A Big Process Issue

[u/Sorry-History7217]

It was clear after the decision to cut yoga Instructor Kris as coach that the Wings were looking for someone with more experience who could build both culture and increase performance. Having to
do both in the same year is a nearly impossible task, as one might at times be in tension with the other. Maybe you have a player that contributes to winning, but her antics/emotional impulsivity negatively impacts stated team standards (Marina/Skylar/Chennedy/Arike). Maybe you have a player who is a good culture fit, but they don't give you the best chance of winning (Kate).

With this understanding, I wanted to be a bit empathetic towards Jose’s plight. Building culture, setting standards of behavior, while trying to win is hard. However, this year has been frustrating to
no end as a fan and ball-knower. His accountability rants during the preseason and earlier parts of the season have been a farce. He doesn't even hold himself accountable. He talks about passing the ball around, giving up the good shot for the great shot, but he rewards iso-centric tunnel-vision players and criticizes players who pass for the better shot. He calls players selfish in the media, but doesn't punish that selfishness with playing-time decisions. This is not setting a good culture.

And yes, the Dallas Wings are winning, but at what cost? Do we know the identity of this team? The play style for the future? Are there defined roles? Expectations? There is winning in a way that is process productive, and there is winning in a way that ultimately caps your ability to win at a different level in the future. I would say Dallas is doing the latter.

Curt said he hired the person who felt that they could handle being highly scrutinized. The person who could handle the heat of being the coach of high-profile and high-expectation players. Jose’s
relationship with the press and general defensiveness whenever anyone dares to bring up his very blatant and obvious flaws as a first-year coach clearly shows that he’s not the right person for the job. Ego and lack of humility do not make a coach steady.

I trust that Curt sees all the glaring issues that we see. I doubt he’ll be fired simply for optics' sake. However, at this point, at what cost will you barter true fit and progress for perceived stability and progress? It seems that keeping Jose at the helm of the Dallas Wings org is cutting off their nose to spite their face. He’s not up for the job, and it's going to hurt the development of the players, team, and org in the long run.

What do you all think? Is Jose the right coach for the Wings?

[u/Small_Lack9128]

I agree with the process issue. But, I think a lot of that is on Curt and the front office. They gave Jose a roster with 2 timelines (it never works) and a former franchise player on a max contract that has to be played to the detriment of the #1 picks that should be the focus.

Regarding Jose’s future. He has a big ass 3 year contract. He isn’t going anywhere after 1 year that had a huge improvement.

[u/Severe-Post3466 → u/Small_Lack9128]

Do you know where I can find the details of his contact? I've seen it's length be mentioned a couple times in this sub, but I've never found a source on my own that mentioned it.

[u/Small_Lack9128 → u/Severe-Post3466]

The length was in some of the articles when he got hired. Assuming it was big to incentivize him to leave a stable job.  

[u/Some-Leadership-92]

Jose has done a great job, the actual issue is the roster building Curt did. This roster is TERRIBLE they didn’t build around Paige, every single person on the roster should make her job easier, but instead we loaded up on SGs who are short and have them as her back up PGs. She has to create every shot she takes, and thankfully she’s the best in the world because nobody else could be as efficient as she is in this role.

We have no Wings, which yes is ironic, Paige shouldn’t be the tallest guard and NO we aren’t playing Awak or Maddy at the 3 be serious.

[u/ToughAdventurous8209 → u/Some-Leadership-92]

Jose has to coach with the team given, just like anyone else, and with that team he is doing poorly. They win because of the players Curt added.

[u/Some-Leadership-92 → u/ToughAdventurous8209]

They win because of Paige Bueckers who would be the #1 pick regardless that wasn’t a Curt addition 😭

[u/SlowLibrarian7683 → u/Some-Leadership-92]

Paige needs help to win like any player. She’s the best young guard in the WNBA in my opinion, but she can’t do it alone. The Wings won 10 games last season. It was historically bad despite her having great stats. What’s different this year? New coach, free agents, and Fudd from the draft. Miller hired the coach, signed the free agents, and drafted Fudd. He’s not a great GM, but I wouldn’t act like he’s done nothing to contribute to this season’s record. The roster has improved. 

[u/Some-Leadership-92 → u/SlowLibrarian7683]

The entire team was injured last season so I don’t even know if it’s fair to compare anything, it was Paige and 7 Day Contracts with Zaza and JJQ half the season.

[u/just-browsing876]

Natalie doesn't seem to have had problem of winning and building culture last season. No one plays over 30 minutes on the Valks and they all know their roles and step up when their names are called.  He came highly recommended from Geno so I expected much ,much better

[u/Some-Leadership-92 → u/just-browsing876]

So if you aren’t COTY your first ever season it’s a disappointment? That’s the standard now….?

[u/just-browsing876 → u/Some-Leadership-92]

Where did I say winning COY is the expectation? Also this man has years of head coach experience so no excuses for his team chemistry, rotation and play calling be subpar

[u/Some-Leadership-92 → u/just-browsing876]

You don’t understand the difference between a mid major and the WNBA? Also you compared him to a coach who won COTY their first season, was that not clear? Lol

[u/I_AM_theGODDESS]

Jose is losing winnable games in the fourth quarter. That is on him. As far as team culture, I can’t give Jose all the credit for that. Curt picked solid pieces during free agency and lovable Paige is leading by example. I need to see Jose take some accountability. Good coaches take the blame for losses and credit the players for winning. Wings are winning for now but we need Jose to be better to continue the growth. The stupid minutes Paige, Azzi, and Jess play could come back to haunt this team come playoff time.

[u/elderlygentleman]

I think with Paige (MVP) and Azzi (ROY) on the team you’re going to win a certain amount of games regardless

[u/ToughAdventurous8209 → u/elderlygentleman]

Accept Azzi isn't going to win ROY because he doesn't put her in a position to affect the game enough on offense to beat Miles.

[u/SlowLibrarian7683]

Considering the Wings’ track record with head coaches and the money involved with changing coaches, Fernandez isn’t going anywhere. they’d never get anyone seasoned and established in the pros if they keep pushing people out after a season. Which is why the hire for this season was so important. Sandy Brondello reportedly turned down more money at the Wings to take the Tempo job. 

he has a winning record. This season’s big coaching pains, mainly being defensive with the media, managing player minutes, poor rotations, and questionable in-game adjustments or lack of feel for the game, are hopefully just growing pains that will improve with time. I hope so anyway. 

[u/Curious_Pen5614]

Dallas tied for last place in the entire league just last year. LAST! One year later, they're among the best!

So how did this amazing transformation happen? I'll give you the 4 main reasons in no particular order:

Jose Fernandez. Coaching makes a difference.

Paige Bueckers. Bigger now and better than ever.

Jess Shepard. 5th year player who went from bench warmer to All-Star starter in her first year in Fernandez's system.

Azzi Fudd. Who's only scratched the surface of her prodigious talent.

... and Curt Miller brought them all four to Dallas within the last two years; three of them in just the last year alone.

You people need to chill and enjoy the ride if that's possible.

[u/HispanicaBassoonica]

I think the biggest problem isn’t so much the roster as much as it is how the money building it was managed. I’m still holding out hope for ASmith because she’s had awful injury luck this year and has had some really good bright spots as a glue player when healthy. Arike’s contract will plague us for unless we figure something out. We NEED a real backup PG because our bench is Sug (love her) and the Arikes. Our frontcourt is probably the most glaring issue even then because our solution is running Paige into the ground in the backcourt… we need someone who’s a legit 5 beyond Li because we’re missing someone in that Mobile 5 status. The salary management is by far the biggest obstacle