Chris Paul’s Disciples: Intro

The NBA is full of players who possess the gift of making others around them better. Whether discussing Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo, Jason Kidd, or Chris Paul, the NBA is chalk full of lead guards that are capable of leading a team to greatness.

But leadership is made up of several factors—many of which are not directly basketball-related.

D'Antoni Remains the Lakers Biggest Problem

Three wins is three wins. Especially this season. A season in which the Lakers have struggled to win.

It’s been beautiful to watch Kobe “Magic Bean” Bryant dish like he’s on Real Houswives. It’s terrific that the Lakers had 34 assists on 39 made buckets Tuesday night against the Hornets. It’s been exciting to see the Lakers actually look like a team that gives a damn.

That said, Mike D’Antoni is still the wrong coach for this team, and all of his flaws and all of the Lakers flaws will be exposed if the Purple and Gold can indeed pull themselves into the playoffs.

D’Antoni is the wrong coach because he isn’t a coach at all. He’s an ideologist with a philosophy. A missionary with a religion. He’s more Plato, than PATFO. More Billy Graham than Bill Self.

D’Antoni preaches “ball finds energy” and like a backwoods fundamentalist refuses to stray from that dogma. Instead of trying to figure out ways to put his players in situations that provide energy for them, to put them in situations that compliment their skillsets (a la Popovich), he instead clings to his overly simplistic mantra.

Remember the Alamo: SA Spurs 12-13 Preview (Pt. 2)

The ultimate success of this season hinges upon how far the youth have developed.

Because there were no major offseason additions, the 2012-13 Spurs will be expecting improvement from within. There is a fine symmetry in the way the roster has been constructed by R.C. Buford. Players still on rookie contracts have been and/or are being integrated into the Spurs culture under the veteran leadership of Popovich, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobili.