In case you needed a good laugh today — Jason Kidd says he is reading the “reports” that reassigned assistant coach Lawrence Frank is writing.
That’s what he told the New York Post.
Riiiight. Now, if it the reports read like those from this brilliant parody account that many around the league are enjoying, sure Kidd might be reading them. My guess is that is not the case.
On Monday in his must-read weekly column at NBA.com, David Aldridge added more detail to how the relationship between Kidd and Frank fell apart. It was in part because the intense Frank was asserting himself (as he always has done).“The assistant’s job is to stand up and call coverages,” an NBA coaching source said last week. “Every time the offense comes down and calls a play, my defensive coach stands up and yells ‘four down!’ or ‘get to the side.’ Jason didn’t like it. He thought Lawrence was coaching the team….”
Kidd tried, gradually at first, to start putting his own imprint on the team. He would be, a member of the organization said last week, direct and honest with players in film sessions, going over things one-on-one with players -- “that’s a bad shot, and here’s why. That’s losing basketball, and here’s why,” the source said. He tried to point out that he did know a couple of things about defense based on his career as a player (whether he specifically mentioned his four first-team all-NBA defensive team selections is unknown), and that he had ideas that were different from Frank’s.
But Frank “wouldn’t stop talking,” the second coaching source countered….
The denouement came in the now well-reported blowup Kidd had with Frank, where Kidd, according to a source, told Frank: “Sit the (bleep) down! I’m the coach of this (13-letter word) team! When you’re on the bench, don’t (bleeping) move!”
Jason Kidd has been tweaking the Nets defensive coverages, asking his bigs to be more aggressive showing on the pick-and-roll for example. However, no matter what Kidd (or Frank, or anyone brought in to replace Kidd) does they cannot fix the fact this is an old, slow roster and plodding defenses can be exposed. They have packed the paint this season in part because Kevin Garnett and others can’t stop guys on the perimeter like they used to.
The Nets got Deron Williams back on Tuesday and won because he was aggressive again and making plays, leading the offense. If the Nets can get Williams and Brook Lopez firing on all cylinders, they can get the offense to carry them to the playoffs.
But none of that will have anything to do with Frank’s reports.