I don't hate the move, but it sure feels a whole lot like rearranging deck chairs on a sinking ship -- not to say that the ship is even sinking (maybe listing to the left slightly).
It's amazing how some folks forget the times when Viktor Kryapa, Bassy, Juan Dixon, etc were actually the starters on this team. I remember those times vividly, and don't mind the job the management team has done at all.
Maybe Maurice Lucas is not going to be coming back and he is ML replacement? Not everything has to be filled with drama, oh wait on this board it does, my bad.
I think Bernie is more of a X's and O's guy and not a big man coach like ML is. He would be a horrible choice to be brought in to work with our bigs.
yeah I just figured it was common knowledge that a former Head Coach probably wouldnt come in to be a low on the totem pole coach like ML.
He is a horrible choice, period. I am no fan of Nate's but Bernie is not even remotely an upgrade. So unless he is strictly going to be Nate's assistant I think this move is a terrible mistake.
Monty and Dean are both reportedly in the mix for head coaching gigs elsewhere, so I'm going out on a limb here and guessing that he's mostly being brought in to be Nate's assistant and it's not some nefarious plan to supplant Nate with a retread who never did much to begin with. If Nate gets the axe, I have a feeling PA is going to be looking for a big name to fill his shoes.
After thinking this over carefully, my reaction (and I mean this unequivocally) is "Meh." I don't think this even counts as rearranging deck chairs. More like opening it up for debate among the passengers about how to rearrange deck chairs.
I was actually more or less expecting them to announce a hiring for KP's assistant to replace Penn as a VP.
Dean and Monty are not going to be here long. The Blazers are just proactively back-filling. And who knows if Lucas will ever come back? We could be down 3 assistants before we know it. This is no big deal.
You have to keep in mind that the one making those kind of statements is the same person that has NEVER been correct with a talent evaluation... MARIS61.
If I had to guess (and putting a positive spin on things), Nate's current coaching staff -- his main support system -- looks like this: Dean: looking to be a head coach, getting interviews Monty: looking to be a head coach, getting interviews and maybe offers Joe Prunty: former video coordinator for college and the Spurs, assisted on Spurs' Summer League Teams Mo Lucas: been out for better part of two years with health problems Kaleb Canales: former video coordinator, first asst. job (Is Bayno considered a formal "assistant" on Nate's staff?) I'd say this looks a lot like stocking up with some veteran basketball knowledge. Say what you want to about Bernie---he's basically seen and done it all in a variety of positions from asst. on a Championship team, to head coach of a playoff team, to VP/GM for a rebuilding team, to vice-president for Operations of an expansion team. If Monty and Dean leave, and Mo doesn't come back, we're left with Nate and two video coordinators/assistant coaches. Not that i have anything against video coordinators, but I'm pretty sure there's a reason that most staffs have a few assistants--to widen the pool of shared knowledge.
Whoopie. Bernie was pretty darned mediocre when he coached in Seattle. But that's the magic word apparently: "Seattle." Why in the hell would those Vulcan assholes be in charge of selecting a basketball coach anyway? The "Seattle Blazers." Get used to it?
"Those Vulcan assholes" really end up being Todd Liewicke and Paul Allen ... you know, the guy signing the checks. If he wants bickerstaff on the bench next to Nate, and Nate is comfortable with him (which is what we're being told by Kenny Vance) then what's the big fucking deal? It may not be some slam dunk of a choice, but I would hardly call it meddling or some heavy handed move.
Let's get real here. Many assistant coaches are brought in merely to scout one out of every so many games, prepare a scouting report, and then work with players in practice. He doesn't have to be a coaching god to do that. But it helps if he is competent and has experience. Most of the scenarios in the past where Bickerstaff became head coach, those teams had bottomed out. Much like Nate, he is probably great for a team on the skids that needs turned around. To get to the next level, probably not so much. But hell I remain optimistic. Maybe he can help bring some life to the stagnant offense.
Nice to see that someone in the organization saw the glaring need for a coaching shakeup. I'm just not sure Bickerstaff is the answer.
