Should We Remove the Suspension on Ime During the All-Star Break?

[GreenlyGreeny]

And what are some of the pros and cons to doing so?

[Csfan1984]

Can't due to legal reasons with Ime's "suspension".

[Celtics2021]

He’s suspended for the year.  The only thing that’s undecided is his status beyond this year, and as the Celtics seemed perfectly happy to let him go to the Nets after Nash was fired, it’s pretty clear how that will turn out.

[jambr380]

At this point, if there was ever an actual possibility that Ime was coming back, then, yes, I would be okay with them lifting the suspension and moving forward with Ime. There really isn't a difference between a half year or a full year suspension in regard to what he did. It seems pretty dumb to 'waste' a prime Title year and we should be doing everything we can to win. This includes the coach.

I said it in another thread, but Joe wasn't even 2nd in line to be our coach this year - that was Hardy before he was hired by the Jazz. And that was to a situation where the team was doing everything it could to tank. Joe has been fine, but it seems unlikely that the Cs had 3 (4 with Brad) top coaches all within their organization and he honestly shouldn't be in a position leading the best team in basketball. It's not fair to him or the players.

[Donoghus]

It's not happening but, hypothetically, if it was on the table, why the hell would you create that needless distraction with a team in the middle of the season?  Especially a serious title contender?  Why would even consider switching coaches with a #1 seed?

He's not coming back.

[GreenlyGreeny]

It's not happening but, hypothetically, if it was on the table, why the hell would you create that needless distraction with a team in the middle of the season?  Especially a serious title contender?  Why would even consider switching coaches with a #1 seed?

He's not coming back.

We feel kind of like a mid-2010s Atlanta #1 seed. We’re missing the elite D that got us to the Finals last year. Make Joe our coach against the Bucks in the playoffs last year, and do you really think we make it? And Middleton is going to be healthy this go-around. 

How many teams have won a title with a lightweight coach like Joe? I cannot think of one except the last (only?) interim coach to win the title, Paul Westhead in 1980, right? Frankly, we’d be better off skipping our version of Westhead and going right to Stoudamire (hopefully our version of Pat Riley) if that’s where we’re going…

Joe’s a great assistant on offense and is holding down the fort, but stuff gets real after the all-star break, so we may need Ime’s big, bad D back. or double-duty from Brad.

[jpotter33]

1) There seems to be no way he’s coming back at this point - no matter how much many of us (myself included) would love that. He was the perfect coach for this group.

2) That said, one thing I haven’t seen mentioned is the full details of what happened. We’ll likely never know for sure, but I’d want that information before making a decision. As much as I want him back, if he crossed certain lines then he doesn’t need to be here.

3) As much as I lack confidence in Joe right now, firing in the middle of the season should be off the table I think (just more instability), particularly without a good plan for a long-term back up (i.e. we don’t want another Joe situation with him filling in as a secondary backup option). We’ve got to live with the Joe decision for now, but perhaps there are other things Brad can do - like more mentoring or prep with Joe, adding a more seasoned assistant, etc. But you certainly don’t remove the interim tag yet and keep options open this summer.

[GreenlyGreeny]

3) As much as I lack confidence in Joe right now, firing in the middle of the season should be off the table I think (just more instability), particularly without a good plan for a long-term back up (i.e. we don’t want another Joe situation with him filling in as a secondary backup option). We’ve got to live with the Joe decision for now, but perhaps there are other things Brad can do - like more mentoring or prep with Joe, adding a more seasoned assistant, etc. But you certainly don’t remove the interim tag yet and keep options open this summer.

If we get down in a series in the playoffs or do not ride the first seed into the playoffs, I like the idea of Brad being GM and assistant coach/mentor to Joe. I can live with that. That may be all we need to pull this off. But I seriously doubt we’re going to win the title without any additions/changes to coaching…

[gouki88]

For the love of God...

[ozgod]

For the love of God...

Was it the suggestion to unsuspend Ime or the push to turn Brad into a coach  yet again when he has shown zero interest in doing so that triggered you? 

[Kernewek]

It's not happening but, hypothetically, if it was on the table, why the hell would you create that needless distraction with a team in the middle of the season?  Especially a serious title contender?  Why would even consider switching coaches with a #1 seed?

He's not coming back.

We feel kind of like a mid-2010s Atlanta #1 seed. We’re missing the elite D that got us to the Finals last year. Make Joe our coach against the Bucks in the playoffs last year, and do you really think we make it? And Middleton is going to be healthy this go-around. 

How many teams have won a title with a lightweight coach like Joe? I cannot think of one except the last (only?) interim coach to win the title, Paul Westhead in 1980, right? Frankly, we’d be better off skipping our version of Westhead and going right to Stoudamire (hopefully our version of Pat Riley) if that’s where we’re going…

Joe’s a great assistant on offense and is holding down the fort, but stuff gets real after the all-star break, so we may need Ime’s big, bad D back. or double-duty from Brad.

If anything, the 'big bad D' Udoka is associated with these days is what lead to this whole situation, and I doubt it will help the Celtics on the basketball court.

[Roy H.]

Once it was clear that Ime messed up, I think the team should have lined up an experienced assistant coach to help Mazz.  By the time they announced the suspension, it was too late.

But at this point, it's sink or swim for Mazzulla.  I've got to think that Ime is done with the Celtics.

[Donoghus]

It's not happening but, hypothetically, if it was on the table, why the hell would you create that needless distraction with a team in the middle of the season?  Especially a serious title contender?  Why would even consider switching coaches with a #1 seed?

He's not coming back.

We feel kind of like a mid-2010s Atlanta #1 seed. We’re missing the elite D that got us to the Finals last year. Make Joe our coach against the Bucks in the playoffs last year, and do you really think we make it? And Middleton is going to be healthy this go-around. 

How many teams have won a title with a lightweight coach like Joe? I cannot think of one except the last (only?) interim coach to win the title, Paul Westhead in 1980, right? Frankly, we’d be better off skipping our version of Westhead and going right to Stoudamire (hopefully our version of Pat Riley) if that’s where we’re going…

Joe’s a great assistant on offense and is holding down the fort, but stuff gets real after the all-star break, so we may need Ime’s big, bad D back. or double-duty from Brad.

A three game losing streak in January is giving you mid 2010s Atlanta vibes?

[Phantom255x]

I asked this on another thread, but I'm still a bit confused as to why he's still with the organization at all if what he did was so egregious the C's basically gave him a year suspension + aren't having him come back to the C's. Is it because of his C's contract or something, or fear he goes to another team?

I do think it's kind of telling they haven't removed the "interim" tag on Mazzulla yet

[GreenlyGreeny]

It's not happening but, hypothetically, if it was on the table, why the hell would you create that needless distraction with a team in the middle of the season?  Especially a serious title contender?  Why would even consider switching coaches with a #1 seed?

He's not coming back.

We feel kind of like a mid-2010s Atlanta #1 seed. We’re missing the elite D that got us to the Finals last year. Make Joe our coach against the Bucks in the playoffs last year, and do you really think we make it? And Middleton is going to be healthy this go-around. 

How many teams have won a title with a lightweight coach like Joe? I cannot think of one except the last (only?) interim coach to win the title, Paul Westhead in 1980, right? Frankly, we’d be better off skipping our version of Westhead and going right to Stoudamire (hopefully our version of Pat Riley) if that’s where we’re going…

Joe’s a great assistant on offense and is holding down the fort, but stuff gets real after the all-star break, so we may need Ime’s big, bad D back. or double-duty from Brad.

If anything, the 'big bad D' Udoka is associated with these days is what lead to this whole situation, and I doubt it will help the Celtics on the basketball court.

Not the big, bad D like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zWl2sjdKEas

But the big, bad D like this:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tuwhkWBkHBA