The Irony/Bright Side For Paul Westphal Doubters

My icy pen will thaw

Just what kind of fan fiction are you writing?

Well, at least now we’ve got a nickname lined up if he quickly becomes terrible

Damn Global warming

I totally approve

that the coaching staff is just as if not MORE important than the Headcoach.

Just look at Chicago with VDN.
Solid coaching staff, weak headcoach, still made it to the playoffs and looked far better later in the season than earlier. Kind of the Reverse in Detroit with Curry even though they made the playoffs… if the staff around Curry had been better perhaps Detroit would have played up to it’s potential (also, who bets that the suitors for Iverson are few and far between?)

If we are able to land Elie and Porter on the staff with Westphal I will not be overjoyed at the thought of Westphal coaching the Kings, but I will be willing to let them see what they can do.

That is part of the beauty of getting an older cat like Westphal though, he has been around the league a LONG time, and I’m sure he has favors that he can cash in. With longtime assistants and people looking for a second chance (perhaps a Paul Silas-Type ((which actually describes T. Porter to a degree)) could be in the running here as well).

I’m also interested to see what they do with a Bigs coach. Any word on keeping ’Reef around another season to help with Hawes and Thompson?

I have a tough time not comparing his coaching record and career path to Rick Adelman. Although Adelman didn’t take any extended time off, both coaches were extremely successful in their first job and fell flat on their faces the second time around. Adelman obviously recovered to lead our Kings and the Rockets and in my opinion is the most underrated head coach in the game today. Westphal is still relatively young and has had success as both a player and coach. It’s not like Westphal hasn’t been around the game, coaching college and as an assistant/front office guy in Dallas.

Bringing in guys like Ellie and Porter would do a lot to bridge the gap for anything Westphal has missed out on while away from NBA. I would love to see these two guys teaching the Kings backcourt and swing positions the nuances of defense that made them so successful as players. If Westphal isn’t successful or decides to step away earlier than expected, you have two young head coach in waiting candidates already established. Porter isn’t going to get another head coaching gig anytime soon, Ellie needs to re-establish himself as a viable candidate after an odd fall from consideration. Both of these guys are better coaches than the Chuck Persons/Kenny Natts of the world. If Westphal can bring these guys with him then he becomes my new leading candidate.

Nothing wrong with Paul Westphal the coach. His record is impressive enough (W-L) and he has legit playoff experience. He is well known around the league and he is, by all accounts a very nice man and upstanding citizen. He was a full on All-Star as a player. Though there are negative comments, there is significant and noteworthy praise from some significant people (Danny Ainge, Charles Barkley, Kevin Johnson, etc.). Geoff Petrie obvious likes him (or why interview him).

The problem is the way this has been presented: That Paul Westphal is a bargain hunting prize with the Kings showing no interest in big ticket names as alternative candidates.

If handled better, Paul Westphal would have already met the excited approval of (this) the fan base or at the least a lack of dissent or a vote of no confidence. This fan base deserves some foreplay – cajole, titillate, put on some make up – instead of a “here’s 5 bucks, spread’em” presentation.

and if, hired, I hope he’d follow through. Still, this is a red flag to me barring more info:

Interestingly, he spent very little time around the team and was based in Los Angeles. I have yet to find out why that was the case.

What was he doing in LA while working in Dallas’ front office?