Assistant coach candidate profiles: Michael Malone
Below is the second post in a series looking at potential Lakers assistant coaches. We'll look at Michael Malone, whom The Times' Broderick Turner reported might be hired by new Coach Mike Brown. The New Orleans Times-Picayune's John Reid also reported that the Hornets have given Malone permission to interview with the Lakers.
Background: Malone is currently the No. 1 assistant under Hornets Coach Monty Williams, but an NBA official briefed on the matter told Turner that the Hornets are mulling their options with Malone. CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that Malone is also considered a candidate for the Golden State Warriors' vacant head-coaching spot, but various reports indicate that he's not the favorite. Prior to his stint with the Hornets, Malone, son of longtime NBA coach Brendan Malone, was with Cleveland, after spending four seasons with the New York Knicks, originally joining that team under Jeff Van Gundy in 2001 as an associate coach and then becoming an assistant coach under Don Chaney in May 2003. His other coaching stints include his start at Oakland (Mich.) University, a three-year stay at Providence College (1995-98), one year at Virginia (1998-1999) and two years as the lead assistant at Manhattan College (1999-2001),
Malone has kept his offseason fairly busy, serving as an assistant coach for the Canadian Men's Senior National team since 2007 and guiding them to a top-four finish in the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship. Other coaching stints in the offseason have included being the head coach for Cleveland's summer-league entry and coaching the Knicks' summer-league teams for two seasons.
Connection to Brown: Malone worked with Brown in Cleveland for five years before the Cavaliers fired Brown after the 2009-2010 season. Before joining the Hornets' staff the following season, Malone was given the responsibility of managing the Cavaliers' defense and proved to be a huge reason why they thrived in that area.
Style: Malone also played role of a defense-minded coach when he joined New Orleans last season, helping the Hornets become the NBA's fifth-ranked defensive team, allowing only 94 points per game, and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009. Turner reported that should Malone be hired, Brown would likely give him similar duty in overseeing the team's defense. "It's not just about X's and O's at times," Malone told reporters when he joined the Hornets' coaching staff. "It's how you communicate and how you buy in and be committed to what you're trying to preach."
-- Mark Medina
E-mail the Lakers blog at mgmedin@gmail.com
REPORT: DWIGHT HOWARD CLOSE TO EXTENSION WITH ORLANDO90
By Daniel Buerge for Lakers Nation
http://www.lakersnation.com/report-dwight-howard-close-to-extension-with-orlando/2011/05/31/
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According to Dime Magazine, Dwight Howard may be close to signing an extension with the Orlando Magic. This comes as bad news to Laker fans, who have been campaigning for Howard to join Los Angeles since the Lakers' untimely exit from this year's playoffs.
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Rumor has it the extension is ready and only needs Howard's signature to make it official. The deal would keep Howard in an Orlando uniform for four more seasons.
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There is still a chance that Howard leaves Orlando, and much of that depends on the organizations ability to build a championship caliber team around him. After trying to do so this past season by adding players like Gilbert Arenas, the Magic have made it clear they want Howard to stay and they want to win with him in Orlando. Whether or not they can satisfy Howard with the pieces they have is yet to be seen
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TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | May 31, 2011 at 01:19 PM
@TIM-4-SHOW ... “LakerTom, I think Dirk is already far and away better than Pau Gasol regardless of what happens in these finals. He now has led HIS team to the finals TWICE and has an MVP to go with it. These playoffs the guy has been totally unstoppable. Gasol has always needed Kobe to be considered the "best power forward" - and this season not even Kobe could get Gasol to live up to anything near that accolade.
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I agree 100% with your comments about Pau and Dirk. If Dirk continues to play at this level, the Mavs have a real chance to make up for their choke job in 2006 and Dirk has a real shot at MVP. Bottom line, he is showing that he is a player who can carry a team – something that Pau has never proven. In fact, choking as the #2 option could very well result in his being traded for a point guard.
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TOM
Posted by: LakerTom | May 31, 2011 at 01:25 PM
Gasol earned his ticket out of here. He is what we thought he was.
If you can get a top notch point guard do it. Lamar at power forward is not a bad fill-in.
Deron Williams would be perfect. Bigger than Chris Paul with all the amenities.
Posted by: Troll Man | May 31, 2011 at 01:40 PM
Sort of a slow (news) day out here in Lakerblog land... I guess we're all holding our collective breath and praying that Mavs steal game 1
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 31, 2011 at 02:15 PM
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 31, 2011 at 02:15 PM
yes people are hung over from yesterday thats why, but anyway as much as we want or hope, the Cheat will win! :(
but then again, I'm not exactly crazy about the Mavs. I hate the Mavs, especially Jason Terrier
Posted by: Tech N9ne | May 31, 2011 at 02:51 PM
@MM – Excellent piece on Kareem’s documentary on the Harlem Rens. Kudos to Kareem for helping educate the world on their greatness.
Also great job by Kareem in setting the record straight for Scottie Pippen. I know Kareem didn’t want to trumpet his own cause, but he is truly the greatest scorer this game has ever seen and the GOAT in my opinion.
Posted by: LRob2 | May 31, 2011 at 02:56 PM
LakerTom,
I think Dirk is already far and away better than Pau Gasol regardless of what happens in these finals. He now has led HIS team to the finals TWICE and has an MVP to go with it. These playoffs the guy has been totally unstoppable. Gasol has always needed Kobe to be considered the "best powerforward" - and this season not even Kobe could get Gasol to live up to anything near that accolade.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | May 31, 2011 at 01:16 PM
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I agree. Dirk is an has been a franchise, Pau is an all-star. I never agreed with all the talk of him being the best PF or skilled big man. He's a very good player , but Laker fans tend to overrate him.
Posted by: LRob2 | May 31, 2011 at 03:01 PM
LRob & Tim-4-Show,
Agree 100%. When Pau was the #1 player on his team, he never won a single playoff GAME, let alone a series.
Dirk has now been the #1 player taking his team to the finals twice.
Though admittedly, Dirk had better help in both cases.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | May 31, 2011 at 03:13 PM
So I haven't read much in the last week or so.
Sounds like Dwight wants to stay in Orlando and is just about to sign an extension. So who do you think the Lakers should try to acquire this summer?
I'm sure I'll be proposing some stoopid trade proposals in the coming months, but I'm curious what players people think the Lakers could actually get who would help.
Posted by: LongTimeLakerFan | May 31, 2011 at 03:19 PM
Comparing players from 50 years ago to today is a waste of time. Wilt was great because he was a rare 7 footer. Today, 7 footers play the 3 spot. The athleticism of today's game is overlooked, with guys literally jumping out of the gym. Put Shaq against Wilt and see who wins. My money would be on Shaq given his overall physical dominance. Remember Shaq literally destroying the double team of Tim Duncan and David Robinson a decade ago?
Posted by: John Chernesky | May 31, 2011 at 01:56 PM
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John,
No, I don’t remember Shaq DESTROYING the Duncan/Drob combo. I do remember Shaq having good series vs. them, but more than anything I remember Kobe carrying the load more vs. the Spurs since Shaq was going against the twin towers. (Remember after one of Kobe's particular impressive outing vs. the Spurs Shaq declared Kobe was the greatest player in the game) Shaq playoff #’s usually went down vs. SA while Kobe’s went up. Here’s a breakdown of their numbers in the 5 postseason matchups with the Duncan/DRob Spurs btw 99-04:
99 Shaq 24pts/13reb/1blk Kobe 21pts/7reb/4asst
01 Shaq 27pts/13reb/3blk Kobe 33pts/7reb/7asst
02 Shaq 21pts/12reb/3blk Kobe 26pts/5reb/5ast
03 Shaq 25pts/14reb/3blk Kobe 32pts/5reb/4asst
04 Shaq 23pts/16reb/2blk Kobe 26pts/7reb/7asst
Posted by: LRob2 | May 31, 2011 at 03:50 PM
LRob2 - Thanks for the feedback. It's much appreciated. By the way, everyone can see Kareem's documentary on Netflix. I'd highly encourage everyone to see it. It's very comprehensive and well put together.
Posted by: Mark Medina | May 31, 2011 at 07:02 PM