You don't remember that the team with the second best record in the East and probably the best chance to come out of the East is being coached by a no-experience rookie head coach? He also has some very experienced assistants. The truth is that I don't know if Billups would be good for the job but I like his bbiq and his character. I did just a day or so ago suggest Johnnie Bryant, who right now, I like the most out of any coaching prospect that is on my very limited radar. Edit: still not sure about Billups but your premise has a huge flaw... he is currently in his first year as an assistant coach on the Clippers.
VanderPool available: https://www.blazersedge.com/2021/5/...rpool-not-returning-to-minnesota-timberwolves
Here is an ESPN insider article on prospective coaches. I will post the free excerpts I see, maybe somebody else can post some of the other content. "From the moment he retired in 2014, the league speculated that Billups had the personal qualities to build a distinguished career as either an NBA executive or head coach. Billups sniffed around at potential opportunities — including lead executive positions in Atlanta, Cleveland and Minnesota — while working as a studio analyst and color commentator for ESPN and the Clippers. After interviewing last season for the Indiana job that ultimately went to Nate Bjorkgren, Billups joined Ty Lue’s staff last fall, and has thoroughly impressed colleagues with both his gravitas and his willingness to listen — even as an NBA champion who saw it all over 17 seasons. Now that he’s accumulating coaching experience under a boss with a reputation for preparedness, Billups is regarded by insiders as one of the likeliest candidates to receive a head-coaching opportunity sooner than later." "One of the most sought-after assistants during this past offseason, Allen opted to remain on Erik Spoelstra’s bench, where he’s furthering his graduate education. Whether it’s putting together a scouting report or patiently counseling Heat players on how to exploit the margins of the game, Allen has assumed an enormous workload in Miami, something the organization both demands from its staff and admires specifically about Allen. According to those he has worked with in Detroit and Miami, Allen spends a lot of time not only on the granular details of X’s & O’s, but also thinking about the more holistic needs of “the whole” — judiciously weighing the needs of every player, staffer and the organization. It’s this range of qualities that inspires those peers to believe Allen has a very promising chance to succeed in the first chair." And then a third guy, not much info: "Accordingly, Rajakovic has become one of the most sought-after assistants in the league, earning himself substantial raises each of the past two offseasons. For team owners and front-office executives who increasingly cite diversity of professional experiences as an asset, Rajakovic would bring plenty of them to the job." https://www.espn.com/nba/insider/st...other-top-names-league-insiders-buzzing-about
Here are some odds on next Celtic coach: Keith Smith: Next Celtics coach odds per @betonline_ag: Jay Larranaga 3/1, Jason Kidd 5/1, Chauncey Billups 6/1, Lloyd Pierce 6/1, Sam Cassell 7/1, Kenny Atkinson 10/1, Ime Udoka 10/1, Jarron Collins 12/1, Alvin Gentry 12/1, Nate McMillan 12/1, Mike D’Antoni 14/1, Becky Hammon 14/1, Jeff Van Gundy 14/1 Anybody know anything about Larranaga? –
Here's a random thought: Brandon Roy? He's probably completely outmatched at the NBA level but you never know. But I think he'd have Dame's respect from day one.
First - I'm not sure there are many that actually want Thibs. They're just using him as an example of someone who is better than Stotts. Second - Stotts doesn't even qualify for this chart. In 8 seasons as coach, we've only had HCA 2 times (out of the 12 series played in). For comparison, Thibs has had it 7 different series. Everyone on the chart has accomplished that at least 5 times. There's no comparison here. Third - Comparing apples to apples here -> if you go game by game winning percentage when the teams had HCA, Stotts still shows up worse (technically). Stotts is 4-5 (for a 0.444 percentage). Thibs is 17-21 (for a 0.447 percentage).... (I realize that's not a significant difference there)
Okay, I stand corrected on 2 counts. (Sorry for the delay. I've been gone from the board.) As for Steve Nash, D'Antoni is not your average assistant coach. Anyway, I still want a more experienced Stotts replacement than Billups. Unless you add an assistant with the pedigree of D'Antoni.
1) Is he really better than Stotts though? 2) Agreed he doesn't qualify, for multiple reasons. I know the one time we blew HCA is still being brought up over and over though. Imagine if it happened 2 more times. 3) I think winning percentage to compare coaches would be a great apples to apples comparison if you believed coaches played a major impact in a taems W/L record. Obviously I don't buy that theory though. We'll likely find out next year. Assuming CJ/Nurk are healthy, that's another 5-10 wins, and if a coach makes a huge difference, that should be another 10ish wins, so maybe we'll win 60-65+ games with this core and I'll have to eat crow. I really want that to be the case.
At this point I don't know if we need someone that is far better than Stotts because Stotts is good at motivation and confidence building and empowering players. He's a players' coach and that's what he's good at. What we need now is change. A change of voice and approach. This team is in such bad need of accountability, they're in severe need of a coach who emphasizes defense. They need a coach that is willing to have a more dynamic offense around Dame. So when people ask if an idea for a new coach is definitely an upgrade, I don't think that is the pertinent question at this point. The question is will the new coach be the right kind of different?
Ime Udoka Chauncey Billups Becky Hammon Sam Cassell Will Hardy that would be my first set of interviews.
Give Jay Wright a call. Seriously. as for assistants, the spurs tree: Udoka, Hammon, etc. Billups is intriguing but a novice.
Tony Bennett at Virginia can coach the shit out of defense and played in the NBA. Has won everywhere he’s been.
need to act quick. i feel like there's gonna be quite a few openings this summer. Boston is already a step ahead of us. You know Clips are gonna shake up things again if they lose in round one. SVG has been on the hotseat in NO since he got the job and failed miserably. Brooks also underachieved. if we want our candidate, gotta start this process immediately. i really want Hammon.
I really want Hammon as our next coach, but I think it’ll be Vanterpool because Neil will appease Dame
