Can NBA coaches really control their teams ?

Pundits have always claimed that the NBA is a players league and recent events cast serious consideration of that premise.

The New Orleans Pelicans, one of the leagues up and coming teams are displaying a curious method of ball distribution especially as it relates to superstar power forward Anthony Davis. The third year pro is currently on the short list to become the best in the game right behind LeBron James and Kevin Durrant. ( Davis is the leading west all star vote getter so far. Yes, that means that Kevin Durrant may have started his last all star game in the west)?

More than a few experts have commented on the lack of love Davis (9.3 FGA) gets from his teammates in the form of passes. As great as he has performed so far it is absolutely stunning how many times he is overlooked by guards Jrue Holiday( 14.0 FGA) and Tyreke Evans (15.5 FGA) source, NBA.com.

Now to be fair, big men in the NBA have always experienced frustration waiting for some one else to deliver the ball to them. To this day I remain astonished at how Kareem Abdul Jabbar is still the all time leading scorer without the benefit of three point shooting and having to wait for another person to give him the ball ?

So who coaches this team?

It’s only fair to ask why wouldn’t the coach of the Pelicans implore his players to make sure to feature their future hall of famer in the offense or maybe even run their offense through him ?

Unless he couldn’t……

Pelicans head coach Monty Williams is a respected and well prepared coach who hales from the San Antonio Spurs coaching stable. Coach Williams teams are known for their defense and work ethic.

So why can’t he get his guards to give up the rock ?

Coach Williams was quoted as saying Davis should shoot more….hmmn? To be fair, Davis is not a traditional post up player who could set up shop and wait for passes but as one of the most prodigious talents to turn up in a decade his team probably could figure out a way to better utilize him.

Jan 9, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) against the Memphis Grizzlies during the first quarter of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

It is generally accepted that college basketball coaches wield greater control of their teams due mostly to scholarships lasting anywhere from one to four years. College players are younger and impressionable without contracts to pursue.

Basketball is a game that actually involves actual and sometimes flawed people with hopes, agendas and competitive desires..go figure? NBA players compete for league honors and bigger contracts as well they should. But where do individual interest end and team interest begin?
It really does come down to personnel

Team chemistry is probably the most underrated factor in the NBA as it has been proven time and time again that talent alone is not always enough. Most of the top tier NBA teams are well coached, well stocked and unselfish. Think about the San Antonio Spurs, the Golden State Warriors, the Atlanta Hawks, the Chicago Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Washington Wizards.

The Bulls possess an entire roster of players, tough, smart and self sacrificing. Imagine having to face them in a seven game series ?

The NBA is chock full of capable alpha males more than willing to wrest control of a team from it’s existing coach. The best franchises understand that the job cannot be done without synchronization between coaching and a front office who’s contributions take on even greater importance in making the right calls when choosing players.

A commanding college coach can run the roost but in the NBA personnel rules the day.