Thibodeau - One And Done?

I hope Spears didn’t use the April Fools post on CB as his “source” for the Bulls rumors.

Nah, he’s a long shot to get any job. He’ll get a bunch of interviews but he won’t get the job.

He’s not the favourite for either team. He just got a mention.

 17 years he’s been doing this, he’s had lots of interviews before (he must give a pretty unimpressive interview) and he hasn’t gotten the job. Everyone in the league loves him as an assistant coach and they have for a long time. But he’s never convinced anyone he’s capable of being a head coach.

There’s clearly reasons that he hasn’t gotten a head coaching gig in the past …. whatever they are. Feel free to guess.

Being a head coach and assistant coach are two very different things. Just because you’re a good assistant doesn’t mean you’re capable of being a good head coach. 17 years and he hasn’t been able to convince anyone.

My favourites for the jobs in Chicago and NY:

Bulls: Rick Carlisle
Knicks: Isiah

I don’t think Tom will even make the secondary list of candidates.

some guys are meant to be head coaches and some guys are meant to be excellent assistant coaches. This is not meant as knock on Tom but I think he is in the perfect job for him as a coach. I htink being a head coach would burn him out. there’s no question that he deserves all the credit in the world for coaching our defense. If we were to win a title I think that might go a long way towards keeping him for next year

Can we fire Doc and hire Tom?

If he leaves, next year the team’s defense will suffer enough that will knock us out of the top slot.

You mean like Houston’s has?

I’ve noticed their huge decrease in Houston’s defens….. wait no I haven’t. It’s pretty much the exact same. No JVG, no Tom T, and the same defense. 3rd best a year ago, 2nd best today (defensive efficiency, almost identical opposition FG%).

The players make the defense, it’s their defensive ability.

The Celtics defense is one of (if not the) best around because they’re loaded with capable defensive players. Every one of the Celtics big men is an above average defender, that’s 6 deep. Posey has been one of the better defenders on the wing since his rookie season. Tony Allen is strong defender. Pierce should be a contender for the All-defensive team for his play this season. Ray and Eddie are the two weakest on the team, that’s a great place to be, and both have been good.

The Celtic’s defense will go when the player’s go. Not before.

Tom will coach the Knicks because they do have some good talent. The bulls do as well but the Knicks have more. The to be able to have the opportunity to bring a team like the Knicks back into contention at MSG might to much to pass up. As for us, they will find somebody else to bring in and it won’t be up to DOC. The big three don’t have a big enough window to mess around with who Doc wants.

Or maybe you fire Doc but it would tough after a season with 60 wins.

Who,

I think you’re right about the overstatement of the importance of assistant coaches. But, I think you’re wrong about Tom T getting a head job. While it’s truw that 17 years of interviewing with no offers is rather curious, winning a title changes everything. The shine of a ring will get him a job. There are just too many mediocre coaches out there right now for him not to get one.

tom t is to terrific.mwhoever gets him is lucky and i hope we give him a raise and keep him. being a head coach isn’t everything. some people prefer to have some of the autonomy of an ass’t coach— no press to kiss up to-the c’s have given tom a lot of freedom to work the d and he has air to breathe.

I for one would never jump from the fact that a guy merely has been an assistant for X years to the conclusion that the guy is therefore not qualified to be a head coach.

I didn’t mean he wouldn’t, I meant that it has a lower liklihood.

Tom T isn’t an unknown quanitity. He’s been around for a long time and has been highly regarded for a long time.

There is definitely a reason why he hasn’t been given the opportunity, whatever that is. Has that reason changed? Hard to know without knowing the problem. My guess is that several don’t think he’s capable of being the main guy and is best served of being the guy that head coach depends on.

I do believe that some coaches, just like players, excel in roles.

Thib has free reign to do his work with the players and doesn’t have the distraction of dealing with the media before, during & after the game and at practice.

If the C’s make the Finals, he will get his share of interviews. My guess is if the C’s get the ultimate prize, ownership will offer Thib a fat 2 year deal.

winning a title changes everything. The shine of a ring will get him a job. There are just too many mediocre coaches out there right now for him not to get one.

Okay well let’s look at it then. It’ll be interesting. How many assistant coaches, with no head coaching experience, have gotten a head coaching job directly after a championship?

Mike Woodson is the only current head coach who was an assistant on a title winning team to be hired directly after.

That’s it. Doesn’t look that important to me. Only 1 guy in the league.

Where are all of Phil Jackson’s assistants? 9 championship teams?

Where are Popovich’s? Mike Brown didn’t get a head coaching gig until he left San An, went to Indiana and then lucked out when new Cavs GM Danny Ferry knew him extrememly well and decided he was worth the roll of the dice.

By the way, PJ Carlesimo benefited from the exact same circumstance with new GM Sam Presti who knew PJ from their time in San An together. And PJ had 6 years experience with two NBA teams (Portland/GSW) and head coaching experience at Seton Hall. He also was assistant on San An’s 2003 title squad and has been one of the media’s favourites for the several openings for 3 years.

I don’t think a title will make much of a difference. Like Kings and armies, it’s the head coach the gets the credit.

……………………..

Does anyone have any others examples in the NBA?

Where are Thibodeau’s friends? His connections? 17 years it’s been. Why didn’t he get the job in NY after JVG left?

It’s not like Tom Thibodeau is the only assistant coach that’s an interesting candidate. There’s loads.

Phil Jackson may not have spawned too many assistants in the past but both Brian Shaw and Kurt Rambis are well up there. Both were involved in the final interviews for Sacramento and interviewed for several other posts. Both are waiting in the wings.

Herb Williams out of NY is right there and a member of Larry Brown’s coaching circle.

Erick Spolestra

Keith Smart

Dean Demopoulos

Tyrone Corbin

Mike Budenhalzer

And there’s a bunch of others who are interseting and have fast growing reputations. Bob McAdoo, Monty Williams, Scott Brooks, O Koren, Jay Triano, Adrian Dantley, Pete Myers, Phil Ford, Mario Elie, Kieth Askins, Chuck Person.

Then there’s a bunch of others, former Head coaches working as assistants. Phil Johnson, Del Harris, Paul Westhead, Randy Ayers, Terry Porter, Dave Cowens, Paul Westphal, Doug Moe, Johnny Davis, Rothstien, Darrell Walker, Bill Cartwright, Brian Hill, Alvin Gentry, Jim Lynam, Henry Bibby.

And that isn’t even considering the old hands (Rick Carlisle was one), guys like Dick Harter, Chiesa and Tim Grgurich.

And that’s just the assistant coach ranks. They are deep and talented and it’s incredibly difficult to break through.

Mike Woodson is the only current head coach who was an assistant on a title winning team to be hired directly after.

Good point

I’d rather keep Thibodeau and let the Knicks have Rivers. We know Thibodeau is a great defense coach. TT may not be a great offensive coach, but neither is Rivers.

But it won’t happen that way. What I do hope is that TT has been able to teach Rivers a thing or two. If that has happened, then his year will have been worth it. Clearly TT deserves a head coaching job, and I wish him every success. He’s earned it.

didnt they lose their assistant coach from last year to cleveland?