Do we need to sign on Tom Thibodeau as our next head before someone else does?

[eighteen]

Doc Rivers has said that is may be considering leaving the Celtics after this season on good terms to spend more time with his family.



Whether we win a championship or not we need to sign Tom Thibodeau as our next head coach before someone else does and all indications are that we will be losing him after this season to some team that wants to get him in as their head coach.

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/news/story?id=5220320

Let Doc go and keep the momentum with Tom Thibodeau leading the charge. He is a big part of this championship nucleus....maybe even more than Doc is.

Did I mention is a New England native and a Salem State Alum?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Thibodeau

Let's not lose both of them, and let's not miss out someone who would probably love to lead this team.

[Chris]

I don't think he is going to be a very good head coach, so no.  If they are looking for a "transition coach", then I have no problem with him, because I think he is a great teacher and technician, so he could hold down the fort.  However, I don't have enough confidence him as an organizer and manager (which is the head coaches main responsibility) to move so quickly on him. 

[lon3lytoaster]

Oh I love my fellow Celtic fans. Only in New England do we talk so highly about assistant coaches and I love every second of it.

But if Doc is indeed leaving, yes.. Promote Thibs without hesitation. If Doc wants to stay on, I think the players would be more receptive  to keeping Doc, instead of promoting thibodeau.

The core guys really love Doc as their coach. Just saying.

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't know why people assume that TT will be better than Doc.  He's a great defensive coach.  However, how is he at managing egos?  How is he with his rotations?  In his most recent chance to coach, he managed the team *horribly*, although that was only one stint.

I'd be fine with giving TT a contract that makes him "head coach in waiting" for whenever Doc retires, but I wouldn't encourage Doc to leave just yet.  Doc has his flaws, but these veterans need him.

[Who]

No -- I do think Thibs will make a very good head coach but I'm not convinced Doc will leave and if he does leave I am comfortable enough with the other options available. No need to force anything.

[eighteen]

I don't know why people assume that TT will be better than Doc.  He's a great defensive coach.  However, how is he at managing egos?  How is he with his rotations?  In his most recent chance to coach, he managed the team *horribly*, although that was only one stint.

I'd be fine with giving TT a contract that makes him "head coach in waiting" for whenever Doc retires, but I wouldn't encourage Doc to leave just yet.  Doc has his flaws, but these veterans need him.

I don't think people are so much assuming he is better (I think Doc's personality in the locker room and on the floor is probably key). But he seems like he is the best candidate and one we could lose along with Doc if we don't take action.

I feel like bringing in a new head coach (an outsider) could really disrupt the chemistry of this team.

I think we should see how Doc feels, and if he is leaning towards leaving grab up TT for at least a 1 or two year deal (although we may need to compete with better offers).

[droopdog7]

Even if we wanted to, the timing wouldn't work as Thibs seems to have been offered a job already.  It's not like we are going to offer him in the middle of a playoff run while Doc is still the coach.  That would be lunacy.

And yes, I am leery of a guy who hasn't gotten a job after doing a great job for many years.  There must be a reason for it.

[Prof. Clutch]

I think Thibs is perfect for exactly what he is: and assistant coach who designs defenses for teams with players willing to buy into playing tough defense.  In that way he's perfect for the C's, but as others have mentioned before, he's got some question marks in most other areas of coaching.

I can picture him doing badly as a head coach after he moves on from the C's, so randomly, I think his best chance at continued success is right here behind the C's bench as an assistant coach.

[papa shuttlesworth]

I understand that teams give other teams permission to talk to their coaching staff about future opportunities, but does anything else think it was poor etiquette for the Hornets to offer him the job while the Celtics are in the ECFs? 

I doubt there is a rule about it, but it just seems like with only 30 teams in the league there would be more cordiality between them and that publicly screwing with a coaching staff in the middle of a playoff run would be frowned upon.  Couldn't the offer wait until mid-June?

[wdleehi]

No.


While I am no fan of Doc the coach, you don't replace a championship coach who is in position to win a 2nd title in three years unless he wants to go.

[Change]

As a new Coach, Tom Thibodeau better somewhere new with a fresh start.

The perfect scenrio: C's win #18 & Doc stays. If Doc decides to take a year off with the Family, Danny can hold the fortress down  for a bit Until Doc comes a year later at the most.

[Mr October]

I'd rather have Doc.

Thibodeau is a great defensive assistant. But I haven't seen anything special from him in his brief head coaching stints.

[indeedproceed]

Tom Thibs doesnt last 2 seasons as the Hornets' head coach. Bet.

[Mr October]

Tom Thibs doesnt last 2 seasons as the Hornets' head coach. Bet.

I agree with you.

[papa shuttlesworth]

I actually think that New Orleans has a decent roster to pull off Thib's defense.  It is just the rest of it (the offense, managing egos, dealing with the Hornets' unwillingness to spend, Paul's annual injuries, etc) that will lead to his quick dismissal.