Expectations are a funny thing. Just a year ago the Golden State Warriors were happy to be in the playoffs for just the second time in 19 years. They were seen as an up-and-coming team with a bright future. Led by young head coach Mark Jackson, these Warriors then went on to win 51 games this year and are now battling for their playoff lives tonight against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Then why are rumors continuing to persist that Jackson will not be manning the sideline for Golden State next season? Does it make any sense? What are the reasons that some are drawing this conclusion? Let’s check it out below.
Just a few short years ago Jackson took over a Warriors team that was coming off a 36-56 campaign and hadn’t won finished .500 or better in each of the previous three seasons. He did so without any prior coaching experience and with a tremendous amount of question marks, especially after having been hand picked by Golden State’s new ownership group.
Jackson proceeded to lead the Warriors to just 20 wins in a strike-shortened 2011 – 2012 campaign, finishing 20 games under .500. More questions were raised at that time about his ability to transition from the broadcast booth to the sideline.
The young head coach then quieted the critics by leading Golden State to a surprising 47 – 35 record last season, upsetting the third-seeded Denver Nuggets in the first round before taking the San Antonio Spurs to six games in a hard-fought conference semifinal matchup. Expectations increased in the offseason with the addition of former All-Star forward Andre Iguodala and emergence of all-everything guard Stephen Curry.
Despite winning 51 games, which represented the most for Golden State since 1991 – 1992, more questions were raised about Jackson’s coaching ability. The Warriors dropped some important home games to questionable opponents and simply couldn’t close out some games. That likely cost Golden State the Pacific Division title and home-court in its first-round matchup with the Los Angeles Clippers.
In the backdrop of all this, Jackson parted ways with two assistant coaches during the regular season, citing philosophical issues. It’s also being reported that he doesn’t have the best of relationship with the powers to be in Oakland.
Then you have this…
Consensus around league is it is very unlikely for Jackson to be back next season in GSW barring long playoff run.
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) April 29, 2014
For a team that had made the playoffs just once in the near two decades prior to Jackson taking over, this development is rather interesting. As I indicated before, expectations can either be good or bad for a coach and his team.
With Golden State looking to stave off elimination tonight in Game 6 against the Clippers, Jackson could very well be manning the sideline for the last time as its head coach. Common sense seems to indicate that the only way Jackson returns in 2014 – 2015 is if the Warriors make a long playoff run. That would take a series win against the Clippers and likely a run to the Western Conference finals. At this point, especially with Andrew Bogut sidelined, that seems to be unrealistic.
The question now becomes who Golden State might target in the offseason and whether that guy is going to be an upgrade over Jackson. After all, he’s its most successful head coach since Don Nelson’s first stint with the franchise.
For the sake of owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber as well as general manager Bob Myers, either Jackson takes the team deep into the playoffs by winning these next two games or they find an upgrade. If not, we could very well be looking at yet another stretch of long seasons in Oakland before the team moves to San Francisco. Why not find a way to work with a man that has led your franchise to straight postseason appearances? That I will never understand.
Photo: Kyle Terada, USA Today