Brew Hoop - Larry Drew hired as new head coach of the Bucks Milwaukee Bucks News and Analysis Since 2007https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47773/brewhoop_fave.png2013-06-05T12:31:52-05:00http://www.brewhoop.com/rss/stream/40922992013-06-05T12:31:52-05:002013-06-05T12:31:52-05:00Podcast: Critical offseason is underway for Bucks
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<p>The latest episode of the Brew Hoop NBA podcast touches on the beginning of the Bucks' offseason, including the hiring of Larry Drew and comments made by owner Herb Kohl. Listen in to get our analysis on what matters to Milwaukee now.</p> <p>A critical offseason is officially underway for the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a>, and in the latest episode of the Brew Hoop NBA podcast Steve von Horn and Frank Madden discuss the hiring of <span>Larry Drew</span>, the goals of the team in free agency and some comments made by Bucks owner Herb Kohl.</p>
<p>Drew is an established coach with a solid record in Atlanta, but does that fact that the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> didn't want to keep him say anything about his potential in Milwaukee? Steve offered some <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/1/4385526/bucks-head-coach-larry-drew-hawks">long-form thoughts on the hiring</a> last week, but does Frank agree with his take? NBA coaching is not always an easy topic to pin down.</p>
<p>Upgrading the talent on the roster is still the biggest issue facing the Bucks this summer, so we both offer our takes on how it should be done. Finally, the discussion turns to c<a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/3/4393342/nba-bucks-larry-drew-herb-kohl-press-conference">omments made by Herb Kohl about the goals and motivations of the franchise</a>. A nuanced talk about the meaning of tanking and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/4/4393482/larry-drew-is-new-herb-kohl-is-old">the problem with public relations struggles</a> for losing teams emerges near the end of the podcast, so take a listen and let us know what you think.</p>
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https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/5/4399208/nba-podcast-offseason-bucks-larry-drew-herb-kohlSteve von Horn2013-06-04T23:13:09-05:002013-06-04T23:13:09-05:00Drew is new, Kohl is old, Schröder/Larkin buzz
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<p>The Bucks' newest head coach predictably offered some reasons for optimism in his introductory press conference. But if you were looking for bold new ideas from Herb Kohl...well, you may not want to read on.</p> <p><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.nba.com/bucks/videochannels/nba_tv/2013/06/03/larry-drew-announcement-full.nba" target="_blank">Bucks.com: Larry Drew press conference video</a><br>Introductory press conferences can be whatever you want them to be. Enough softballs usually get served up for any new coach to come off looking fairly impressive and well put-together, and Monday's presser with new Bucks coach Larry Drew was no exception. Welcome to Milwaukee, Larry.</p>
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<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">If you thought John Hammond was going to talk about his new head coach without talking about the kind of man he is, you don't know John Hammond. In short, <span>Larry Drew</span> wasn't hired because he was a fast-talking used car salesman.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 9px;">Drew talked up his belief in establishing personal relationships with his players, taking a page directly from the "how to assuage the fears of people who just watched <span>Scott Skiles</span> coach their team for five years" playbook. So that was nice, though saying he wanted to be "good friends" and "buddies" with his players felt kind of hokie, too. It was interesting to note Drew's discussion of managing a locker room full of expiring deals in Atlanta last season--that clearly became an issue for the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a>, but the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Hawks</a> kept things together surprisingly well in spite of rampant speculation about the future of virtually everyone not named <span>Al Horford</span>.</span></li>
<li>Drew talked up the value of length and his excitement about the Bucks' young frontcourt assets, wisely using the word "development" in discussing <span>Larry Sanders</span> and <span>John Henson</span>.
<blockquote>"This team has really good young talent. Young talent that I’m excited about developing.
<p>"The big guys are going to be a big part of the future. Their development is going to be very important, but you can’t teach height, you can’t teach length."</p>
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<a target="_blank" href="http://www.salon.com/2013/06/03/drews_positivity_pays_off_with_job_in_milwaukee/singleton/">Henson flew in earlier than expected to be in attendance</a> and earned an early shout-out from the father of his former teammate at UNC, Larry Drew II.
<blockquote>"You get on the coach's side right away," Drew joked, drawing laughs.<br><span style="font-size: 12px;"><br><span style="line-height: 16px;">"I think he's going to be a real good fit," Henson said. "He's just what we need. He's a player relationship guy and the players are going to know their roles."</span></span>
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<li>Interestingly, the players Drew did mention were as notable as those he steered clear of discussing. No one seemed particularly interested in talking up the possibility of <span>Monta Ellis</span> and/or <span>Brandon Jennings</span> returning, which speaks to the ongoing uncertainty around both players' futures. Despite all that, everyone continues to talk up the team's opportunities for improvement despite a rather half-baked roster that will need a ton of help over the summer to be playoff-caliber group. <a href="http://www.foxsportswisconsin.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/story/New-Bucks-coach-Drew-wants-team-city-can?blockID=908075&feedID=11347" target="_blank">Via Andrew Gruman</a>:
<blockquote>"They are not very far away at all," Drew said. "There are some things I feel I can bring to this team. I really feel from a coaching standpoint, offensively is where we really have to get better. They finished 28th in the league in field-goal percentage last year. We can improve that. That can be an easy adjustment. It's a matter of players committing, as my guys did in Atlanta."</blockquote>
The only problem here is that the Hawks got notably <i>worse</i> offensively after Drew replaced Mike Woodson. After ranking 2nd offensively under Woodson in 09/10, Drew's teams ranked 21st, 16th and 18th in offensive efficiency over the past three seasons. Don't get me wrong, it's modestly reassuring to know that Drew has the sense to see the fundamental inefficiency of the Ellis/Jennings-led offense, but history suggests he's not going to turn the Bucks into an offensive juggernaut either. Which isn't to say Drew is doomed in Milwaukee. The <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a>, <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Grizzlies</a> and the Derrick Rose-less <a href="https://www.blogabull.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bulls</a> provide compelling evidence that the most direct route to competitiveness is on the defensive end, and Drew's teams have been solid on that end (13th, 6th and 10th). Not fantastic, but solid. </li>
<li>Curiously, Drew said the Bucks hadn't discussed team expectations during the interview process, which struck me as, you know, <i>utterly impossible</i>. But presumably this was just Drew and the Bucks trying to tip-toe around the tricky dance of setting expectations with a fanbase that has grown weary of the team's annual flirtation with the 8th seed, or at least deferring it to Mr. Business As Usual, Herb Kohl (more on that next). </li>
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<a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.foxsportswisconsin.com/nba/milwaukee-bucks/story/Bucks-owner-Kohl-discusses-new-coach-new?blockID=908103&feedID=11347" target="_blank">FS WIsconsin: Herb Kohl is still Herb Kohl</a><br>While Drew generally left a positive impression, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/3/4393342/nba-bucks-larry-drew-herb-kohl-press-conference">Herb Kohl's latest foray into sports conversation was decidedly less inspiring</a>. Look, there are rational reasons for the Bucks wanting to be competitive and make the playoffs even if real contention remains elusive; Kohl isn't wrong about bad teams having a nagging tendency to stay bad, and a 3-4 year rebuilding project isn't exactly convenient for a franchise in need of a new building four years from now. The problem is that Kohl has long since lost the benefit of the doubt with most fans on this topic. It's one thing to want to win and do so, it's another to talk about it and then thrash around aimlessly...for twenty years. So you'll forgive those of us who hear Kohl defiantly sticking to the party line and think he just doesn't get it. If nothing else, at least try to make it <i>seem</i> like you're taking a slightly different angle on it all. I feel like I could coach Kohl pretty well on this topic, but for whatever reason it seems fairly lost on him.</div>
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<div>Speaking of a new arena: Kohl once again addressed the topic in general terms and spoke confidently of getting a deal done to keep the Bucks in Milwaukee for the long term. No individual is as important as Kohl to all of this, but we haven't gotten to the point of hearing anything specific from him regarding his promised contribution to a new arena. Instead, Kohl is trying to deflect some of the spotlight away from his franchise--a wise move given the circumstances--and toward the bigger picture of how a new building could benefit the community more broadly.</div>
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<blockquote>"The Bucks are part of it, and they are a key part of it, one of the anchor tenants. But we take 40 or 41 or 42 dates a year. And a facility holds upwards of 200 events in a year. So it's really important not just for basketball but for the community, for economic development, to get a 21st-century facility that is comparable to what is found in many, many other medium and large cities in this country. We have to get there. It's important for our community and our state to get there. And along with that, that will see to it that the Bucks stay here. They sort of need each other. A facility needs the Bucks and the Bucks need a facility. We are determined to get there. <br><br>"Getting a facility built is a big challenge. We are into it now, in the beginning stages. There are many elements to it. We hope people understand how important it is for the community and the state, a 21st-century facility. And in order to have that we need the Bucks as an anchor tenant. I think it is a mistake to see the facility as (solely) for the Bucks. That's not really true."</blockquote>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/draft2013/story/_/id/9340518/2013-nba-draft-chad-ford-mock-draft-40" style="font-weight: bold;">Ford: Mock 4.0 has Larkin heading to Milwaukee</a><br>Chad Ford has the Bucks going small at #15, projecting Miami PG Shane Larkin as the current favorite to end up in green and red.</p>
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<p>With the Bucks hesitant to make a big free-agent offer to point guard Brandon Jennings, that position might immediately become a need for Milwaukee. Sources say Larkin's workout in Milwaukee was a "wow" for the Bucks. Pairing him with Monta Ellis would make for a pretty small backcourt, but Larkin's ability to run the pick-and-roll is very appealing to them.</p>
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<p>Chris Terlop from Green Bay's The Fan 1075 wrote yesterday that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thefan1075.com/common/more.php?m=49&post_id=243">the Bucks had actually made Larkin a promise after his workout on Friday</a>, so at a minimum it sounds like he impressed the Bucks' brass with his work at the Cousins Center. I'm not sure what benefit would come from making Larkin a promise at this point, but the Bucks aren't standing pat: they have their next workout scheduled for Wednesday.</p>
<p><b><a href="http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-schr-der-has-eyes-on-first-round/article_2793aa84-ccd3-11e2-af77-001a4bcf887a.html">Woelfel: Schröder has eyes on first round</a><br></b>While Larkin may have the inside track to the Bucks' heart, Gery Woelfel writes that they've long had an eye on German point guard Dennis <span style="background-color: #eeeeee; line-height: 15px;">Schröder as well.</span></p>
<blockquote>The Bucks have been closely monitoring Schröder’s development for almost a year. Schröder said Bucks general manager John Hammond and Bucks player personnel director Dave Babcock both had seen him play last season in Germany.
<p>Furthermore, Hammond and Jeff Weltman, the Bucks’ assistant GM, got an up-close-and-personal look at Schröder several weeks ago at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore. That’s where Schröder wowed virtually every NBA official in attendance with his myriad talents and athleticism.</p>
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https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/4/4393482/larry-drew-is-new-herb-kohl-is-oldFrank Madden2013-06-01T16:24:18-05:002013-06-01T16:24:18-05:00Hiring of Drew Won't Change Your Mind About Bucks
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<p>Larry Drew is the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, but his hiring raises some questions about why the Atlanta Hawks wanted to move on from Drew in the first place. Let's explore the issue. </p> <p>The <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Milwaukee Bucks</a><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/31/4384716/report-milwaukee-bucks-hire-larry-drew-as-head-coach" target="_blank"> announced Larry Drew as the team's new head coach</a> on Friday, and his contract is <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fblogs%2Fsports%2F209721511.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brewhoop.com%2F2013%2F6%2F1%2F4385526%2Fbucks-head-coach-larry-drew-hawks" target="_blank" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener">reportedly guaranteed for three seasons</a> with a team option for a fourth year. After a <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/13/4328258/milwaukee-bucks-coach-jerry-sloan-stan-van-gundy-kelvin-sampson" target="_blank">limp and nearly lifeless</a> search, Bucks general manager John Hammond decided to hitch his star to the former assistant and head coach of the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Atlanta Hawks</a>. It's a decision that can't really generate a lot of criticism or backlash, but it's also a decision that can't really generate a lot of excitement or intrigue. Welcome to the 2013 Milwaukee Bucks offseason, I guess.</p>
<p>My first instinct was to abstain from writing anything about this move. Every Bucks fan is fed up with the mediocre results by now, and we've basically split into two clans: (a) the skeptical people who believe the organization is still caught in a pattern of bad decision making and who can't find any clear evidence to change their mind, and (b) the people who are optimistic that things will change this summer even without clear evidence that the fundamental approach of the organization has been materially altered.</p>
<p>The piece of string connecting the tin can telephones is under some stress, but fans on both sides are still willing to talk and to listen. It's a battle of "how could you possibly know things will change for the better when nothing has changed yet" vs. "things have to change to save the franchise, so they will, and everyone just needs to be wait for the great reveal." You know where you stand by now, and this hire isn't going to do anything to change your opinion.</p>
<p>Here are the four thoughts that went through my head when I learned about the hiring.</p>
<h5><b>First Thought: It's Hard to Say the Hire is Bad</b></h5>
<p>Head coaching matters a lot less than the quality of talent on the roster in the NBA, so it's hard to get worked up about someone like Larry Drew. The long journey from the lower ranks of coaching to the top spots in the association usually weeds out the truly unfit members of the coaching fraternity. It's also pretty obvious that Drew clears the mimum competency threshold. <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/31/4384716/report-milwaukee-bucks-hire-larry-drew-as-head-coach#comments" target="_blank">Jake covered the basics of Drew's resume on Friday</a>:</p>
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<p id="paragraph1">Coaching the <a href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> to three playoff appearances in three seasons, Drew compiled a 128-102 record (.557), winning 44, 40 (in 66 games), and 44 games respectively, and a 10-14 (.417) record in the postseason. The Hawks finished as the fifth, sixth, and sixth seed over that span, and reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals once (2010-11).</p>
<p id="paragraph2">Drew's teams averaged a 105.3 offensive rating and a 104.2 defensive rating from 2010-2013. For what it's worth, in the last three years, the Bucks averaged a 103.6 offensive rating and 104.3 defensive rating, and they did not feature a team built around <span>Al Horford</span>, <span>Josh Smith</span>, or <span>Jeff Teague</span>.</p>
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<p>There's a blob of retread head coaches in the NBA that includes <span>Scott Skiles</span>, <span>Lawrence Frank</span>, <span>Nate McMillan</span>, <span>Byron Scott</span> et al. who are all capable of leading a team to moderate success. They aren't caretaker coaches for tanking teams. They aren't the top-notch difference makers like <span>Tom Thibodeau</span> and <span>Gregg Popovich</span> for contending teams, either. There are going to be people who believe Drew is 10-20 percent better than the blob and people who believe he is 10-20 worse than the blob. Odds are he's somewhere in the blob though. That's certainly what Hawks GM Danny Ferry thinks, which is what brings us to my second thought....</p>
<h5><b>Second Thought: It's Hard to Say the Hire is Good</b></h5>
<p>Danny Ferry watched Larry Drew lead Atlanta to a 46-win season, a sixth seed in the Eastern Conference and a first-round exit from the playoffs, and his first move the offseason was to start looking for a new head coach. Ferry shopped around for a better option while he reportedly "reserved the remote option of revisiting contract extension talks with Drew" <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/5/16/4336402/nate-mcmillan-hawks-interview-head-coach/in/4137821" target="_blank">if the team couldn't sign someone better</a>. It was a bold move by Atlanta.</p>
<p>Plenty of fans, bloggers and media members had vaguely nice things to say about Drew -- "he's a nice guy," "he's a solid coach," "he deserves another chance," etc. -- but those same people were also pretty excited about the decision to move on and sign Budenholzer. Ultimately, the facts are clear: the Atlanta Hawks didn't believe Larry Drew was good enough to lead their franchise any more.</p>
<p>There are a few ways you can try to deflect this reality. Danny Ferry inherited Drew when he assumed GM duties in June of 2012, and the broad narrative coming from Atlanta is that he wanted to make his own hire. However, here's the overriding goal for every GM: they want to build an excellent team.</p>
<p>If Drew was the best option available to the Hawks, I have a hard time believing Ferry would let him go just for the chance to put his stamp on things. Maybe he made a mistake by letting his former coach leave for the Milwaukee, but at this point Ferry and the Hawks undoubtedly have more information on Drew than Hammond and the Bucks. Atlanta looked at the big picture and didn't like what they saw.</p>
<p>After three more seasons of decent regular season results and early playoff exits, the franchise finally decided it was tired of being the good-but-not-great Atlanta Hawks. They replaced an experienced blob-level coach with a first-time NBA head man (<span>Mike Budenholzer</span>) from an extremely successful franchise. That's a swing for the fences. Maybe the Bucks are hoping they can grab the baton from the Hawks and slide into the fifth seed for a few years. Who knows.</p>
<h5><b>Third Thought: It's Easy to Say the Hire is Fine</b></h5>
<p>Larry Drew is a solid X-and-O coach who did a good job working with talented big men on his roster. He revamped the iso-heavy offense installed by <span>Mike Woodson</span> and worked to incorporate more screens and motion into the Atlanta offense. He has a reputation for designing good plays coming out of timeouts, but the results have been a bit mixed. In 2012 the Hawks <a href="http://www.theclassical.org/articles/the-nba-out-of-timeouts" target="_blank">were a bottom-third team in points per possession for plays after a timeout</a>, but they improved in 2013 thanks in large part to the addition of <span>Kyle Korver</span> and his <a href="http://nbawowy.com/" target="_blank">71.9 eFG% out of timeouts</a> (stat via NBAWowy.com) and Drew also earned <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachLowe_NBA/statuses/296987620456673281" target="_blank">a solid review</a> from Zach Lowe on Twitter.</p>
<p>He also added some nice wrinkles to Atlanta's offensive sets. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/4/18/4236408/atlanta-hawks-breakdown-al-horford-josh-smith" target="_blank">The 4-5 (PF-C) pick-and-roll</a> with Al Horford and Josh Smith led to some lovely lobs throughout the year. Drew also tapped into the shooting and passing talent of Horford and often used him as <a href="http://hoopchalk.com/2013/03/25/the-quiet-all-around-brilliance-of-al-horford/" target="_blank">a creative outlet on pick-and-rolls</a> and a floor-spacing shooter from mid-range. Horford is far more skilled on offense than <span>Larry Sanders</span>, especially as a passer and shooter, so it's hard to see some of these actions translating well to Milwaukee. You can check out <a target="_blank" href="http://hoopchalk.com/2013/04/18/playoff-capsule-atlanta-hawks/">a breakdown of the Atlanta offense at HoopChalk.com</a>. The creativity of Drew's offense is still worth noting, but the conversation ultimately gets back to the talent deficit the Bucks have been dealing with for years.</p>
<p>The Bucks also don't have a physically dominant wing player like J-Smoove. Drew created mismatches by playing big lineups and creating opportunities for Smith to post up small forwards. The plan worked, as Smith used 20 percent of his possession in the post, <a href="http://www.mysynergysports.com/" target="_blank">according to MySynergySports.com</a>, but he only scored 0.74 PPP in the post (121st-best in the NBA), so maybe the plan really didn't work.</p>
<p>In fact, it could be argued that Drew's work with Josh Smith wasn't very successful at all. Before the 2012-13 season, Prof. Kirk Goldsberry of CourtVisionAnalytics noted <a href="http://courtvisionanalytics.com/the-long-two-and-josh-smith/" target="_blank">the terrible trend in Smith's shot selection</a> since Drew assumed the head coaching duties in 2010-11:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>[Josh Smith's] stats over the last 3 years show drastic shifts in shooting behavior, but the overall trajectory is not favorable. About 46% of Smith's field goal attempts last season occurred from beyond 16 feet. That is up a few percentage points from two years ago when it was 43%, but it is way up from the 2009-2010 season, where Smith only shot 23% of his shots from beyond 16 feet. That season, Smith shot 55% of his field goals at the rim, and the positive effects are undeniable: he set career bests in FG%, assists, and offensive rebounds; good things happen when he is near the basket.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Here's my version of the evolution in Josh Smith's game from the 2009-10 to 2012-13, using stats from Basketball-Reference.com's play-by-play database:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="488" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 366pt;">
<colgroup>
<col width="64" style="width: 48pt;">
<col width="84" span="3" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3072; width: 63pt;">
<col width="92" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 3364; width: 69pt;">
<col width="80" style="mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2925; width: 60pt;">
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl64" width="64" style="height: 15pt; width: 48pt;"></td>
<td class="xl64" width="84" style="width: 63pt;">%FG at rim</td>
<td class="xl64" width="84" style="width: 63pt;">%FG Long 2</td>
<td class="xl64" width="84" style="width: 63pt;">TS%</td>
<td class="xl64" width="92" style="width: 69pt;">At rim FG%</td>
<td class="xl64" width="80" style="width: 60pt;">Long 2 FG%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl64" style="height: 15pt;">2009-10</td>
<td class="xl64">61.66%</td>
<td class="xl64">25.03%</td>
<td class="xl64">53.60%</td>
<td class="xl64">64.90%</td>
<td class="xl64">29.20%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl64" style="height: 15pt;">2010-11</td>
<td class="xl64">36.41%</td>
<td class="xl64">33.43%</td>
<td class="xl64">54.00%</td>
<td class="xl64">68.90%</td>
<td class="xl64">38.50%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" class="xl64" style="height: 15pt;">2011-12</td>
<td class="xl64">32.97%</td>
<td class="xl64">39.06%</td>
<td class="xl64">49.90%</td>
<td class="xl64">68.60%</td>
<td class="xl64">36.30%</td>
</tr>
<tr height="21" style="height: 15.75pt;">
<td height="21" class="xl64" style="height: 15.75pt;">2012-13</td>
<td class="xl64">33.93%</td>
<td class="xl64">25.47%</td>
<td class="xl64">50.10%</td>
<td class="xl64">77.10%</td>
<td class="xl64">32.90%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><br id="1370118082800"></p>
<p>If you want to make the connection between Drew's hiring and a potential run at free agent Josh Smith, maybe you should think twice. He's become less efficient and more dependent on long twos in recent seasons, so despite the cool coaching wrinkles described above things didn't get better for one of Atlanta's top players. That screams blob coach to me. Drew also struggled with rotations and lineups during the 2012-13 NBA playoffs and was critcized for his coaching decisions before the Hawks were eliminated by the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Pacers</a>. Meh, I guess it's fine.</p>
<h5><b>Last Thought: Feel Free to Stick to Your Opinion About the Bucks</b></h5>
<p><span>Larry Drew</span> is middle-of-the-road enough to become the yellow line that separates inbound, optimistic Bucks fans from outbound, pessimistic ones. It's hard to have strong feelings about him right now, and the move isn't bold enough to change anyone's mind about the organization's fundamental approach. Buckle up for the offseason, stay in your lane (for now) and hopefully John Hammond won't drive us crazy this summer.</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/6/1/4385526/bucks-head-coach-larry-drew-hawksSteve von Horn2013-05-31T17:10:00-05:002013-05-31T17:10:00-05:00Welcome, Larry Drew!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Ju78vetUSX6zGoMhEhrglQnRdgE=/0x1038:2885x2961/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/14028743/167146877.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Andy Lyons</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Larry Drew as their head coach. Discuss.</p> <p><a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/340580674249576448">According to Adrian Wojnarowski</a> (or, more accurately, GM John Hammond), <span>Larry Drew</span> will be the 13th coach in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> history.</p>
<p>Coaching the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Atlanta Hawks</a> to three playoff appearances in three seasons, Drew compiled a 128-102 record (.557), winning 44, 40 (in 66 games), and 44 games respectively, and a 10-14 (.417) record in the postseason. The Hawks finished as the fifth, sixth, and sixth seed over that span, and reached the Eastern Conference Semifinals once (2010-11).</p>
<p>Drew's teams averaged a 105.3 offensive rating and a 104.2 defensive rating from 2010-2013. For what it's worth, in the last three years, the Bucks averaged a 103.6 offensive rating and 104.3 defensive rating, and they did not feature a team built around <span>Al Horford</span>, <span>Josh Smith</span>, or <span>Jeff Teague</span>.</p>
<p>The previous 106 words should scream "Milwaukee Bucks" to anyone who has paid attention to the organization over the past decade.</p>
<p>For many, the final showdown between <span>Kelvin Sampson</span> and Larry Drew represented a choice between two clear paths. Choose Sampson, and you're going for the promise of the flashy unknown, something that rarely describes the Bucks' management and personnel decisions. Choose Drew, and go for the known good-not-great coach that represents very little about a "new" direction for the franchise.</p>
<p>Drew certainly isn't a bad coach, but a fan base starved for hope doesn't want to read a resume like Drew's.We'll have quite a lot more reaction on this soon.</p>
<p><i>UPDATE: </i><a target="_blank" href="http://www.nba.com/bucks/release/bucks-reach-agreement-drew-become-head-coach"><i>The Bucks have issued an official press release confirming the hiring</i></a><i>.</i></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We are pleased to reach an agreement with Larry Drew to become head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks," said Hammond. "After a thorough search and interview process, it was clear to us that Larry's track record in Atlanta, along with his experience as an assistant coach and player, make him the right choice to lead our club. We look forward to what he will bring to this franchise and we welcome him and his family to Milwaukee."</p>
</blockquote>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/31/4384716/report-milwaukee-bucks-hire-larry-drew-as-head-coachJacob McCormick2013-05-30T09:41:32-05:002013-05-30T09:41:32-05:00Devin Harris interested, Sampson/Drew visit again
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DXARtahkgfqIo53TNcPEExjSLvU=/0x38:4000x2705/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13887005/166440661.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>A busy week for the Bucks began with group workouts in Minnesota, continued with coaching interviews (and free agency rumors) on Wednesday and is set to close with more draft workouts on Friday.</p> <p><b><a href="http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-harris-wouldn-t-mind-coming-home/article_0d584fda-c873-11e2-adea-0019bb2963f4.html">Woelfel: Devin Harris wouldn’t mind coming ‘home’</a><br></b>We began to throw around the topic of the <a href="https://www.brewhoop.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Bucks</a> going after <span>Devin Harris</span> a few times last season--namely every time he and <span>Jeff Teague</span> torched the Bucks' higher-profile backcourt--and Gery Woelfel reports that the Milwaukee native and free agent-to-be is not surprisingly open to the possibility of a homecoming this summer.</p>
<blockquote>Asked if he would entertain the possibility of signing with the Bucks, Harris, a former Wauwatosa East High School and University of Wisconsin star, said: "I would. Of course. Who wouldn’t want to play for their hometown team?
<p>"I know they got a lot of decisions to make, but I know I would be interested in them. If it’s going to work out, who knows?"</p>
</blockquote>
<p>There's really no reason for a solid-but-unspectacular free agent like Harris <i>not</i> to say nice things about potential free agency destinations--players need to market themselves, too--but going after a versatile and affordable combo guard like Harris makes sense even if you ignore the whole Wisconsin feel-good factor. Afterall, <i>someone</i> will have to fill out the Bucks' guard rotation next season, and Harris has shown himself to be a useful utility guard even if his best days are past him. He's got the size and handle to play both guard spots, won't embarrass himself defensively (ahem), and he presumably won't cost more than mid-level money.</p>
<p>At 30 years old he's not the player he was, and he certainly won't command the $8 million salary he earned last season. But if the Bucks want to turn the page on the <span>Monta Ellis</span>/<span>Brandon Jennings</span> experiment--and they should--they're going to need some guys to plug holes in the short term. Given the option of Harris at $5-6 million per over two years vs. one of the swag twins at close to $10 million annually over four years, I'll take Harris and worry about finding a long-term solution later. Moreover, even if the Bucks bring back one of Ellis or Jennings, there's no reason Harris couldn't be a solid third-guard option. Bottom line: Harris won't solve the Bucks long-term problems, but he won't kill the cap or hurt the Bucks on the floor either.</p>
<p><a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jsonline.com%2Fsports%2Fbucks%2Fbucks-interview-larry-drew-kelvin-sampson-for-second-time-b9921879z1-209450421.html&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.brewhoop.com%2F2013%2F5%2F30%2F4379398%2Fdevin-harris-interested-in-bucks-larry-drew-kelvin-sampson-coach" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><b>JS: Bucks interview Larry Drew, Kelvin Sampson for second time</b></a><br>As expected, the Bucks met with both of their presumed coaching finalists on Wednesday, a day after Atlanta's hiring of <span>Mike Budenholzer</span> officially put Drew in the unemployed category (does that count as an endorsement?). But Charles Gardner writes that no decision was made on Wednesday, begging the question of what the Bucks will do next.</p>
<p>So will they try to court <a href="https://www.grizzlybearblues.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Grizzlies</a> coach and former Bucks' assistant <span>Lionel Hollins</span>, who despite winning 56 games <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/5/28/4372106/memphis-grizzlies-rumors-lionel-hollins-zach-randolph">hasn't exactly endeared himself to the new Grizzlies brass</a>? Though the Bucks have been linked to Hollins numerous times over the past couple weeks, Gardner writes that the Bucks are "not expected to aggressively pursue" him, which may be the Bucks' way of saying "we can't compete with the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Clippers</a> and <a href="https://www.netsdaily.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Nets</a>."</p>
<p>I wouldn't expect either Sampson or Drew alone to move the Bucks out of the East purgatory they've occupied in recent seasons--they'll need more talent to do that--but for my money I'll throw my support behind Sampson if only because of the allure/illusion/potential of the unknown. It's not a great argument, but we all know the Bucks need some new ideas. And while we know Drew is solid, the Bucks need more than that. Odds are Sampson isn't the next <i>great</i> NBA head coach, but his reputation for working well with players and forward-thinking approach might at least give him a chance.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/milwaukee-bucks-reportedly-prefer-keeping-monta-ellis-over-234056731.html"><b>Ball Don't Lie: The no-win choice between Monta Ellis and Brandon Jennings</b></a><br>Eric Freeman delivers some sobering truth about the decisions the Bucks face in the backcourt.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/GeryWoelfel/status/339792977130037248" target="_blank"><b>Woelfel: Shane Larkin, Tim Hardaway to work out on Friday</b></a><br>Along with the rest of the league, the Bucks' draft preparations took them to the Brooklyn group workout last week and Minnesota's workouts this week, with their own sessions starting up again on Friday.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Bucks resume pre-draft workouts Friday: Shane Larkin and Tim Hardaway Jr. among 6 players auditioning.</p>
— Gery Woelfel (@GeryWoelfel) <a href="https://twitter.com/GeryWoelfel/status/339792977130037248">May 29, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
The son of baseball hall-of-famer Barry, the younger Larkin (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Shane-Larkin-40769/">DX#23</a>) went from unheralded recruit to likely first round pick in his two seasons at Miami and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/5/17/4341154/nba-draft-combine-2013-shane-larkin-shabazz-muhammad">wowed at the recent pre-draft combine</a> with some off-the-charts athletic testing (44" max vertical, y'all). Larkin's biggest problem is that he's not big at all, standing just 5'11.5" in shoes with a sub-6' wingspan to boot. Anyone dreaming of a bigger PG to replace Brandon Jennings will be sorely disappointed by those numbers, but that's also why he's generally considered a mid-to-late first round prospect.</p> Here he is talking to DraftExpress in Chicago:
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/uGYnmgjXo6A" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Michigan shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr. (<a target="_blank" href="http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Tim-Hardaway-Jr-6368/">DX #31</a>) doesn't have the same size concerns (6'6.25" in shoes, 6'7" wingspan), but his three seasons with the Wolverines were plagued by inconsistency and as a result he's considered a bubble first round prospect at best. My guess is he ends up a serviceable NBA player, but it doesn't look like he'd be in the mix when the Bucks pick in the first round (15th).</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/30/4379398/devin-harris-interested-in-bucks-larry-drew-kelvin-sampson-coachFrank Madden2013-05-27T18:09:02-05:002013-05-27T18:09:02-05:00Clifford to Bobcats, Sampson/Drew left for Bucks
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6Ny_cGvIHl3PhOLbwU5NlxkIUes=/1820x213:3390x1260/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13729703/20130426_gav_sv5_042.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Clifford has been expected back for a final round interview in Milwaukee on Tuesday, but a preemptive bid from the Bobcats proved too good to pass up for the former Lakers, Magic and Rockets assistant.</p> <p>And so three have apparently become two.</p>
<p>Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--sources--bobcats-agree-to-hire-steve-clifford-222511124.html" target="_blank">Lakers assistant Steve Clifford will accept a three-year, $6 million deal (third year team option) to become the new head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats</a>, eliminating one of the Bucks' reported three head coaching finalists. It's a definite blow for Milwaukee, which had been planning for a second set of interviews with Clifford, Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson and Hawks head coach Larry Drew on Tuesday and Wednesday.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Lakers assistant Steve Clifford has reached an agreement in principle to become the Charlotte coach, league sources tell Y! Sports.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/339139245979602944">May 27, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>With Clifford out of running in Milwaukee, the Bucks search will focus on Larry Drew and Kelvin Sampson. Each has 2nd interviews this week.</p>
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/339143625038512128">May 27, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p>Steve Clifford's deal with Charlotte is for three years at just under $6 million, with the third year being a team option, sources say.</p>
— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) <a href="https://twitter.com/KBergCBS/status/339150819624644608">May 27, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script></p>
<p>Wojnarowski reported on Sunday that Clifford's strong defensive reputation and endorsements from Tom Thibodeau and Jeff and Stan Van Gundy had <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--sources--bucks-focus-coaching-search-on-3-finalists-193004185.html" target="_blank">made a strong impression on Bucks GM John Hammond</a>, but the Bobcats (or Hornets?) appear to have beaten the Bucks to the punch. That would be a tough blow for a Bucks franchise desperate to regain some credibility, though it's interesting to note that the Bobcats didn't exactly break the bank to sign Clifford either (see that team option year). Still, Clifford apparently didn't think enough of either his chances at the Bucks job or the attractiveness of the gig to begin with (ouch!) in order to turn down a preemptive offer from Michael Jordan and company.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/26/4368204/wojnarowski-kelvin-sampson-steve-clifford-larry-drew-bucks-coach" target="_blank">Clifford was the most popular candidate in our coaching poll yesterday</a>, and the rationale would appear to be quite simple. The only way teams without superstar talents are winning is by building great defenses (see this year's Memphis, Indiana and Chicago teams), and Clifford's endorsements as a defensive wizard are quite strong. You might guess that Memphis' elimination <i>could </i>put the out-of-contract Lionel Hollins back into the conversation as well, though he would have no shortage of bigger name suitors should he leave Memphis. As for the Bucks, "sources" seem to be focusing on the aforementioned trio rather than additional outside candidates. As for other guys like Brian Shaw (still in the playoffs with the Pacers) and Mike Malone of the Warriors, there's been little talk of the Bucks making a move for either, though there may be a good reason for that as well. It's probably not a coincidence that Shaw has been <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/5/23/4358574/clippers-rumors-coach-byron-scott-brian-shaw" target="_blank">mostly linked to the Clippers</a> and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2013/5/7/4309810/nets-coaching-search-brian-shaw-scott-skiles-phil-jackson" target="_blank">Nets</a> jobs rather than the less desirable jobs in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Charlotte, etc.</p>
<p>Taking Clifford off the list bumps former Bucks assistant Sampson to the top of the fan favorites' list, especially given Drew's perception among Bucks fans as an uninspiring retread. That might not be entirely fair, but at the moment perception is reality, and from where I'm standing it sure seems like the hardcore fanbase would only feel further alienated by the hiring of a decidedly middle-of-the-road type like Drew. Meanwhile, Sampson is hardly a proven commodity himself, but his hiring would at least allow the Bucks a chance at generating some vague fan optimism heading into the draft and free agency. How much does that matter to the Bucks' braintrust? It sounds like we'll find out soon enough.</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/27/4370982/steve-clifford-charlotte-kelvin-sampson-larry-drew-bucks-coachFrank Madden2013-05-26T17:57:25-05:002013-05-26T17:57:25-05:00Sampson, Clifford and Drew emerge as finaliists?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/UhuiGOmOAs-2R6WRgyYq50thh5c=/0x82:2572x1797/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13692569/156289475.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Scott Halleran</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Having been spurned by Jerry Sloan and Stan Van Gundy, the Bucks have refocused their efforts on a trio of now-familiar names. </p> <p>Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that <a target="_blank" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--sources--bucks-focus-coaching-search-on-3-finalists-193004185.html">the Bucks are expected to bring Rockets assistant Kelvin Sampson, Lakers assistant Steve Clifford and Hawks head coach Larry Drew back for a second round of interviews this week</a>, suggesting that Milwaukee's month-long search for a head coach may be nearing its end. Woj writes:</p>
<blockquote>
<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Bucks</a> general manager John Hammond has a stronger history with Sampson – who spent two years on the Milwaukee staff under <span>Scott Skiles</span> – but has been increasingly impressed with the possibilities with Clifford, sources said. Clifford has come strongly recommended by three former coaching colleagues that Hammond respects – Chicago's <span>Tom Thibodeau</span> and Stan and Jeff Van Gundy.</blockquote>
<p>The Bucks have also interviewed former Blazers and Sonics coach <span>Nate McMillan</span>, Rockets assistant J.B. Bickerstaff and visited with former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.slcdunk.com/">Jazz</a> coach <span>Jerry Sloan</span>, who opted not to pursue the Bucks' advances. Gery Woelfel previously reported that <a target="_blank" href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/22/4355276/bucks-interested-in-grizzlies-head-coach-lionel-hollins-according-to">the Bucks were also interested in Memphis' free agent-to-be Lionel Hollins</a> (seems like a long shot), and yesterday Woelfel wrote that John Hammond and company also <a target="_blank" href="http://journaltimes.com/sports/basketball/bucks-beat-add-curry-to-list-of-coaching-candidates/article_5122ae74-c5ba-11e2-a0e2-001a4bcf887a.html">met with former Bucks player and Pistons coach Michael Curry</a> at the draft combine. Meanwhile, there's been no mention of the Bucks pursuing top assistants Brian Shaw (Pacers) or Mike Budenholzer (Spurs), both of whom remain somewhat preoccupied with that "playoffs" thing.</p>
<p>Sampson and Clifford are among the league's most widely-respected assistant coaches, with <a href="http://www.rufusonfire.com/2013/5/4/4301044/bobcats-coaching-candidate-list-increases-to-six-defense-in-mind" target="_blank">both having interviewed for the head job in Charlotte</a> and <a target="new" href="http://www.libertyballers.com/2013/5/21/4350378/sixers-coaching-search-houston-rockets-assistants-chris-finch-kelvin-sampson">Sampson also drawing interest from Philadelphia</a>. Meanwhile, Drew is technically still the head coach in Atlanta until July 1, but with no extension on the table from Danny Ferry he seems all but certain to be headed elsewhere. With three playoff trips and a .538 winning percentage in three seasons with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.peachtreehoops.com/">Hawks</a>, Drew's time in Atlanta suggests he's capable of taking a solid roster and getting solid results. Which is basically what Scott Skiles couldn't do in his last two-plus seasons in Milwaukee, but <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/17/4341716/milwaukee-bucks-coach-search-larry-drew-hawks/in/4092299" target="_blank">don't look for Bucks fans to be hankering for Atlanta's castaway head coach either</a>.</p>
<p>Not that Sampson and Clifford have proven anything as NBA head coaches either, but in this case that uncertainty might not be the worst thing in the world. Because after years of thrashing around the middle of the Eastern conference, the Bucks need something else. <i>Anything</i> else, really. Drew might be the safe choice, but safe isn't going to turn the Bucks around. So if Sampson or Clifford turn out to be the next <span>Frank Vogel</span> or Tom Thibodeau, that's great. And if they flop horrendously...well, to be honest that's probably better than more of the aforementioned middle-thrashing.</p>
<p>So what do Clifford and Sampson bring to the table? Well, very different things it would seem. Clifford came recommended by <span>Stan Van Gundy</span> after the former <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Heat</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.orlandopinstripedpost.com/">Magic</a> coach decided against pursuing the Bucks' job, and there's plenty of evidence to suggest a defensive-oriented coach like Clifford represents the Bucks' best hopes of building a superstar-less winner. <a style="font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px; color: #3c3c3c; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank" href="http://articles.latimes.com/2012/aug/15/sports/la-sp-ln-lakers-assistant-coach-candidate-steve-clifford-20120815">An L.A. Times' profile</a><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px;"> </span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px;">from last fall has more:</span></p>
<blockquote style="margin: 0px 0px 1.3em 0.75em; padding: 1em 1em 0.5em; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 3px; border-left-color: #333333; max-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.6em; color: #666666; font-style: italic;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3">Clifford models himself after <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blogabull.com/">Bulls</a> Coach Tom Thibodeau and considers both the Van Gundy brothers as mentors. While Clifford was an assistant the past four years, the Magic finished in the top 10 defensively each season.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.6em; color: #666666; font-style: italic;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph4">That should come in handy with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/">Lakers</a> for two reasons. Clifford's attention to defense matches [Mike] Brown's coaching expertise. Clifford also already has experience working with Dwight Howard. Clifford was often viewed in his assistant coaching roles as both a mentor and teacher.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Sampson is of course the more familiar of the two, having spent two seasons with Milwaukee and forming a close relationship with <span>Brandon Jennings</span> in the process. In that sense the Bucks' coaching decision might also be viewed as something of a referendum on Jennings' future with the club. While there's nothing to suggest Jennings couldn't play for Clifford or Drew, hiring the Jennings-friendly Sampson would certainly seem like a reaffirmation of the Bucks' interest in retaining their mercurial 23-year-old point guard. <a href="http://behindthebuckpass.com/2013/05/25/milwaukee-bucks-links-brandon-jennings-backs-a-coach/" target="_blank">Jennings has not surprisingly already thrown his support behind Sampson</a>, using his <a href="http://instagram.com/p/ZrkhYhEnFj/" target="_blank">Instagram feed</a> to declare of Sampson, "This my guy for Life. He needs to be a Head Coach in the NBA."</p>
<p>Warm cuddly feelings with Jennings aside, what else might Sampson bring to the sidelines? <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/6/4303672/nate-mcmillan-kelvin-sampson-bucks-interview" target="_blank">Steve covered that topic a few weeks ago</a>, noting that Sampson's time in Houston suggest an analytically forward-thinking, free-flowing approach would be likely. Here's Steve:</p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph12"><i>The primary source of intrigue with Sampson is his experience working for the sabermetrically-savvy <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thedreamshake.com/">Houston Rockets</a>. As it turns out, he's a believer in Houston's efficiency model on the court. Here's the money quote from <a style="color: #3c3c3c; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8989580/is-rockets-gm-daryl-morey-plan-working-houston" target="_blank">Zach Lowe's Grantland piece from February</a>:</i></p>
<blockquote style="margin: 0px 0px 1.3em 0.75em; padding: 1em 1em 0.5em; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 3px; border-left-color: #333333; max-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.6em; color: #666666; font-style: italic;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph13">[The Rockets] have reinvented themselves around a superstar and an offensive system that represent the on-court actualization of NBA advanced stats - all 3s, free throws, and shots at the rim, accomplished at a hyper pace that makes Houston perhaps the league's most entertaining watch. "I've become a believer," says <span>Kelvin Sampson</span>, Houston's lead assistant. "It's fun to watch, and it's fun to coach."</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph14"><i>It all sounds great in theory, but Sampson won't be able to bring <span>James Harden</span> with him if he comes to Milwaukee. And Harden is absolutely essential to Houston's success. Here's the scary part of the double-edged sword from Lowe's story:</i></p>
<blockquote style="margin: 0px 0px 1.3em 0.75em; padding: 1em 1em 0.5em; border-width: 0px 0px 0px 3px; border-left-color: #333333; max-width: 100%; background-color: #ffffff; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px;">
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.6em; color: #666666; font-style: italic;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph15">Learning the playbook is not an issue, because Houston doesn't really have a playbook. "We don't have to stop practice and say, 'OK, now let's go over our plays,'" Sampson says. "We don't have any plays. During the flow of the game, very rarely do we run an actual play."</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 1.3em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 0.9em; line-height: 1.6em; color: #666666; font-style: italic;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph16">The first option for Houston is always the fast break. If they can't manage that, the Rockets essentially just shift into pick-and-roll mode.</p>
</blockquote>
<p style="margin-bottom: 1.2em; padding: 0px; border: 0px; max-width: 100%; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.59375px; color: #292929; font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, Georgia, serif;" class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph17"><i>Harden is an otherworldly pick-and-roll talent who makes it easy for everyone else to spread the floor along the arc. The Bucks don't have anyone in the same stratosphere, and it's not easy at all to find someone who can replicate Harden's production.</i></p>
<p>So take your pick. If you want a safe, "proven" commodity who has shown he can bring a reasonably talented team modest playoff success, Larry Drew is your guy. If you want a defensive guru who might bring some of that sweet Thibodeau/Vogel/Van Gundy mojo, Clifford is your homeboy. And if you want the analytically progressive players' coach who might just be able to get the most out of Brandon Jennings, Sampson looks damn appealing.</p>
<p>Choose your own adventure, friends.</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/26/4368204/wojnarowski-kelvin-sampson-steve-clifford-larry-drew-bucks-coachFrank Madden2013-05-23T07:05:03-05:002013-05-23T07:05:03-05:00Is John Hammond too nice to get ahead of the pack?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/EfeQ7Jjst7eSNSMGKwNgUhlEDug=/0x145:2950x2112/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/13525153/20121001_gav_bl1_592.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Mary Langenfeld-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>The Milwaukee Bucks are still stuck in a search for their next head coach, and it's time to discuss whether general manager John Hammond is simply too nice to get out ahead of the pack. </p> <p>When the excitement of the 2013 NBA Draft Lottery ended on Tuesday night, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewhoop.com/">Milwaukee Bucks</a> fans were once again left to ponder their team's placement in the middle of the NBA pack. General manager John Hammond has somehow managed to pull off a rare triple play for his team heading into the draft: no lottery pick, no playoff wins and no head coach. Now the only one of those things that Hammond will address this summer is irritating me.</p>
<p>John Hammond works really hard. He is a good man. That's what he wants us to say, and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JShcM76TqBE" target="_blank">he told us so in his introductory press conference</a> (around the 8:37 mark). He's a nice guy who doesn't mind being known as a nice guy, and I think it shows. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but at a critical juncture where the perception of serious culture change is <i>so important </i>to a broken down fan base on the brink of a revolt, his steady approach has left me feeling like the Milwaukee Bucks are still squarely in the middle of the pack, even on something as basic as a coaching search.</p>
<p>It's not just the fact that the top two candidates -- <span>Jerry Sloan</span> and <span>Stan Van Gundy</span> -- turned Hammond and the Bucks down without even making a formal interview. And it's not that <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/16/4338674/jerry-sloan-bucks-coaching-search-scott-skiles" target="_blank">Milwaukee's GM said he was "honored"</a> that an out-of-work head coach known to be interested in returning to the NBA (Sloan) was gracious enough to welcome him to a farm to chat casually about a legitimate NBA job opening. That stuff was bound to happen. Hammond hasn't made Milwaukee a prime destination for the cream of any NBA crop. Instead, it's the timing of the recent failures that really bothers me.</p>
<p>When the Bucks were quietly eliminated from the postseason by <span>LeBron James</span> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a>, Hammond moved quickly to wipe <span>Jim Boylan</span> out of the picture for 2013-14 and beyond. I would have asked our GM to give himself a round of applause for making that move, but I assumed at the time that he was still sitting on his hands.</p>
<p>Recall that he was too nice to call Boylan an interim coach, <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/1/10/3857512/jim-boylan-scott-skiles-bucks" target="_blank">despite the obvious reality of the situation</a>. I truly believe that he wanted to give Boylan a full vote of confidence. Hammond probably thought there was a universe where things could work out just right and everybody could stay. It's the same optimistic impulse that led him to give big second chances to failed team leaders like <span>Corey Maggette</span>, <span>John Salmons</span>, <span>Drew Gooden</span>, <span>Stephen Jackson</span> and <span>Monta Ellis</span>. It's why the Bucks are still feel like they're fighting for scraps that other teams discard.</p>
<p>I don't think he ever even considered starting the real coaching search in January, like he should have, because that's a bit more cutthroat than most nice guys are willing to be. The moment Skiles walked away from the team on Jan. 8 -- or at least by the time Hammond <a href="http://www.brewhoop.com/2013/1/25/3914184/bucks-john-hammond-extension-reaction-gm" target="_blank">received a three-year extension on Jan. 24</a> -- the Bucks' GM should have been finalizing his list together and working the back channels with NBA agents to gauge the interest of various coaching candidates.</p>
<p>The largely unfortunate informal conversations with unemployed coaches like Stan Van Gundy, Jerry Sloan and <span>Nate McMillan</span> should have taken place months ago. The so-called "top targets" should have been crossed off the list long before the Heat swept the Bucks out of the playoffs. It would have saved the team a bit of public embarrassment, and it could have helped the front office focus on finding the best young assistant (from current candidates <span>Kelvin Sampson</span>, J.B. Bickerstaff and <span>Steve Clifford</span>) to target with an offer they would not be able to refuse. Instead, it feels like the process has stalled and the franchise is scrambling to react to bad news. They're now cobbling together a longer list of secondary candidates that other teams don't want (<span>Larry Drew</span> and perhaps <span>Lionel Hollins</span>). It's become yet another layer of frustrating inertia for fans to deal with.</p>
<p>At a moment in Bucks history where perception feels like reality, Hammond and Milwaukee are stuck in the middle without a clear plan to communicate to the masses. This isn't the first time things have played out this way, either.</p>
<p>In the introductory press conference I linked to above, literally <i>seconds</i> before he asked us to remember him as someone who worked hard and was a good man, John Hammond declared that he was going to take the coaching search at his own pace (no set dates!) and that he was looking for a coach with "the kind of qualities that Larry Krystkowiak has."</p>
<p>Yes, he did indeed utter those words. Even after a 26-56 season that prompted Hammond to fire Krystkowiak in one of his first moves on the job, he not only couldn't bring himself to say a bad word about Larry K, but he couldn't even manage to avoid <i>praising </i>a guy who was clearly in over his head. Larry <i>freaking </i>Krystkowiak, for goodness' sake!</p>
<p>Maybe I'm overthinking things at the outset of a slow offseason. Maybe the perfect plan is already in place. Maybe the Bucks have their man in their sights, and the rest of this coaching search noise is just part of a GM's due diligence. We may find out when the dominoes start to fall, because eventually some of the candidates on Milwaukee's list will starting taking other jobs. Maybe John Hammond likes all of his options so much that he can't decide on one. That would certainly be the nicest way to conduct his search.</p>
<p>It's been said that nice guys finish last, but John Hammond has proven to me that in the NBA nice guys can easily get you stuck somewhere in the middle. That's probably the nicest thing I can say at the moment, because unfortunately he has yet to prove that he get the Bucks where we actually want them to be. I don't know what John Hammond is searching for, but I sure hopes he finds it soon.</p>
https://www.brewhoop.com/2013/5/23/4357552/bucks-coaching-search-john-hammond-too-niceSteve von Horn