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http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/nets/lar ... LIvZKsplUJ

ew York Post NBA columnist Peter Vecsey reported this morning that Charlotte Bobcats coach Larry Brown is already well on his way back to running the Philadelphia 76ers once the Bobcats' season ends.

It's the New York Post so you have to take it with a grain of salt, but there are some things that make sense.

In saying that, LB was SO happy that MJ bought the team that I can't see him skipping out just yet.

If so time to get Avery Johnson, but honestly I don't see him leaving, he has a team built in his image, that are finally playoff contenders and hes going to leave for a lotto team bloated with bad contracts?

It makes sense for Larry to go if Philly is going to let him run their franchise. It sucks though that Vescey had to report this right now when we're about to begin the playoffs. Hopefully this doesn't affect the team.

And if Larry goes, we need a good veteran coach, no Sam Vincent types. I don't want Avery Johnson, but I would gladly take Byron Scott. He got screwed in New Orleans with that horrible gm. I would also call Jeff Van Gundy.

Battery wrote:It makes sense for Larry to go if Philly is going to let him run their franchise.

Agreed. It's not like he would be leaving to go and be a head coach some where else. He would be going to be THE man. That's a pretty big carrot to dangle in front of a guy like LB (self professed to love practice but hate game days).

If he did go, how about a guy like Sam Mitchell?

I liked Mitchell a lot when he was leading the Raps. He promoted a lot of ball movement and team orientated play, which is our strength.

Isn't this the same source for the Crash for Eddy Curry deal? In any case, NY media is not famous for its air tight fact checking....

If he does leave I'll vote for Van Gundy or Byron Scott.

Byron Scott seems like a tool bag to me and I would be worried that he would rub our players the wrong way causing disharmony in the locker room.

BigSlam wrote:Agreed. It's not like he would be leaving to go and be a head coach some where else. He would be going to be THE man. That's a pretty big carrot to dangle in front of a guy like LB (self professed to love practice but hate game days).

If he did go, how about a guy like Sam Mitchell?

I liked Mitchell a lot when he was leading the Raps. He promoted a lot of ball movement and team orientated play, which is our strength.

Sam Mitchell? We need a coach who preaches DEFENSE first and foremost. Promoting ball movement is great, but we don't have great ball movers. It all starts with defense, and Sam Mitchell's Toronto teams were terrible defensively. No way MJ hires this guy.

Byron Scott and JVG fit more with our team.

BigSlam wrote:Byron Scott seems like a tool bag to me and I would be worried that he would rub our players the wrong way causing disharmony in the locker room.

But you'd rather have an inferior coach in Sam Mitchell? Coaches rub players the wrong way all the time, winning is what cures that. We have coachable players so I'm not worried about our locker room and I'm sure S-Jax would show Scott a tremendous amount of respect. Similar players.

why would have leave for philly when he was pretty much running the show here? its like building a house and you just got all the right tools and you walk away? who does that

countryboi wrote:why would have leave for philly when he was pretty much running the show here? its like building a house and you just got all the right tools and you walk away? who does that

Because he's like 70 years old and has young kids who are in private school in Philly. The travel is probably starting to wear on him as the NBA season can be a grind. Can you blame him at his age for wanting to spend more time with his family?

And if he leaves this summer, he's already laid the foundation for what it takes to be a successful franchise. We just need to find the right coach who can continue what LB preached.

I like bryon scott or avery johnson if he does leave

lucky for us there are several proven coaches on the market that have been mentioned in this thread. i think any one of them would be acceptable.

if i had to rank the guys listed so far i would go:

van gundy
scott
johnson
mitchell

or we could give dave hanners a chance to carry on the teachings of LB.

I take Phil Ford and Dave Hanners over guys like Scott, Johnson and Mitchell. Both of them are students under Larry Brown and I think if one of them takes over, there's wouldn't be much change in the coaching philosophy and style.

Battery wrote:Sam Mitchell's Toronto teams were terrible defensively.

Right - his TEAMS were terrible defensively. Not him.

It's like Triano. Is he a horrible defensive coach or is the fact that he is forced to use a starting line up that had Calderon, Turkoglu and Bargnani in it more to blame? If Larry Brown was the head coach of the Raptors today would the Raps be a better defensive team?

You can't make a jelly sandwich out of cow poo.

Mitchell took a team that went 27 and 55 and turned them around to be a team that went 47 and 35 - all through team orientated play and communication.

We already have guys that know how to are are willing to play D. We don't need a defensive specialist as a head coach IMO.

I think I'd be all for Mitchell or Van Gundy. Not sure why they haven't gotten back into the league yet. I'm sure Larry would have some major influence in who MJ looks at.

I can see Larry being ready to be home. This Cat's team is not winning the East, much less the championship, with this cast. I mean, we've made the playoffs, and we'll be a little better next season, but that's likely where we peak, prior to rebuilding again. That's not a train LB wants to be on if he's missing his kids.

BigSlam wrote:

Battery wrote:Sam Mitchell's Toronto teams were terrible defensively.

Right - his TEAMS were terrible defensively. Not him.

It's like Triano. Is he a horrible defensive coach or is the fact that he is forced to use a starting line up that had Calderon, Turkoglu and Bargnani in it more to blame? If Larry Brown was the head coach of the Raptors today would the Raps be a better defensive team?

You can't make a jelly sandwich out of cow poo.

Mitchell took a team that went 27 and 55 and turned them around to be a team that went 47 and 35 - all through team orientated play and communication.

We already have guys that know how to are are willing to play D. We don't need a defensive specialist as a head coach IMO.

look what svg did to get the magic to defend and skiles w/ the bucks, coaching can make a HUGE difference defensively

Two words: Peter Vescey. If it happens, it happens. What honestly does he base this off of. Yeah it would awfully tempting to run your own team, but I think he'll hang on for at least one more season.

Reading his articles is like trying to understand a hyperactive kid that just drank 5 red bulls.

If LB does leave at season's end, I would likely want Van Gundy. Like his head coaching experience and he is a good coach I think. I also think it might be interesting to see if MJ goes the route he did with Sam Vincent, and get someone who has not had any Head Coaching experience yet. I am thinking of Mark Jackson or Patrick Ewing. The Sam Vincent era was a mess, but I think both Jackson and Ewing have a much greater grasp of the game. Both from a player's approach, and also a floor general's approach. I think they would likely get much respect from the players. It might also buy us a few more games on national TV. MJ knows them both well, so he might consider it. But again, after the Sam Vincent mess, he might shy away from the inexperience.

Oh hell yeah. Larry Brown leaves, Jeff Van Gundy makes the most sense. Mark Jackson as an assistant would be good, but I'm not sure if Patrick Ewing would do that. No way in the world should Jackson or Ewing be the new head coach.

BigSlam wrote:

Battery wrote:Sam Mitchell's Toronto teams were terrible defensively.

Right - his TEAMS were terrible defensively. Not him.

It's like Triano. Is he a horrible defensive coach or is the fact that he is forced to use a starting line up that had Calderon, Turkoglu and Bargnani in it more to blame? If Larry Brown was the head coach of the Raptors today would the Raps be a better defensive team?

You can't make a jelly sandwich out of cow poo.

Mitchell took a team that went 27 and 55 and turned them around to be a team that went 47 and 35 - all through team orientated play and communication.

We already have guys that know how to are are willing to play D. We don't need a defensive specialist as a head coach IMO.

Raps fan here, when Sam got better talent (06/07 and 07/08) the team was pretty respectable defensively.

Here's the DRTG's for all the years he was here.

04/05: 108.7 (24th of 30)
05/06: 112.7 (29th of 30)
06/07: 106.0 (12th of 30)
07/08: 107.0 (13th of 30)

Not amazing, but respectable.

Just happened to be looking at this thread and thought I'd chime in to give you a little info.

Oh, and good luck in the playoffs.