Comments on: The Transformation of Al Thornton http://clipperblog.com/2009/12/21/the-transformation-of-al-thornton/ Dissecting the Side-Screen Roll Since 2006 Wed, 23 May 2012 12:21:32 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Plus 15 http://clipperblog.com/2009/12/21/the-transformation-of-al-thornton/comment-page-1/#comment-30521 Plus 15 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:45:41 +0000 http://clipperblog.com/?p=4200#comment-30521 Without getting into specifics since it's almost 3:30AM Mr. Coaching Genius Mike Dunleavy mishandles Thornton terribly. Yes I know Al's playing great right now and BTW I've always liked Al's work even when some were trashing him in the off season. He didn't deserve it. However Mr. Genius Dunleavy does not know how to talk to players. Just last week in a nice piece in the LATimes about Thornton the column ends with comments by Dunleavy who's punchline is that of course when Blake Griffen is ready to play Thornton may have to sit since Mr.Genius is now thinking of playing Blake at small forward. Look, Blake looked great in summer league. I'm thinking he's going to be great but it doesn't look right now that he'll play until mid-January at the earliest if then. So why does this genius coach the great motivator screw with the fragile Thornton in mid-December? Because Dunleavy sucks. He should be fired. He lost the team over a year ago at best. They only play up to their ability occasionally and that is Dunleavy's fault and this is a good example of why he lost them. Think there's a slight chance of LeBron coming to the Clips? Not if Dunleavy's the coach. Brand (not so hot right now) flat out left because of Dunleavy. I should have started with the point that in motivating his players Dunleavy should have noticed that from the pre-season on when the case was being made that Butler should start (by all the Thornton doubters) when asked if he wants to start or come off the bench Butler said every single time "I don't care, I'll do whatever the coach asks" (He was new to the team) When asked the same questions Thornton replied every time "I want to start". I'm not saying he should, I'm saying in working on his team to succeed it's the coaches job to handle the psychology of his players. It's basic. Dunleavy is oblivious. Now per Sterling and Dunleavy Dunleavy's job, retaining his job is on the back of rookie Blake Griffin. That a terrible weight to put on the back of this anxious, injured all season, wanting to prove himself fine young rookie. Give the kid a break - fire Dunleavy now - he sucks. Without getting into specifics since it’s almost 3:30AM Mr. Coaching Genius Mike Dunleavy mishandles Thornton terribly. Yes I know Al’s playing great right now and BTW I’ve always liked Al’s work even when some were trashing him in the off season. He didn’t deserve it. However Mr. Genius Dunleavy does not know how to talk to players. Just last week in a nice piece in the LATimes about Thornton the column ends with comments by Dunleavy who’s punchline is that of course when Blake Griffen is ready to play Thornton may have to sit since Mr.Genius is now thinking of playing Blake at small forward. Look, Blake looked great in summer league. I’m thinking he’s going to be great but it doesn’t look right now that he’ll play until mid-January at the earliest if then. So why does this genius coach the great motivator screw with the fragile Thornton in mid-December? Because Dunleavy sucks. He should be fired. He lost the team over a year ago at best. They only play up to their ability occasionally and that is Dunleavy’s fault and this is a good example of why he lost them. Think there’s a slight chance of LeBron coming to the Clips? Not if Dunleavy’s the coach. Brand (not so hot right now) flat out left because of Dunleavy. I should have started with the point that in motivating his players Dunleavy should have noticed that from the pre-season on when the case was being made that Butler should start (by all the Thornton doubters) when asked if he wants to start or come off the bench Butler said every single time “I don’t care, I’ll do whatever the coach asks” (He was new to the team) When asked the same questions Thornton replied every time “I want to start”.
I’m not saying he should, I’m saying in working on his team to succeed it’s the coaches job to handle the psychology of his players. It’s basic. Dunleavy is oblivious. Now per Sterling and Dunleavy Dunleavy’s job, retaining his job is on the back of rookie Blake Griffin. That a terrible weight to put on the back of this anxious, injured all season, wanting to prove himself fine young rookie. Give the kid a break – fire Dunleavy now – he sucks.

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]]> By: MichaelCage! http://clipperblog.com/2009/12/21/the-transformation-of-al-thornton/comment-page-1/#comment-30481 MichaelCage! Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:17:29 +0000 http://clipperblog.com/?p=4200#comment-30481 Al is not that old. His best years are still ahead of him. He is part of our "core" group with EJ & Blake, and perhaps DeAndre, if he ever get any playing time. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Derek Fisher are old...they have ten+ years on Al but they're still performing at championship level. Al is not that old. His best years are still ahead of him. He is part of our “core” group with EJ & Blake, and perhaps DeAndre, if he ever get any playing time. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Derek Fisher are old…they have ten+ years on Al but they’re still performing at championship level.

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]]> By: The Mid-Afternoon Milk Mustache, featuring R-O-D B-E-N Son | Stacheketball, an NBA Blog http://clipperblog.com/2009/12/21/the-transformation-of-al-thornton/comment-page-1/#comment-30474 The Mid-Afternoon Milk Mustache, featuring R-O-D B-E-N Son | Stacheketball, an NBA Blog Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:11:09 +0000 http://clipperblog.com/?p=4200#comment-30474 [...] The English: With only a third of the season behind him, Al Thornton has already seen a full year’s worth of change, severely struggling in the beginning and then pulling himself together as of late.  DJ Foster touches upon the adjustments Thornton made that helped him get back on the right track. [ClipperBlog] [...] [...] The English: With only a third of the season behind him, Al Thornton has already seen a full year’s worth of change, severely struggling in the beginning and then pulling himself together as of late.  DJ Foster touches upon the adjustments Thornton made that helped him get back on the right track. [ClipperBlog] [...]

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]]> By: Asperis http://clipperblog.com/2009/12/21/the-transformation-of-al-thornton/comment-page-1/#comment-30464 Asperis Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:31:29 +0000 http://clipperblog.com/?p=4200#comment-30464 Always been a huge fan of Thornton since we drafted him and even through his struggles. I really wish he were younger because he'd be great to add to that "core" group. Great write up D.J.! He certainly deserves some praise for the roller coaster transformation he's undergone. Always been a huge fan of Thornton since we drafted him and even through his struggles. I really wish he were younger because he’d be great to add to that “core” group.

Great write up D.J.! He certainly deserves some praise for the roller coaster transformation he’s undergone.

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]]> By: J'Rock http://clipperblog.com/2009/12/21/the-transformation-of-al-thornton/comment-page-1/#comment-30463 J'Rock Mon, 21 Dec 2009 16:30:20 +0000 http://clipperblog.com/?p=4200#comment-30463 Admitedly, I became a MAJOR Thornton Hater late into last season and early into this. Man, has that changed. AT has become a beast and his game has brought me back to giving major and I mean major props to my man.. What I love best is when he gets his game face on when the clips are starting to fade. As lawler calls it, 'Al runs back to defense grimmacing'. That's not grimmace, that's swagger that Al knows, get me the rock and I got this sh*t! When he does make that consistent J, Al is gonna be a machine. Al, Bg,Ej,BD, and Ck\Camby... Damn son!! Admitedly, I became a MAJOR Thornton Hater late into last season and early into this. Man, has that changed. AT has become a beast and his game has brought me back to giving major and I mean major props to my man.. What I love best is when he gets his game face on when the clips are starting to fade. As lawler calls it, ‘Al runs back to defense grimmacing’. That’s not grimmace, that’s swagger that Al knows, get me the rock and I got this sh*t! When he does make that consistent J, Al is gonna be a machine. Al, Bg,Ej,BD, and Ck\Camby… Damn son!!

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