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

[nickagneta]

If it's just x's and o's then I'd have to say it was a tie between Fitch and Heinsohn, but overall I'd give it to Heinsohn because I think he got more out of less talent than Fitch did and his players didn't eventually tune him out.

But my memory only goes as far back as the 70's Hondo days so I can't really comment on Russell's coaching other than that of what I read and that was that he pretty much just continued the Auerbach system.

Worst, well that's a different story. Recently we've had some really bad coaching.

Carr was atrocious but he was trying to be atrocious, so I'm not sure he can be properly judged. He so blatantly tried to lose that season I'm surprised he wasn't sanctioned by the league. Of course, he didn't end up with Duncan, so maybe he was sanctioned by the league.

Pitino was bad and I don't buy the whole, he was a decent coach but a horrible GM argument. he brought in players and got rid of players based on a style of play he wanted to play. That style, end to end defense and college level offense wasn't suited for this league and because of that he failed as a coach. his handling of the players was about as bad as has ever occurred here and sorry people, that is a part of coaching.

Doc had a couple of dreadful years here as well. Again, two years ago he was obviously tanking and not surprisingly the Celtics once again got screwed in the draft for being so blatant. I'm not saying it was the league that fixed it but sometimes fate rewards and punishes such obvious misdeeds. But as good as Doc coached last year, and I do think he had an exceptional year as a coach, he was just as bad in other years.

But without a doubt the worst Celtic coach ever was John Carroll. He had zero skills and zero control over that bunch after O'Brien was let go/left. That team went from under-performing to catastrophically awful just like that. I know it was just a stop gap but those stop gap guys usually show a little something and get the team to respond if only because there's been a change. Not that group. They quit and it was immediate.

[ACF]

WHAT?!
No one has Doc as "worst"?










Oh, wait, I get it now:
Can't argue with winning   

[nickagneta]

WHAT?!
No one has Doc as "worst"?











Oh, wait, I get it now:
Can't argue with winning   

I mentioned him as one of the worst.

But then again, last year was one of the better coaching jobs done here in a long time.

[ACF]

WHAT?!
No one has Doc as "worst"?

I mentioned him as one of the worst.

But then again, last year was one of the better coaching jobs done here in a long time.

I was a tad quick when I posted just then.
I was just surprised that no one else had
him on their list 

[SShoreFan 2.0]

But without a doubt the worst Celtic coach ever was John Carroll. He had zero skills and zero control over that bunch after O'Brien was let go/left. That team went from under-performing to catastrophically awful just like that. I know it was just a stop gap but those stop gap guys usually show a little something and get the team to respond if only because there's been a change. Not that group. They quit and it was immediate.

This is a bit embarrassing, but I totally forgot about John Carroll.....he wins for the most forgettable.

[2short]

#2 Tommy, he actually would be in the hall of fame as a coach alone if red didn't let him go
#3 Bill Fitch I don't think the team generally liked him but he was a good coach

Worst-Rick (look at me I'm gorgeous) Pitino, bad coach, bad gm, still cannot understand why the C's hired him to coach after what he did in NY...but we didn't just hire him to coach we gave him the world

#2 ML Carr
#3 Was it John ? Carroll...can't remember his name

I wouldn't consider KC or Doc on either end of the list...

[BballTim]

  I'll go with Pitino for worst. He was forever complaining that he couldn't win because he didn't have the right players for his system. How about, in the meantime, possibly coming up with a system to fit the players that he had?

[SShoreFan 2.0]

There were two coaches prior to Red and neither faired very well. 

Post Red, statistically speaking ML was the worst followed by Satch Sanders and John Carroll & Cowens.  KC, Fitch, Russell and Tommy were the best statistically.


Here's a triva question, which two coaches shared the same last name? 

[ACF]

There were two coaches prior to Red and neither faired very well. 

Post Red, statistically speaking ML was the worst followed by Satch Sanders and John Carroll & Cowens.  KC, Fitch, Russell and Tommy were the best statistically.


Here's a triva question, which two coaches shared the same last name?  

(John and Bill) Russell

[SShoreFan 2.0]

There were two coaches prior to Red and neither faired very well. 

Post Red, statistically speaking ML was the worst followed by Satch Sanders and John Carroll & Cowens.  KC, Fitch, Russell and Tommy were the best statistically.


Here's a triva question, which two coaches shared the same last name?  

(John and Bill) Russell

That is correct!!  TP

BTW the Red Sox had names that at least two mangers share (Williams & Collins.......and almost a third with a Kerrigan and Carrigan)

[iowa plowboy]

WHAT?!
No one has Doc as "worst"?

Not the worst....But not close to the best.

Obie was ions better than Rivers ever will be.  He got marginal players and his best players to maximize their abilites and play as a team.   Rivers turned the same players into malcontents and one-way players.

Rivers did a good job after Danny idiot-proofed the roster and gave him a coach who actually implemented an NBA defensive concept.

Rivers is a nice guy but doesn't belong in the same area code as Red, Tommy, KC, Fitch, or even Ford or Obie....So I'd say 7th. 

[NicaraguanFan]

Bill Russell anyone as the best?

I have no doubt in my mind Rick Pitino was the worst.

[gustusias]

Heinsohn.

[LB3533]

Even though Rivers won a title for us, I can't see how you can put Rivers up there as one of the "great coaches" ever.

Rivers was ONE Game 7 away from losing to the Hawks in the 1st Round. (...supposedly Mike Woodson was coaching circles around Doc's head)

I had seen the Celtics lose a 7 game series in the 1st Round with Doc Rivers as the head coach so it didn't surprise me in the least to see us go 7 Games again in the 1st Round....but it did surprise me when it was against the Hawks of all teams.

[greg683x]

Best (After Red)
1. Tommy
2. KC Jones
3. Russell

Worst
1.  Pitino
2. Carr (although I was very tempted to put him number 1, just the memory of seeing him on sportscenter begging Michael Jordan to come to Boston, offering to shag fly balls for him is still embarressing every time I think of it)


In my opinion you cant put Doc Rivers on the worst list.  He won a championship, yes he did have a overload of superstar talent, but he was still able to get everyone to work together as a team, and started the umbutu(sp?) philosophy.  There was too many bad coaches in the past for Doc to even sniff the worst list.  Jim Obrien was worse than Doc, yeah we made it to the eastern conference finals, but what was so special about giving a 12 man roster the green light to jack up a 3 whenever they wanted and crossing your fingers??  Now if youre gonna start a list for the worst coaches that WON a title, Im sure most people might have Doc on top of the list.