Golden Nuggets: The missing quiet man...
by Jeffrey Morton on May 13, 2011 8:00 AM MDT
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When the Nuggets were eliminated from the first round of the playoffs, many were critical of the coaching that unfolded before our eyes in regards to George Karl. Could this season's playoff travails be partly due to one unexpected missing source?
The events of last summer that transpired in the Nuggets organization were troubling to those in Nuggets Nation who witnessed it. The erstwhile Executive of the Year Mark Warkentien was on his way to having his contract not renewed by then owner (well - he still technically is) Stan Kroenke. Meanwhile an already dysfunctional Front Office situation (with Vice President Rex Chapman and "adviser" Bret Bearup) was mired in an "every man for himself" situation and very nearly nothing got done. Multiple botched attempts at trades were made - and veto's were handed down from above. A very late addition of Al Harrington (Wark's revenge?) did very little to improve the roster that was already panicked over the impending and seemingly inevitable departure of Carmelo Anthony. Then, in August, Wark was let go...
...and out the door with him went long time George Karl assistant coach Tim Grgurich. The Nuggets' father figure assistant coach.
Seemingly upset for what he perceived as an injustice done to Warkentien, Grg (as he is known) packed his bags and became a "coaching consultant" with the Dallas Mavericks. Relatively insignificant right? Assistant coaches leave all the time. No big deal. However, Grg seemed to play an integral part in speaking where Karl couldn't. Coaxing where Karl has bluster. Most importantly he was a close coaching confidant to both J.R. Smith and Anthony.
Where Wark was known to have close relationships with some players (he was known to shield Melo and J.R. from other elements in the Front Office) Grg was the guy who these player were able to talk to, and in some cases be coached by. J.R. in particular had a close relationship with Grgurich and seemed to miss his ability to communicate with him in the playoffs. Since I've been under the weather the last couple days, I've taken it upon myself to re-watch every game of the OKC series. It seems to me (in hindsight) that J.R. seriously missed Grg's calming counseling in both Game 2 and Game 5. I'm not saying that they would have won those games (particularly Game 2) yet it can't be understated that Grg was able to calm J.R. down when he was spiraling. It was very clear that Karl and J.R.'s relationship is such that there would be buffer between them.
What does this all mean? Well, I guess we can surmise that the right assistant coaches make a difference. As we watch the Dallas Mavericks march forward in the playoffs - it's a bit strange to see Grgurich walking out on the court with the other assistant coaches, counseling Jason Terry and Tyson Chandler much in the same way he did J.R. and Melo. You can see a tangible difference in the demeanor of both players as they listen to what Grg has to say.
What if the Nuggets had that as they played the Thunder? Would have been nice. In the meantime I wish Tim Grgurich the best of luck with the Mavs. I'm rooting for them (especially if OKC makes it to the Western Conference Finals).
On with the links!
Sources: NBA delayed hard cap in offer - Marc Stein, ESPN.com
Marc Stein reports that the owners latest proposal to the NBAPA included a "delayed" hard cap for three seasons down the road.
Los Angeles Lakers' very interested in Rick Adelman - Marc Stein and Dave McMenamin, ESPN.com
In a report that is sure to make Denver Stiff's reader and frequent commenter Throwitdownbigmanthrowitdown's head explode - apparently the Lakers are interested in Rick Adelman for head coach.
It's Heat and Bulls in the Eastern Conference Finals - Chicago Tribune
Well, it looks like the city of Cleveland's worst nightmare is coming true. I hope for a very competitive ECF this time.
Memphis rallying around Grizzlies' postseason run - USA Today
Flood-ravaged Memphis is rallying around the Grizzlies this post season. Make that the entire country outside of Oklahoma City. GO GRIZ!
Have a great morning everyone!
Email: mortonagency@juno.com
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was wondering where he went to
A lot of the times it honestly seemed like He was our coach… GK would just wonder off and let Grg do the talking… watching the griz and OKC playoffs… it makes GK’s coaching downfalls even more glaring… these coaches really coach their players calm them down talk to them… GK just bench and forget… I know i know professional athletes… but Basketball is different these are young young adults that seem to get at war with everyone… mainly a bad call against them sends them reeling… this is why you need someone that will calm them down run good plays for them to get their confidence up… and GK doesn’t none of this… and btw FIRST?
was it torcher?
re-watching the OKC series?
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
not really....
made me realize how close the series was. Gave me hope actually
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
DenverStiffs.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78
by Jeffrey Morton on May 13, 2011 10:33 AM MDT up reply actions
Not to worry
that hope will be extinguished soon. When Adelman is coaching the Lakers to titles and Karl is coaching a team that doesn’t make the playoffs.
Formerly KS and CS
by ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown on May 13, 2011 12:00 PM MDT up reply actions
shit, thursty'd
SMH. feel like an idiot
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
Funny or Die actually made something kind of funny with a fake Kobe Bryant interview. Check it out here.
Nate_Timmons on Twitter
DenverStiffs.com
This is going to sound Crazy
But I think I was sitting next to Stanley Kroenke at Fantastic Sam’s (In DTC off of Arapahoe and Yosemite)
The guy looks like him, dressed nice wearing some powder blue Nikes….
MOZGOD Member #35
damn
a billionaire gettin his hair cut at fantastic sams. crazy.
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
Well, he does own Wal Mart
and shops there….so
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say it's playoffs or bust"- J. Hammel
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Warren Buffet lives in the same tiny house he bought decades ago
He probably gets his hair cut at Fantastic Sams, too
by Artimus Mangilord on May 13, 2011 2:58 PM MDT up reply actions
true, buffet lives modestly
didnt he purchase the house for like $30k in the 60s. if i ever become rich, i hope i have the smarts to live like him.
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
No way man, make it raaaaaaain!
and don’t forget about us stiffs! Share a little of that cheddar. Hell, buy the Nuggets!
by Artimus Mangilord on May 13, 2011 3:55 PM MDT up reply actions
Also, since we know that the NBA may or may not be corrupt...
If you have enough money, you could probably buy your way into being David Stern’s successor.
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Sometimes I get this crazy dream, that I could just drive off in my car. But you can travel over ten thousand miles, and still stay where you are" - Harry Chapin
nice write up
Noticed you wrote Mark Chapman instead of Rex though. I think “ILL WiLL” may have benefitted the most in the playoffs had Grg been here. He seemed to completely dissappear on “O” and while his “D” was alright it was not enough to stop the Thunder completely. Would Grg have helped us make more free throws?
by InboundingLobPass on May 13, 2011 2:10 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Good point on Chandler
He would have benefitted from someone there to calm his nerves.
by Artimus Mangilord on May 13, 2011 2:58 PM MDT up reply actions
DOH!
I swear to god I don’t think Rex shot John Lennon….geh
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
DenverStiffs.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78
by Jeffrey Morton on May 13, 2011 6:19 PM MDT up reply actions
So all in all, Grg is the key and we need to hire him back.
Works for me.
Great piece Jeff!
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say it's playoffs or bust"- J. Hammel
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Iunno. I'm hopin'
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say it's playoffs or bust"- J. Hammel
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
probably not
he was close to Wark and quit because Wark was let go. Doubt he’d come back even for his good friend George Karl.
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
DenverStiffs.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78
by Jeffrey Morton on May 13, 2011 6:20 PM MDT up reply actions
So we need a person who can contain and keep our band of knuckleheads relaxed. Hopefully we can get him back or someone like that..
Optimism, pessimism, F*CK THAT; we're gonna make it happen. As God as my bloody witness, I'm hell-bent on making it work.
"I heard Hank Bauer tell the pitcher not to walk this guy.Then on the first pitch he threw me, I hit a home run over centerfield over the fense"
"That was the easy part, the hard part was running around the bases"
"I'll be mistaken, but I'll never be wrong"- Charles Barkley
"What the hell is going on out there???"
hmmm....
lionel hollins starts OJ Mayo to get more floor spacing and better perimeter shooting on the floor….
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
LOL
I see where you’re going with this.
by Artimus Mangilord on May 14, 2011 1:10 PM MDT up reply actions
I know Lionel actually adjusts and forces
Brooks to make moves against him. Karl didn’t try anything new.
Also I am not pissed that JR didn’t start b/c he is the usually the best player on the bench for either team (yes he is way better than Harden if he is utilized effectively). I am more pissed that he only gets played 6 minutes in an important game while people of equal value to their respective teams (Harden and Mayo) average more than 25 min.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 14, 2011 1:15 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
So who is rooting for the Grizz with me
I am pumped up, it’s almost as if the Nuggets are playing in a game 7.
I want to see Westbrook, Thunder boy, and the fat man cry.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 12:55 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Go Grizzlies1
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say it's playoffs or bust"- J. Hammel
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
man nick collison
kinda guy u hate to play against but would love to have on your team. maynor too, perfect backup PG.
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
Boo OKC :(
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say it's playoffs or bust"- J. Hammel
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Refs screwed Grizz in game 4
This would be the Grizz going to WCF if refs hadn’t screwed them over. It should have been the Grizz winning game 4 by a ton of points. This is also without Rudy Gay.
Im rooting for Dallas b/c OKC relies too much in the refs and they act way too cocky. I like Durant but the rest of them are annoying.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 4:28 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Wow the battle of racist cities
In OKC vs. Dallas. Still want Dirk to torch Collison and Ibaka though. It is crazy they have fans who follow a sport that mostly features black players as the best.
Of course, those bball fans are a minority in those cities, but I would prefer a bball team in Seattle to OKC just cuz they would appreciate their bball team much more.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 4:32 PM MDT via mobile reply actions
Dallas is more racist
I know that the several Oklahomans that I know don’t represent all of the 4 million Oklahomans in America, but the ones that I know are pretty cool and moderate people.
I’ve been to Dallas, and many people there make racist jokes without thinking twice.
"I really didn't want it, but now that I've won it, it's nice. It's an honor. It's nice to know people don't think you're a total idiot. ... It must have been a poor year for coaches." - Doug Moe...talking about winning 1987-88 Coach of the Year award.
"Sometimes I get this crazy dream, that I could just drive off in my car. But you can travel over ten thousand miles, and still stay where you are" - Harry Chapin
Yeah I am generalizing big time
But the people in OKC and Dallas are more racist than people in most other US cities for sure.
I don’t know why the Thunder rub me the wrong way, maybe it’s because they are classless with their 3 PT shooting at the end of blowout games, or the way the refs bail them out all the time. They are becoming the new spurs in terms of help from the refs. If they could win a game without help from the refs I would appreciate them a bit more. Don’t get me wrong the team is aggressive, but when the other team is aggressive and doesn’t get calls it pisses me off a ton.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 5:32 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Memphis FTA (series): 210
OKC FTA (series): 206
Denver FTA (series): 180
OKC FTA (series): 172
They rub you the wrong way because you’re a sore loser. Look at that FT discrepancy! Wow. The NBA is sure getting Stern’d.
Hey welcome back, toolbag!
Denver drives the lane 36% more than the thunder, but welcome to your delusional euphoric state! Keep dreaming because it’s oh-so-pleasant! Also justin, whenever you want to shut your stupid mouth (and I mean fingers), please feel all too free to do so. You will appear a lambasted retard if you come on here claiming egregious treatment of the thunder in our series. Thanks for playing, and thanks for reminding me of the wonderful OKC trolls that lurk in the shadows. I could never have imagined rooting so hard for the Mavericks.
"All you fuckers who think we won't be good anymore, fuck you" - GK
by love4nuggets on May 16, 2011 1:24 AM MDT up reply actions
If you watch the games
They definitely get bailed out when they are getting blown out. Egregious calls in game 1 of the Nugs vs. Thunder series and the phantom calls in game 4 of the Grizz series were really ridiculous.
If the refs got the call right in game 1 of the Nugs series, who knows the outcome. Don’t try to pull out this FT for the series stat, that can be inflated by 10 point leads with a minute left and both teams just foul.
In reality, the Thunder should have been blown out to the Nuggets in game 1 or Grizz in game 4 if it weren’t for the refs. I am sure the Grizz would have won the series if they hadn’t been Stern’d as you say.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
Amen.
"All you fuckers who think we won't be good anymore, fuck you" - GK
by love4nuggets on May 18, 2011 8:29 PM MDT up reply actions
Just checking in, Stiffs
Seems like it’s been ages since our series, now we’re going to the Western Conference Finals. I thought Memphis was worse than the Nuggets, I still think you guys are better, but the Thunder had more trouble closing games against the Grizz for some reason.
Big game for Reggie Miller tonight. I thought I saw him finish a couple alley oops in traffic. Never seen Reggie do that before.
i thought we were better than the grizz
but from what we seen in the playoffs, memphis was a better team than us. they pushed OKC to the lmit.
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
So the Grizz push OKC to seven games and we can't even win two?
You kidding me? Karl is such a moron.
Hyperboles kill.
There is no such thing as a "George Karl fan;" there are Karl apologists, and those who realize he should be fired.
http://twitter.com/#!/24kGoldenChild
KARLSUCKS
let's go nuggets! who u wit?
2011 Offseason Pickups: Trade Felton and Harrington
firegeorgekarl.com
That's what we get
…for trading melo for a smorgasboard of turdburgers and dickshakes.
I thought they were crappy
But those guys we got are young and can ball, (as evidenced by 18-8 run), the problem is Karl didn’t know which lineups to put into the game to maintain a lead. You must not have been watching the Nuggets recently if you think the players we got sucked.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 7:11 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Also we were forced to trade Melo
And I think we did really well for that.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 7:11 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
maybe so...
but you give the players too much credit. A run is a run but the weaknesses are there. Nene is amazing, Afflalo ok, everyone else should be traded up in a 2 for 1 to get someone that can really ball. Karl was awful but in the end Gallo and chandler missed a lot of shots and Lawson/Felton let us down.
The trade was supposed to be for the future
And they surprised everybody by doing well.
I think the main guys from those trade are Gallo and Moz. I dont know about Chandler, he is talented but has a weird mental thing going on. I wouldn’t mind if he left, but if JR is gone then I hope we keep Chandler.
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 9:19 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Get rid of felton, chandler and JR imo.
Who is on the market this offseason? I guess the CBA will be the biggest unknown but I’d love to see Dwill in a nugs uniform lol. I think we could use ibaka well too isnt he off contract? imagine ibaka and birdman patrolling the paint! whack!
I think the best option though would be to try and nab jason richardson and greg oden! both are a gamble but it could pay off going forward if we manage to put the pieces in place and oden can stay healthy. He is a dominate big man in the making. Maybe battier if we could get him from the grizz?
i can't fathom why Koufos didn't get a single minute of PT during the entire series
Is it just a power thing that any coach “has” to use to get the players to listen & Obey? Seems like we could have used his size inside against Iblocka. Time will tell, but I think some of the players we got in the trade will turn out to be craptastically delicious instead of turdburgerly revolting.
by InboundingLobPass on May 15, 2011 7:34 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
We're seeing the same thing with Spoelstra and Thibedeau
Spo played freakin’ Jamaal Magloire significant minutes in Game 1 because he wanted to “go small.” Look at how that backfired on him. Also similar to Karl, the Heat don’t run a very structured offense and look how bad it got exposed tonight against a team that does.
Coaching matters so much in he NBA it’s not even funny. Karl just looks like a joke more and more I watch the playoffs.
Hyperboles kill.
There is no such thing as a "George Karl fan;" there are Karl apologists, and those who realize he should be fired.
http://twitter.com/#!/24kGoldenChild
by GoldenNugget on May 15, 2011 8:28 PM MDT up reply actions
Also, look at the matchup problems that surfaced
Wade should have been on Rose the entire game, but instead he had Bibby and Chalmers and he exposed the hell out of them, which is what we’ve seen happen to the Nuggets for years when guys like AC guard Kobe.
It’s the little things that matter in the Playoffs, and Karl doesn’t believe in the “little things.” That’s why he’s so unsuccessful in the post season.
Hyperboles kill.
There is no such thing as a "George Karl fan;" there are Karl apologists, and those who realize he should be fired.
http://twitter.com/#!/24kGoldenChild
by GoldenNugget on May 15, 2011 8:31 PM MDT up reply actions
Our Free throws shooting and play calling at the end of games sucked
JR sign somewhere else, so we can get a guy who is not so Bi-polar.
Trade Chandler and Felton for another shooter.
by SD_Nugget_Fan on May 15, 2011 8:45 PM MDT up reply actions
The FT shooting
Was b/c of Nene, and I dont know what happened to him. He will come around, but I might not see bball for a while, and I am slowly accepting that reality. Go Mavs and go Bulls!!
Gotta love the haterz. Keep that hate a comin'
by JR15 on May 15, 2011 9:21 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
OT: Suns president reveals he's gay.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=6553603
He revealed this to Stern the day before Kobe made his gay slur comments.
Just thought this was interesting and what does it mean to the NBA
"I think I speak for everyone in here when I say it's playoffs or bust"- J. Hammel
Orig.Thugget Loyalist #4, UNugg #4, QPU Emeritus, Proud member PR Gynocracy
Read that
Good for him. I hope this leads to more…
and Kobe? Punk.
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
DenverStiffs.com
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78
by Jeffrey Morton on May 15, 2011 10:14 PM MDT up reply actions
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