12-29-2014, 01:49 PM
Most people evaluate coaches -- and players -- by what they can do to elevate an average situation (like Illinois) to an extraordinary one. But I don't think that's the right metric, because, as he notes with Shaw-and-Stanford, success is often situational. I'm not sure Saban's approach works well outside of a situation where you can gather hordes of NFL-ready talent. (But it works so, so well there.)
And I think some players are only valuable on good teams. That's probably most true in basketball, where a "glue guy" -- to use a VERY RANDOM example like Fred Washington -- is most useful for a really good team. Mike Dunleavy's a nice small forward for my favorite pro team, but I wouldn't want him for the 76ers.
And I think some players are only valuable on good teams. That's probably most true in basketball, where a "glue guy" -- to use a VERY RANDOM example like Fred Washington -- is most useful for a really good team. Mike Dunleavy's a nice small forward for my favorite pro team, but I wouldn't want him for the 76ers.