Mazzulla ain’t it. I’ve said this since last season. They’re going nowhere with him at the helm. I seriously think his anti-emotional disposition will never work. Basketball is a passionate game. He lacks passion. So he cannot inspire.

I feel the same about Darvin Ham for the Lakers. I like Ham a lot more as a person, but his unfortunate life I think has also led him to closeted/inauthentic seeming passion, and thus it doesn’t translate down to players.

Contrast him to Ime for the Rockets and Daigneault for the Thunder, respectively. Guys just buy in so hard to them as coaches, them as trustworthy, them as passionate, them as on their side.

It takes high level X-and-O’s and high level empathetic passion, to win in this league.