Lakers fire Mike Brown. Who will be new Lakers Coach.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: Here's the short list of the names being tossed around for the job.

Lakers hire Mike D'Antoni has head coach after they can't land Phil Jackson.

HoopsVibe's Very Quick Call: This is a horrible decision that will not end well. I feel like I'm watching the movie John Carter in slow motion. 

#10 Wrong System. D'Antonio's system did not work in New York with the Knicks where he went 121- 167. These are not the kind of numbers the Lakers are aiming for.

#9 Egos. D'Antonio does not handle big ego players well. He never had to deal with this in Phoenix and struggled with it in New York. He will drown in egos in Los Angeles and be fired by the end of the year. 

#8 No Game Plan. It only makes sense to fire Mike Brown after 5 games if you already have a contract in place with Phil Jackson. Since Jackson was not already locked up to coach, this instead looks like Laker management is in a panic. They will really be in a panic when D'Antoni's system takes weeks and months to implement and then realize it's a horrible fit.

#7 Track Recrod. D'Antoni does not have a history of winning big games. He doesn't have any rings nor has he really ever come close. This season will be no different. He failed in Phoenix, he failed in New York, and this season with the most high-powered offense in the league he will fail again.

#6 Horrible Defense. The Lakers have one of the worst defenses in the league right now. This is largely why they are losing. Mike D'Antoni is famous for having teams that guard no one. He is not a defensively minded coach. Be prepared to watch the Lakers give up a lot of 3 diget scoring nights this season.

#5 Jery Sloan. Although I don't think Sloan is a good fit for the Lakers, he is a better fit than D'Antoni. At least Sloan's offense fits the existing Laker personnel and he brings a tough-minded approach to defense the Lakers drastically need. 

#4 Brian Shaw. How is Brian Shaw not getting this coaching gig? If Phil Jackson is your number 1 option, Brain Shaw should logically be your number 2. They believe in the same offensive flow. Shaw coached under Jackson in LA and understands the triangle offense and has the respect of most of the existing players. Shaw should be the Laker's coach not D'Antoni.

#3 No Youth and Quickness. D'Antni's system is based on players that are fast up and down the court and quick on and off the ball. I don't know when anyone ever called Dwight Howard, Pau Gasol, and Metta World Peace quick. 

#2 Wrong Players. Mike D'Antonio has his old point guard back in Steve Nash, but the problem is this is not a fast break team. This is not a run-and-gun team. They have big men that are built more for pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop. Even straight post-ups or some type of triangle offense would be more appropriate for this team. D'Antoni has the wrong group of guys for his system.

#1 Wrong System. Mike D'Antonio's up-tempo style of ball is not conducive to the Laker's personnel. This is a horrible match. His style of offense does not fit the players the Lakers are paying $100 million to have on the floor. This will not end well.

Charles Barkley once said, “I may be wrong, but I doubt it.” How is it like to live the life of the most hated person in any community? This sounds like a good tag line for a film. This was once held by Carlos Boozer who was rumored to milk injuries. Deron was the sweetest angel you can ever find. How things done changed. D-Wills is rocking the New Jersey Nets jersey? What, I don’t even…let me stomach this for a bit.

Sources close to the organization are claiming that longtime Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan has decided to retire and will make an announcement to that effect at a press conference later today. News of Jerry Sloan retiring will come as a shock to NBA observers for many reasons, not least of which is the fact that just three days ago he signed a one-year contract extension. At present no further details are available, although we will, of course, update this space as more information comes in.

Jerry Sloan declared "I'm not looking for another job" when he resigned in February as Utah's coach after 23 seasons there, but he hasn't necessarily retired for good.

Sloan would listen if another team approached him, according to a source who has spoken to Sloan recently, and would seriously consider the right situation. But he won't actively seek another job or have anyone campaign for him. Almost alone among NBA coaches, Sloan, who turned 69 a week ago, doesn't have an agent.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: Perhaps Todd Smith, known to the masses as Ladies Love Cool James, put it best: ‘don’t call it a comeback. I’ve been here for years’.

On the surface, LL Cool J and Jerry Sloan have nothing in common. Like that iconic line from Momma Said Knock You Out, Sloan reportedly has interest in returning to what he has done for years.

(Come on, man ...)

Of course, the veteran coach stepped away from the Utah Jazz earlier this year. The Salt Lake City sideline had been home for 20 plus seasons.

There were rumors about why he left: some said he was burnt out; some said he was tired of his situation; some speculated that superstar point guard Deron Williams had become too much too handle.

Whatever the case, Sloan is interested in returning from his temporary hiatus. Not making a comeback.

But would Sloan’s shtick succeed with another team?

Utah seemed the perfect fit. Sloan had the unconditional support of ownership. Until Williams, players either got in line or got out. Such an approach might fail in another market with established stars or superstars.  

So a comeback –sorry a return- may not happen, even if Sloan has been coaching for years. This is a reflection on the sad state of the NBA, not on Sloan.

--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.

Deron Williams began informing associates after last season that if Amar'e Stoudemire wound up in New York, he would follow him there as a free agent in 2012, according to sources.

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Jerry Sloan resigned as head coach of the Jazz after several clashes with Deron Williams. Sloan and Williams clashed at halftime of Wednesday's loss to the Bulls. At least two members of the Jazz feared Sloan and Williams would physically fight, but the confrontation ended before reaching that point.

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HoopsVibe’s Very Quick Call: There’s some mystery surrounding Jerry Sloan’s departure from the Utah Jazz.

There shouldn’t be. Here’s what we know: the old school sideline boss and new school table-setter Deron Williams didn’t click. They never did, either.

Consider that Sloan rarely played Williams during his rookie year. Sloan had no issue publicly stating that his power point guard would never measure up to or equal his former point guard in John Stockton.

Bottom line: Sloan refused to appease and pamper Williams like so many coaches and organizations do today with their superstars. 

Williams felt slighted by his coach. For some time he had been miffed by the Jazz’s penny-pinching ways, and this once again spilled over Wednesday evening in an ugly confrontation.

Who knows if Sloan and Williams really wanted a piece of each other?

Sloan, even in his mid-sixties, isn’t someone you’d cross. Fortunately, Williams won’t have to. The superstar and free agent to be in 2012 won the war against his veteran coach.

Of course, you can’t help but feel something has changed with Sloan’s resignation. The last of a dying breed is gone.

Williams may be better after Sloan’s departure. But are the Jazz?
 
--Oly Sandor.

Got thoughts? Well, get at HoopsVibe News in the comment box below.