Best option if Doc goes: Larry Brown

[looseball]

Coaches who've been fired always seem to get another job because they are "experienced", even when they've done a crappy job.

Are there any assistant coaches out there who merit a shot at a head coaching job (aside from Thibideau)?
Heinson coached the C's to a championship without prior experience, as did Russell.  (But M.L.Carr didn't.)

Assuming the team's core is going to be the same next year (KG, Pierce, Rondo, Perk, 'Sheed, probably Ray), why would you bring in someone without any head coashing experience?  We're not going to BE in a full-on rebuilding mode next year, it's going to be a matter of squeezing as much as we can out of an aging roster while hoping we get lucky in the draft.  You've got to bring in someone that's got some respect among the veterans, especially replacing a coach that seems to be as popular among his players as Doc. 

Larry Brown, I think would have that respect; Jeff Van Gundy, I think would as well.

Bringing in a guy with no head coaching experience, to handle the personalities in the Celtics locker room...  to deal with Pierce likely growing frustrated as he sees the team begin retooling...  dealing with 'Sheeds stubbornness...  deal with Rondo's hardheadness...  does not sound like a good situation for a n00b coach.

How about a guy like Mike Budenholzer who has been Gregg Popovich's top assistant for the past 14 years?  Some of Pop's ability must have rubbed off on him by now.

[looseball]

Don Nelson is due for a winner.

Paul Pierce, what are your thoughts about playing center?

Haha, yes, and Perk, you are going to be our primary ballhandler.  It's your job to get it down low to Robinson.

At least Robinson can dunk.

[More Banners]

I wrote in the other thread, and I'll write it again:

NO LARRY BROWN!!!

We don't want egocentric players, and we don't want an egocentric rent-a-coach that has (or will have) backed out of his last 3 coaching contracts early purely because he's a headcase.

TP's to anyone who likes McHale as a future coach for us.

Also, quote from the Chief when Danny got the GM gig:  "Call me."  I beleive he shares a big man camp with Clifford Ray?  Any team should be proud to have Parrish on their bench.

I'll still go with a future scenario of McHale as head coach, with Austin Ainge as lead assistant, until Kevin decides to go fishing for a while and hands the reigns to Austin.

Truthfully, though, I don't really like most of the available options, but LB is the worst.

[Lucky17]

Best option if Doc goes? Tom Thibodeau.

[housecall]

I don't see a coach out there available at this time is Celtics worthy.(imo)If i had a choice of picking any coach i wanted,Pop would be my first choice.

[LooseCannon]

If every NBA head coach from this season was suddenly available, how many of them would be acceptable replacements if Doc Rivers left?

[More Banners]

If every NBA head coach from this season was suddenly available, how many of them would be acceptable replacements if Doc Rivers left?

My list would be pretty short.  Popovich, Carlyle, Sloan, and Westphal would top it.  PJ might be a great coach, but I don't like him.  No good reason.  I can't believe how Mike Woodson keeps getting jerked around by Atlanta despite continual progress every single year, but I'm not sure I'd want him.  I admire the coach in Memphis for taking a stand on the Iverson BS early this season.

No LB.  No Flop Saunders.  No Obie.  No Nellieball.  No no-defense-D'Antoniball.

I don't want to train a new NBA coach.  I don't want a coach that I know will have a short shelf life.  The 3 year thing is flat-out wrong, even if Bird said it (see Popovich, Sloan, and Jackson).

It's a player's league, but I do believe that coaching matters.  I don't think Doc's the best, but I do like his rotations much more in the playoffs, when, out of nowhere, he suddently "gets" matchups and occasionally uses a timeout to stop runs.  I guess he "flips the switch" too.

[PosImpos]

I for one believe Larry when he says he'll be coaching in Charlotte or not at all.

[cdif911]

bring Bill Fitch back...Chris Ford can be his assistant

[looseball]

Don Nelson actually has a higher winning percentage as an NBA coach than Larry Brown.  Why is Larry so desirable?

[PosImpos]

If every NBA head coach from this season was suddenly available, how many of them would be acceptable replacements if Doc Rivers left?

Rick Adelman
Phil Jackson
Jerry Sloan
Alvin Gentry
George Karl
Stan Van Gundy
Nate McMillan
Rick Carlisle
Popovich
Scott Brooks
Scott Skiles


Man, the west has a lot more really good coaches than the east.

[Global Celtic]

I wrote in the other thread, and I'll write it again:

NO LARRY BROWN!!!

We don't want egocentric players, and we don't want an egocentric rent-a-coach that has (or will have) backed out of his last 3 coaching contracts early purely because he's a headcase.

TP's to anyone who likes McHale as a future coach for us.

Also, quote from the Chief when Danny got the GM gig:  "Call me."  I beleive he shares a big man camp with Clifford Ray?  Any team should be proud to have Parrish on their bench.

I'll still go with a future scenario of McHale as head coach, with Austin Ainge as lead assistant, until Kevin decides to go fishing for a while and hands the reigns to Austin.

Truthfully, though, I don't really like most of the available options, but LB is the worst.

I assume Danny would only hire Larry Brown if he would accept a long-term contract (every top team needs stability). I don't know... I like Kevin McHale. I heard him on Bill Simmons' podcast recently and he really seems to understand basketball. And he's got THE Celtics culture inside him.
Here's one thing I wouldn't do: go with Thibodeau. Do you remember that game he coached when Doc was absent? Scary...

I would prefer a young coach with some experience, like Scott Brooks (great job on OKC).