The New Orleans Pelicans should hire Sam Cassell.
Cassell Brings Discipline
If you know anything about Doc Rivers, you know he is a player’s coach, but one who demands accountability.
His players like him, but he is not a guy who lets the inmates run the asylum, Doc demands respect and accountability and the players seem to respond.
If you watched Brandon Ingram loafing back on defense or pouting on the bench, if you watched Jaxson Hayes make the same silly mistakes or Lonzo slump his shoulders and missing a defense assignment after missing a shot, then you know the Pelicans need a coach who demands and gets respect.
They need a coach to install some discipline to clean up the endless bonehead turnovers, some accountability so that when players don’t run back they get benched for someone who will.
Watching the Clippers play Dallas last night, one thing stuck out:
Montrezl Harrell did not run back on defense, which led to a easy bucket for Dallas. Cassell was the first one off the bench, meeting Harrell at half court to yell at him for not getting back.
Harrell didn’t get angry or fire back, but nodded at Cassell as if to say “My bad, coach, it won’t happen again,” and it didn’t.
The New Orleans Pelicans need that kind of coach, a guy who has the players’ respect but isn’t afraid to get in their faces when they need it.
Cassell is well-liked and well-respected by the players and will demand accountability, which is exactly what this young team needs.