The Case for Paul Westphal

by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Apr 24, 2009 1:44 PM PDT

Though TZ hasn't tossed Westphal's name into pool, it was reported that his name was buzzing around the King's offices yesterday, as reported by Amick on the radio this morning. Though I remember him as a player and coach, a quick Wikipedia shows why there might be some interest and even a connection to Sacramento.

He's 58 years old - Not too old, but old enough to deserve respect from the team.

He's a Californian - Born in So.Cal, Played at USC, Coached Pepperdine... not perfect but good.

Played 11 Years - 5 time All-Star, won a title, played in two NBA finals, 12K points scored (see first item re: respect)

Asst NBA Coach - for Cotton and Avery Johnson

Head Coach - Took Phoenix to playoffs in each year and one NBA final. Coached college. Returned to NBA with Sonics for couple years.

Front Office - currently in the Mavs front office.

Coached KJ - "the Mayor."

So When Petrie says: lots of NBA experience (11 years as a player) and experience as a head coach (7 plus seasons) and as a proven winner (5 playoff appearances and one NBA finals appearance)... is he thinking Westphal?

(This is a FanPost from a member of the Sactown Royalty community. The views expressed come from the member, and not Sactown Royalty staff.)

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Comments

Interesting

He certainly seems to fit the criteria. Something I’m more curious about, what is the knock against him? Is he at all interested in coaching again?

Never forget: I am a complete idiot

by Exhibit G on Apr 24, 2009 2:02 PM PDT reply actions

He was an offensive coach if I recall correctly.

A running offensive coach with a rep for no defense.

by mayfieldcol on Apr 24, 2009 2:24 PM PDT reply actions

You're thinking of ...

… the Guru of Go, Paul Westhead, now the women’s coach at Oregon. Westphal’s a different cat.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 24, 2009 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions

yep that's who I was thinking of when I saw the post heading

What do you think of Westphal TZ?

"We are in the business of kicking butt and business is very, very good." - Charles Barkley

by Bluejohn on Apr 24, 2009 3:00 PM PDT up reply actions

See below

by Tom Ziller on Apr 24, 2009 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow

I’m familiar with that Celtics-Suns game, but I didn’t realize how good a player he was. Three All-NBA teams is big.

Re: his coaching experience — when he took over Seattle, the defense seems to have fallen apart. The Phoenix teams were all stud offenses; the Finals team had a top 10 defense there, too. So, he’s a good offensive coach it seems, but maybe in the Eddie Jordan in terms of defense.

No red flags for me.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 24, 2009 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

an aside on Paul Westphal the player - which is not what this discussion is about

but I just can’t help it, as I was a big Westphal fan. Very athletic and the only truly ambidextrous player I have seen – dude could shoot jumpers with either hand and could drive equally well to either side as well. Gritty defender, and very in control personality. He has a championship ring with the Celtics (1974) and as a player was on the 1976 Suns team that made it to the Finals (and lost to the Celtics). he was all-NBA 3 times. He was one helluva stud as a player.

As a Coach, he had some of a knock for not getting his team to the next level – Champions. After not getting back to the Finals, like Westhead below, the Suns dismissed him. I recall the players (KJ included) not happy with the firing.

As for Paul Westhead – he was the Coach of those Loyola Marymount teams – Hank Gathers – and also Coached the Lakers to the 1980 Champs in a Final over the Dr. J and the Sixers, It was Magic Johnson’s rookie year and his stunning Game 6 performance as the Center with Cap’n (Kareem) injured. He was fired after the next season and the reins were given to Pat Riley.

by betweentheeyes on Apr 26, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions

hints...

Amick also said that Petrie said some potential candidates would not be contacted immediately because their teams were still in playoffs… Westphal meets that description too.

by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Apr 24, 2009 3:20 PM PDT reply actions

Sort-of

Westphal is an executive with Dallas now.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 24, 2009 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions

The No D tag

is sometimes misapplied. At their finest, the Kings didn’t have great points-against numbers, but were a better than serviceable defensive team within their scheme. Even more so the Lakers of the 80’s wouldn’t be remembered as all-time great defensive teams because they were Showtime. But they really were good defensively. Fast paced teams give up more points because there are more possessions per team (I think someone provided an excellent post on this subject not too long ago). This is the category I would put the Westphal teams in. I may be wrong about that, but not about this – a team does not have to be an agonizing half-court, ball control, give up mid-80’s per game style to be effective defensively.

All that being said, I would take Westphal to be a guy who needs a fast, quick drive-and-dish PG and some big finishers to operate his plan. Is that just because that’s what he had with the Mayor et al? Not sure.

by left hand on Apr 24, 2009 3:37 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Agreed and rec'd

Adelman had the rep of being a lousy defensive coach. Anyone watched Houston lately? So much for Rick not knowing defense.

This is in line with the conversation about Rubio and the Princeton offense. Great players adapt, but so do great coaches. Any coach worth his salt will tailor his system to his talent base. Mmm, salt…

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Apr 24, 2009 3:45 PM PDT up reply actions

different era...but

That 1992-93 Suns team was pretty good. 62-20, scored an average of over 113 per game and gave up 106 per game. Barkley was MVP and that team was cursed by “the shot” in the finals…

by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Apr 24, 2009 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions

Defense

I’m looking at the efficiency stats. I was 10 or 11 when the Suns went to the Finals. Going off data here, not memory.

It’s hard to judge the post-Karl Sonics because Kemp left before Westphal took over.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 25, 2009 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions

A lot of great offensive teams

Get stuck with the No D label, and I think it’s mostly because a highly efficient offense scores a lot, and quickly, so each team gets more posessions per game, leading to higher scoring on both sides.

Basically, it’s almost impossible to average scoring over 100ppg and allow an average of under 90ppg.

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Apr 26, 2009 11:31 AM PDT up reply actions

They don't call offensive and defensive efficiency for nuthin darlin

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 26, 2009 8:41 PM PDT up reply actions

I know

If you look at the statistical breakdowns, you get the whole picture. I’m talking about the commentators and “analysts” like Barkley who always called the high-octane Kings the worst defenders when it was absolutely not the case.

Coming to you live from the land of interim coaches.

by LeaguePassAddict on Apr 27, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Charles Barkley once read..

…I’m a dumbass off a teleprompter. Am I supposed to take the round mound of clown that seriously when he critiques a team?

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 27, 2009 12:01 PM PDT up reply actions

You could have made a living

Placing your bets the exact opposite of Barkley’s predictions on NBA games. Except when he was front-running for the Kobe/Shaq Lakers.

Ike Diogu - kicking ass and taking names since 4/13/09

by otis29 on Apr 27, 2009 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

I love that video

"Greed is the inventor of injustice as well as the current enforcer." - Julian Casablancas

by submison on Apr 27, 2009 3:56 PM PDT up reply actions

Bad Idea Jeans

Westphal took over in a tough spot at the end of the Sonics’ run, and I give him credit for his willingness to play young players and develop Rashard Lewis. Still, he hastened the end of the team’s run with his mismanagement. He inexplicably started Billy Owens (picked up, along with Olden Polynice, from the Kings — I’m sure I don’t have to tell you guys) over first Hersey Hawkins — who had started all 82 games the previous five seasons and never come off the bench in his life — and then Detlef Schrempf. Not only was Owens terrible and out of shape, it was a slap in the face to the team’s veterans.

Westphal also did poorly in terms of managing the team’s stars. Again, not an easy task, but he tried to coddle Gary Payton (who did not respect him at all) and went tough on Vin Baker (who crumbled mentally). By the time he was fired at the start of the 2000-01 season, there was little question he had lost the team.

I think Westphal has a pretty good eye for talent and is handy to have in a front office, but you don’t want him as your head coach.

by kpelton on Apr 24, 2009 4:08 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

do we reject every former head coach who had a bad run?

Pretty sure we aren’t getting Phil Jackson or Pop to come to Sacto… every other possible coach with head coaching experience had a bad run and got fired. Hell, Larry Brown had a bad run in NY. Sure, Seattle might have been a low point, and I will take your word that he might have handled that team poorly, but he had a lot of success in Phoenix.

Also not saying he’s the best candidate, but i am intrigued and posted because his candidacy hadn’t been mentioned here.

by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Apr 24, 2009 4:15 PM PDT up reply actions

Listening to Kevin Pelton is wise

The man is neither stupid nor dumb. I would not be surprised if TZ asked him to drop a comment in here about his Sonic days. In addition to having worked for the Sonics before they moved, he’s also a lifelong Sonics fan. I would suggest listening to Pelton’s opinion regardless of your feelings.

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 24, 2009 4:44 PM PDT up reply actions

did you read my reply?

“I wil take your word that he might have handled the team poorly…” I also said I was merely mentioning his potential candidacy since it hadn’t been mentioned before. Relax PG, its Friday, have a cocktail or three!

by longtimelistenerfirsttimecaller on Apr 24, 2009 5:24 PM PDT up reply actions

I wish

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 24, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions

I knew PAyton did not like Westphal

I am uncertain as to how our players would feel about him since we do not really have any stars. I trust Kpelton’s opinion more than my muddy recollection.

by mayfieldcol on Apr 24, 2009 9:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Kevin Pelton knows more about basketball than we do

And that’s not really my opinion. There’s a reason the guy is a respected writer for Basketball Prospectus too.

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 24, 2009 11:02 PM PDT up reply actions

Pretty daggum audacious

to utter the evil words “Billy Owens” in a critical draft season.

by left hand on Apr 24, 2009 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Sumtimez

a cuhwinkydink is just dat.

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 24, 2009 4:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I like my draft memory of Billy Owens -

Mitch Richmond.

SACTOWN ROYALTY - Try our thick creamy shakes!

by section214 on Apr 24, 2009 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions

He turned out okay didn't he?

Evil Cowtown Inc: Screwin' Suckaz over since Nineteen Eighty-Five.....

No mistakes in the tango, darling. Not like life. Simple. That's what makes the tango so great. If you make a mistake, and get all tangled up, you just tango on.....

by pookeyguru on Apr 24, 2009 8:59 PM PDT up reply actions

When Pelton talks ...

… I listen. Thanks, Kevin.

by Tom Ziller on Apr 25, 2009 1:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I have a feeling Lamibeer will be very good when he gets his chance

(I don’t think we can really afford to roll the dice again)

But I wonder if working with the ladies is not in a lot of ways very similar to having a very young team, building confidance, teaching… I hope that doesn’t sound too sexist and I know its an argument for our Monarchs coach as well (which I think would automatically eliminate him Maloof-wise) – but I have a an intuitive reaction that he will excell when he gets his chance.

Note: I hated that SOB when he was a player.

As I’ve said before though, the coaching debate is not one I’m willing to venture a strong opinion on, I just don’t know enough. I do think we need a veteran though barring a very very big splash with our draft picks.

So imitate the action of the tiger!.
- lend the eye a terrible aspect
and teach them how to war!
Henry V iii

by lietothegirls on Apr 27, 2009 9:58 AM PDT reply actions