The Wizards' next coach

FAH1223 · Post #21 » by **FAH1223** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:10 pm

dobrojim wrote:We already have a former Popp asst coach on the staff. We could promote from within
if/as desired.

gesa2 · Post #22 » by **gesa2** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 5:53 pm

dobrojim wrote:I'd take 4 years of Larry Brown. The guy is as good a coach as there is.

I'd not want Larry Brown. He seemed to quit on his team even earlier than usual in NY and Charlotte, and he's had difficult relationships with his point guards before. My preference would be Karl - he ran the dribble drive offense in Denver that would work well with Wall's strengths.

SVG would be my second choice, but I couldn't see Leonsis hiring him. He's brutally honest about what he thinks even if it's potentially embarrassing to the organization.

BarnabyJones · Post #23 » by **BarnabyJones** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:29 pm

SVG or Karl are fine with me. Either one would be a fantastic hire.

Upper Decker · Post #24 » by **Upper Decker** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:46 pm

dobrojim wrote:I'd take 4 years of Larry Brown. The guy is as good a coach as there is.

I wonder how fans from NY and Charlotte feel about this comment...

Upper Decker · Post #25 » by **Upper Decker** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 7:49 pm

With all due respect, this thread is pretty pointless until Ernie gets replaced. For NBA coaches it's always about the players except for Pop.

Post #26 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:02 pm

Upper Decker wrote:With all due respect, this thread is pretty pointless until Ernie gets replaced. For NBA coaches it's always about the players except for Pop.

Rick Carlisle and Thibs are also at a much higher level than the Wittman's and Drew's of the NBA coaching fraternity.

Upper Decker · Post #27 » by **Upper Decker** » Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:38 pm

Ruzious wrote:
Upper Decker wrote:With all due respect, this thread is pretty pointless until Ernie gets replaced. For NBA coaches it's always about the players except for Pop.

Rick Carlisle and Thibs are also at a much higher level than the Wittman's and Drew's of the NBA coaching fraternity.

Good call, Ruzious. Those two would certainly make a difference in spite of Ernie, as would Vogal, but beyond that I really don't think any of the names floated here or any other current coach would make much of a difference.

AWIZZINGBULLET · Post #28 » by **AWIZZINGBULLET** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:05 pm

Of the current available non-Wizards head coaching candidates, which one do you feel is the best fit for this current John Wall led Wizards team?

A few candidates...

Lionel Hollins

George Karl

Alvin Gentry

Nate McMillan

Dave Joerger

Jerry Sloan

Stan Van Gundy

Jeff Van Gundy

My Choice: Nate McMillan

I think McMillan would have the Wizards playing a cleaner, more focused brand of basketball on both sides of the floor. Understanding that no coach is perfect---outside of Gregg Popovich maybe---I like his track with the Portland Trailblazers and feel it's possible that he goes farther with this Washington Wizards team in the Eastern Conference than he did out West.

Doesn't seem as much a favorite as the oft mentioned George Karl, but I feel he may be the best fit for what has currently been established in Washington.

queridiculo · Post #29 » by **queridiculo** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:28 pm

If Ernie is back, you can bet your ass that Wittman will get an extension.

pancakes3 · Post #30 » by **pancakes3** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 5:39 pm

Either Van Gundy's, Joerger, or D-league coach Alex Jensen.

Dark Faze · Post #31 » by **Dark Faze** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 6:12 pm

George Karl. He has some issues when it comes to the post season but he's fantastic at developing young talent and winning during the regular season. We need someone that can milk the most out of Wall/Beal/Rice/Porter right now.

Hidden Eye · Post #32 » by **Hidden Eye** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 7:33 pm

Dark Faze wrote:George Karl. He has some issues when it comes to the post season but he's fantastic at developing young talent and winning during the regular season. We need someone that can milk the most out of Wall/Beal/Rice/Porter right now.

Making it to the WCF is an issue?

Wizardspride · Post #33 » by **Wizardspride** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:01 pm

Ruzious wrote:Gary Williams.

I'd be okay with SVG, but I do think it was bizarre in a bad way when he told the media that Howard was trying to get him fired. That was a HUGE mistake by him in many ways, imo. But I think he paid the price and learned from it.

It's funny you mention Gary because he said he'd be interested if offered.

Personally, I don't have a particular preference but I wouldn't be surprised if ultimately Calipari is the guy.

The Kavorka · Post #34 » by **The Kavorka** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:05 pm

Unfortunately, I think we are stuck with Wittman for a little bit. We are 12 games better at this point then where we were last year. Though I (and I'm sure everyone else on this board) think that we are doing well in spite of Wittman's "coaching", Wiz management are never that forward thinking.

Dark Faze · Post #35 » by **Dark Faze** » Mon Mar 17, 2014 8:21 pm

The Kavorka wrote:Unfortunately, I think we are stuck with Wittman for a little bit. We are 12 games better at this point then where we were last year. Though I (and I'm sure everyone else on this board) think that we are doing well in spite of Wittman's "coaching", Wiz management are never that forward thinking.

Calipari is too smart for that

He's had a couple of bum recruiting classes but winning a National Title gave him a ton of breathing room. The Noel injury gave him a lot of excuses too. His only terrible coaching and recruiting year at Kentucky has been this season and they were a bucket away from stealing the ACC title.

He's a hype guy. His whole existence is based on keep his reputation solid enough and fostering relationships with well known, heavy pull guys to the point where he can dominate in recruiting year after year. He wouldn't come to the NBA unless success was guaranteed--something like coaching the Knicks with LeBron, Melo, and Bosh or something with Phil Jax running the organization.

Short of that no chance he risks ruining his reputation and putting his career on the line to coach the Wiz.

AWIZZINGBULLET · Post #36 » by **AWIZZINGBULLET** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 11:53 am

I see Dave Joerger's name popping up in here and around the league as a favorite for a HC job, question is what makes him such a leading candidate?

How does one evaluate an assistant coach and draw the conclusion that he's fit for a head coaching position?

I ask this with Don Newman in mind.

Nivek · Post #37 » by **Nivek** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:09 pm

Joerger is currently the head coach in Memphis. The only way Washington gets him is if the Grizzlies fire him.

To AWIZZINGBULLET's question: the thing about Joerger that made him an attractive candidate for some of us was the performance of his teams when he was head coach at lower levels. His minor league coaching resume is similar to those of Phil Jackson and Flip Saunders. His minor league teams were extremely successful, and were characterized by good defense and outstanding effort.

FAH1223 · Post #38 » by **FAH1223** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:21 pm

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:I see Dave Joerger's name popping up in here and around the league as a favorite for a HC job, question is what makes him such a leading candidate?

How does one evaluate an assistant coach and draw the conclusion that he's fit for a head coaching position?

I ask this with Don Newman in mind.

Joerger is doing a good job in Memphis. He has them back to playing at the level of the Western Conference Finals team after their rough start and Gasol's injury.

It also helps that they have a couple shooters now added to their lineup.

Post #39 » by **montestewart** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:28 pm

AWIZZINGBULLET wrote:I see Dave Joerger's name popping up in here and around the league as a favorite for a HC job, question is what makes him such a leading candidate?

How does one evaluate an assistant coach and draw the conclusion that he's fit for a head coaching position?

I ask this with Don Newman in mind.

I think he's coaching the Grizzlies now. One of the reasons he was viewed so positively was because of his past success as a head coach at lower levels (CBA, D-League, etc).

Post #40 » by **Ruzious** » Wed Mar 19, 2014 3:30 pm

Dark Faze wrote:George Karl. He has some issues when it comes to the post season but he's fantastic at developing young talent and winning during the regular season. We need someone that can milk the most out of Wall/Beal/Rice/Porter right now.

I think it would be a good time to hire Karl. He's got a HUGE ego that's gotten in his way in the past - and he is stubborn to a fault, but the cancer fight I think has matured him, and he definitely wants to leave a legacy as a great coach. Hopefully it won't be a Shannahan type situation - as I believe he will want to groom his son to be a future NBA head coach. Normally I don't like the head coach recycling thing, but I think the timing is really good to hire him.