(Of course, he also has no coaching experience of any kind.)

(Also, I found this article by Steinmetz interesting — in particular, the notes about how at the end of the regular season, it seemed like Doc Rivers, Stan Van Gundy, Erik Spoelstra and Mike D’Antoni could become available. Just like this year’s draft class, the available coaching pool was severely limited this year).

Reading the transcript of Jackson’s chat with reporters tonight before Game 4 of the finals makes me feel a bit better about his inexperience — he’s aware of his limitations, but confident that he’ll overcome them. He’s expecting 100% effort on the defensive end, and I think that’s a different 100% than Smart demanded.

Perhaps the biggest hurdle will be the offensive and defensive scheming, and on that front the Mike Malone hiring is huge — and I love the reports that Lacob made him an offer he couldn’t refuse to keep him from rejoining Mike Brown with the Lakers. Now that is the sort of aggression and smart money-spending that we never saw under Cohan.

So consider me cautiously optimistic. I like the front office team that Lacob has put together (especially the West hire), something that has made me want to trust the team’s judgment more than I have in the past.

Throw in the reports of a potential Monta Ellis for Andre Iguodala swap — something I would do in a heartbeat — and we could be looking at a very different Warriors team by the end of the month. One can only hope — after all, even if Jackson proves to be the best coach in history he won’t get very far unless the Warriors upgrade the roster.

The 2010-2011 West All-Stars

Starters
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
Kobe Bryant
Chris Paul
Yao Ming (Injured)

Reserves
Tim Duncan
Pau Gasol
Blake Griffin
Manu Ginobili
Dirk Nowitzki
Russell Westbrook
Deron Williams

Kevin Love seems to be the biggest snub here and should get the injury replacement for Yao Ming. Monta isn’t making it unless someone else gets hurt. I have to admit I am slightly surprised by the Blake Griffin choice. He is damn good don’t get me wrong, but it kinda reeks of NBA promoting their next big star before he is really a star. But I guess it is nice to see a new name or two. As good as Duncan has been in his career he does not belong in the 2011 All-Star Game.

Truehoops on the Monta “snub” which I think is dead accurate:

Monta Ellis
Turn off your inner critic for a moment. Speak not of efficiency, nor wins and losses. Take a deep breath. Go to your happy place. Listen to the airy music. And just watch what this guy does: He takes big piles of nothing and turns them into and-1s. He takes your lazy passes and makes them steals and dunks. He takes double teams and splits them. He takes your slow defender and makes him fall over. He takes your outstretched arms, and, little though he is, shoots over them, and hits every time. At least, that’s how it goes in the highlight reel. He’d be fun to watch in Los Angeles. (And Commissioner Stern, think how much cheaper the travel would be, sending a guy who lives a tad farther up the coast.)

All in all I cannot make a strong argument that Monta should have been an All-Star. If he had made the team, I don’t think I would have had a strong argument that he should have been left off though either. It is probably best that he gets a rest.

I have nothing to say about the East except there are a heck of a lot more better players in the West than the East still. See the Truehoop East “snub” list.

The 2010-2011 East All-Stars

Starters
LeBron James
Amare Stoudemire
Dwyane Wade
Derrick Rose
Dwight Howard

Reserves
Ray Allen
Chris Bosh
Kevin Garnett
Al Horford
Joe Johnson
Paul Pierce
Rajon Rondo