NBA Coach Rankings: 21. Lawrence Frank

Courtesy Mike Prada at SBN's NBA mothership:

"The onetime New Jersey Nets coach is back with the Detroit Pistons, and I'm curious to see what he learned from serving as Doc Rivers' lead assistant in Boston. Prior to that stint, Frank was a tireless worker and innovative thinker, but maybe didn't have the motivational skills of some of his colleagues. He will need to brush up on those in Detroit, a team with some veterans who are difficult to prod."

Ranking a coach who's yet to hold his first practice is difficult and arbitrary, but until proven otherwise, this looks about right to me. That said, I can't help but notice how far Frank lags behind Flip Saunders (15), Avery Johnson (18) and Rick Carlisle (2). Thanks Joe Dumars!

6 months ago Matt Watson 6 comments 0 recs |

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I don't think firing Carisle was a mistake

That netted us a championship, and while he’s proven to be a top notch coach that can win today, I don’t think he could have controlled Sheed to the degree that LB did. Not to mention Tay played a huge role in those plays and Rick didn’t seem to like playing him very much.

Firing Flip was a massive mistake; for the losses it’s cost us, we should have just traded Rip then.

Without a doubt, squats are a cure for everything.

by bearded thundar on Aug 22, 2011 9:25 AM EDT reply actions

*plays = 03-04 playoffs

Without a doubt, squats are a cure for everything.

by bearded thundar on Aug 22, 2011 9:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Arbitrary rankings lists!

Yes! I was hoping SB Nation was going to be more like Bleacher Report.

At least it’s better than overseas rumors.

(F*cking lockout.)

by TDP on Aug 22, 2011 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

All things considered, I don’t think Frank was a bad hire…

I do think, though, that if any other team in the NBA had hired him, Pistons fans wouldn’t be quick to rank him much higher than this.

I’m anxious to see how Monroe (eventually) plays under Frank’s tutelage. I’m also curious to see Knight/Stuckey. Harris and Lopez both played better under Frank than they’ve been lately.

Twitter

by brgulker on Aug 22, 2011 8:06 PM EDT reply actions

Not to mention Nenad Krstc, who played balls out under Frank until an injury, and has more or less sucked since then.

Unbelievable Time distortion space is the place Mean Gene Okerlund go down that lonesome highway but don't be hypnotized no- reincarnation doesn't have to be you can concentrate and you can-mental telepathy YEAH! But the beat goes on.

by SpursfanSteve on Aug 22, 2011 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Agreed on all fronts. Another (partial) year of Stuckey— and we might see the best out of him under Larry Frank. Harris’ explosion under Frank was pretty remarkable, given what he did with Avery Johnson. I wonder if, alternately, Deron Williams will decline under a year of Avery Johnson.

"Mike Payne is a walking-talking-hate-spewing-fire-breathing example of how exactly NOT to use supposed "statistical" analysis in the game of basketball."

by Mike Payne on Aug 22, 2011 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions