Calling something a skill doesn't mean it's hard to learn.
Skills are just learned abilities. Its not like talent where it's completely innate.
Thing is to learn a skill, especially defensive skills, you have to be focused and dedicated. It also helps if you learn them when you're younger, you know when you're more athletic and have the energy.
It's pretty clear Phil inherited players he didn't want and the is working on addressing that while he builds the team he builds he wants.
This becomes clearer and easy to do when an aging Melo, young KP, and Phil running things isn't enough to attract free agents to make the team better. No way Phil was creating a team that could win it all before Melo's contract expires/retirement. All he did was manage to unload some of the trash that was here while bringing in some of his own.
Lol so he basically traded trash for different trash instead of building up what we had because of his personal preferences
His job isn't to be a b-ball snob to the media it's to building a winning team. He hasnt done his job bottom line dude just wants to be heard and get attention.
Well the main trash Phil brought in my eyes is Noah's contract. He got rid of Bargs, Caldo, etc. He did a lot in that dept. Unfortunately he had to get of other young promising players like Hardaway Jr.
Guys like Sasha and Lance are easily dismissed. Rambis can be fired at any time and it won't hurt the cap.
We got KP, Holiday looks good, so does Kuz and Baker, then Hernangomez and whoever else I'm forgetting. Those are players to grow for the future or that can become good trade value. Given Melo here, Phil got Rose for a year, Lee on a good contract, hired Horny all to make us good enough to be a playoff team which we should be If we tried but that doesn't mean the squad is good or doesn't suck.
Phil did that just so it wouldn't look like he was purposely tanking for the draft (and wasting Melo's time after his contract and w/e he told him about the team's immediate future/plans). Mind you this is after one player wouldn't sit down with him and Phil wasn't all that interested in many other FAs cuz he ain't looking to give out multiple big contracts to tie our hands in future offseasons
It feels like Phil wants to semi-rebuild around KP. Since Melo is here though he doesn't mind if the team ends up in the playoffs which gives Melo the chance to lead them as far as he can take them. Also given the way Phil is moving it's why I don't think he's getting fired and will most likely get an extension where he outlasts Melo or outlasts Melo where he's considered the best player/#1 option.
I don't pay mind to Phil's relationship with the media. Nor do I believe he came here just to get attention and be heard
He could've stayed in LA, waited for Kobe to retire and fit in with the Buss fam and get attention there.
It's literally been 3 years since he got here though.
