A Geriatric Smell

He’s a good dude.

really doesnt work on this team anymore, Andre and Marcus are vets vets. Roy and LMA are heading into their fifth year

Yet, the same can’t be said for Bernie Bickerstaff and Bob Ociepka, so let’s disregard age here; rather, let’s focus on Bickerstaff and Ociepka’s history of inadequacy.

I already laid it out the other day regarding Ociepka’s abysmal track record, while Bickerstaff’s reign over the past 20 years — which includes stops in places like Denver, Washington, Charlotte, et cetera — has been substandard.

Though, before his score (i.e., 20 years) of loserdom, Bickerstaff admittedly did pretty well as an assistant in Washington during the ‘70s/early-’80s, while he had a decent run as a head coach in Seattle during the late-‘80s; however, that’s long, long time ago.

But yeah, take that for whatever it’s worth to y’all. I mean, heck, I can’t help it at all if you folks want to get your hopes up for no good reason, since you’ve got the right to lie to yourselves. Y’know, um, I’m not a fan of the ol’ adage “ignorance is bliss,” but it seems like a lot of people live their lives — while wearing rose-colored glasses — by that clichéd platitude.

I was aiming more just for sarcasm, but I can see where my comments could be taken as mean spirited. I describe the choices as experienced and compentent. I also say I think the choices are fine.

I really meant my two points to be more about McMillan simultaneously speaking of changing the chemistry, and being open to change, while I think making very conservative choices. Again, as I said, as a fan I don’t think we will ever really know as we don’t see the behind the scenes dynamics of the coaching staff, but I have doubts about hiring an old time mentor and friend in Bickerstaff and then expecting him to be a catalyst of expansion or change.

I suppose my second concern is that it was rumored that Monty Williams was the assistant coach that related to the players the most directly. Monty was relatively young. I wonder how Bickerstaff, Ociepka and Buck will relate to the younger players on the Blazer staff and who will fill that aspect of the role.

While yes, perhaps I crossed the line in some of my comments, I did not mean that Bickerstaff, Ociepka and Buck cannot be a good or even great coaching staff. But I do think there are reasons to question. With the departure of Monty Williams, Dean and Prunty I do think it valid to say that McMillan chose replacements that offered experience but not replacements that that I think are going to push McMillans coaching envelope.

I guess my personal philosophy…and I myself am not a kid, is that age or even a long time connection in one field does not automatically entitle one to respect, or even mean that the person is necessarily great. It may, or may not. Young fools often become Old Fools.

But I did not mean to suggest that age in of itself was a bad thing. These guys have the jobs now. I’ll watch as a fan. I think McMillan does need to expand as a coach, so I hope he chose assistants that will aide in this area. My ultimate evaluation will not be based on age, or whether they carry an iPod or an AARP card, my ultimate evaluation will be based on any improvements or lack of improvement I see on the court.

The young waitresses in restaurants now ask me if I qualify for the senior discount. I tell myself it’s because my hair has turned “prematurely” silver. But who am I kidding? I’m closer to Bickerstaff, Ociepka and Buck than I am Batum and Oden.

I don’t really care what age I am chronologically or what the average age of the Blazer coaching staff might be, what I care about is the ability to embrace change when needed and bring some new ideas to the table. If the Space Cowboys can do it? Then I’ll be the first to buy them breakfast off the senior menu at Dennys.