We need to stop buying these retreads. If we would have signed Budenholzer or Steve Kerr, I think our team would be significantly better right now.
I'm not sure I buy that. Look at Kevin McHale, You read all over this forum how much of a shitty coach he is and he has his team a game away from the WCF. Same thing with Doc Rivers.
That's because McHale and Doc Rivers are commonly referred to as "carried by talent." What did Doc do without three future hall of famers? Nothing. What has he done with the Clippers that Vinny Del Negro couldn't do? Nothing.
There is no better coach available (don't forget, Thibodeau has not officially been fired). But if Aldridge goes, let's get Kaleb back for full tank mode.
I disagree, I think there are better coaches out there. They just haven't been given a HC opportunity or are at the collegiate rank. Stotts isn't a terrible coach but his flaws are really clear (Thibodeau has a lot of flaws too). I think Stotts gets one more year but if we have yet another first round exit he needs to go.
It's not what I want but I doubt he gets fired. He will get another season in all likelihood. Now, if he can teach these guys to set screens and play great team defense I'm all for keeping him, but that has yet to be seen.
Almost certainly there is somebody out there who, given the right support and opportunities, could do a better job than Stotts. But the chances of us correctly identifying him (or her) are fairly miniscule.
Is the position vacant? To me the biggest concern is the lack of control he seemed to have last year. It was reminiscent to Nate in his last two years. Players were doing their own thing and no matter how many time outs he took or what he said they still did their own thing. This maybe due to the uncertainty of free agency and all that could change if everyone is signed and comes back focused and ready to go. I think it's more likely that his demise is inevitable because these players have learned they can get away with doing their own thing. They are going to continue to do it.
That is exactly what I thought and it got worse in the playoffs. They played that series like they didn't even have a coach, perhaps a time keeper for subs but not a coach.
Mike D'Antoni failed MISERABLY in LA amd NY because both rosters didn't fit his system. At all. Kobe and Melo are both heavy ISO players. In PHX, it was all movement and all P&R surrounded by shooters. Give him players that fit his style, like PHX, and he'll be back as one of the top two or three coaches in the league again. Mike D would be my choice after Thibs.