Jim O'Brien is one of the worst 3 coaches in the league

[Lionel Messi]

I was surprised there wasn't a thread about this already, so i decided to make it for you guys, as im almost sure you'll all agree.
Seriously, his philosophy is a complete joke. It's basically to play all your best/streakiest shooters and run around shooting as many jumpers as you can. Then, you just have to hope enough guys catch fire and you might have a chance at winning the game.
Danny Granger used to be one of my favourite players in the league (well, still is...but w.e) but he's turned into a huge chucker in this system. He can do so much more than just take threes and settle. Im sure this guy would be a much more complete player in a system that wasnt such a complete joke like O'Brien's is.

How can you guys even stand to watch this? I've watched all 4 of the raptors' games against you guys and it pisses me off just watching you guys AGAINST us. It just feels like you're wasting good talent like granger/hibbert/jones/ford/rush with this style of play in favour of giving guys like head/price/watson/murphy/dunleavy career numbers.

I would have to say o'brien is tied with don nelson for WCOY (worst coach of the year).

Do you guys agree? Or do you actually think your team has any chance of seriously competing for anything (even a eastern conference playoff spot AT LEAST) by relying HEAVILY on streaky shooting?

[Grang33r]

I agree, but also disagree. I don't think this unit is a playoff unit, no matter who the coach is. Even the great Phil Jackson could come in here and we'd still miss the playoffs. All of our core players are young. Young teams don't tend to do well in the NBA. We also lack a super star, and for what ever reason, Danny Granger has down graded with his play this season. I don't think it's the style.

But, i can't stand JOB. I Hate his philosophy and trust me, it's been talked about plenty on here. The one thing i will give him credit to, is you have to remember the Pacers are still rebuilding from the brawl and Reggie Miller recently even said to the New York Times i believe, that we still havn't "gotten over it yet". We're still rebuilding. Getting classy players, not really the "best" athletes or talents, but the best in terms of good player, great community, good character, ect. JOB came here with sponsors and fans fleeing like crazy. He came in and played a very entertaining game of basketball. Did Larry Bird hope for more results? Sure, but i think he was realistic about it as well. Attendance has grown the past 3 seasons and more sponsors are with this team now then when JOB joined.

I do wish we get a new coach this summer. For the work he has done with the circumstances, i don't think it'd be fair to fire him mid-season. Instead of trying to land a big name coach to try to fix our team, i hope the Pacers go with a unproven, younger, coach. Marc Jackson possibly. Or the assistant in Boston. I don't know what styles of ball these guys would want to play so it's tough for me to say who i would truly want.

[Lionel Messi]

Well, if you asked me in the preseason if a roation of

Ford/watson
Jones/Rush
Granger/Dunleavy
Murphy/hansbrough
Hibbert/Foster

could compete with the milwaukee bucks (i mean, their talent is terrible) or the bulls (rose, noah...then some really inconsistent players) i would say yes. Problem is that the bulls and bucks focus on defence, while JOB doesnt seem to care about the defensive side of the ball. I mean, guarding Bosh wit dhantay jones? Is that a joke?
That lineup has Granger, who is a good defender (from what i haev seen throughout his career), Jones who is a good perimiter defender, hibbert is a shotblocker and the other two arent exactly "liabilities".

I think if the priorities were re-focussed this team could compete for a playoff spot in the east. They just have to focus on defence a bit more (they really dont seem to try on defence, they're just physical and foul a lot but otherwise they seem indifferent) and not rely on huge streaky scrubs like luther head then it would be far more successful.

[Miller4ever]

There are threads on this and this gets mentioned all the time. I'm frustrated with O'Brien now and would take Lester Conner at this point.

[Dunthreevy]

Last night's game tipped me over to the side of thinking we should just tank. I've never been as frustrated with any aspect of being a sports fan in my entire life, than I am right now being a fan of the Pacers.

[Reginald Wayne]

Yeah, most of us here on the Pacers board agree that JOB needs to go. His "small ball" is ridiculous. He tried to play Granger at the PF against LA, just stupid.

I do think we have playoff talent in the East with Granger, Murph, Hibbert, Rush and what not. But these guys aren't doing well with JOB.

He sucks. I want him gone.

[Charcoal Filtered]

Well, someone has to be at fault for us not being able to make the playoffs in a weak conference. I would also point out Bird trying to make a team out of one All-Star but not a Superstar surrounded by second teir players.

[Starkiller]

To think, Rick Carlisle was fired and we got this guy. Unbelievable.

[Miller4ever]

Well, someone has to be at fault for us not being able to make the playoffs in a weak conference.

There's about 15 guys on our roster, and 9 guys on the coaching & training staff that could also catch some flak.

[Wizop]

Murphy not a liability on defense? really?

[23artest23]

I have pretty much quit watching the Pacers. That can be attributed largely to JOB. He is an absolutely horrid coach. I literally laughed when I read Bird telling Pacer Nation to "be patient." How ridiculous! JOB should have been fired multiple times this season thus I am no longer patient. I have nothing against our players. In fact, I think players like Brandon and Roy would easily be better under another coach. Until we have another coach, we will continue our mediocrity and I refuse to support mediocrity that is not addressed.