Ease Up on Mark Jackson, For “Mama’s” Sake

Storyline: This man did nothing but good during his tenure as coach. So why are we still on him even after his firing, two years later!?

Say what you will about the success of the Golden State Warriors under the coaching of Steve Kerr but don’t condemn the job Mark Jackson did as if he under achieved during his tenure. Of course, the major markets and the exciting stories make up most of the coverage. Once the championship run began, and it became clear that the Warriors were on pace for a 65+ win season, the national attention came.

Analyst looked at the team and immediately praised Warriors management for firing Jackson as if he was holding the team back. The problem is, while Kerr’s winning got national acclaim, Jackson’s winning went unnoticed.

Courtesy: blogs.mercurynews.com

As the first coach hired by the new management of the Warriors headed by the great Jerry West, Mark Jackson took the Warriors to the playoffs for the first time since the 2006 season. The Warriors made back to back playoff appearances for the first time since 1992. These playoff appearances came in year 2 and 3 of Jackson’s three year tenure.

Those playoff exits, the final two seasons of Jackson’s tenure, came at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers, two teams Kerr’s Warriors did not have to face on their playoff route. The Warriors consistently improved under Jackson, his final year being their first 50 win season in twenty years.

To understand why, just looking at the end results of each season won’t tell you enough of the story; one must observe the actual happenings of the Warriors’ seasons under Jackson. In Jackson’s first year, a lockout season (2010-11), Curry suffered from multiple ankle sprains and had season ending ankle surgery. Curry played 26 of 66 games and the Warriors were 23-43.

The next year, the Warriors acquired Andrew Bogut to be their defensive anchor; however Bogut was out indefinitely with an injured right knee that led to a micro fracture surgery that ended his season. Jackson used Festus Ezeli extensively that season, only to lose him for the entire following season due to a knee injury.

Despite numerous injury setbacks, he still managed a playoff appearance. Soon after, Jackson was given a two year contract extension and the Warriors went 47-35. In response to trust given, in his final year, Jackson led the Warriors to their first 50 win season in twenty years. The Warriors battled early but ultimately lost to the Clippers in round 1. However no one can accuse either Warriors teams being an easy opponent.

The biggest assessment of Jackson’s time I find fault with is the utilization of the roster. Remembering the contributions of a Harrison Barnes and Shaun Livingston off the bench for Kerr but forgetting that of a Jarret Jack or Carl Landry under Jackson. Worst than that is the criticism Jackson receives for playing David Lee more minutes than Draymond Green. Green was a rookie in Jackson’s second year coaching and Lee was the highest paid player on the team making roughly 13.5 million a year from his 6yr/$80 million dollar contract.

Courtesy: huffingtonpost.com

I am astounded by the lack of understanding as to why Jackson played the highest paid player over the rookie as if it’s easy to just bench Lee after management made such an investment. The decision was made easier for Kerr as a result of Lee being injured with a left hamstring and missing 24 games allowing Green to see a major increase in minutes. Now Lee is gone to Boston and Green just inked a new deal with the Warriors.

The team simply matured and healed under Kerr. This is not to knock Kerr’s contribution but clearly a team recently undefeated under Luke Walton doesn’t need much “x and o” talk. Mark Jackson did a fine job yet is misrepresented for his years in Golden State. Mark Jackson now sits as a commentator, having been out of coaching for 2 seasons after winning 50 + games. Credit the success of the Golden State Warriors under Kerr as you should, but ease up on Mark Jackson.