Who's the Greatest Celtic Coach...after Red? Who's the Worst?

[SShoreFan 2.0]

My neighbors are building an arc and gathering wildlife in pairs as it appears the rain will never stop falling.  So in between the hammers and the sorting of animals I offer you all this to chew on.

Obviously Red rates as the greatest Celtic coach of all time, but there's a ton of impressive names that follow him  (Russell, Heinsohn, Jones, Rivers....) and a ton not so impressive (Fill in the names).  Who do you think ranks as the second best Celtic coach ever and why.  And then, throw in your vote for worst coach ever (I am pretty sure, I know who'll win this one).

Gotta run, two deer are eating the shrubs!

[Cassidy122690]

I think it's a close call between Tommy and KC Jones, and I think I'd give the nod to Tommy.

KC certainly earned the respect of a half dozen basketball legends en route to two rings, and he certainly had a winning formula.  But I would guess that his actual personal contribution to winning was slightly less than Tommy's.  The 80s formula of success seemed to be for KC to keep everyone happy and not complicate things by getting in the way.  Hey, hey recongized that's what needed to be done, and he did it.

But I'm inclined to give the nod to Tommy because it seemed like he had more of a coaching agenda, molded his teams in that way and won a couple rings in the process.  Basketball in general was probably being played at a higher level during KC's years, but Tommy had to compete with a great in-division team (the Knicks) and other great W.C. teams, Bucks, Phoenix, and Wilt's Lakers were around too (though never in a head to head with the 70s Cs).

So, from the standpoint of a coach seemingly "doing more" to implement a winning formula, I'll go with Tommy by a nose, but I'll give KC a big fat TP in the process.

[Boris Badenov]

ML is both the 2nd greatest and the worst, simultaneously. I have never seen a team run into the ground quite so effectively.

[JSD]

I think it's a close call between Tommy and KC Jones, and I think I'd give the nod to Tommy.

KC certainly earned the respect of a half dozen basketball legends en route to two rings, and he certainly had a winning formula.  But I would guess that his actual personal contribution to winning was slightly less than Tommy's.  The 80s formula of success seemed to be for KC to keep everyone happy and not complicate things by getting in the way.  Hey, hey recongized that's what needed to be done, and he did it.

But I'm inclined to give the nod to Tommy because it seemed like he had more of a coaching agenda, molded his teams in that way and won a couple rings in the process.  Basketball in general was probably being played at a higher level during KC's years, but Tommy had to compete with a great in-division team (the Knicks) and other great W.C. teams, Bucks, Phoenix, and Wilt's Lakers were around too (though never in a head to head with the 70s Cs).

So, from the standpoint of a coach seemingly "doing more" to implement a winning formula, I'll go with Tommy by a nose, but I'll give KC a big fat TP in the process.

I actually blame KC for overusing the original big 3 and shortening Larry's career. I have to go with Tommy.

I rank him as the #2 Celtic of all time:

1)Red
2)Tommy
3)Russell
4)Cousey


 

[Donoghus]

Best:  Tommy Heinsohn

Worst: M.L. Carr

[Cassidy122690]

I think it's a close call between Tommy and KC Jones, and I think I'd give the nod to Tommy.

KC certainly earned the respect of a half dozen basketball legends en route to two rings, and he certainly had a winning formula.  But I would guess that his actual personal contribution to winning was slightly less than Tommy's.  The 80s formula of success seemed to be for KC to keep everyone happy and not complicate things by getting in the way.  Hey, hey recongized that's what needed to be done, and he did it.

But I'm inclined to give the nod to Tommy because it seemed like he had more of a coaching agenda, molded his teams in that way and won a couple rings in the process.  Basketball in general was probably being played at a higher level during KC's years, but Tommy had to compete with a great in-division team (the Knicks) and other great W.C. teams, Bucks, Phoenix, and Wilt's Lakers were around too (though never in a head to head with the 70s Cs).

So, from the standpoint of a coach seemingly "doing more" to implement a winning formula, I'll go with Tommy by a nose, but I'll give KC a big fat TP in the process.

I actually blame KC for overusing the original big 3 and shortening Larry's career. I have to go with Tommy.

I rank him as the #2 Celtic of all time:

1)Red
2)Tommy
3)Russell
4)Cousey


 

You wanted more time for Greg Kite, Fred Roberts and Darren Daye?  I understand your point, but these guys HAD to play given what was behind them.

... and Cousy never coached (unless I'm missing something).

[Cassidy122690]

Worst:  based on hair, Jimmy Rodgers (yeeesh); but based on an utter lack of understanding of the pro game and how to communicate with pro athletes (two pretty important areas, imho), Rick Pitino.

[Cassidy122690]

1. Red
2. Tommy
3. KC
4. Fitch
5. Russell
6. Doc
7. Obie
8. Chris Ford

[Zoots]

Well, I have to state up front that I was not a Celtics fan until 1979, so I can't really judge Heinsohn and Russ and coaches.

Since I've been a fan, I'd rate Bill Fitch as best, and ML as worst.

I think Fitch was a very solid X's and O's guy, and a decent communicator as well.  Bird regarded him as his best coach ever.

As to M.L.; I think no explanation is necessary.

[SShoreFan 2.0]

I am giving the nod to Bill Fitch ever so slightly over Heinsohn for bringing the 80's team together and instilling discipline and focus. 

As for the worst, Pitino.  As much as I love the guy, Pitino gets the nod for being the worst.

[JSD]

I think it's a close call between Tommy and KC Jones, and I think I'd give the nod to Tommy.

KC certainly earned the respect of a half dozen basketball legends en route to two rings, and he certainly had a winning formula.  But I would guess that his actual personal contribution to winning was slightly less than Tommy's.  The 80s formula of success seemed to be for KC to keep everyone happy and not complicate things by getting in the way.  Hey, hey recongized that's what needed to be done, and he did it.

But I'm inclined to give the nod to Tommy because it seemed like he had more of a coaching agenda, molded his teams in that way and won a couple rings in the process.  Basketball in general was probably being played at a higher level during KC's years, but Tommy had to compete with a great in-division team (the Knicks) and other great W.C. teams, Bucks, Phoenix, and Wilt's Lakers were around too (though never in a head to head with the 70s Cs).

So, from the standpoint of a coach seemingly "doing more" to implement a winning formula, I'll go with Tommy by a nose, but I'll give KC a big fat TP in the process.

I actually blame KC for overusing the original big 3 and shortening Larry's career. I have to go with Tommy.

I rank him as the #2 Celtic of all time:

1)Red
2)Tommy
3)Russell
4)Cousey


 

You wanted more time for Greg Kite, Fred Roberts and Darren Daye?  I understand your point, but these guys HAD to play given what was behind them.

... and Cousy never coached (unless I'm missing something).

The Best coach Tommy,

Greatest celtic ever:

1)Red
2)Tommy
3)Russell
4)Cousy

[JSD]

I am giving the nod to Bill Fitch ever so slightly over Heinsohn for bringing the 80's team together and instilling discipline and focus. 

As for the worst, Pitino.  As much as I love the guy, Pitino gets the nod for being the worst.

I thought you were going to go there with Pitino and I have to disagree.

People lump together his coaching ability with his ability to general manage. He was a sub par pro coach but one of the worst general manager the NBA has witnessed.

[Cassidy122690]

I think it's a close call between Tommy and KC Jones, and I think I'd give the nod to Tommy.

KC certainly earned the respect of a half dozen basketball legends en route to two rings, and he certainly had a winning formula.  But I would guess that his actual personal contribution to winning was slightly less than Tommy's.  The 80s formula of success seemed to be for KC to keep everyone happy and not complicate things by getting in the way.  Hey, hey recongized that's what needed to be done, and he did it.

But I'm inclined to give the nod to Tommy because it seemed like he had more of a coaching agenda, molded his teams in that way and won a couple rings in the process.  Basketball in general was probably being played at a higher level during KC's years, but Tommy had to compete with a great in-division team (the Knicks) and other great W.C. teams, Bucks, Phoenix, and Wilt's Lakers were around too (though never in a head to head with the 70s Cs).

So, from the standpoint of a coach seemingly "doing more" to implement a winning formula, I'll go with Tommy by a nose, but I'll give KC a big fat TP in the process.

I actually blame KC for overusing the original big 3 and shortening Larry's career. I have to go with Tommy.

I rank him as the #2 Celtic of all time:

1)Red
2)Tommy
3)Russell
4)Cousey


 

You wanted more time for Greg Kite, Fred Roberts and Darren Daye?  I understand your point, but these guys HAD to play given what was behind them.

... and Cousy never coached (unless I'm missing something).

The Best coach Tommy,

Greatest celtic ever:

1)Red
2)Tommy
3)Russell
4)Cousy

Ahh, gotchya.  I misread that (re: Cousy).

[SShoreFan 2.0]

I am giving the nod to Bill Fitch ever so slightly over Heinsohn for bringing the 80's team together and instilling discipline and focus. 

As for the worst, Pitino.  As much as I love the guy, Pitino gets the nod for being the worst.

I thought you were going to go there with Pitino and I have to disagree.

People lump together his coaching ability with his ability to general manage. He was a sub par pro coach but one of the worst general manager the NBA has witnessed.

My reasoning for Pitino over ML is that Pitino was a total control freak and got into the heads of his players in the 'wrong' way, where I think ML just flat out tanked it for the lottery picks.

[dooyork]

Best:

1. Red
2. Tommy
3. Fitch
4. KC
5. Ford
6. Obie

I put Ford up there for having a great year, 1991, where the style of play completely turned around from the Rogers-coached team of 1990, with the addition of more speed and youth, which he blended perfectly with the aging Big 3.  Same sort of thing for Obie in 2002, coming off the Pitino disaster.  Fitch and KC are self-explanatory, nod to Fitch over KC because by the time KC got the team, his job was pretty much to stay out of the way.  Doc is not there yet, unless you want to combine the coaching done by Doc/Thibedeau/Ray in 2008.  If you divide it up by offensive coaching jobs and defensive coaching jobs, the job Thibedeau did this year has to be right up there.  I don't know how long defensive coordinators have been used though. 

Worst:

Nod to Pitino over M.L. Carr, because of M.L.s many years of being a passionate Celtics fan as well as his role on the championship teams in the 80s.  Jimmy Rogers would have to be number 3 on the list.