Looking ahead, could Doc Rivers be the next head coach of your Atlanta Hawks?

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Of course he could, or I wouldn't bother posting this.

Preface, I like Lloyd Pierce. I was skeptical originally when he was hired that he was anything but a developmental coach who Schlenk was tossing a bone to give him his first HC job, and/but LP would be quickly dispatched at that moment when it seemed the Hawks were on the cusp of being a playoff team again.

He's proven to be an impressive, articulate young head coach.

But this next year, practically by his own admission (see "this is a playoff team" comments from this season), will be an important one in defining him as more than just an impressive, articulate young head coach... or not.

And if we finish 2020-21 with a sour taste in our collective mouth between us fans and Schlenk and Ressler, there could conceivably be reticence to offer LP a next contract (his initial 3 year deal will be done) and there could arise an alternative that, on paper at least, may make too much sense to ignore.

Barring another extension in LAC, Doc Rivers will have finished his contract there following the 20-21 season. Kawhi and/or PG could be back on the open market, given that they both enjoy player options that off-season. Doc lives in Orlando, and his only other tie to Southern California beyond his job is no more--his youngest son just finished his senior season at UC Irvine in 2019.

And. It's not that much of a leap to speculate that Doc may love the idea of putting the icing on his career cake by trying to bring to Atlanta the championship that has only been somewhat seriously chased when he, Wittman, Nique, Willis and Tree led the way... fairy tale ending, really, for all involved.

But circling back, Pierce almost has to come unhinged and fail in some grandiose way, and that's hard to figure at the moment. Two things would almost certainly have to occur. One, the team would have to have a disappointing second half of the season. And second, Trae would have to lose confidence in his head coach. Neither of those is out of the question, but neither seem likely, either.

If either of those occur, though, easy to anticipate that the speculation will grow rapidly that Doc would be good for Trae, and good for ATL.

[tbhawksfan1]

IF LP isn't the guy to lead the team to the top, Doc would clearly be an enticing choice.

So far I give LP a very high rating on development and am undecided on the rest. His team has been too young and too transient to get a grip on his HC skills. Also important to remember that LP is still a new, unproven HC.

It will be interesting to see if Schlenk and Ressler are willing to let LP develop with the team or try to bring in a sure thing.

The one thing that I didn't like was LP's tendency to complain to the media about the young guys effort and the not having Trae's back on the team USA thing... eh I guess that's two things

[_s_t_u_r_t_]

Watch on YouTube

What's good about what LP says in this recent video...

- On principle, no calling-out or sending messages to individual players via the media
- As almost always, LP comes across as a very approachable and relatable leader, the kind of man people want to play for
- Sends an implicit message to all his team... realize that I can only put up with 2-3 guys on a roster who require more intensive attention

What's not so good...

- LP suggests fairly clearly that he embraces player input during games on coaching strategy... which to me suggests that he takes a step too far in wanting to have good relationships with players. Would plausibly be different if the roster was made up of more Vince Carters and fewer Trae Youngs. He's got to be more assertive b/c he naturally should know more and be the best person to make intelligent decisions... and related but different... as importantly, he's got to come across as being the authority.

Another way of saying it, this isn't a social club measured on how well we all get along. It's a business whose product is a professional sports team measured on winning games. It's not that you can't listen to your players and consider what they're seeing. But there's a fine line between listening and incorporating that into your own assessment to render your authoritative decision, and what this sounds like, which is acquiescing to player consensus on occasion since it seems as intelligent as anything you yourself can come up with.

Again. Might be different if it were a veteran-heavy team. It's about as far from a veteran-heavy team as you'll ever find.

[HMFFL]

Doc and Sam Cassell are on my list.
While Doc would be an excellent fit I believe Sam Cassell is going to be in high demand in a couple of years.

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