Cho Is To Blame For Lance

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

With Michael Jordan as owner, however, Cho doesn't get the last word on decisions. According to a source familiar with Charlotte's inner workings, the voice that MJ relies on most is that of Curtis Polk, an analytics agnostic who conducts Jordan's business affairs and serves as the Hornets' vice chairman. And with pressure from Jordan to accelerate the Hornets' efforts to contend, the team made the ill-fated decision to sign Lance Stephenson over the objections of the analytics staff. ESPN.com

NOTE: Title supposed to read CHO IS NOT TO BLAME FOR LANCE (Mistyped the title).

Maybe this will cause people to change their opinion on Cho.

Should have not listened to Polk.

[cbarrier90]

NOTE: Title supposed to read CHO IS NOT TO BLAME FOR LANCE (Mistyped the title).

Maybe this will cause people to change their opinion on Cho.

Should have not listened to Polk.

 

I have read the article you're referencing (I believe it's ESPN's take on which teams in their respective sports most use analytics) and unfortunately it comes as no surprise. Need the link, btw.

 

However, in defense of Polk and Jordan, there was alot of hype surrounding the rebrand, and having struck out on Gordon Hayward, the opportunity was there to acquire a good young talent who had made a name for himself in the playoffs the previous season and would provide an upgrade at the 2 guard spot that we desperately needed. I don't think there's any question that from a financial and marketing perspective, getting Lance was a home run even moreso than a less-recognizable Gordon Hayward, and it was very difficult to find folks inside the fanbase who WEREN'T excited about the possibilities, even if the analytics showed that we should have been prepared for what was coming (basically a Gerald Henderson/MKG hybrid.)

 

Also, from Cho's perspective, having lost out on Hayward and seeing Lance's market dry up, you had an opportunity to get a budding star at only 23 years old on a very team friendly deal that could be easily jettisoned if it didn't work out for some good value in return. Even most of the analytics crowd that didn't like the move agreed that this was a very good play simply because we had nothing to lose and everything to gain.

 

The biggest issue obviously is Lance's performance has literally been about as bad as it could possibly be to the point where this 23 year old budding star on a team friendly deal has now turned into an albatross that we may not even be able to get rid of in the offseason when he's essentially an expiring deal. However, Lance's signing has exposed some flaws within the team that were thought to be strengths:

 

1. This team is too young and doesn't have enough of a culture or veteran leadership to put Lance in his place. It was said that the biggest reason we won last season was because the team chemistry was so great, and it was. But the same chemistry thought to be the change of scenery Lance needed was anything but, to the point where the team "chemist" Jannero Pargo isn't even on the roster anymore. The Bobcats played so well down the stretch because they were (and still are) a young team growing together, not a Mavs or Spurs or even Miami where the pecking order is already established.

 

2. Steve Clifford isn't the Budenholzer-esque revelation we all thought he was. Now, don't get me wrong, Cliff is a solid NBA coach and easily the best in the current era of Charlotte NBA basketball and completely changed the culture, however, he still has flaws as a head coach since he's dealing with things he didn't have to deal with in his first season. His unwillingness to change rotations that aren't working, unwillingness to play younger players in favor of washed up veterans, and complete lack of ingenuity on the offensive end are very worrisome signs and call back to the ugly end of the Larry Brown era. That said, the roster is completely flawed and he should be given at least another year. He's still learning the ropes too like a majority of the roster he's coaching.

 

3. MJ is still learning as an owner. Again, another situation where the franchise has ventured into unchartered territory with expectations and cap space. MJ has come a loooooonnnnng way since his DC days but he isn't perfect. Hopefully he and the rest of the organization look at the Lance signing and learn from it so they can improve and don't make the same mistake again.

 

I agree with those that somehow still take Lance's side in the sense that he might as well not have even been a player but a 3 year 27 million dollar expose' about what's still wrong with the organization at a time when the organization could do know wrong. That said, there's only one person to ultimately blame here, and that's Lance Stephenson for statistically being one of the worst NBA players of 2014-15.

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, I still contend that lane's signing was more to do with the rebrand than anything to do with on-board production. I just think there was no way they saw it going this badly.

[PantherBrew]

The best thing about Lance is that he can't play any worse. 

 

If he even improves to an average player, it will seem like he is a star, relatively speaking.  

[Cary Kollins]

We signed Lance to a very team-friendly deal and it was widely viewed as a good signing at the time.

 

 

No one is really to blame except Lance for not living up to his potential.

[Zaximus]

It is a weird situation.  I'm not mad at all we signed him.  It was a good move at the time after our other options were gone.  He had a good year in Indy and looked poised.  NO ONE could have imagined he would tank this bad.  No one.   

 

Sometimes it just happens I guess.  

[TheRed]

I don't blame Cho or Jordan. They were trying to make the team competitive, it just didn't work out.

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, I still contend that lane's signing was more to do with the rebrand than anything to do with on-board production. I just think there was no way they saw it going this badly.

Smh, this about the 3rd or 4th post over the last 24 hours that I went back and read and realized my auto correct completely butchered it into almost complete incomprehension. Son of a bitch...

[Wundrbread33]

The reason teams avoided Lance this past offseason was not because of his ability or lack there of, but his attitude. No one was questioning the kids ability to ball, and if they say so now, then they are lying.

 

I still like the move, because it shows we are serious about competing. Everyone knew his attitude sucked...but no one knew his play would also start to suck. Not MJ's fault, Cho's, or Polk's.

[carpanfan96]

Al jefferson and Lance Stephenson were both Jordan moves, kinda been saying this from the beginning. 

[Omega Atrocity]

Cho is the blame for Kemba, Zeller and Hendo

He's to blame for 3 of our most consistent players? Wow, you must like him a lot.

[Omega Atrocity]

I don't blame anyone for the Lance signing, it was a good risk, just still a risk. They don't always work out.

[Implied Volatility]

Lance was a risk worth taking. So I don't "blame" anyone.