If you fire Curry, who do you hire to coach next year?

Jeff Van Gundy (I would be very happy to see him on our bench)
Avery Johnson
Everyone always brings up Bill Laimbeer here.
Any of the plethora of coaches who were let go this year
Lawrence Frank (there was the talk of him being let go soon)

What about Dan Majerle? He was a defensive stud in the NBA but could actually ball, unlike the Binary Man. Only problem is that he's only had a season or two as an assistant with the Suns.

Anyone else come to mind? Who would you pick?

IZZO!

I knew that was going to happen when I didn't include him in the original post.

Jeff Van Gundy would be fun, but I don't know that much about what he does. I think he likes Defense, no?

I'd take him if he emphasizes D.

Looking at LB on the Charlotte bench makes my eyes well.

I'd be down with JVG, I believe he is defense-oriented. No Avery, and I don't think Frank is that great. Either are probably better than Curry, but that's like saying haggis is better than deep fried poop. I don't know anything about Marjele, but he was a pretty good player with basketball IQ. The issue with the Pistons is the coach needs to be someone who already demands respect in the NBA. The core is too experienced and jaded to buy in to some rook's ideas.

Looking at LB on the Charlotte bench makes my eyes well.


LB is about to drop 3 out of 4 to Michael Curry.

JVG i think is over-rated. He doesn't coach defense as much as he coaches stall-ball.

He's also a terrible offensive coach. He relies waaaaaay too much on his guards to create offense and gives them way too much freedom.

Obviously Izzo would be a great choice, but i don't think he'd want to leave the security of MSU for the NBA, where you're never more than 2 years away from losing your job.

Laimbeer I'd be willing to take a chance on, because he IS a great strategist.

Question...does Mr D dying make it more likely or less likey that there will be a coaching change?

Sorry Mr D

I'd say more. I don't think his son or wife want to be known for fucking up the franchise.

laimbeer or a vet coach. No gambling on college coaches. Can't remember one coach in the last 20 years who coached a title contender str8 from college no pro experience as a player or coach.

I'd say more. I don't think his son or wife want to be known for fucking up the franchise.

I was leaning that way as well.

Offer Popovich 20 million per season and get him here.

Offer Popovich 20 million per season and get him here.

But the Detroit Piston reporters would piss their pants at pressers and not ask any questions. Pop is that tough at pressers, imo.

No salary cap on coaches.

Offer Popovich 20 million per season and get him here.

He would make AI happy to come off the bench and play like a starter.

Imagine if LB was still here. Bet the AI experiment would have worked out much better.

laimbeer or a vet coach. No gambling on college coaches.

So you think Laimbeer is less of a gamble than Izzo?

Seriously?

How so? LB and AI didn't have a love/love relationship in Philly.

New Coach? Anyone but Curry.

I wonder what would have happened if we hired Nate McMillan instead of Flip?

So you think Laimbeer is less of a gamble than Izzo?

Seriously?
Seriously let me ask you this Izzo fan, for all his college coaching and no pro experience on any level as a player or coach, how does he get a higher grade that a who's been a pro and coaches a pro set WNBA be damned? It doesn't have to be Laimbeer as our coach, but he's got more experience than Izzo like it or not. You can't play the heat of the ncaa moment "IZZO PWNS!!" idea as a basis to be appalled by me laughing at Izzo's pro resume.

I'd respond if I had any idea what that means.

I don't think Izzo would do well in the NBA. Can you see millionaires putting on the pads and doing rebounding drills? I just see him losing his team pretty quickly. He needs to stick to what he does well and that is college.

That may be true, but I definitely think he'd be less risky that Laimbeer.

I wonder what would have happened if we hired Nate McMillan instead of Flip?

I will never understand how this does not get talked about more. Without a doubt it's the most underrated Joe D fuck-up of his tenure.

I think that we should include Porter in this discussion. He was a head coach (twice) and was a good player. Add to that the fact that he has familiarity with the team in his stint as an assistant coach and I think he should at least be considered.

I wouldn't mind considering him. He was bound to fail in Phoenix, that team is not a defensive team and he was supposed to turn them into that. It just wasn't going to happen.

I'd respond if I had any idea what that means.
What do you not understand? How exactly is Izzo a better option with no experience as a player or coach EVER in the NBA? Either you really hate laimbeer to an obscene bias or overrate college basketball coaching experience severely.

You seem to have a lot of thoughts about me and not much else.

I'd love to HEAR Laimbeer coach... mike the guy every game.

As an off-the-wall suggestion, how about Bernie Bickerstaff as coach?

You seem to have a lot of thoughts about me and not much else.
And you seem to have lil' or no answer on this one. Most deflective i've seen you be in awhile.

Just getting tired of your "agendas".

Maybe we need to agree to ignore each other.

Maybe we need to discuss why us missing out on Nate McMillan seems to be one of the very few topics NOT discussed to death on here.

I was absent for a long time so maybe you guys already beat this bitch to death but I would be interested in reading your thoughts on Nate as a Coach, what he would have done/could do with our team etc

Just getting tired of your "agendas".

Maybe we need to agree to ignore each other.
No, take your ball and go home when you see fit(after trying to make "agendas" a cynical spin off word of the day). But you had no desire to ignore anything when you happily stirred something up. Didn't know that an actual answer with no deflections was this hard to get from ya.


And you seem to have lil' or no answer on this one. Most deflective i've seen you be in awhile.

Maybe we need to discuss why us missing out on Nate McMillan seems to be one of the very few topics discussed to death on here.

I was absent for a long time so maybe you guys already beat this bitch to death but I would be interested in reading your thoughts on Nate as a Coach, what he would have done/could do with our team etc
I'm not a big "what if" fan, though i do think Nate woulda been a nice signing. Can't i feel the same about avery johnson(though i could be wrong).

Okay, let's try one more time on this topic. Please explain, specifically, how success in the WNBA is a superior career path to the NBA than being successful at the highest level of men's college basketball.

Reminder, the topic is not "Gl'enn".

And I'm aware that the track record for men's college coaches to the NBA is not good, but translating the WNBA to the NBA is truly "apples and oranges". It's basically a different sport altogether, IMO.

Would Arena Football coaches make for good NFL coaches?

Okay, let's try one more time on this topic. Please explain, specifically, how success in the WNBA is a superior career path to the NBA than being successful at the highest level of men's college basketball.
Superior? Nope, just better. Any experience is better than no experience as a pro dealing with professional athletes. But that's still skipping over my question, you seem to think a college coaching career and career college guy has better shot than a former player from a winning franchise when history has said otherwise (calipari may be just as good a college coach as Izzo and he's no NBA coach by any means). You dont have to like or respect Laimbeer's coaching resume, but don't insult him by thinking a guy who has never been a part of the NBA directly is a better option to coach in the NBA.

Would Arena Football coaches make for good NFL coaches?
Not a real equivalent. Arena league is smaller with more open rules. WNBA's main difference is that it's women(which seems to really stab at you). Pretty harsh woman bashing there to make that comparison Glenn..lol

Why do you think the WNBA is like a different sport but you don't think college b-ball is a different sport?

Superior? Nope, just better.

Wow.


Any experience is better than no experience as a pro dealing with professional athletes. But that's still skipping over my question, you seem to think a college coaching career and career college guy has better shot than a former player from a winning franchise when history has said otherwise (calipari may be just as good a college coach as Izzo and he's no NBA coach by any means). You dont have to like or respect Laimbeer's coaching resume, but don't insult him by thinking a guy who has never been a part of the NBA directly is a better option to coach in the NBA.

Michael Curry, for example, debunks all of that.

We can deal with generalizations (e.g. "WNBA coaches are better than NCAA coaches when it comes to jumping to the NBA") or we can deal with specifics.

Michael Curry played in the NBA for a winning franchise. Good coach? How about Magic Johnson? Good coach?

If we're talking about Izzo vs. Laimbeer here, then let's stay specific on that topic for a minute.

Izzo is a leader of men.

Laimbeer is a leader of ?

Maybe we need to discuss why us missing out on Nate McMillan seems to be one of the very few topics discussed to death on here.

I was absent for a long time so maybe you guys already beat this bitch to death but I would be interested in reading your thoughts on Nate as a Coach, what he would have done/could do with our team etc

No we haven't beaten it to death and this is the sort of hypothetical talk I do like.

I'm sure McMillan would have gotten way more respect from the starting five (ok, maybe read Ben and Sheed) since he does emphasize defense and rebounding more than Flip ever did. Hell, we might have even seen the ball go inside more.

I don't think he's as good an in-game coach as Larry Brown or Tom Izzo (yes, V on the college level :) ) but he wouldn't have sucked as bad as Flip did in his first two years (I thought Flip did a lot better his last year in the playoffs).

Michael Rosenberg said it when a coach had yet to be hired and I think he hit the nail on the head (although he wanted Flip): With all the rule changes and star power, Joe felt the NBA would become all about offense and he decided to go that route as well. We got Flip as a coach. Stuckey is our great big hope for the future. The problem is that either Joe was not 100% right (look at the Celtics last year) or he just executed a flawed plan.

Why do you think the WNBA is like a different sport but you don't think college b-ball is a different sport?

Athleticism/height/strength (mainly). Also, they use a smaller ball, media scrutiny/spotlight, national level of interest, revenue generation, many more.

Athleticism, media scrutiny, revenue generation, many more.
Stick to coaching relevant things maybe? Athleticism i'll give ya. But it's still a professionally competitive professional sport the same mold as the nba. It's not arena football which is a much different style of football not in the mold of its nfl counterpart.

lol, I've edited that about 6 times as I think of more differences, I hope nobody quotes it.

edit- too late

Michael Curry, for example, debunks all of that.
how? calipari(possibly top five college coach) has had a better nba coaching career? lol@wow, you dont get a higher chair of wisdom by just typing a sarcastic WOW.

I would LOVE to see Lamb get a shot. Aside from the fact that I do think he would do well, I think it would be the greatest "fuck you" to the NBA. I also think Gl'enn's questions are fair but that it's not about Izzo versus Lamb. I think Izzo does have a lot going for him that could translate to being a good NBA coach. I think the same of Lamb. Lamb, even at the WNBA level, is about D and inside-outside play and playing 100%. He gets in his players face and loves to use psychology to play with their heads (and that's huge for a coach in any sport at any level). I would also say that Byron Scott is a great example of how being a great WNBA coach can translate to being a successful NBA coach.

I also think Gl'enn's questions are fair but that it's not about Izzo versus Lamb.
It isn't at all, Glenn likes to use things like this to make his "agenda". Stuckey vs Flip Murray, Izzo vs Laimbeer. What's he's trying to say is "if Izzo isn't qualified, why should Laimbeer be?". Thus a separate argument ensues and he never has to defend Izzo unless it's through downing Laimbeer.

how? calipari(possibly top five college coach) has had a better nba coaching career?

Take a look at that team he was hired to coach. It was terrrible. That is the case with most college coaches hired into the NBA, they are expected to turn them around completely, which very few coaches (of all backgrounds/experience) are able to do.

Did Curry take over a team in terrible shape?

It isn't at all, Glenn likes to use things like this to make his "agenda". Stuckey vs Flip Murray, Izzo vs Laimbeer. What's he's trying to say is "if Izzo isn't qualified, why should Laimbeer be?". Thus a separate argument ensues and he never has to defend Izzo unless it's through downing Laimbeer.

Is that true Gl'enn? Hmmmm....? (tap, tap, tap....)

Is that true Gl'enn? Hmmmm....? (tap, tap, tap....)
you see he still hasn't defended Izzo w/o calling out Laimbeer(or now Curry).

No, it's not true. I think Izzo is definitely qualified and should be part of this discussion.

If some think differently then fine, my "agenda" is not going to get Izzo hired or keep Laimbeer from getting hired, so if that was my motivation, I would be a dumbass.

And again, it's back to talking about me and not my opinion.

It's fucked up.

you see he still hasn't defended Izzo w/o calling out Laimbeer(or now Curry).
You're obsessed with me man, come clean.

The difference between college athletes and pro athletes is fucking huge.

NBA Coaches are controlled by the players. Don't like the guy? Quit on him. He doesn't speak to you in right tone of voice and you're a star? Go complain to the press ("sources said...") or the GM.

In college it's the total opposite. Who the fuck are the kids gonna complain to? Mom? Dad? Are they gonna transfer? Sit out a season?

If the WNBA is a different sport, then why was Laimbeer successful bringing in his basketball philosophies?

And outside of the smaller ball, (which is the size FIBA uses btw) how are the things you listed not also true of the college game?

The difference between college athletes and pro athletes is fucking huge.

NBA Coaches are controlled by the players. Don't like the guy? Quit on him. He doesn't speak to you in right tone of voice and you're a star? Go complain to the press ("sources said...") or the GM.

In college it's the total opposite. Who the fuck are the kids gonna complain to? Mom? Dad? Are they gonna transfer? Sit out a season?

Okay, so please explain how the WNBA is closer to the NBA game than men's college basketball.

If the WNBA is a different sport, then why was Laimbeer successful bringing in his basketball philosophies?

And outside of the smaller ball, (which is the size FIBA uses btw) how are the thing you sighted not also true of the college game?

I haven't followed his tactics, so if I commented I would be speculating. Did he have good players?

If you were promoted from the AFL to the NFL couldn't you diagram a play still?

The NBA and NCAA (Men's) games are played above the rim, it's night and day from the WNBA.

The players are faster, stronger, taller, can jump higher, etc.

Okay, so please explain how the WNBA is closer to the NBA game than men's college basketball.

Laimbeer has NBA experience. You are distorting the issue.

I haven't followed his tactics, so if I commented I would be speculating.

If you were promoted from the AFL to the NFL couldn't you diagram a play still?

The NBA and NCAA (Men's) games are played above the rim, it's night and day from the WNBA.

The players are faster, stronger, taller, can jump higher, etc.
You didn't answer the second question.

NBA players are faster, stronger, taller, can jump higher, etc. than college kids but you don't count that as a different sport.

"Did he have good players?" He's the GM and they were in the toilet before he got there.

"Couldn't you still design plays from the AFL to the NFL?" How could you if they are so different? You are the one arguing the differences. Similarities hurt your stance, not mine.

The difference between those "tangibles" is very slight NBA vs. NCAA compared to NBA vs. WNBA.

NBA Coaches are controlled by the players. Don't like the guy? Quit on him. He doesn't speak to you in right tone of voice and you're a star? Go complain to the press ("sources said...") or the GM.


Or just choke the motherfucker....

And I agree with you. I think Izzo has all the basketball qualities and then some. He plays the right kind of game, his game prep is awesome, I like his adjustments and I think he can call some good plays out of time-outs (how about that inbound pass as half-court in the UCONN game).

The problem for me is simply can he get NBA players to want to win for him in either same way he does it on a college level (don't see that happening) or is able to adjust his style of handling his players?

Ironically I do think the Lamb versus Izzo team would have a great point here in saying that Lamb would be able to get into a player's face way easier than Izzo could. Lamb has NBA experience and rings and even got a good punch in on Barkley. Also, he would have Mountain Mahorn to back him.

On the reason college coaches are hired by fucked teams that are rebuilding:

Cause they can relate to the younger players who are just out of college.

My long-held opinion is that whenever a rebuild job begins a new "friendly" coach takes over the job, while the GM tries to get some talent onto the team. After a season or 2 of Mr. Friendly the GM has acquired a reasonable level of talent and now needs Mr. Teacher, usually a veteran NBA guy that either hasn't been a head coach before or has a mediocre record. This guy either gets the team to the playoffs or gets them very close.

After 2 or 3 season of Mr. Teacher the team is primed and ready for a big playoff push so in comes Mr. Closer - this guy is the veteran coach with years of experience in the league and he knows his shit.

Where are we in our unusual rebuilding phase?

I'd say we need a teacher - which isn't Izzo IMO (he's the guy you get when you start from nothing and if he's lucky he survives 3 seasons).

I doubt it's Laimbeer - too much of an angry motherfucker.

So again, how is Nate McMillan doing?

Okay, so please explain how the WNBA is closer to the NBA game than men's college basketball.

Um, cause they can do more than complain to Mom.

The players have all kinds of methods to fuck up the Coaches career.

Quitting on him, talking to the press, going to the GM, talking to the press, talking to other players and starting rumours etc

WTF can college kids do if they're unhappy?

I'd say McMillan is a fine Mr. Friendly and looks pretty good as a Mr. Teacher (from both his current Portland team and getting the Sonics to the 'offs) but there's no evidence he's a Mr. Closer. He'd be good for us now. I don't know he's who you wanted instead of Flip if you were trying to get over that last hurdle as we were back when we hired him.

Um, cause they can do more than complain to Mom.

The players have all kinds of methods to fuck up the Coaches career.

Quitting on him, talking to the press, going to the GM, talking to the press, talking to other players and starting rumours etc

WTF can college kids do if they're unhappy?
IMO, that aspect of this discussion, the "emo" part of coaching, can be mitigated by the coach having strong support of the owner/GM.

I don't think it matters that much (resume does matter, though) if you are from the WNBA or NCAA if you've got that support (big, long-term contract and a straightforward front office that openly supports the coach).

I think the trouble comes when the players smell weakness (lame duck status, no support from GM, etc).

I think he's one of the few who could be Mr Everything.

He seems to have that kind of aura, that kind of respect from veterans and he seems to excel as a mentor.

I just think the dude is cool.

GD - I see your point but you know guys are gonna test the front office's faith in the coach and they are gonna test the coaches balls to see how far they can push him.

NBA players (athletes in general) are like little kids

P, I'm not sure who "he" is?

Laimbeer?

If I didn't like the Pistons so much, I would be hoping for you guys to get your wish some day.

I think it would be a disaster (similar to what we're seeing with Curry, but with more drama/infighting).

To each their own, though.

Wow, you really think he'd do a worse job than Curry at this point?

I agree a bit with the general concept of Teacher and Closer but define then what a teacher is? Because other than the personality issue, you would then have to say that Izzo would be a much better teacher than someone like, say, Avery Johnson.

I see teacher as that, teacher. Larry Brown was a teacher because, well, he could teach. Aside from the X's and O's he could teach better ways to handle the ball, what to do with the ball and when to be where and why. You watch an Izzo team play and there's no doubt in my mind that he teaches technique as much as tactics.

Wow, you really think he'd do a worse job than Curry at this point?
Nobody knows, I suppose it would all depend on how the players would react to him.

I tend to think a personality more acerbic than Curry's wouldn't have helped any this year.

The inmates were bound to run the asylum no matter who the coach was this year, IMO.

Those two big expiring deals (and personalities) were like an albatross, then add in trading the popular team leader/captain and you've got a mess.

Laimber has a functional brain. to compare him to Curry is absurd.

Lambs actually runs offensive and defensive sets that WORK.

I really don't care if his personality meshes or not. The guy can coach.

Pistons are still paying Flip, right? did Curry sign a 2year or 3 year deal for how much?

You're obsessed with me man, come clean.
Damn, this is all i get rather than straight forward answers. Spins and deflects. And a question never answered.

Gutz, if you believe that Glenn is gonna side step you then just don't ask questions about his posts. There are plenty of other people posting shit in threads that you could get answers from.

You 2 read each others posts and it's on. It's up to one of you to be the bigger man and just walk away from this ...

I wait to see what you both do next.

GD - "He" is Nate McMillan. (SIDE NOTE: My 7 month old son's name is Nate. Well, officially it's Nathaniel, but we call him Nate. Anyone calling him Nathaniel gets struck down by great vengence and furious anger)

I believe that McMillan is just a quality coach, can relate to vets, young players, they respect him, he's a great guy that could babysit your kids and all that stuff. Dude just carries himself like a fucking leader - like Joe.

I was disappointed we didn't get him but understood the Flip hire so didn't make a thing of it.

Now, a teacher to me is exactly that - but I feel that he needs to have some kind of pro experience, either as a player or as a coach. A guy who has never been in a particular situation can't really teach it - he can describe it and tell you how it all should go down in theory and give you every possible scenario, but he can't go back and show you film of where it happened to him and what the D did, what the players did, why they reacted in the way they did etc. Theory can be great, but reality is where it's at.

Which is 1 reason why I think College coaches are the guys BEST SUITED to get the first phase of rebuilding. IF they are lucky (none have been for a long time) the owner understands the process, believes in the College coaches ability to lead and teach while turning from a Friend to a Father kind of relationship.

The best coaches IMO are the ones that do become like a father to the players. You look at the relationship Phil Jackson had with Jordan (and Kobe to a lesser degree - simply cause Kobe is a product of a different generation)

The most successful rugby league (game of football played without 400 players on each team, no time outs/stops to switch teams cause your guys can't play O and D, no pads - in other words not your bullshit NFL) coach in Australia was at the same club for 20 years, won 6 titles, made the playoffs almost every season, the fucking players loved him and many stated he was like a father to them, a real role model. He didn't just teach them how to become better players - he taught them how to become better men.

Some of the best players to ever fucking play rugby league said that about their Coach! That's some impressive shit. I don't like the dude (Wayne Bennett - do your own searching) cause he hates being interviewed for anything, even to talk about his team, the game, the league or whatever but he shuns all attention and instead always gives credit to his players.

Bottom Line - the dude is the best fucking coach in the world of rugby league and if we could get a guy LIKE that to coach our team we'd be fucking awesome.

Gutz, if you believe that Glenn is gonna side step you then just don't ask questions about his posts. There are plenty of other people posting shit in threads that you could get answers from.

You 2 read each others posts and it's on. It's up to one of you to be the bigger man and just walk away from this ...

I wait to see what you both do next.


If I do sidestep Gutz, it's because he doesn't really want to hear the answers to his questions, anyway, he's being disingenuous when he asks them, IMO. He'll claim that black is white, if the mood strikes him. And to be honest, half the time I have no idea what he's even asking in his posts. I agree that there is no reason for me to focus on Gutz and vice versa. There was plenty of other good discussions here yesterday to get too wrapped up in that garbage. I'll try to bite my tongue from now on when it comes to Mr. Gatsu, enough is enough.

Back on topic... how about Isiah?

Not that I completely disagree about the father figure, I think that it can work, but I do think that it's too rare and difficult to find in sports. Especially in the US.

While there was a part of father figure maybe with Jackson, I think it had more to do with his ability to simply find a way to work with his stars. I think he found a way to relate, motivate and even get into his stars head without getting into their face. They found common ground. That's how I see it more anyway.

I like the concept of the teacher, but again, I think finding a father figure pretty close to impossible. What I would like is a coach who can get into his players heads. The best coaches I've ever seen, Bowman, Bellichick, and Jackson to name a few, all were able to get into their players heads and motivate them or at least push them to a greater level. I do think it would be great if we could get a coach like that.

When I think father figure in the NBA, it's Chuck Daly and the way he handled Dennis Rodman.

If I do sidestep Gutz, it's because he doesn't really want to hear the answers to his questions, anyway, he's being disingenuous when he asks them,
I am? you'd have to actually answer them to make that call. Again you seem to roll hard with excuses to not answer. But fair enough, How about Isiah?

Just let it die Gutz.

I know that finding a father figure kind of coach is hard, probably more so in the USA where attitudes are just different. That doesn't mean that we can't hire a good all-round coach though.

Zeke? No - dude can't coach.

There are a list of names available - the question will be "Does Joe fire Curry?"

There are a list of names available - the question will be "Does Joe fire Curry?"
I think the playoffs will decide alot of that.

I love Lamb but I don't want him coaching the pistons. The next coach should have a solid foundation of nba coaching experience. A Carlisle type of assistant with his dues fully paid up is fine but not more green coaches.

We need someone like Rivers. I mean, the guy's a fucking Doctor!

TERRY STOTTS

Thoughts on Eddie Jordan?

Won't there be a couple of firings the day after the season ends?

meaining more to chose from

I just checked out the non-playoff coaches (most likely to get fired).

Not much there to choose from.

And the fact that they just got fired for not making the playoffs makes them questionable in the first place.

Jordan got whacked in DC mostly due to his team being decimated with injuries. He's really well respected across the league.

JoeD got rid of Carlisle quckly, Brown, the guy with the glasses and lots of nose hair, and on and on, but now he'll be prolly be loyal to Curry for some reason and want to keep him.

That's still my gut feeling, too, but since we're speculating...

guy with glasses and lots of nose hair = George Irvine btw. I just looked it up.

Dumars has never fired a coach midseason has he?

I don't like Jordan when it comes to defense. I know his players were shit for that but you can't stay with a team that long and not share the blame.

I wish we could have gotten Adelman, who's in Houston now. He seems to be one of the few coaches who can adapt to his team rather than force the team to adapt to his preferred style.

next Pistons head coach

http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/04/29/amd_thibodeau.jpg


hopefully


btw: Curry has 2 more years on his deal(9mil/3y)

Dracula?

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1164516

I wouldn't mind having the Celtics' defensive scheme here.

I wouldn't mind having the Celtics' defensive scheme here.
It's the heart of their newfound success, so yea it would be nice to bring defensive specialty back.

Apparently, the Kings are looking to bring Eddie Jordan back.

Flip is being rumored as a candidate for the Wizards.

Tom Thibodeau has a pretty good rep around the league (from memory)

If Grizz was still around he could tell you this guy's entire life story.

Has Grizz been sighted in the past 6 months?

How about Kenny Gattison?

http://blog.nola.com/hornetsbeat/2008/10/new_orleans_hornets_assistant.html

Darkhorse:
Mike Woodson

If the Hawks don't make it out of round 1, he could get whacked so Sund can bring in his own guy, someone that Josh Smith can get along with.

Joe loves Woody, and I'd love to have someone like that off the Larry Brown coaching tree.

He wouldn't be too bad GD.

Considering that franchise is a clusterfuck he's done a really good job

Do you guys think that any of the remaining playoff coaches will get fired?

Firing Woodson just got a lot more difficult for Atlanta with last night's big win in Miami.

Does the debacle in New Orleans cost Byron Scott his job? Would you want him in Detroit?

Scott could get fired - that franchise is fucking crazy anyway.

Same goes for Atlanta and Woodson. Maybe the ownership group decide that Woody has taken them as far as he can (he's been there a long time now) and that they might need a different "type" of coach to reach that next level.

Even if none of the remaining coaches get fired we have enough candidates to fire Curry NOW.

What about Avery Johnson?

The only reason I wouldn't say "HELLS NO!" to Byron Scott is because the guy knows how to let a PG lead his team so it might be good for Stuck. Otherwise, I think Scott is a giant douche with no clue how to adapt and no range in his coaching ability.

The only reason I wouldn't say "HELLS NO!" to Byron Scott is because the guy knows how to let a PG lead his team so it might be good for Stuck. Otherwise, I think Scott is a giant douche with no clue how to adapt and no range in his coaching ability.


But..but he won in the WNBA!!111

Come again?

Must be the pain meds, for some reason I thought he coached in the WNBA at one time I must be confusing him with someone else.

booo me


edit- Michael Cooper
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WNBA_Coach_of_the_Year_Award

Seriously man, you should just not talk about the WNBA. That's not an insult, you just really don't know anything about it.

Agreed, but I like to make fun of it so much.

Check out that link that I just posted there. What's the story with some of those coach of the year winners having records barely above .500? Is it a coincidence that they are both women? (I think)

It's less political because it's less popular. So unlike the NBA (where the sports writers dictate a dumbing down of the award), the winner doesn't have to be a conference champion. It'd be nice if the NBA could get the sports writers out of their award so truly good coaching jobs (which are sometimes middling teams, like Brown getting the Clippers to the playoffs) would get rewarded.

I certainly agree about that and said as much the other day when Mike Brown won. I like it when it goes to the coaches that do more with less.

What do you think about the female angle? (you might have missed that edit).

Maybe, but there are a bunch, and have been a bunch, of women coaches in the league. The commish is a woman. The league certainly sees itself as championing women's lib but I don't think the award was targeted specifically to go to women those years (like they figured they needed to get a woman the award since one hadn't yet). It's mostly voted on by the coaches I believe so I don't think they'd cheapen it like that as quickly as the media might.

But it's not like I'm a WNBA historian. I don't know it that intimately.

Though it's not entirely his fault, if Byron Scott is on the hot-seat at New Orleans, does Dumars make a play for him?

Denny likes to skip to the end.

Denny likes to skip to the end.

LOL. I'm a couple of days late, it seems. Oops.

LOL. I'm a couple of days late, it seems. Oops.

6 hours

I'd take Byron over Curry in a fucking heartbeat.

I'd take a heart beat over Curry in a fucking Byron.

lol...drinking that Tahoe water too?

Drew Stanton.

Thorn announced that the Nets are keeping Larry Frank, fwiw.

If we had JVG would he have sat on Sheed's ankle when he was in the paint to make sure he didn't drift?

I'm actually thinking that JVG might not be a bad option for Joe.

All kidding aside, when I watch Pistons games that he calls he's dead on. He complains why we don't go to all these mismatches we have and I agree. Curry has no fucking clue and it's apparent.

On the other hand I also hear Jon Barry make a lot of sense when he's breaking down their games. Doesn't mean he's a good coach, but he seems a heck of a lot smarter than Curry.

Ledezma seems smarter than Curry.

And he's terrible.

I wouldn't mind JVG at all

My vote if or Co Head Coaches or however you say it, Gl'enn and Fool

FUCK!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4111305

THIS THREAD IS OFFICIALLY DEAD. PLEASE REFER TO "DUMARS ANNUAL POSTSEASON.." THREAD TO VENT.

THANK YOU.

THE MANAGEMENT.

So, what you're saying is that "FUCK" should coach?

I think we already have a fuck for a coach, so no thanks.

Woodson does not receive extension

ESPN.com news services

Mike Woodson coached the Atlanta Hawks to 47 regular-season wins and a playoff berth that led to the Eastern Conference semifinal round.

Yet he will enter next season in the final year of his contract after management did not reach out with a new deal Thursday. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the subject didn't even come up when Woodson and general manager Rick Sund met to talk business.

But rather than begrudge his bosses, Woodson told the Journal-Constitution he will embrace the challenge in 2009-2010 of proving himself worthy of another contract. He is working under a two-year extension signed before Atlanta's just-finished season.

"There's always pressure, if you want to call it that," Woodson told the newspaper Thursday. "I don't look at it as pressure because I'm not made like that. All these people talking about fire Woodson and all that stuff, it's never entered my mind. I swear.

"The chatter is what it is. But we're not going to do anything but keep pushing ahead trying to take another step next year."

The Hawks have been a success story simply because of their surge in victory totals under Woodson. After a 13-win season in 2004-05, they have won 26, 30 and 37 games before going 10 better this season, at 47-35.

The Hawks eliminated the Miami Heat in the first round of the playoffs. In the semifinals against Cleveland, playing shorthanded because of injuries to key players Joe Johnson, Al Horford and Marvin Williams, Atlanta was swept in four games.

"Mike and his staff did a good job this year," Sund said, according to the Journal-Constitution. "We won 47 games and locked up a top-four seed. In our business, that's not something that can be dismissed."

But still, no extension for Woodson.

"I think we're all on the same page going forward, and that's all you can ask for," Woodson told the newspaper. "Sure, we want to feel loved, my staff and myself. We've put in a lot of hard work over these last five years. But ultimately, it's been about my players and the job they've done."

I was hoping that this was going to blow up and he'd end up leaving this summer.

Maybe they'd take a 2nd round pick for him, lol.

ABC
Anyone But Curry
ABC -- easy as "no Curry"

I love it when a plan comes together...

Atlanta will be worse next season. Why? They'll have a lame duck Coach, they likely will lose 1 key player via free agency (Bibby, Zaza and Marvin can't all be retained, can they?) and the rest of the East should be a little better.

So after their season Woodson will not be retained.

And our season will stumble and bumble along as Curry can't get a handle on the job. After our season Joe moves Curry into the office and we hire Woodson

Woodson brings back the D, understands how to actually Coach and has done reasonably well in developing players in Atlanta.

I'd be more than happy to have him as a coach. Can't we just trade our 2nd rounders for him?

The problem with "Anyone But Curry" is that in a year or two, if we are fielding a good team... we're gonna be back to bemoaning our lack of good coaching.

It's important that our next coach be a GOOD coach... not just "better than Michael Curry" because at this point, mediocre and semi-shitty coaches are better than Curry... and then, we'll be stuck with a mediocre coach.

I don't think Woodson is mediocre.

That Hawks franchise has some serious fucking issues and that team isn't exacly full of great players.

To be honest I think Woodson has done an amazing job with them.

It's important that our next coach be a GOOD coach... not just "better than Michael Curry"
Yeah, I agree. It's just that I heard the Jackson 5 song recently (someone's fucking ring tone), and started thinking "easy as no Curry" and other suitable alternative lyrics.

Woody is the next best thing to LB... minus the wandering eyes.

Worth a look at his ingame decisions.

If we're talking 2011, and if Byron Scott has another subpar year at NO and is released, would you take Scott or Woodson?

If that means hanging on to MC 'til then.. hell to the naw!

I think its more of a "if we had to choose between those two, who do you take" question, not a "would you wait until 2011 to get rid of MC for a chance at one of them" question.

I'd take Woodson.

After next season instead of Scott.

I don't think Scott would bring much D

Scott is garbage. He's won coach of the year twice. Both time with PG who ran the team for him.

See, Fool agrees with me.

And I really don't think people appreciate how much of a clusterfuck the Atlanta Hawks franchise is.

They have 20 owners or some shit. How the fuck do you keep that many dudes happy? It's a wonder they make any free agent signings or trades.

How do they do it? Majority vote?

And how many real, true capable vets do they have to teach the young guys?

Atlanta Hawks = shitty ass franchise

Mike Woodson = miracle worker

They actually weren't allowed to sign anyone for a while because one owner was trying to take full control. I'm not sure if that situation ever fully worked itself out or what ended up happening there.

I like Woody a lot, and I'm also hoping that the Sixers don't hire JVG.

I'd take either of those guys.

I actually had that discussion last night while watching the Denver game at Red Wings intermission. JVG was on the screen and I said I would love it if we fired Curry and got him out of the booth and onto our bench.

Van Gundy did say he wanted to coach again (it was a few weeks ago).

I floated that idea by Pistons realgm forum and they seemed to think he was some kind of Piston-hater. I didn't really see it.

Pretty sure he likes paychecks.

Did any of you guys see him doing that "human bowling" thing during the Lakers/Rockets series?

I tried to find it on Youtube a few weeks ago, but no luck. It was funny.

I like JVG. He knows what he's talking about, even if his methods are a little wierd. he only missed the playoffs two years:

2001/02 with the knicks (he was 10-9 when fired)
2005/06 with the Rockets (Tmac played 47 games, Yao 57. David Wesley and Juwan Howard where only players to play 70+ games).

JVG is fine as a start but the guy kills his own offense to squeeze everything out of his defense. He's not the guy I want when we are contending for a championship again.

Any thoughts about trying to pull Rudy T out of retirement?

Homecoming (sort of).

Jeff would sort of serve as a Rick Carlisle-type coach, in my opinion. You know you sure as heck aren't winning a championship with him on the bench, but he's going to demand defensive toughness and effort from his players. He would be a nice guy to get us back to contender status, and then we could dump him for a beter guy a few years down the road. I honestly see Coach Pop as a good fit for this organization once Tim Duncan retires. Why would Pop want to stay there without Duncan?

Why would he want to come here without Duncan? When Duncan retires, which team do you think will be in better shape? Too soon to tell.

Pop retires with Duncan. He's too smart not to.

Pop retires with Duncan. He's too smart not to.
Pop's said as much, and frequently.
I take him at face value.
He's never going to coach another NBA team beyond the Spurs.

As far as Woody, how much do you attribute Diaw's lack of development to him? Diaw blossomed away from Woody.

Diaw blossomed under D'Antoni and wilted under him as well.

JVG is known for his great D/shitty O.

How good is he at developing players?

I'm gonna say that Woodson is a better coach than JVG cause that simply ain't true. But we do know that Woody can coach and can develop players.

Isn't that what we want here right now?

JVG would be the guy you bring in after Woody does the building.

Brown wants to remain tied to Jordan

Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown would be "nervous" if an ownership change stripped Michael Jordan of his role running the team's basketball operations.

Brown said Friday that he hasn't spoken to majority owner Bob Johnson, who is looking to sell after losing millions of dollars. Jordan owns a minority stake, but Johnson has granted him the final say on basketball personnel decisions. Jordan hired Brown before last season.

Jordan has said he'd like to someday become majority owner, but has declined to address Johnson's desire to sell. Johnson declined an interview request on Friday.

A Hall of Famer coaching his record ninth NBA team, Brown said he "came here because of Michael."

KEEP HOPE ALIVE

If LB left them and we offered enough cash, he'd come back to us now that Davidson is gone. Joe could make it happen, as long as Mr. D's son/wife signed off on the idea.

Nope. Joe would be too concerned about the appearance of that.

It's fun to think about, though.

LB?

Hell No!