Since everyone else is giving their opinions,I'll give mine. If the Cats win the NC this year (I believe they will), I think it's almost a sure thing he's gone. If they don't I still think there's a very good chance he'll leave. It's almost guaranteed Blatt won't be back coaching Cleveland next season. In fact, I thought Blatt was a strange hire to begin with. It's almost as if he was hired for one year to hold the job for someone that would be available next season. Given his ego, I think Cal would like to prove he can be successful in the NBA. I also think Cal would like to coach his friend, LeBron. LeBron is well respected by his peers, and would be able to act as a liason between Cal and the other players on the team. There you have it, my opinion which isn't worth anything to anyone except myself.
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Philippians 4:11-4:13 -
Cal would have to really change his sideline demeanor to be successful in the NBA. Cal gets entrenched in the game as much as any coach I've ever seen. He's like me in my living room.
You can't do that in the NBA. I heard a discussion once on talk radio--this has been probably five years ago now, which tells you how long we've been talking about Cal going to the NBA--that one of the main things that drove Cal back to college was that he got on a player when he was with the Nets, and Jordan was playing. As Cal yelled at the player, Jordan openly mocked Cal on the court by laughing at him. Apparently Cal mentioned that to reporters when he got to Memphis, so it must have been a big deal to him.
He'd have to change his methods big time. You can't be yelling and screaming like he does with pros. You'd never make it. This is why you see the NBA hiring nondescript, vanilla kinds of personalities like Steve Kerr. The era of the Showtime Lakers and Pat Riley is long gone.Comment
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The other thing, and the most important one, is that friendships are a thing of the past when you start trying to tell Lebron what to do. IF they are buddies, then that would change quickly as soon as Cal looked at him, or Kyrie Irving, the wrong way.
I think although Calipari is a complete nut when it comes to his work ethic, it would still be a tough change of pace to go back to 2 and 3 game cross-continental trips. He has as much of a home life as a college coach as John Calipari could ever have.
I am worried that his children have moved away, but that would have happened at Memphis too, I think.Comment
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I agree, and Cal has said numerous times how he just loves helping these kids and their families reach their dreams and make millions. My hope is that his goal is to keep doing that because if he coaches here another 5 years, he could put another 20 or more kids in the NBA, he could literally have coached a kid that will eventually be on every NBA team if he keeps going at this pace. And if he is ego driven, then staying at UK and becoming a legend could fulfill that need, because going to the NBA right now, there is no guaranteed championships out there. And in 10 years, no one will remember Erik Spoelstra, but you know who they will remember, the Big 3, and Lebron. And if he goes to Cleveland and does even win a title or two, who does he think Cleveland is going to remember, the coach, or the player, but if he stays at UK, wins another title or two, the next UK arena might be called the Rupp/Calipari Arena....just kidding.
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Yeah the ego thing really only fits in the context of Cal wanting to succeed to mask his failure with the Nets.
Because if ego is your thing (and I think all these coaches have healthy egos; they have to), then you don't coach in the NBA. You stay in college.Comment
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If he says he's in it to better the players and their families, then why not take him at his word? He can't do that in the pros.Comment
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Time will tell. It wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong.Philippians 4:11-4:13Comment
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I like Lebron but the problem with Cleveland this year is that Lebron thinks he's the coach and it's going against everthing that Blatt is trying to do. Not saying Blatt is the answer but it's widely reported that there is friction in the locker room. Why would Cal want to put himself into a situation where he may have be challenged by the league's best player?? Probaly best for Cal and Lebron's friendship to keep it the way it is now. If Cal left, i see him wanting to get his hands back on guys like Wall,Cousins, Davis, MKG, and not Lebron James. If anyone follows the NBA and really knows what's going on now with all the parity, teams that are winning are truly the "team" concept and not so much of the BIG THREE concept. Look at San Antonio and the way Greg delegates the minutes throughout the season with his rotations. Look at the Atlanta Hawks or the Golden State Warriors. I don't think Cal is leaving for Cleveland in my opinion...........Comment
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Not sure about all that but Pete Carroll sure does remind me of Bill Walsh in many ways, maybe it's the gray hair??? As much as i love the Niners and realize that the Seahawks are the Niners biggest rival, i like the Seahawks and Pete Carroll. In fact, i have always been a Niners fan and always will be but even when i would younger, i would root for the Hawks in the AFC when they had guys like Steve Largent, Dave Craig, Bosworth, and Curt Warner. I am also a big fan of "BEAST MODE" because Lynch is a absolute beast on the field. Not sure if you anyone remembers his run a few years ago that some say set off a small quake on the scale
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