Vinny's Fate

[JohnnyG]

Will we fire him even if we beat the Grizzlies (their homecourt game 7)? How about if we somehow managed to beat the Spurs or even stretch them to a Game 6 or 7?

i like Vinny as a person, he's a nice guy but like most i am not sure of him as a coach. But like most of our players he's also in a developmental stage so maybe we should be patient with him too/

[mkwest]

It's really tough to say. If we were to make it to the WCF or further, then he's probably back next season. If we lose in the Western Semi's, then it could go either way, however I would still not be shocked to see him back next season.

I like Vinny as a person as well, and I think he has made some good decisions to get us this far. Some were risky, but ultimately it all paid off. What I don't like is that the systems that are in place make us have to work harder for everything that we get. It's mostly helter skelter. In the regular season, we had 15 games in which we were down by double digits to come back and win. We had our 16th such game in game 1 of the Memphis series. Those games build character and are one of the reasons why our guys even believed that coming back from down 27 was even possible. On the flip side, why can't we win more easily?

A better offensive system and defensive schemes could take this team very far. As a coach, Vinny has a long way to go in improving those aspects. If he stays on board, then I'd hope that we could bring another assistant on board that can address some of the weaknesses of Vinny or the the team as a whole.

[DangerCurtis]

I've said it once on a previous post and I'll say it here. In my opinion, Vinny has earned himself 3rd year option.

Is much of his success a byproduct of having Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and veteran talent? Yes, more than likely. But what great teams don't depend on having star players built around mindful players? I think the Bulls series proved that (ECF last year, lost in first round w/o Derrick Rose and Noah this year). Vinny has proven he's resilient and that this Clipper team has achieved a lot of success in this lock out shorten season and I'm for one am curious to see what this team can build off of.

Similarly, why not gamble on Vinny for one more year? It's a low risk high reward outcome. Picking up Vinny's 3rd year option comes at a low cost to the Clippers in comparison to trying to go out and get a high profile coach. If next year is looking like it's not going anywhere, fire him quickly and get someone else. Likewise, if we hand out a sizable contract to a high quality coach and the players don't respond to him, then we'll be locked into that coach for whatever amount of time. And if Donald Sterling's history has taught us anything, he hates paying coaches to go away.

Don't get me wrong, this team can definitely benefit from having a proven system and a much more knowledgeable coach, but as it stands, Vinny's getting the job done and this team, arguably, hasn't seen more success in its entire history.

[TheNewEra]

if we end up keeping him he needs to get a sure fire defensive assistant that can bring in a strong scheme like Thibs did with Doc.

[playaloc916]

VDN has done an average/above average job. I agree with it going either way if we lose in the semis, but us bringing him back if we make it to the WCF. The real question is if we don't bring him back, who is available to take over, and what are the odds of them taking over the position?

I'm not really sure how the way it works, but if we don't bring him back, and we can't bring in a big name coach, then it's not a good move. I'd keep him if we can't sign a better coach. The only two that I can think of at the moment are Jerry Sloan and Nate McMillan. I doubt Phil Jackson is going to coach again, and JVG seems content with his current gig.

[Fitzaroll]

Hey new here. A vinny fan when he played for San Antonio. i hope you don't fire the guy or else you'll lose a new Clippers fan like me LOL

[LOJ]

Hey new here. A vinny fan when he played for San Antonio. i hope you don't fire the guy or else you'll lose a new Clippers fan like me LOL

Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

[yitur]

JVG is the best possible and realistic coach for you guys, he is the best fit with his slow paced offense that works for CP3 and great defensive schemes and can teach your young athletic guys how to defend like DJ

[og15]

The only way I can be content with him staying is if he acquires some new assistant coaches. Guys are friends though, I find it hard to see Vinny saying hey Marc, I'm letting you go as an assistant coach. Usually it is if the guy wants to move on and do something else, then you bring someone else in.

JVG would be a good option, but I'm not sure how realistic that is, not sure if he's interested in coaching. Mike Fratello is a guy that hasn't been mentioned, but a guy I would also be happy with, He's a great defensive mind, and with a PG like CP, could produce a very respectable half-court offense with a top 5-7 level defense. He is currently the coach of the Ukraine national team though, not sure if that influences anything.

Here is the history of Mike Fratello's teams DRTG going back to 95-96:
06-07: Memphis - 29th (106.7) - only coached 30 games (6-24)
05-06: Memphis - 2nd (101.6) - anchored by Pau and L.Wright with Battier on the perimeter
04-05: Memphis - 5th (102.9) - took over from Hubie Brown
98-99: Cleveland - 12th (101.6) - anchored by Shawn Kemp
97-98: Cleveland - 1st (99.1) - same + Ilgauskas
96-97: Cleveland - 5th (102.4) - anchored by Tyrone Hill
95-96: Cleveland - 11th (106.7) - anchored by Michael Cage

His teams have been Top 5 on defense in 4 of his last 7 coaching seasons. His last season in Memphis was pretty chaotic and he was only there for 30 games. In addition, the two other seasons in Cleveland, his team was still 12th and 11th. The Cleveland teams were consistently 23rd or 24th in offense except for in 95-96 when they were 11th. Memphis was 19th, 16th and 13th (06-07). He never had any offensive player comparable to CP3.

From his website:

When you miss a shot, don’t waste your time trying to bring a missed foul call to the referee’s attention. Hustle down the court and get set on defense immediately, or you could wind up giving away an uncontested basket to your opponent.

Blake still needs to learn this one, as sometimes his disappointment and slowness to get back unbalances the team on defense. Those little things count.

More from him from two years ago:

In order to set an effective screen, you must establish the proper angle so that you screen the majority of the defender’s body and not just a piece of him.

During last week’s Kings-Nets broadcast I told Ian that my gripe of the night was that nobody screens anybody anymore. I watched Sacramento try to set screens, but they missed the bodies and weren’t paying attention to their positions.

Don’t screen air. Go headhunt the defender’s body. Whether you set a tight screen right up against him or stop short of the defender so that the dribbler can run him into you, the important thing is to angle your body so that the defender can’t go over your screen or under it without leaving your teammate clear for a wide-open jump shot.

You must set a screen at the proper angle in order to successfully block your opponent and free up your teammate.

Blake and DJ still need to learn these things.

[Don Tommy]

The only way I would accept keeping VDN next year is if it is a ploy to keep CP3. When he is a free agent, he can pick his coach for the team.

[mkwest]

The only way I would accept keeping VDN next year is if it is a ploy to keep CP3. When he is a free agent, he can pick his coach for the team.

If that is the case, why not just let him pick the coach now instead of wasting another year?

[mkwest]

Should Vinny Del Negro remain Clippers coach?

Del Negro has told USA TODAY Sports that he expects to have at least a third season in Los Angeles while the franchise has downplayed the significance of not making a decision just yet.

After all, they have lots of decisions ahead with the pending free agency of Chauncey Billups, Randy Foye, Kenyon Martin, Reggie Evans and Nick Young. Reserve Mo Williams has a player option and has hinted he wants more playing time and could go elsewhere.

All-Star point guard Chris Paul could have a lot of input on Del Negro's future in Los Angeles. Olshey consulted Paul heavily about the roster before making the trade with New Orleans that brought him in before the season.

J. Michael Falgoust, USA Today

There was a poll with this article. 41% said that the team needs a new coach to reach the next level. 32% said that the Clippers should pick up the option, but not offer an extension. The other 27% consisted of Vinny's family and various members of the RealGM General Board community.

[-[Clippers]-]

It's been real, Vinny. Maybe ESPN will give him a job.

[og15]

Should Vinny Del Negro remain Clippers coach?

Del Negro has told USA TODAY Sports that he expects to have at least a third season in Los Angeles while the franchise has downplayed the significance of not making a decision just yet.

After all, they have lots of decisions ahead with the pending free agency of Chauncey Billups, Randy Foye, Kenyon Martin, Reggie Evans and Nick Young. Reserve Mo Williams has a player option and has hinted he wants more playing time and could go elsewhere.

All-Star point guard Chris Paul could have a lot of input on Del Negro's future in Los Angeles. Olshey consulted Paul heavily about the roster before making the trade with New Orleans that brought him in before the season.

J. Michael Falgoust, USA Today

There was a poll with this article. 41% said that the team needs a new coach to reach the next level. 32% said that the Clippers should pick up the option, but not offer an extension. The other 27% consisted of Vinny's family and various members of the RealGM General Board community.

VDN's biggest issue has been his unwillingness to tinker with the starting lineup based on matchups. For example, Foye isn't doing much, the opposition decides that they will guard Paul with a bigger guy because Foye is mainly a shooter.

VDN could adjust and either start or bring Nick Young in early, which would have guys like Tony Parker or in the previous series, Mike Conley guarding him, guys that can't contest his shot. Either that, or the opposition will go switch them back. But no, VDN just goes with the same old.

Parker isn't working much on defense because the Spurs hide him on Foye, but you leave Foye in the game and don't post him up against Parker and make him work.

You see Foye playing poorly, and a guy like Bledsoe can put great pressure on Parker or be disruptive defensively, how about starting him next to Paul? Changing things up is always a risk, but if people can see the reasoning and logic behind your changes, even if they don't work, they will commend you for at least attempting it. Don Nelson played Biedrins 19 MPG against Dallas in 06-07 because the small ball three point shooting lineup was what was deadly. Against Utah in the next series, he played Biedrins 31 MPG because it was a different type of team.

Yes, Foye has been the starter, but you have to see what's going on and make adjustments to counter the opposition's strategy. When you see mis-matches, you need to attack and exploit them.

[mj_shoefanatic]

Hey new here. A vinny fan when he played for San Antonio. i hope you don't fire the guy or else you'll lose a new Clippers fan like me LOL

Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

[Racoon]

Vinny will coach the magic next season

[thanumba2clippersfan]

Vinny will coach the magic next season

Take him, I honestly don't want him. SVG is a better coach than Vinny though.

[Neddy]

Hey new here. A vinny fan when he played for San Antonio. i hope you don't fire the guy or else you'll lose a new Clippers fan like me LOL

Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

vinny has a fan?

[Fitzaroll]

Hey new here. A vinny fan when he played for San Antonio. i hope you don't fire the guy or else you'll lose a new Clippers fan like me LOL

Don't let the door hit ya on the way out.

vinny has a fan?

Vinny Del Negro will return as head coach of the Clippers for the 12-13 season.

The Clippers held an option on Del Negro's contract.

Del Negro guided the Clippers to the second round of the playoffs, but had been subject of rumors of his impending dismissal throughout the season.
Via RealGM Staff Report

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/news#ixzz1wJmLKvT0

wooohoo that means i am staying here too

And yes vinny has a fan

[mkwest]

Fitz, you gotta tell us....are you by any chance related to Vinny or are you a former college roomate of his or something like that?