We Need Karl
by Hestari on May 27, 2011 8:22 AM MDT
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PrintWhat do Andrew Bynum and Dwight Howard have in common? Quite a lot actually (except for Bynum's knees). Both are a dominate inside force. They block shots, play great defense, and push everyone else around. They’re bullies. Both in the past 2-3 years have made significant strides with their offensive game and face double teams repeatedly. Do you remember their offensive game 2-3 years ago though? Not much there besides open put-back or alley-oop dunks. What happened? Real position coaching happened. The Lakers gave Andrew Bynum hall of famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Magic gave Dwight Howard hall of famer Patrick Ewing. It wasn’t a one year transformation from offensive dud-to-stud but it took each of them a few years to develop, and have they ever. With Bynum the Lakers are Championship contenders, without they fall short. . . and maybe lose round 1. With Howard the Magic won 2 playoff games, without they get swept or don’t even make the playoffs. Anyway, we all know how important each player is to their respective team. The point is that both these guys were initially big dudes with a defensive presence down low with loads of potentially that needed someone to help them harness that potential. The Jazz have a player in a similar situation. . . Derrick Favors!
I was a huge skeptic of Favors when he got here and was sick and tired of hearing about all of the potential this guy because I just didn’t see it the few times I watched him before. After giving it some time, my eyes were suddenly opened and I was finally able to see the light. This guy was just like they all said he was, loaded with potential. A little flash here and a little sparkle there. He had enough eye-opening plays to convince me that this guy is our future at PF. Like Bynum and Howard, he has already proven to be a defensive presence down low. Also like Bynum and Howard, Favors needs a hall of fame position coach. May I suggest Karl Malone? Karl declared just two months ago that he would one day be a head coach in the NBA. Every coach needs to start somewhere right? How about right here in Utah along-side Favors. Just think of the possibilities. Favors would learn how to chisel his body the right way to avoid injury. He would learn what hard work can do. He would learn low and high post moves that made Malone a two-time MVP. He would learn how to run the floor and score in transition just like Malone did each and every game over and over again. I can go on and on but you all remember Karl.
This is my plea to Jazz management and coaching staff to make a phone call to Mr. Malone. He just might be the key to the next Jazz success story.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ-ThQ3joIo
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interesting.....
although I have to disagree to an extent. Dwight Howard is still very limited offensively. While his moveset improved considerably this year, he will never be confused with Hakeem, David Robinson, or Wilt offensively. Patrick Ewing is not much of a position coach…..If the magic were smart, they would dump Ewing and see what Hakeem can do.
Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy
by BigBenSportsGuy on May 27, 2011 8:43 AM MDT reply actions
I'd argue it's BECAUSE Ewing was the position coach
Ewing, ever since I started watching him in the late 80’s and early 90’s, had no post game whatsoever. He shot jump shots.
I’m not surprised at all he hasn’t been able to teach it to Howard. Now if Hakeem or David Robinson was working with Howard—YIKES!
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
yeah, essentially my point.
ewing was overrated, to say the least.
Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy
by BigBenSportsGuy on May 27, 2011 10:21 AM MDT up reply actions
And, shockingly, this past season is when he actually gained some post moves
I got the crap beat out of me in Provo one time
I have had similar thoughts. From what I have observed, Karl and Favors would probably hit it off personality-wise, as well. They both seem to have about the same intensity level. Karl could also work with Al Jefferson, whom he praised last year. In addition to offense, Karl could teach both Favors and Jefferson a thing or two about interior defense, whereas Karl was also an all-NBA defensive player.
I would also like to see the Jazz get a personal coach for Kyrylo Fesenko, who could probably become a starting quality center, rather than just a little-used backup, with some personal coaching. After all, as long as players like Howard and Bynum are in the league, the Jazz need a big center to counteract their size and impact. However, I’m not sure that Karl would be a good match to coach Fesenko. I’m remembering Karl’s Greg Ostertag “lard-ass” comments from so many years ago. On the other hand, Fesenko did seem to respond well to the “tough love” that Jerry Sloan gave him from time to time, so who knows.
I’m also thinking that Antoine Carr could be a good mentor for the Jazz bigs on offense. The “Big Dawg” had some pretty nifty offensive moves that could have even made Karl a better player—and I think Carr lives in the area.
Finally, why not bring Mark Eaton in to work with the Jazz bigs in order to teach them a thing or two about blocking shots. Although Eaton had horrible foot speed, he was a great student of the game and was consistently able to anticipate penetrating players’ moves well enough to get into position to alter their shots—so I think that skill could be taught and learned. Eaton was also a great foul shooter for someone who was so big and who had such big hands. I think there must be a trick or two to be learned by very big players about shooting foul shots, and Mark Eaton seems to know how to do that, as well. Greg Ostertag never learned how to do that, even though he did not really have that bad of form on his jump shot and foul shot.
by Fesenko for President on May 27, 2011 9:54 AM MDT reply actions
I'm not sure Malone is the right guy to coach Favors
I don’t see Malone;s game in Favor’s game. I see Favors as more Alonzo Mourning. Also, I’m not sure Malone could be patient enough to work with someone who can’t do all that he can do.
No, what I mean
Is that Karl wouldn’t be a patient coach. I think he would have a tough time dealing with mistakes- of the player coached not being able to do what he could do as a player. Of cuorse, Malone would know patience is needed conceptually, but in action I believe he would be very impatient.
But we could have
The first NBA coach who refers to himself in the third person! That has to be worth something right? Plus we would get back Karl Malone post game quotes. I miss them so much.
What Malone could teach, is something none of our bigs do at all...
…which is sprint down the court and seal off the defender deep in the lane before the defense gets set. If Favors put his mind to doing that, he would score 20pt/gm without even any further offensive improvement. He already has the power, touch and agility to do so.
He doesnt need Karl
He just needs to strap on some shape ups and he could break the scoring record when his career is all said and done
"I hate it! It looks like a stickup at 7-Eleven. Five guys standing there with their hands in the air."
Norm Sloan
"We have a great bunch of outside shooters. Unfortunately, all our games are played indoors."
Weldon Drew
by EcERyda69 on May 27, 2011 10:10 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs
i don't think it would hurt
to try to see if Jazz brass could talk the mailman into coming and for a few practices anyway, since Karl said he would like to coach and he’s literally waiting for a call, at some degree he has the desire, so it would be a mistake not to talk to him to see at least in what way he thinks he can contribute as a coach, he wouldn’t have to be full time if he came in and ran a few things everyone once in awhile, he would probably have to take time to think of himself as a coach, but I think he’d be a good coach if he took his time to think about it.
Do you think
if he changed the spelling of his name to start with a capital C that he would be a better coach. He had his grandma change the spelling of his name, but I don’t know if you can change your name backwards or if anyone does that?
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