Get off Lenny

SEATTLE - In a way I liked the way Lenny talked about the games while doing color on the TV broadcasts. He didn't sound as if he was itching to coach by playing "broadcaster-coach" on TV. He didn't beat plays to death like some guys you here. Mike Fratello had the darn telestrator, correcting the plays that a coach just called on the floor, yikes! You can hear the "I want to coach" sound in Doug Collins' voice. Hubie Brown had that sound before the Memphis job, but not after, it's tough to explain.

Lenny commented a lot on the types of players and playing styles he liked. If the Sonics ran plays for a long shots without at least throwing the ball into the post for long periods of time he would say his preference is "inside out" (to draw defenders away from the shooter). He didn't nit-pick little details. I really don't have a problem with what he said, it was much more philosophical than is desired for television, no doubt, but in many ways that's what I do want in a president or VP. I want a guy that says the kinds and types of coaching and players he likes. Hopefully he acts on that thinking to build that kind of team, and then leaves the doing, the details, to the GM/coach/players to actually go do.

So what did he say, and what does it sound like he wants? Lenny sounded like he will want players to play hard, pass the ball to open players, give good effort, and learn from their mistakes. I'm ok with that kind of thinking from front office guys. He likes the PG to lead the offense, he likes to have players fight through screens. I'm ok with that too. I think a lot of people's comments that I've ready on a variety of internet sites are projecting their own fears into what hasn't been said or done by Lenny and the new ownership group. There's a void. The communication has to be better on that in Sonicsland.

I know Lenny doesn't get much respect from some fans, not even here in Seattle, but those people are not picking up the phone in the front office of most NBA teams. Kevin Calabro mentioned something on KJR after the first road trip of the season, he said wherever they go, no matter what town, the who's who of basketball seek Lenny out to talk to him. He's treated like "basketball royalty".

Know why many people treat him like basketball royalty? Because he freaking is, maybe not to you, but to many owners, presidents and GM's of other teams, and that's what can help an up and coming GM. That's not a bad thing to have in your front office. It isn't a bad situation for a younger GM who could occationally use the connections that Lenny has.

He doesn't want to hire a coach just to fire the guy and take over, but he could in a pinch if they guy choked. He might be overpowering to GM's with big egos and long track records, maybe that's good, maybe he will hire a GM and coach that hold similar philosophies as he has. Wouldn't that be a first, a management group that was really on the same darn page, and not just saying that they were. I hope that last line was clear enough for everybody. I was calling out Howard/Wallly/Sund/McMillan. What a bunch of crap those guys spread around.

Maybe I'm just projecting my optimism into the Sonics communication void to counter the negative fears, and I'm ok with that too.