What do we make of Coach Karl now?...
by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 7, 2008 10:54 AM MST
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21 games into the new NBA season the Nuggets find themselves at 14-7 (a .667 winning percentage), are on pace for an NBA franchise best 55 wins, are tied for second place in the Western Conference and are giving up nine less points per game than they did last season.It's time to give credit where credit is due.
Readers of this blog know I'm a macrotrend kind of guy. I rarely dive into critique offensive efficiency, or those crazy John Hollinger formulas I still don't understand, or the minute details of substitution patterns, and so forth, unless its such a glaring error that even I would do it differently - like pulling J.R. Smith out of the Hornets game with 1:17 to go even though he was the best player on the floor that night. And thankfully, most of the small details I overlook get brought up by this blog's terrific readers with their passionate comments.
So when I launched this blog under the name of www.firegeorgekarl.com back in February, it wasn't because of a few bad games, a few bad quotes, or a few bad strategic decisions on the floor. I had a very simple mantra: if George Karl didn't guide the Nuggets out of the first round of the playoffs for his first time since being head coach, he should resign or be fired. And after the Nuggets were embarrassed by getting swept by the Lakers - without ever putting up a fight mind you - I wasn't the only one calling for a coaching change. The bottom line is that the team's owner and its fans deserved better for an $80+ million payroll and a $3+ million per year coach than a 3-16 playoff record over a four year span.
Going into the playoffs last season, the rumor circulating in the Denver sports media was that Karl had to win a series or at least two games (what a joke) to keep his job as head coach. He did neither and kept his job regardless. My theory is that it had more to do with owner Stanley Kroenke cutting costs than him and the Kroenke Cronies having any faith in Karl. Kroenke wasn't going to pay out the remainder of Karl's deal (approximately $6 million over two more seasons) and then bring on another multi-million dollar coaching contract when he was going into cost-cutting mode anyway.
But that was last season and it's time to move on.
In keeping with my macrotrend analysis, I decided before this season started that I would wait for a quarter of the games to be completed before assessing the coaching job that Karl is doing. And to me, a .667 winning percentage after 21 games - all while doing this without a true center, no backup big men and one of the shakiest shooting guard situations in the NBA - tells me that Karl is doing a very good job.
I know many of this blog's readers will still disagree and point to the Nuggets success being credited solely to the arrival of Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony's improvement in rebounding and assists, and the health of Nene and Kenyon Martin. But if our coaches are to get blamed when their team's struggle, than they must get credit when their team's succeed. We as fans can't have it both ways.
Furthermore, several of the macrotrends that infuriated me about Karl last season - such as refusing to work the refs, rarely calling timeouts to rein in his team when they got out of control or lazy, not holding his players accountable for bad shots and porous defense, sitting through games as if he's doing a Phil Jackson impersonation - seem to have dissipated this season. At all the Nuggets games I've attended this season - both home and road - I've been fortunate to sit within four to 15 rows of Karl himself. I'm seeing a much more spirited effort out of Karl; he's constantly working the refs, calling more timely timeouts and he's visibly more engaged with the team during those timeouts. It's like he's a different guy from the coach we observed last season.
That being said, Karl isn't spared any criticism 21 games in. The J.R. Smith situation continues to fester and Karl needs to get over his ego and let the kid play. The rotation remains an erratic mess - how many times do we need to see Billups, Anthony Carter and Chucky Atkins on the floor at the same time and why isn't Renaldo Balkman getting more PT? And the Nuggets remain impotent in a half court set when a well-coached opponent throws a tough defensive scheme at them.
What worries me the most - as noted in my Friday night column - is that the Nuggets aren't beating really good teams (with the exception of the amazing victory at Boston a while back) and still play like cowards against the Lakers. But over nine days beginning Monday, December 15th, the Nuggets play at Dallas, at Houston, vs Cleveland, at Phoenix, vs Portland and at Portland. If the Nuggets are still playing at a .667 winning clip after that slew of tough opponents, then we might be on to something special this season.
Denver Stiffs will remain vigilant in holding the coach, the players and the organization accountable based on this site's credo: they must care more about the outcome 0f each game than the fans do, or they'll end up on the Stiff List and lose our support. And of course, final judgment on Karl's future in Denver will be reserved for after the playoffs. But for the first time since Karl's initial campaign in Denver, I believe that he and the players are giving the effort we're paying them for.
Congratulations to Karl and the Nuggets on a great first quarter of the season. Keep it up and Go Nuggets!
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Really good team (Spurs, Nuggets, Celtics, Cavaliers, Hornets, Pistons) sometimes beat other really good teams.
We are much more contenders now than we were at any other point in the last 3 years, which i believe deserves some comendation.
That being said, the way the Lakers are playing, nobody but them should be considered contenders.
I hate the friggen Lakers.
And, i know this is a long way away, and truly a dream, but couldn't you see us winning a playoff series or two and really getting our confidence up and competeing with the Lakers in the conference finals? That's all i want for christmas.
by John on Dec 7, 2008 11:08 AM MST reply actions
George Karl has pretty much always had good teams to coach throughout his career, which results in an impressive regular season record. However, he can't seem to take these talented teams and mold them into post season contenders.
I believe that the Nuggets are currently winning despite George Karl, rather than because of him. This is an incredibly talented team, and should win a number of games just because of that. After a couple seasons, I still don't really know what Karl's system and philosophy is on either defense or offense, beyond a lot of switching and trying to get on a fast break.
I won't dwell on the lineup problems that you've already addressed (JR, AC, and Balkman mainly), but I think most people would agree that it hasn't been great.
I'm actually quite concerned that the fans are getting complacent, and accepting bizarre choices by the head coach (4 guards + Anderson???), as long as they continue to win easy games. The Denver media has always been suspect, but just because we are temporarily winning, doesn't mean we should stop scrutinizing the coach, or the players.
by Cessair on Dec 7, 2008 11:10 AM MST reply actions
by KaiserSoze on Dec 7, 2008 11:32 AM MST reply actions
As you said, Balkman's minutes situation is beyond any realm of possible explanation. He's been active whenever he's in the game and understands his offensive limitations - 3 out of 4 of his baskets are assisted (nearly 2x as many as dahntay jones, and also more than Birdman) meaning that he isn't going 1-on-1, but instead moving without the ball for layups. There is no good reason that he gets DNP-CDs.
My other Karl complaint is that he refuses to speak to JR Smith. The Sacramento commentators in the game last night were flabbergasted by this - "you mean when Smith goes in he sends an assistant down to tell him?"..."That's the most ridiculous thing i've heard"..."you don't have to like your players, but you have to talk to them"...and on and on.
While I don't think Smith is blameless in the slightest and I actually think that Karl's bring-smith-off-the-bench "strategy" has improved Smith's overall game now that he's getting out of his shooting funk, Karl needs to be the bigger person and at least be willing to coach the kid.
Last, the front office needs some credit, getting Billups was huge, getting Balkman for 2 people who were going to be cut was well done, and having the opporunity to upgrade the roster during the season if Kroenke ok's a spending increase.
A solid first quarter of the season - only 2 bad games (Lakers and Spurs at home - I can forgive the Hornets loss seeing as how if CP doesn't bank in a 35 foot 3 pointer from straight away the Nuggets probably hold on for the win) and 2 big wins on the road along with dominating teams that the Nuggets should beat all bodes well for the team improving. Especially considering that Melo's scoring is bound to increase.
by Eric B on Dec 7, 2008 11:40 AM MST reply actions
I think Chauncey's arrival has really made this team become a smarter and more efficient team that plays with structure. It lifts Karl and makes him want to coach again.
But if we lose in the first round again, he should go. So far, he's done a very good job.
- Snake -
by Anonymous on Dec 7, 2008 12:20 PM MST reply actions
by Goldennugget on Dec 7, 2008 2:10 PM MST reply actions
by Denverson on Dec 7, 2008 3:43 PM MST reply actions
Of course it's a very good start for the Nuggets, but I think, as you said, we are really going to know how good our Nuggets are in the next 2 weeks, when we face the Mavs, the Rockets and the Suns.
That's really going to give us more clues about our projected ranking for the post-season.
PS: I really think the Northwest division is going to be a really awesome battle between the Blazers, Jazz, and the Nuggets,I think the Northwest division championship is going to be decided by 1 or 2 games as much.
by Lucas Navarrete on Dec 7, 2008 3:57 PM MST reply actions
Think back to the Clippers game. If Camby would have nailed the three at the end-of-game buzzer we would have lost and just think of what we would have posted here.
I think the team has improved. We expect to see the Nuggets win against the poor performers.
Now here is my personal take and I want to be proved wrong.
The Nuggets bully lesser performing teams aka the Kings. The Nuggets beat and humuliated them sat night.
Against better teams they appear somewhat lifeless and diffident, The Spurs at home, Lakers, Hornets ( good try though ) Cavs ( I didn't catch that one ).
Here's hoping the Nuggets will win large and with class against teams strong and weak.
We will see here the next couple of weeks.
by markp on Dec 7, 2008 10:24 PM MST reply actions
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/dec/05/nuggets-report-dealing-jr/
It mainly details how Karl delegates talking with Smith to assistants. I think the most damning part is the following though:
'Karl said there are "some guys on the team I deal with less than I do with" Smith, 23, saying players he talks with the most generally are captains and veterans.'
I saw a related quote recently in regards to Balkman, in which Karl said he likes to talk to players after 20 games. Now maybe I'm naive, and other coaches behave in a similar fashion, but I don't see how a head coach can run a team effectively without regularly talking to all of his players. As the head of any organization, you can't expect to foster a sense of real teamwork if you pick out only certain individuals, and shun the rest.
by Cessair on Dec 7, 2008 11:08 PM MST reply actions
You had the nuggets 10-8 in nov and they finished 12-6, winning a couple games you thought they would lose(@celtics being won) and they were able to make up for the lose at GS during the transition period.
In december you have them at 8-7 and currently they are 2-1. Hopefully with chauncey they can do you 2 better again and go 10-5, that would be awesome!!
by james b.(seattle) on Dec 8, 2008 2:52 AM MST reply actions
And the second problem, is that with Karl we dont get any coaching advantage at all. No plays are called, no strategy, we don't exploit mismatches. Nothing, nada, zero, zilch. And you just can't contend/win well coached teams without those extra baskets/stops/possessions that an intelligent coach gives you. So we're going to keep losing matches with well rounded teams (Lakers, Utah, NOH, San Antonio) and we will probably get our first round exit again, with, probably one of the top 3 lineups in the league.
He's been better than last year, but sorry Andrew, I still think that Karl should be fired.
by Mario on Dec 8, 2008 4:58 AM MST reply actions
yeah. what he said...
a couple of things. if we begin to beat the san antonio, dallas, utah, and god forbid - the lakers, we have to own up to that kind of play night in and night out. it is a new kind of responsibility. but, it is responsibility. it is real and there is no walking away from it. as a child matures into adolescence, and then into adulthood, a child has to also become responsible. i was at the hornets game. at no time did we take control of that game. at no time were we responsible. but - after the spurs game, the nuggets might be ready to step up and be responsible. to mature. to win.
winning the games they should win is a great start. now, it is time for them to win the games they can win?
by Anonymous on Dec 8, 2008 8:51 AM MST reply actions
by grantarchy on Dec 8, 2008 8:55 AM MST reply actions
While it was good to clear playing time for Nene by trading Camby, it still bothers me that they couldn't at least get something for him. he may be overrated and injury prone but at least a back up forward would have been good. This trade is really going to backfire if Nene or Martin get hurt.
by Anonymous on Dec 8, 2008 10:39 AM MST reply actions
by Zachm219 on Dec 8, 2008 11:37 PM MST reply actions
by trasoul82 on Dec 9, 2008 5:21 AM MST reply actions
I'm as stoked as anyone about how this team has progressed this year, but before we get our hopes too high, let's see how we survive next weeks schedule when we have:
@Mavs
@Rockets (back-to-back)
Cavs
@Suns (back-to-back)
Winning two games that week will help demonstrate that this team is for real.
by JTR on Dec 9, 2008 6:12 AM MST reply actions
by Anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 10:02 AM MST reply actions
by samiam on Dec 9, 2008 10:35 AM MST reply actions
-ch
by Anonymous on Dec 9, 2008 1:59 PM MST reply actions
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