Mark Jackson expects the Golden State Warriors to be a play-off team next season – NBA Update
The former NBA player and analyst Mark Jackson has stepped into a new phase of his basketball career by taking the responsibilities of head coach for the first time. The 17 year NBA veteran took charge of the Golden State Warriors,
after the franchise parted way with their first year coach Keith Smart earlier this week. Smart who had a two year contact with the Warriors was fired after he led the Warriors to a lowly 12th seed in the Western Conference during the 2010-2011
regular season.
The former point guard already has some bold predictions to make for the Warriors though and has proclaimed that the Warrior will be a playoff worthy team this season. "I fully expect, put it in bold letters, the Golden State Warriors
to be a playoff team next year. If I did not expect that, I would not have taken the job, and I won't minimize it with just being a playoff team. We are looking to turn the Bay Area upside down."
The Golden State Warriors have managed to clinch a pay-off berth only once since 1994. They have been down and out in the recent years and have struggled big time against the best teams of the league. Looking at the bright talent
on the roster in Golden State, the prediction made by the first-time coach Jackson is not impossible; however it certainly requires hard work, accompanied by a robust defensive system.
The 46 year old Mark played for 17 seasons as a point guard in NBA. New York Knicks drafted him in 1987 as the 18th overall pick. Mark formed a formidable trio with Charles Oakley and Patrick Ewing to turn the Knicks
into play-off contenders. The prolific point guard became a major double-double threat right from his rookie season and averaged 13.6 points and 10.6 assists to nab the Rookie of the Year award in 1988. With over 10,000 assists in his sparkling career, Mark
hold the third spot in the NBA’s All-time assist list.
Although Mark has never coached any team before, however he does not consider it a big deal and said, "Some would say I'm naive, but I don't think that's a big deal. I've been a leader my entire life. Every team I ever played for,
I was a leader, I was really an extension of the coach on the floor. I know that's cliché, but it really was in my position. I was a guy that no coach ever told me what set to run offensively.”
Jackson might not have the experience of coaching; however he has spent nearly 17 years as an influential player in different sides and guided the teams 14 times into the play-offs. Considering his record as a player and his proven
leadership qualities, he might just be the right man to take the Warriors forward.
Tags: