Jax attitude sucks...let's start working on it today

by warriorsvictim on Jun 2, 2009 4:44 PM PDT Comment 29 comments

Stephen Jackson was second in the NBA this year with 18 technicals (1 behind the leader) with 2 ejections thrown in for good measure. He had countless moments where he allowed his frustration level to take him out of a play. I say "frustration", not referees or opponents, because we saw way too many plays where he didn't actually get fouled or he made a bad move and was embarassed about turning the ball over. Even if the ref did make a bad call, in my book 1 or 2 bad calls can happen in a game due to the human factor and you have to let them go.

We need to start a push today to send the message that this needs to be turned around. There is no way he can get his emotions under control alone or during the season. He needs help and a lot of it.

Here are my suggestions, I am looking for more. We cannot have the leader of our team saying the right things off the court and acting like a baby on it.

1) Nelson threatens to bench him every time he falls behind a play due to whining and complaining (after an initial grace period of 5 strikes). Nellie then has to man up and actualy bench the man. This will draw a ton of media attention and Jax should have too much pride to be called a bitch in the national media.

2) Hire a sports psychologist to work with him from now all the way through the season. Jax needs to work out his issues now and have a shoulder to lean on after games to reflect intelligently on what went down.

3) Hire someone like Jerry West to mentor the whole team as a team on what it takes to be a winner. If the whole team becomes more emotionally intelligent, it will really help the individuals who lag behind. I dont care if it costs $10 million for one season of coaching, if Cohan is serious about having any success, it would be worth it.

4) Force Jackson to ref games in lower level leagues. We have a couple in the Bay Area that are very competitive. After Jax gets shouted at a few times he might start to see how difficult it is to make the correct call every time and why a ref won't bail out a player on a bad move.

5) Reward success. If he starts to pull it together it should be a big deal to everyone in the Warriors organization, media, fan base, everything. The Mayor of Oakland should announce a freaking Stephen Jackson day if he finishes the first half of the season with 5 or fewer technical fouls, no ejections, and very few failures to get back on defense.

This FanPost is a submission from a member of the mighty Golden State of Mind community. While we're all here to throw up that W, these words do not necessarily reflect the views of the GSoM Crew. Still, chances are the preceding post is Unstoppable Baby!

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dude you should love his enthusiasm and leadership

sure he gets alot of tecs but you know he was a passion for the game

what do you want him to be like c50 and just do nothing and not give a crap?

i do get your point he gets too many techs but its not right to go crazy on him

hes the team leader, hes the emotional leader when it comes to heart him and randolph are at the front of the line.

by gswfan2 on Jun 2, 2009 5:42 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree with everything the original poster said. In regards to passion: I’m almost ok with Jackson getting techs (although some of his techs are just where he makes a stupid play and wants the referees to bail him out, and when they don’t, he flips). However, whats the most infuriating about Jackson is when he messes up/thinks he got fouled on the offensive end, he WILL NOT get back on defense, basically giving the opposition an easy basket. When most games are decided by a couple of points, these kind of lapses are inexcusable in my opinion.

by randolphforpresident on Jun 2, 2009 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree with both of you

There’s no excuse for not getting back on D or blowing up in a critical game moment.

On the other hand, the passion and the energy Jax brings basically every night are priceless. He is the emotional leader and teams have to have an emotional leader to be any good. Look at teams like New Orleans or Detroit – they lack this emotional leader and perform beneath their ability as a result. Randolph looks to share this with Jax – one of the reasons I think he’s going to be such a great player.

Jax needs to keep it a little better under control, but overall I love his passion. I also think it scares other teams sometimes; it’s a little intimidating.

by Neon on Jun 3, 2009 11:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think some techs are necessary to get your team fired up. I’m not saying all of his were of necessity but it does help when you get one at the right times.

WARRIORS BASKETBALL!!! Patiently waiting for a title...I may be waiting for a long time...

by JustSomeName on Jun 2, 2009 5:58 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Give Jax a break

I understand he gets a little frustrated sometimes but that’s only because he’s a passionate player, he really wants his team to win, the more we start winning, the less Jax will get techs….Also, his reputation is getting him half of those techs, there’s times where he gets techs that other players wouldn’t get for doing the same, it’s just how it is and Jax understands it……..as far as his leadership, I really think he’s the heart of this team right now, he has really stepped up his game, he takes time to encourage his teamates and says all the right things in his interviews. I really hope he stays with the Warriors long term and eventually get an assistant coach position with the Dubs, this is the kind of guy you want on your side when going to battle.

by ARandolph on Jun 2, 2009 6:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

You have got to be kidding me. Jax is on the far end of the spectrum in terms of throwing tantrums when he thinks a ref “blew” a call. How many other players have you seen jump up and down, waiving their arms like a 5 year old, when they don’t get a call? The only person I can think of is Jackson.

by randolphforpresident on Jun 2, 2009 10:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

number 4 would be a good idea for most nba guys. give a little back to the community and understand what it’s like to be a ref. it’d be really cool if you were a middle school or high school kid and jack or monta came in to assistant ref one of your games. that’d be a story you’d tell for a long time.

heart of a champion, will of the warrior.

by cap'n hack on Jun 2, 2009 6:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

man, that train left the station a LONG time ago, any hope of refining Jax’s demeanor evaporated with the extension RR game him …

by hardcore on Jun 2, 2009 6:08 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I laughed at #3

1) I know you don’t care if it cost 10million dollars to hire West because it’s not your money.
2) Do you really think Cohan cares that much about being successful? Cuz I sure don’t.
3) What makes you think he would listen to West? If Nelson, Jax’ coach, can’t or won’t discipline him I really think West would have no clout.

I think I’m Jax’ least favorite fan on this site and I’ve written about it many times. I’ve never cared for his game regardless of the some of the good things he’s done. I just stopped worrying about what he does so much because it’s a lost cause at this point.

Good thoughts and I mean no disrespect. I just don’t think it can/will ever happen. Keep your head up. It’s all we got.

by jnormous on Jun 2, 2009 7:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Right now he's the best player and clearly the leader of the Warriors

This is who he is and how he kept the team going even through all of the adversity. With a solid team behind him then he can control it enough to prevent his attitude from being a problem. During the last few seasons he has shown that he can maintain some of his composure, while still being captain Jack.

by T-Money on Jun 2, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I love StackJack!

Out of all the people involved with the organization from the players all the way up to ownership, Jack is the least responsible for the team’s struggles.

"At the end of the day, you've just got to put the ball in the hole."

by SPREEE4THREEE on Jun 2, 2009 10:37 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Amen!

F**K REFS

by faetati on Jun 3, 2009 1:36 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is stupid

jax getting heated and getting technicals were about the best part of last season

by hoopscorer23 on Jun 2, 2009 11:22 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

not exactly a ringing endorsment for the quality of last season.

heart of a champion, will of the warrior.

by cap'n hack on Jun 2, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're off your rocker

at least 16 of those technicals had a negative impact on the team. When you talk about taking a technical to prove a point there is a big difference between Greg Popovich doing it and Stephen Jackson. JAX gets T’d up for ridiculous stuff because of his reputation, and when he deserves a technical his antics involve him falling behind plays and looking for bailout calls.

And if you are more interested in his antics as entertainment than in seeing a real basketball game, then take a hike, you are in the wrong place

by warriorsvictim on Jun 3, 2009 10:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

he can be emotional and a leader

without all the Ts and tantrums that cost us points

Just look around the league and pick out all the team leaders, then look at the technical fouls and ejections stats. JAX’s number are ridiculous

by warriorsvictim on Jun 3, 2009 10:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

am i watching the same Jack?

i don’t know seems to me that jackson’s defense is very suspect. I have read many posts on many threads saying he is the best defender,doesn’t need any work on D, etc. but i have not seen it this past year!! he doesn’t move laterally he has waaay too many half-assed reach-ins(fatigue fouls?laziness?) i would hate to see this defense sans Turiaf saving the poor perimeter D every time. the ONLY time i have really seen Jackson this season D up like a couple years ago was vs. kobe. now i know he"carried" our offense and played ridiculous amounts of minutes so all is forgiven but i know he can do much much better next season. he needs to refocus his defensive mentality. Also, i love the guy but he really needs to stop handling the ball so much!!

by itsAteamGAME on Jun 3, 2009 12:56 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Exactly. If you factor in his lazy fouls and his inability to keep up with quicker guys, it almost laughable that people call him a “lockdown defender”.

by randolphforpresident on Jun 3, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Just curious who would you consider a "lockdown defender" out of anybody in the league?

by VERY VERY BUSY on Jun 3, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well, two players on the NBA title contenders I would call “lockdown defenders” are Trevor Ariza and Mikael Pietrus

by randolphforpresident on Jun 3, 2009 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's fair

Ariza and Peitrus. But would you have considered Peitrus a “lockdown” defender on the Warriors? No, he was a solid defender with us, but never elite. What does he have now? Defender of the year clogging up the lane behind him. Against the Cavs it was basically 1 on 5 so no matter what he had help. I didn’t hear much about Peitrus being elite until after the Cavs series.

Ariza has Kobe, Bynum and plays for Phil Jackson so I’m not convinced.

Jackson last season had Turiaf… sometimes. Jackson was ALWAYS on the opposing teams best player be it Dirk, Kobe, Wade, Hedo etc. Did he always shut them down? No. But he was always solid, yes always. He had little to no help, played for Don Nelson and was called on to do way too much on O.

by VERY VERY BUSY on Jun 4, 2009 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good points

by Neon on Jun 4, 2009 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I completely agree

Pietrus wasn’t considered anywhere near a lockdown defender until his team beat Cleveland despite his man going for 38 points a game. And while Ariza is a capable defender, I wouldn’t call him lockdown by any means. I’ve seen him get torched several games by less-than-elite offensive players. And it’s hard to call anybody on the Warriors a lockdown defender because the team as a whole lacks a defensive mindset. Lockdown defenders come from defensive-oriented teams, and the Warriors just aren’t that type of team. And it’s like you said, Jackson just has too big a role on the team right now and he never gets any rest. Hard to commit to lockdown defense when you have several other roles on the team to fill.

by LakerFan24 on Jun 6, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

In support of Jack

It’s similarly laughable when people fail to view him as an elite defender.

Lazy fouls usually don’t hurt you that much. They give the other team the ball out of bounds (non-shooting) or force the player to earn his points hitting free throws. It’s not like he gets himself into foul trouble, which would be a big problem. Also, while he isn’t as quick as some guys, he’s also usually not the same position as these quick guys. He’s really a small forward, though some (Nellie) might call him a shooting guard. He did a great job against Nowitzki, who’s a PF. I’m not saying that the lazy fouls are good, and I can’d condone it when he fails to get back after a missed call…

but I really believe Jack is an elite defender.

by Neon on Jun 3, 2009 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

+ 1

but I really believe Jack is an elite defender.

As do I

by VERY VERY BUSY on Jun 3, 2009 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

“he has waaay too many half-assed reach-ins(fatigue fouls?laziness?)”

This is what bothers me the most about Jackson. When he’s trying, his on ball D is usually pretty good (he doesn’t always match up well against real quick guys), but he doesn’t put in the consistent effort he needs to. (He’s also a pretty bad help defender, but whatever).

“Also, i love the guy but he really needs to stop handling the ball so much!!”

Amen.

by Missing Barry on Jun 3, 2009 2:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh yeah well

“That’s what I live for, I make love to pressure.” —Stephen Jackson
Anybody who says that after knocking down a game winning shot is awesome in my book.

He’s been my favorite player since he got here, and after last season the last thing on my mind is Jascksons antics after a call, blown or not. For all I care last season he could’ve gone to get a hot dog and instead of running back on D (no not really i’m just kidding). We had so many problems last year it made sweet little infant baby Jesus cry, so why should we single out one players problems over another?

by VERY VERY BUSY on Jun 3, 2009 2:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why?

Because these technicals are completely controllable if addressed properly. It is tough to take the ball out of his hands with a) Nelie coaching and b) no real point guard. It is impossible to teach Randolph and Morrow what to do in one season-they have to live the game for a while to get it.

Jack’s technicals can be completely stopped along with the failure to get back on D with a little effort.

Conisdering how close the playoff race is in the West, winning those nail-biter games are worth the effort. Imagine if Jackson got back on defense on every play that night LeBron hit the game winning shot…..that shot potentially wouldnt have mattered because the Warriors would be several points ahead.

by warriorsvictim on Jun 3, 2009 3:18 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

exactly

when games are usually won by only a couple points, and someone is consistently making obvious, easily correctable mistakes (not getting back on d) you are basically asking to lose. While you can’t control how you shoot on any given night, you can control things like this, and therefore to simply dismiss these plays as “Jack being Jack” is pretty shortsighted in light of how these plays affect the overall outcome of the game.

by randolphforpresident on Jun 3, 2009 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs