If Doc leaves, who would you like the next head coach to be?

[Spilling Green Dye]

My order of preference:

1)  Danny Ainge
2)  Larry Brown
3)  Avery Johnson
4)  Kevin McHale
5)  JVG
6)  Tom T.

[Roy Hobbs]

I don't think that Danny will do it due to the heart attack.  He was a good coach, though.

[Chris]

My order of preference:

1)  Danny Ainge
2)  Larry Brown
3)  Avery Johnson
4)  Kevin McHale
5)  JVG
6)  Tom T.

I like Danny as a coach, but even since the Pitino debacle, I have been against having the GM and coach be the same person.  I think you need the checks and balances of having two strong people in those roles.

[More Banners]

My order of preference:

1)  Danny Ainge
2)  Larry Brown
3)  Avery Johnson
4)  Kevin McHale
5)  JVG
6)  Tom T.

I like Danny as a coach, but even since the Pitino debacle, I have been against having the GM and coach be the same person.  I think you need the checks and balances of having two strong people in those roles.

Agree 100%.  Too much pressure on coaches to win (at least a little) now, creating a short-sighted impulse to trade prospects for over-the-hill role players, or to squeeze out a couple of extra wins instead of developing players.  A good coach/GM team like we currently have is a quiet blessing.

That said, no way I want Larry Brown.  If he bails on Charlotte, that would be the third consecutive coaching contract (or 4th?) that he bails out with years remaining (Detriot, NY, Charlotte?).  I don't want his drama overshadowning the team.

JVG is tops.  I think McHale would be a great coach if he wanted the job.  I'm not really sure, after seeing Avery Johnson's frustration with his team, rather than his own inability to make adjustments, turn to anger in the Finals in Dallas, that I would want him either to develop players in rebuild mode or to coach a playoff team.  I think Doc's even temperament is as valuable as any of his other skills.

[wdleehi]

1) Larry Brown (with him agreeing just to coach)
2) JVG
3) Bird

[slamtheking]

well if we're going to just throw our wishlists out there:
Who I'd like but no way they'd do it:
* Danny
* Bird
* Mchale
* Popovich
* Sloan

Who they might get that would be ok:
* Larry Brown
* Scott Skiles
* Rick Carlisle

Who they might get that would make me puke but I'd acknowledge the coaching skill
* Greaseball Riley
* JVG --> his anti-C bias commentary in the playoffs was sickening

[Eddie20]

JVG --> his anti-C bias commentary in the playoffs was sickening

Yes, but that's when we faced his brother. That said, he definitely believes in our team and that's important. Last postseason, on the BS report, he said he thought we could beat the Lakers in the Finals WITHOUT KG.

8:05 mark...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zohd0Q6J_Y

And this year he said the no team has a better "big 4" than us.

[birdwatcher]

Why McHale? I've heard that a lot recently and it was all over WEEI today. Let the past be the past. If any former Celtic player was to be our coach I'd want it to be Larry Bird, who was an exceptional coach even though he didn't win a championship. But a solid record and results in a short amount of time. I do like Jeff Van Gundy a lot. Tibs would be good and bad--it's like in football when a really solid coordinator gets hired as a head coach and absolutely falls on his face...If the Magic coaching staff gets broken up, would you take Stan Van Gundy? Or even pilfer an assistant like Ewing to further develop Perk?

[Thruthelookingglass]

I'm sensing a STRONG bias toward defensive-minded coaches here.  And I like it.   

[cornbreadsmart]

I have no clue how good Larry is with the x's and o's but it would be great to have him back. I trust Danny all the way with GM duties so i think the only real possibility for Larry here would be as coach. I DO question if Larry could work FOR Danny. That's pure speculation. It's not like I know Larry but that thought crossed my mind.

[LB3533]

Jim O'Brien!

[More Banners]

Why McHale? I've heard that a lot recently and it was all over WEEI today. Let the past be the past. If any former Celtic player was to be our coach I'd want it to be Larry Bird, who was an exceptional coach even though he didn't win a championship. But a solid record and results in a short amount of time. I do like Jeff Van Gundy a lot. Tibs would be good and bad--it's like in football when a really solid coordinator gets hired as a head coach and absolutely falls on his face...If the Magic coaching staff gets broken up, would you take Stan Van Gundy? Or even pilfer an assistant like Ewing to further develop Perk?

I agree on Thibs:  He's a great assistant, but no assurance he would be a good HC.  I once worked for/with a guy who spent his entire professional career (not sports) as a #2 guy in leadership.  He was better behind the scenes making things work than at the podium.  A lot of asst. coaches may fall into that category as well.  Mainly, the C's are too good a franchise to be breaking in new HC's.

Judging from Howard's "development" I wouldn't want Patrick Ewing anywhere near my bigs.

McHale:  a fav of mine.  He has a great understanding of the game's subtle nuances (really) and can explain/teach them well.  He has the temperament to work with young players or veterans, and stays cool (unlike Avery J).  He has the HOF and banner creds.  Works well w/the media.  His coaching record is short and losing, but teams played better when he took over and his players liked him.  He'd be a really good assistant, development guy, or HC for a team on the rebuild (as long as he's not GM, of course...).

The real question is....Why no mention of the CHIEF!!!

[SCBirdman]

1) Larry Bird

2) Jeff Van Gundy

[makaveli]

Mike Brown ...NOT!!!!
My pick is Larry Brown

[Jon]

I have Van Gundy.  However, I really, really have to say that I don't think Doc is remotely serious about leaving after this year.  I really think that a lot of it was posturing on his part, trying to a) ignite a fire under his players' butts and b) trying to deflect some of the negative attention from the players onto himself.

And even if he was serious, he said it when things looked very bad.  I can't imagine him not coming back now that they're in the Finals and especially not if they win it all.  

I imagine he coaches at least one more year, and if the contracts align correctly (meaning Ray re-signs for 2 years), I see him staying around for one more.

After that he's gone.  At that point, we may want to go more Bill Fitch than Doc's K.C. Jones.