No way in telling of Malone and Cousins = Popovich and Duncan lol. People weren't certainly saying that last year when we only won 28 games..
After a 9-6 start with Cousins healthy, you've already predetermined that Cousin's relationship with Malone would be equal to that of a HOF coach and HOF player that's played together for 17seasons in the NBA?
15games vs 1,000+games, and you've decided the relationship between a player and their coach is =====?
This is really taking it a little far....
Malone is not a GOAT coach.. there are better coaches out there....... we will never know what could've happened, but comparing their relationship to Pop and Duncan?
I think we all got too excited about a 5-1 start..
I
was taking it that far. It
could have happened and it
could have not; now, we know that it
definitely will not happen -- which is my point.
It was
possible given the relationship between Malone and Cousins, if only Malone was given the chance to develop as a Head Coach. But remember, he could have also been a failed experiment too. But given his personality (subjectively based on interviews), he would have given his arms and legs to do what was best for the team, and that would be enough to say that he would
at least be a good head coach to DeMarcus for the next decade or so.
I'm not saying that we missed out on a GOAT coach nor a championship. We
could have missed out on those things -- we
could have missed out on the objective accomplishments similar to Pop's and Duncan's... but as you said, we will never know what could have happened... at least in terms of accomplishments. We
did miss out on what was
subjective -- the relationship between Malone and Cousins. Here is where the comparison really matters.
The duo of Malone and Cousins could have been great to watch for a decade. It would have (not
could have!) given the Kings a sense of identity similar to how Pop and Duncan gave an identity to the Spurs. And they had a good relationship, too! If you've been reading articles about the Kings, you would know that the duo really loved each other, like Wolverine-holding-a-picture loved. Given stability and identity, maybe we could have more of a foot in Free Agency, as evidenced by Rudy Gay's reasons to re-sign with Sacramento, albeit being one instance.
To those that say that objectivity makes winning teams: good teams click on both the objective and the subjective. The objective can be quickly attained by trades and Free Agency signings. It can also be attained over time by development. But the subjective is harder to find. If we only mind the objective, we would be punching at a ceiling for eternity, not knowing how to break through. Sure, we are at the ceiling... but we would be lucky break through (but definitely possible).
The finality with which I said my previous comment was politically incorrect, and you completely ripped the poopoo out of the fact that it was politically incorrect. Part of the comparison is true (subjectives), while the rest were up to Malone's development as a coach (objectives). It's hard to argue for Boogie's development, since he's just so freaky good already. And it would be painful to put disclaimers along with every comment I make.
But... talking about the past for the sake of talking about the past and for the sake of talking about what could have happened... isn't really healthy. So what can we get out of this, looking towards the future? It shows how the FO values its coaches, players, and staff: as instruments to fulfill the vision of NBA 3.0. It also gives that same impression to those that could potentially be a part of coaching, playing, and staff(ing?). Most importantly, it shows how the FO is committed to the objective and disregards the subjective. This is what we'll see going forward, barring change. And I really think they ought to think about the subjective more than they do right now.
And the "=="? I've been coding, didn't realize it.