Orlando Magic: Breaking Down The Scott Skiles Hire

Mark Jackson

As a television analyst, few could blame Mark Jackson for not wanting to get back into the head coach game. The last time he did so, with the Golden State Warriors, he ended up getting burned. While in charge he took that team from afterthoughts to the rung below true contenders in this league. In fact, he didn’t do too much wrong and even had the support of Stephen Curry, the team’s star.

Of course Steve Kerr has done an amazing job leading that Warriors team to the finals this year, but a part of me will always wonder how they would have done under the continued guidance of Jackson. That is not a slight on Kerr, he seems to have come in and only made the subtle, but necessary, changes to turn this well oiled machine into title favorites.

This is where I think Orlando maybe truly missed out. If he wasn’t swayed enough by the pitch to come back to coaching then fine, end of discussion. But Jackson took a team that went from the lottery (He went 23-43 in his first season as head coach, a lockout shortened campaign) to the second round of the playoffs under his guidance. Having Curry and Klay Thompson and drafting superbly always helps, but Jackson really was a part of that process.

In Orlando he could have performed much the same job, and he could have been there for the long haul as well. He straddles that fine line between impact coach you bring in to kickstart the process (Skiles) and individual you call upon to turn the team into the finished product (Brooks, Kerr). He was that guy, and he achieved all that in the Western conference.

Next: It's All On Skiles Now