One of the biggest moves for the Celtics will be finding a new head coach. A couple of names I've read they are looking at is Doc Rivers and Paul Westphal. Any other rumors flying around Bean Town? How about the Big Red head, Bill Walton?
I honestly wouldn't mind seeing John Carroll receive a long term deal, perhaps a 2-3 year contract. I think he's done exceptionally well considering the circumstances, and he understands Boston's current situation and what direction they plan on heading in. However if they do decide to aquire a more renowned coach I would defintely attempt to sign Byron Scott. Think about it, Danny Ainge wants to create a fast break style basketball team like the Sacramento Kings. Who better to lead a team with that style than Byron Scott? After all, he did lead The Nets to two NBA Finals apperances and I believe they finished 1st in fastbreak points each season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I honestly wouldn't mind seeing John Carroll receive a long term deal, perhaps a 2-3 year contract.</div> I don't believe that he's even being given legit consideration. I honestly believe the reason he got the position in the first place was because Dannyboy thought he'd struggle just enough to keep the C's in the lottery. Of all the assistants on the Celtics bnech, Lester Conner was by far the best candidate for the interim appointment. Carroll does little coaching and the C's have made tons of fundamental and repeat situational mistakes during his time here. IMO, that makes him a bad coach and shouldn't be in the position of recieving the HC spot full time. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">However if they do decide to aquire a more renowned coach I would defintely attempt to sign Byron Scott</div> There is not a snowballs chance in hell of that happening. Bryon Scott hates Boston and Boston hates Byron Scott. He's made open remarks to the media that Boston is a racist town(way to keep carrying that BS crap around Byron) and on a person note: I'd literally stop being a Celtics fan if he were made coach. He exemplifies nothing that the Celtics do and it would only bhe another huge mistake by the administration to even consider him. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">A couple of names I've read they are looking at is Doc Rivers and Paul Westphal. Any other rumors flying around Bean Town? How about the Big Red head, Bill Walton?</div> Walton's not in the fray and neither is Tommy Heinsohn, despite many Celtics fans wondering if they were or how cool it might be for them to be the HC. Tommy (and his wife - The Red Head from Needham he refers to in every broadcast) are in no health position to do the job. Tommy'd probably have a heart attack or aneurism. <u>Here's who I know about:</u>(in no particular order) 1. Westphal 2. Rivers - I've heard they have contacted him, but he's not high on the list. 3. Jerry Sitchting 4. Fratello - I have no idea why, because he doesn't coach the kind of offense Dannyboy wants, but hey, what do I know? 5. Dennis Johnson I believe those are the ones with teeth to the rumors, but as you can read, some of them are probably stronger than others.
Here are some coaching possibilities I brought up way back when OB quit: Mike Fratello Doug Collins George Karl Doc Rivers Bill Cartwright Dennis Johnson Paul Westphal I think if the Mavs get knocked out in the first round they may fire Nellie, I think Ainge would sign him ina heartbeat. He is the kind of coach Ainge wants, he has his teams push the ball just like Ainge wants.
With Pierce in Town, I think we can effectively cross George Karl off the list of eligible candidates, IMO. They don't get along at all.
I recall reading an article Denis Johnson was pissed at Ainge for giving him the cold shoulder after KO was fired. I'll try to find the article online and post it. Nellie would make a lot of sense, but I don't see Cuban firing him even if the Mavs underachieve in the playoffs. But then again, you can never underestimate Cuban and his shock value transactions. People the Celtics should avoid are college coaches, I'm sure Rick Pitino soured them from making that decision again. Recycled coaches don't seem to pan out in Bean Town either. Looking back at some of their more successful seasons former players who came back to coach seemed to have the most impact on winning. Bill Russell (player/coach) and KC Jones. Celtic players in general seem to have a good track history as coaches. From generation to generation, the tradition is passed on: Red Auerbach coached Tommy Heinsohn, Heinsohn coached Dave Cowens, Cowens coached Chris Ford and Ford coached Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale. Five former Celtics are currently headcoaching this season: Clipper's Johnson, Indiana's Carlisle, New York's Don Chaney, Dallas' Don Nelson and New Orleans' Paul Silas. How about Dave Cowens?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">How about Dave Cowens?</div> My apologies, I'm an idiot for leaving that name off the list. Problem with Cowens, is that his name was mentioned before every hiring in the last decade, so I tend to just assume everyone knows he's in the running. Not sure how strong of an option he is, because I remember some kind of issue between him and Ainge (I think), so he may or may not be on Dannyboy's list of potentials. Personally, I think he'd be a good candidate, but who knows.
Dave Cowens would be the ideal canidate for the Celtics. He has a solid coaching history and I think his style and personality would mesh well with Paul Pierce. However, who knows what DannyBoy has in mind for the make-up of this team. An unsettling trend I've noticed this past year are GM's trying to build a team without the input of their headcoach. We are seeing with the Celtics, Bulls, and Warriors. One has to look no further than the masterpiece Jerry West and Hubie Brown have built in Memphis. It should serve as a blueprint for all franchises to follow. The role of the coach is to let the GM know what type of players and attitudes he needs to fit their coaching style. The role of the GM is to make the trades to acquire those type of players. Right now teams like the Celtics, Bulls, and Warriors are doing it backward. They are saying to their coach, here's a group of guys I like, go out there and win games with them. It's simply not going to happen and the coach will be the scapegoat. Without the GM working with the coach and supporting their decisions players simply are not going to respond to the coach and buy into their system.
That's a fair assertion Shape. It does seem backwards. However, We also have to temper that thought with the fact that the system and coach we already had were, in fact, backwards already. OB's foolish alligence to marginal vets and Harter's assinine fronting the post defense. Frankly, I'd like to see how Danny interacts with a coach that he's interested in being here, because despite his comments in the press, I believe he wanted OB gone as well, which was probably a reason for him not including OB in the personel decision process. I'd certainly like to see a more cohesive approach to the GM and Coach working together in the future. As you've already pointed out, it makes the most sense and should be the most effective way to guarantee winning.
Sichting's always been in the mix. If I forgot to mention him before, it was a bad ommission, for sure. I believe the current candidates stand as thus: Westphal Sichting DJ Cowens Rivers Cheeks All indications are that Westphal or Rivers are the guys Danny's looking at the hardest, but who knows.
You just never know with Dannyboy, if he hires Sichting, you can be sure he'll make a call to Ralph Sampson as one of Sichting's assistant coaches.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">if he hires Sichting, you can be sure he'll make a call to Ralph Sampson as one of Sichting's assistant coaches</div> That would bring on a migraine, for certain.
