Gotnext Women's Basketball Boards

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

Is Graf better than Maher?

I'm not going to dignify that statement with a proper response because that's a HUGE insult to any coach if you say that :roll:

eaction83 · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 130 Location: Fremont, CA

For the people who think Coop is the source of all ills and that she should be replaced with Graf, or Sharp, or whoever, all I can say is "be careful what you wish for".

For two years I listened to fans on the Sacramento board complain nonstop about Sonny Allen, how his "weave offense" in the halfcourt was too old fashioned and that the team's softness was his fault because his coaching style was too passive (no yelling, and very little animation). Everyone was convinced he was holding the team back, and that if Sacramento would just get rid of him and replace him with Maura McHugh, she of the run to the ABL title game with Yo in Long Beach, everything would be all right. Well they sure got their wish all right, and look where it's got them. They're still a soft, heartless team, the "weave offense" scheme has given way to the "no offense" scheme, and even if they're 100% healthy from opening day they still don't beat Los Angeles this year. It's not her fault that Yo and Ticha are injured, which would be a devastating blow to any team, but they still should have beaten LA last week, and they should have beaten Washington tonight.

cbibat · Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 232

Keegan, I'm serious... why is Graf better than Maher? If people want to judge because she's been an assistant coach over here then I don't think she's shown anything.

She's won and lost in Australia with Veal and Jackson, Maher won and lost without them.... Who had the better record?

I remember from some of the Aussie boards that Maher was not popular with the fans but was perceived by the basketball powers as successful for a long time. I remember that she was up for Olympic coach but the gossip was that she didn't get it because of her interest in coaching in the WNBA.

so Keegan, please, for this ignorant American, build a case for Graf

Keegan · Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 977

The weave is one of the most ludicrous offenses I've ever seen. The reason why the Monarchs are struggling is because of their injuries (lack of quality depth) and they rely A LOT on Yo. She's their offensive focus and their defensive focus. She epitomises their system and without her, they'd struggle (as they are showing now).

As for Tom, well I'd said it a couple of thousand times before but Tom doesn't know how to sub nor does he know how to coach offense. He's just lucky that his wife was the ex-captain of the Opals and that BA loved him. We won the silver medal due to talent not due to coaching. If we had a decent coach, that gold medal game would've been competitive.

There are few coaches worse than Tom Maher (Agler might be on his level though and at least Tom doesn't rant like Coop ;) ). It's difficult to compare Tom and Carrie's records as coaches because Tom hasn't coached a full season in the WNBL for quite a while and when he won all his WNBL titles, those were back in the scrubby days when one team had all the talent.

As for Carrie, she's a solid coach. She knows her Xs and Os (can't say that about a couple of the other coaches in the league *cough*) and she knows how to act appropriately. Rumours are that she's being groomed for the Storm head coach job so doesn't like the Merc will be able to get her anyways.

And yes, asking whether anyone is better than Tom Maher is a mortal insult to any coach.

SportsFan48 · Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1136

I have to admit, I was one saying give Cooper a chance. My optimistic side still wants to believe she could transform into a great coach. However, she lost a great deal of my respect during the Sacramento game. And now, I say she should go.

She should have been a assistant with Houston, but her ego would never allow her to be second fiddle. She would have had a loyal fan base however.

While I agree Graf would make a good coach, I do have a concern and that is her involvement during the off season. We already had a coach with another off-season agenda and I am not sure I would like to go there again.

Certainly there are deserving and qualified women out there who could give us their undivided attention without having to deal with their egos and their on court and off court antics. I think you call it professional.

gia · Guest

Ok, maybe Carrie is not the answer. I don't think she'd come back here anyway. Certainly there's an experienced coach (X's and O's, AND people skills) that can drive this team on the court without driving fans out the door and some players out of their game.

bballprincess31 · Guest Joined: 13 Jun 2002 Posts: 40

Someone once mentioned that if Van was to resign from being coach that maybe Cynthia would take the job. Not that this would work out anyways, but Cynthia Cooper coaching Sheryl Swoopes....there is no way that would ever happen. Despite Cynthia's successes in Houston, I think Sheryl has more seniority.

Red · Guest Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 32 Location: Glendale, AZ

gia....just noticed your avatar with the added flag. :lol: That is hilarious. Your humor is definitely appreciated!

caune · Guest Joined: 12 Jun 2002 Posts: 1562 Location: Phoenix

First, there are many qualified coaches, male and female, who could coach this team.....but the obvious choice is of course, Peggy Gillom, she has WNBA experience as an assitant to Van, she also has head coaching experience in college.
Other college coaches who rumor has it might jump include Leon Barmore, Andy Launders (but he's nuts), and Wendy Larry
There are also many good assistants including Kevin Cook who has assisted Van for years, any Tennesse or UCONN assistant, especially Mickie DeMoss (although they haven't shown interest in moving to the pros)
There's a Coach in Oz, name of Jenny Cheeseman, she'd be fun just for the name value :)

cc · Guest Joined: 26 Jun 2002 Posts: 11

Cooper needs to take herself and babies a train back to Houston. She obviously needs to take some training in coaching, people skills, communication skills. Her issues with Lisa seems so immature, maybe Brandy learned all that from her. The way I saw the games, Lisa is the only one hustling and bustling out there, while the other players barely shuffle their feet, they don't get yelled at or put on the bench.
I think Cooper is just out to get Lisa, to get traded or something...But Lisa is the one that's putting people in the seats, not Cooper. Without Lisa, there wouldn't be that many people at the Mercury games, few fans, no Mercury team, get it?
Lisa can't help it but attract too much attention, not by her choice, Cooper doesn't get attention as much here, maybe in Houston, but you're in Princess's home court now, accept it or ship out.
:P

Dunkin' Dan · Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2002 6:41 pm Post subject:

COOPER QUITS?

Someone on the ESPN board is saying that Coop has resigned and it takes effect as of right now.

Can anyone confirm? This is huge news if true.

eaction83 · Guest Joined: 14 Jun 2002 Posts: 130 Location: Fremont, CA

Most college coaches worth a damn aren't going to have much interest in jumping to the WNBA right now, because of the job security issues. Not just the risk of being fired in two or three years if they don't win right away, but also the risk that the league might not even be around in two or three years.

That said, Gillom might be enticeable, because with her 43-68 record in four years at A&M and no winning seasons, she might be looking for work soon anyway.

AJSpark · Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2002 10:13 pm Post subject:

There's a great women's coach out there who got shafted out of the head coaching job at Vandy by sloppy record-keeping at his alma mater, Miami U of Ohio: Former Colorado State coach Tom Collen. He's a fine coach and good person, knows how to recruit, how to coach a team to play to win, and how to relate to his players with respect....no WNBA experience, but he might be worth considering...and he's still available. :)