Could we discuss a new coach?

parson · Post #1 » by **parson** » Wed May 16, 2012 3:59 pm

I'd like to hear what KIND of coach y'all think we need. Sure, we each have a particular man in mind (Jerry SLOAN!) but I'd appreciate y'all's input as far as philosophy, technical knowledge, personality and whatever else you think is important in determining what kind of coach is best for our players. Please expound on your opinion. The ASG has, seemingly, shown that they believe in a motion offense, judging by the 2 coaches they've hired. I don't think our personnel is well-suited for our offense.

Starting things off, 1st, I think we have to get Joe going and I really think the isolation approach is wrong for him. For Joe we need a coach who will dream up screens and picks and manage ball movement in order to get him open shots. I think Joe also needs a penetrating PG who'll be able to kick the ball back out to him on the 3pt arch.

The rest are in no particular order but I'll start with Horford, only because his needs seem to be clear. He has already shown a lot of success with pick-and-pops and pick-and-rolls. I'd also love to see what would happen if we could help him develop with the ball inside and his back to the basket.

Teague desperately needs to be allowed to penetrate, yet also needs a coach who can help him to be able to play like a true PG.

Josh Smith? He needs the ball inside, allowing him to pound SFs. He needs a man smart enough to put him inside and strong enough to bench him when he wanders.

Marvelous? With his talent, if we ever found a coach who could get production out of him, we'd be a much better team.

I'm seeing an offense like the 80's Pacers or the 90's Jazz, with front picks, back picks, double picks, double picks that open up to form lanes...
I'm seeing Joe running around picks to find open spots for wide open looks.
I'm seeing Horford shooting wide open 10 ft shots or flying to the basket.
I'm seeing Smith destroying a SF down low, scoring points and getting FTs.
I'm seeing the Teague of the CHI series (playoffs).

I'm seeing - sometimes - Joe, Horford and Smith in a triangle, with Joe at the deep elbow (3pt range), Horford at the foul line and Smith down low. They could force the defense to double one and then pass to the open man. Seems to me that a defense would have to help out any SF guarding Josh Smith down low.

Post #2 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed May 16, 2012 7:11 pm

I've said this sooo many times, Mike Fratello: he's a very good experienced coach who knows how to coach a superstar and Point guard, (Dominique Wilkins and Doc Rivers) and he won't be afraid to bench a player for taking a stupid shot (Josh) he's expressed that he wants to come back and coach again (he coached the Ukraine national team last summer, c'mon it's Ukraine). So yea, those are my 2 cents.

Post #3 » by **ATL Boy** » Wed May 16, 2012 7:12 pm

Oh but I'd also be thrilled if we did get Sloan or Phil Jackson

Post #4 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:17 pm

Mike Fratello and Jerry Sloan sound good to me. I'm definitely in favor of a veteran coach at this point.

After watching the less talented and athletic Spurs eat the Jazz & Clippers alive with ball movement, backdoor cuts and great all around fundamentals, I really just want a cocach who can teach our players to play togther and to play smart basketball. How to run the break, how to move without the ball.

The one exception to the experienced HC would be Poppovich's asst coach: •Mike Budenholzer.

Post #5 » by **Jamaaliver** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:23 pm

Found this post over at Peachtree Hoops.
http://www.peachtreehoops.com/2012/5/14/3019414/nba-free-agent-head-coach-power-rankings

All these choices sound pretty good as well:

Jerry Sloan - I'd love this but forget it as the Hawks aren't breaking the bank for a head coach. Not sure exactly what he would do with this collection of players but I think Al Horford would blossom under him.

Nate McMillan - Feels like a good fit but what exactly is the difference in him and Woodson/Drew?
How much he would command would absolutely play a part in whether he was a candidate.

Stan Van Gundy - HAHAHAHA that is my thought of Josh Smith and Van Gundy coexisting.

Brian Shaw - No complaints here but doesn't have previous experience as a head coach

Mike Budenholzer - Good call by Ziller because if you had to tap an existing assistant wouldn't you want one that is working under Gregg Popovich?

parson · Post #6 » by **parson** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:42 pm

Thanks but what about their offensive scheme? What style of coaching would work best for us? Jerry Sloan's offense was built on picks, running shooters around them and using pick-and-rolls/pops. He's perfect for Joe and Horford. Maybe he'd turn Smith into Karl Malone? Maybe he could teach Teague? I would love to get him.

Fratello focussed on running plays. No less an authority than Larry Bird bragged on his plays. But is that what we need? He'd probably be great for Marvelous, who seems to never know what to do but what about the rest of the team? Randy Wittman - a great shooter - was an afterthought for us when Fratello coached here. Would Joe do better?

What about McMillan is so great? Especially, what about him is good for our present players?

Is Van Gundy's offense based on 3pt shooting or did he just do that for Dwight Howard? Do we WANT that here?

Shaw seemed to rub his players the wrong way. It's good to be tough but you've got to be able to work with your personnel.

Assistant coaches are a pig in a poke.

parson · Post #7 » by **parson** » Wed May 16, 2012 8:43 pm

By the way, I am NOT trying to talk anyone into hiring Jerry Sloan. I really want to hear what y'all think is the best scheme for us.

Post #8 » by **HMFFL** » Wed May 16, 2012 11:13 pm

Some big names are being mentioned this thread.

Brain Shaw would be on my short list.

evildallas · Post #9 » by **evildallas** » Thu May 17, 2012 12:52 am

I like the San Antonio assistant: Mike Budenholzer

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/mike_buden ... index.html

5 years as Popovich's #1 assistant. 18 years in the Spurs organization, 16 years as an assistant. That includes being on the bench for 4 titles. He's the son of a coach as well. Young enough to be vibrant, but experienced enough from a great organization to know what to do.

It's unrealistic to think the Hawks can land a head coach with titles under his belt as the head coach (except for Larry Brown and I don't want him), but 4 titles as an assistant shouldn't be sneezed at. I don't have a problem with hiring an assistant. My problem with Larry Drew was that he was an assistant here, so he failed to provide a new voice that the stars of the team hadn't already gotten used to.

azuresou1 · Post #10 » by **azuresou1** » Thu May 17, 2012 2:16 am

I like JVG, a lot.

I don't think we can get Budenholzer, since this might very well be Timmy D and Pops' last year, and Budenholzer would naturally be the replacement.

monsterblock · Post #11 » by **monsterblock** » Thu May 17, 2012 5:03 am

if they get Sloan, then keep the core together for the next two years (Sloan is an old guy anyway, a two year commitment shouldn't be too hard to get)

if they blow up the team, then just get a no name guy to babysit the team for the next 5 years.

if Sloan come back, i only see him being interested in 3 teams, the Hawks, Clippers, and Lakers. Sloan would only want to go to a vet team that already has established talent.

Sloan would love to coach CP3

i can see Sloan enjoying coaching a guy like Horford and Joe

im not sure if Sloan would enjoy coaching Kobe, after what he went through with Deron.

Years80HAWKS · Post #12 » by **Years80HAWKS** » Thu May 17, 2012 11:29 am

I really believe we have the roster and the personal and profesional situations in which a really good coach could really make a huge, huge difference. And a bad one could leave us as the underachievements we have been for the last three years.
I do not understand spending so much in Josh Al, JJ, Marvin... then going cheap when hiring the driver for such an expensive car...

Years80HAWKS · Post #13 » by **Years80HAWKS** » Fri May 18, 2012 8:34 pm

Now I go to sleep knowing that the franchise decided on counting on LD for another year.
I like the Hawks, where nothing ever changes.
Anybody wanna bet that Collins is in, Dampier is out, McGrady leaves (because he still can offer more than what he got here), Josh continues and becomes a free agent next summer, no center is signed, we select a nobody in the draft, so that he does not make the roster, Hinrich leaves because he is not even offered anything... and Green, Pargo, Marvin, Zaza will be the major part of our bench... depressing.

I believe we are two little steps from being a really good team, but every summer we take those steps backwards...

parson · Post #14 » by **parson** » Sat May 19, 2012 5:41 pm

Searching for a silver lining, let me say that I saw us run other types of offense several times this season, so maybe Drew can grow out of his (offensive) offense. Maybe he's a work in progress.

Giving the ball to Joe (and telling everyone to get out of the way) still seems to be Drew's security blanket in times of trouble, but if he can't see how much better Joe shoots when we've worked him open or if he can't see how bogged down our offense gets when he tries iso-Joe ...

If he can't see how great Horford is on the PnR ...
If he can't see how dominant Smith is down low against SFs ...