For the good of his own career I think Tom T should move on. If he won't get enough recognition here. He needs to keep moving to strengthen his case for a promotion. Keep increasing his reputation around the league.
He's killed his career so far by working so long under JVG. He can't make the same mistake twice. It's not like he's working for Popovich or someone with connections around the league here, it's bloody Doc Rivers and a front office that I don't think is likely to sprout off any more future GMs in the immediate future (like SAS - Ferry, Presti). He needs to go somewhere else and make more friends in the league.
The fact that he hasn't been offered a head coaching job isn't a surprise. I thought it was a long shot that anyone would hire him as a head coach.
But he is getting the recognition here. Haven't you noticed that most give him credit for the great defense and not Doc? His being recognized is the reason he's being mentioned for a coaching job.
Where's the job offer?
Where's the teams waiting for the Celtics playoff run to end in order to interview him?
He's been mentioned for head coaching vacancies for a decade. Several people thought he was the frontrunner for the Knicks when JVG resigned but the brass there weren't wild about him and they went with Chaney.
It's not happening.
He has to drill it into people's minds. He can't do that if he's working at only one spot. He needs to move again and show it's not luck, it's not the Celtics personnel, I'm good and can make teams better. Look at this guy, he'll give me a good reference. Now this guy. You respect his opinion, ask him for a reference.
It's not working for Tom. The Celtics defense was extraordinary this season. The recognition he got from fans and the media has been extraordinary this season. Nearly every beat writer lists him as an early candidate for every job. Well he didn't get any job offers and he didn't come close to getting any job offers. How is he going to top this season? Do it again? Think that'll help give him more credit than he's getting right now? I don't see it making a huge difference.
Look back at Houston. Tom T got a lot of credit down there and nationally. He was one of the most interviewed assistant coaches out there. He got credit for their defense and Yao Ming's development (not Patrick Ewing). Nothing has changed for him.
He needs to continue to establish himself in different locations with different rosters working under different head coaches. I firmly believe that's his single best chance to earning a head coaching job in this league. I don't see anything changing in the immediate future for his prospects if he stays with the Celtics.
