I said it earlier in this thread...JBB gets the most out of players who aren't super talented, but have a lot to prove and will play hard, team ball every second they're on the court. That's why he exceeded expectations before we got Mitchell, that's why the team looks good once our stars went down.
There's something really weird with the Mitchell and JBB dynamic. JBB's own philosophy, changes, when he's there.
He's prone to just go with 'proven players' only, feeling the expectations are much different, like we're in win now mode, he can't afford to go the developmental approach at all (hence why Porter Jr is a no show), but it's like he can't walk a fine line with it. He can either go one way, or the other. And he can't figure a way to juggle both.
I think part of why he gets so much out of guys, is his encourages them to play more freely. I think the other night, I won't lie, this impressed me. Merrill had a shot, didn't take it, and it was a questionable shot for him, and JBB yelled at him to 'shoot it'. He was encouraging him to shoot the ball, without a stop sign.
He will install confidence in these guys to play, without reservations. I got to give him that. And I think the players actually do like him playing for him, the younger guys. Not so sure about the veterans TBH..
I never found JBB unlikable, just his coaching infuriates me at times. Comes across extremely likable, could easily have a beer with him and just bullshit with him.
