J Givony scouts Ettore Messina for us

[Supercollider]

Messina is an excellent choice.

Why? Because he demands excellence? You don't think every coach demands excellence? The question/problem is how do you achieve that result? I don't know why you (and others) believe a coach with no NBA experience will be successful dealing with NBA players, teams, coaches, culture, etc.

Or put another way, why you believe Ettore Messina will be more successful coaching the Raptors than some of the NBA coaches that may be available when the time comes.

[JYD]

He is a damn good coach, there is no issue with his capability. The only concern is with how he deals with NBA egos, but I don't think he's an unfair coach, or an alienating one. His coaching ability alone will bring a lot of players on his side, and like Givony points out, his criticism is both professional and balanced with praise for his players. Keep in mind these professional Euro players make a lot of coin too, and also have egos, but he gets them to leave it on the floor for him, and our roster isn't heavy on ego to begin with.

Winning makes everything ok...if he does come to the NBA (here I hope), and he can walk softly enough to get the players' ears, I think it'll all be downhill from there, because it's hard to argue with a guy when you know he knows what he's doing.

[5DOM]

Thread with a lot of info on Messina.

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=858176

thx Hendrix, greatly appreciated.

i want MESSINAAA

[Southward1]

Bring him in, if there's something this team needs it's a powerfreak, nitpicking, attention detail coach. A dictator of a coach who want take it from his players. I like what I read about him.

[b0na f1de]

sounds as perfect as iavaroni back in 06-07.

[Fairview4Life]

sounds as perfect as iavaroni back in 06-07.

He sounds, and is, a hell of a lot better.

[Supercollider]

We'll see, if/when he comes over to the NBA.

Understand, I'm not questioning his knowledge/experience, his credentials coaching in Europe, or his ability to coach European players.

However, when talking about his ability to acclimate himself to the culture of the NBA? His ability to coach NBA players, to convey his knowledge to them, to communicate? To not only demand excellence but actually be able to extract said excellence from them?

IMO none of these are givens and shouldn't be considered as such.

[miruss2001]

He'd provide what this team has always sorely lacked- the discipline affored by a system.

[18 Parkerville]

That article made the guy sound flawless. Of course, based on that sort of spin, we're going to resoundingly say "yes."

I'm still pulling for JVG, but a guy like Messina and his X's and O's would make one hell of an assistant.

[b0na f1de]

sounds as perfect as iavaroni back in 06-07.

He sounds, and is, a hell of a lot better.

which aspects specifically? I don't know that's why I'm asking.

[J Dilla]

His style will work in Europe, but maybe not in the NBA. We can't afford maybes anymore. The NBA is a completely different game, and the Raptors need a coach who's been in the NBA and knows the NBA game.

Oh and BTW, I can see these Messina threads coming everyday, just like those Iavaroni ones.

[raptorforlife88]

His style will work in Europe, but maybe not in the NBA. We can't afford maybes anymore. The NBA is a completely different game, and the Raptors need a coach who's been in the NBA and knows the NBA game.

Oh and BTW, I can see these Messina threads coming everyday, just like those Iavaroni ones.

I'm not sure but I think he learned a lot of his coaching from Dean Smith, so he knows his ball.

[dagger]

His style will work in Europe, but maybe not in the NBA. We can't afford maybes anymore. The NBA is a completely different game, and the Raptors need a coach who's been in the NBA and knows the NBA game.

Oh and BTW, I can see these Messina threads coming everyday, just like those Iavaroni ones.

Any coach is a "maybe". Many NBA coaches are hired and fired multiple times. Don't compare Iavaroni to Messina. Iavaroni was an assistant under d'Antoni. Messina has multiple Euroleague and national championships, and has a more "mature" bearing. Messina can give most NBA coaches a coaching clinic. The question of adjusting to an 82 game schedule, more travel, less practice time, and the egos of NBA players is a question, but how well did Larry Brown do at his last couple of stops with the egos of NBA players?

[Hendrix]

His style will work in Europe, but maybe not in the NBA. We can't afford maybes anymore. The NBA is a completely different game, and the Raptors need a coach who's been in the NBA and knows the NBA game.

Oh and BTW, I can see these Messina threads coming everyday, just like those Iavaroni ones.

There's no question in my mind if he can coach succesfully here froma knowledge standpoint. He's one of the best basketball minds in the game. He's worked with the Cavs, coached in the States in college ball. The only question is if the players will respond to his personality, and if he can adapt it to gain their respect.

[halfcourt]

some of his notes from a coaching clinic with CANADA basketball

http://www.basketball.ca/en/hm/inside.p ... 10&id=2455

[Test of Wills]

Thanks Halfcourt!

Greatly appreciated, he seems like a great fit for this team. But I'm unsure if he's able to adjust to the NBA.

[Viperstrike]

he sounds like a great fit for the Raptors.

[5DOM]

btw how is his english?

[Fairview4Life]

btw how is his english?

Fluent. His coaching clinics in Canada for example are all in English. He was also an assistant for 10 years under Dean Smith I believe.

[5DOM]

btw how is his english?

Fluent. His coaching clinics in Canada for example are all in English. He was also an assistant for 10 years under Dean Smith I believe.

thx. just saw one of his interviews:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEaSKjTP-7k

and fluent it is!