounting criticism of the coach.

…

“We’re two years removed from being a terrible basketball team,” Curry said. “The transformation we’ve had since coach Jackson has been here is obviously evident and it raises the expectations. Yeah, we’ve lost some winnable games and games we shouldn’t have along the way, but that’s part of the growth process. We’re on pace for the best season in 20 years. That’s a sign of good change.

“I support coach 100 percent and understand what he’s done for us. Being in the locker room every single day and just observing from my rookie to year to now what has changed. Most of all of that is a result of him.

“So what people say or criticism he takes, I know he takes it on the chin and keeps moving. It doesn’t waver his confidence at all. That’s what I admire most about him. We’re going to go out and continue to play hard for the rest of this season and into the playoffs, and kind of block that noise out. Because I know everybody in the locker room supports him 100 percent.”

In addition to his support, Curry wants to be consulted on Jackson’s coaching future with the Warriors. Monte Poole again has the report:

If CEO Joe Lacob is considering whether to retain Jackson or perhaps offer him an extension – or consider dismissing him – Stephen Curry would like to be involved in the process.

“I hope they ask, for sure,” Curry says. “And I’d give them my honest opinion. And hopefully that means something.”

“I love coach and everything he’s about. I love playing for him and that’s all that matters to me.

Curry has been the voice of the players, but other people, outside of the organization, have shown appreciation for Jackson’s coaching as well. Klay Thompson’s father, Mychal Thompson, a 13-year NBA veteran, admires Jackson’s coaching and appreciates his praise for Klay’s game.

Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group reports:

Told of the high praise, Thompson said he loved hearing it from Jackson. It’s Jackson whom Mychal Thompson credits for instilling the confidence in his son.

“Mark doesn’t pressure his players,” said Mychal, who played 12 seasons in the NBA. “He allows them to grow. He gives them time to grow and become men themselves.”

Jackson has a very close relationship with his players, and Ethan Sherwood Strauss of ESPN believes that’s partially due to his preaching about faith and religion but also his faith in his players.

But Jackson believes in belief and believes in his guys. Harrison Barnes, Draymond Green, and Festus Ezeli all saw substantial roles as rookies. Green shot miserably throughout last season. Jackson reiterated his faith in Green’s game, kept feeding him minutes, and Green came through big for Jackson in the playoffs. The second-rounder has emerged as a valuable defensive player in his second year. Jackson promotes confidence, bragging outright about his players and their capabilities (he has compared Green’s defense to that of LeBron James, for example). His strategy is to raise internal expectations through effusive praise, in hopes that the power of positive thinking shifts the paradigm of a historically awful franchise.

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There’s anecdotal evidence that Jackson’s religiosity helps the Warriors. The quite religious Jermaine O’Neal signed a reasonable contract with Golden State. Noted Christian Andre Iguodala built a relationship with Jackson before heading west from Denver. In Iguodala’s introductory news conference, he mentioned getting to know Curry (and Kevin Durant) over chapel sessions at the 2010 world championships.

By all indications, the great majority of Warriors players like how faith intermingles with work.

It appears as if the team, especially Curry, want Coach Jackson to remain as their head coach. Will management listen to their star player and stick with Jackson?

Marcus Thompson of the Bay Area News Group comments on this:

Once again, Warriors management has decided not to publicly support Jackson. That trend isn’t lost on a few players who staunchly supports their coach. A few players expressed the dismay at the lack of favor Jackson has despite the success he’s enjoyed the last two seasons. They see that Jackson simply had the final of his year picked up and was not given his extension. They took note when co-owner Joe Lacob told Tim Kawakami he was disappointed and had some concerns about Jackson. And while Jackson has been constantly under attack, they’ve noticed no one has come out to Jackson’s defense.

Now that the Bay is abuzz about this Scalabrine news, and questioning Jackson, management has chosen to stay quiet.

Multiple players have told me they get the sense Jackson could end up leaving – whether it is by Jackson’s choice or management’s.