Why isn't Tom Thibodeau a head coach yet?

ffz2000 · Post #1 » by **ffz2000** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 12:45 am

The guy is the lead assistant to the championship Celtics. It's a well known fact that he's the genius behind the Celtic's defense. Why hasn't any team tried to snatch him away yet?! Every single year the team that he's with is top 3 in defense. Rockets fans know that Thibodeau played a huge role in Yao Ming's development. I really don't understand why teams are willing to give Vinny Del Negro and Scotts a chance and not Thibodeau.

celticfan42487 · Post #2 » by **celticfan42487** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 1:05 am

Because the Celtics won the championshiph on a record number of playoff games [26/25?]. The head coaching positions were locked up by the time he was getting his ring finger checked.

Luck of the Irish for the Celtics

RapsGM · Post #3 » by **RapsGM** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 6:23 pm

Maybe he wants to stay an assistant???

ChocolateThundr · Post #4 » by **ChocolateThundr** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 6:36 pm

Hes not only the genius behind the Celtics defense. Hes the genius behind the Celtics, period.

celticfan42487 · Post #5 » by **celticfan42487** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 7:33 pm

He DEFENTILY does not want to stay an assistant.

he signed a one year contract last year for the Celtics because no one picked him up and even then he was an associate head coach and was in full control of the Celtics defense. He called the plays for the defense and strategy. I'd have to say overall he probuly had the most authority for a non-head coach.

Datruth345 · Post #6 » by **Datruth345** » Wed Jul 9, 2008 8:52 pm

the are no openings

the playoffs were so long, all the head coaching spots were no longer vacant when he could talk to teams

ffz2000 · Post #7 » by **ffz2000** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:36 am

Okay another question... what team should fire their head coach and hire Thibodeau...

I got Nuggets, Sonics, Toronto, Nets, Mavs, Celtics, Bobcats, Wizards, K i can't think of more.

Teddy KGB · Post #8 » by **Teddy KGB** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:35 am

Knock Mavs off that list, we just got Carlisle this off season. Denver sure as hell could use him though.

WashWiz54 · Post #9 » by **WashWiz54** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:06 am

celticfan42487 wrote:He DEFENTILY does not want to stay an assistant.

he signed a one year contract last year for the Celtics because no one picked him up and even then he was an associate head coach and was in full control of the Celtics defense. He called the plays for the defense and strategy. I'd have to say overall he probuly had the most authority for a non-head coach.

Actually the Wizards picked him up before the Celtics did, but due to internal problems he left us high and dry.

If the Wizards underachieve again this year, I truly hope Eddie gets the ax, and Tom is his replacement.

RocketFan1105 · Post #10 » by **RocketFan1105** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:19 am

We all agree he is a defensive guru to say the least, but a Head coach has to have a nicely balanced defensive and offensive philosophy, i do agree he should be head coach, but maybe teams aren't liking his offensive philosophy, maybe it's terrible, and that may be why he isn't getting the head coaching job.

MilBucksBackOnTop06 · Post #11 » by **MilBucksBackOnTop06** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:18 am

There are a lot of career assistants who know they are assistants and want to stay that way, and many more who are hired by GM's thinking they are head coaching material (eg, Sam Vincent, Terry Stotts, PJ Carlesimo, Phil Johnson, Jim Cleamons, Bob McAdoo,) who are not.

Tex Winter could have been a head coach as well. And there are some guys like Sacramento's Reggie Theus who might be in over their heads as well. Herb Williams of the Knicks was.

And even we'll see if the Pistons' Michael Curry can make the grade from a great team leader on the floor and locker room to the bench.

We will see if the guy in Miami Erik Spolestra is legit or a career assistant that I thought Lawerence Frank was, and that others thought former Bucks and now Suns coachTerry Porter did not spend enough time in being...

Remember Eric Mussleman's son at Golden State? Remember Johnny Davis in Orlando? Good assistants but could not get the job done on the Head coaching ranks.

It takes time and a knack to get it done. Look at Nate McMillan and Byron Scott in Portland and in New Orleans, and Doc Rivers now in Boston.

Nate McMillian had the Sonics in great shape and they did not have sense enough to lock him up, and he landed on his feet in Portland and two years later the Sonics don't have a franchise at all anymore! LOL...

There are still others who should have had a head coaching job a long time ago or welcomed back who have not and have been blackballed. Like Bill Laimbeer, Rick Barry, Paul Silas, Dave Cowens,
and perhaps Adrian Dantley...

We'll see.

Muzzleshot · Post #12 » by **Muzzleshot** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:45 am

You mean to tell me that teams like Chicago and Detroit had to gobble up the much in demand candidates (Sarcasm) like VDN and Curry and couldn't wait for the end of the Finals and talk to Thibodeau? If the NBA GM's thought he'd make a good head coach he be one.

VDN has no NBA coaching experience and Curry has one year (Assistant). Thibodeau has been coaching in the NBA for 18 years. There's a message there somewhere.
Some people are meant for middle management jobs and aren't able to perform well in the top spot. Thibodeau might just be one of those people.

Post #13 » by **5DOM** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:19 pm

Toronto can surely use him

magicfan4life05 · Post #14 » by **magicfan4life05** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 2:20 pm

Celtics players love him, they really wanted him back.

Post #15 » by **revprodeji** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:15 pm

It is the worst kept secret that MN will likely want a head coach next year. I am just not sure if they will hire outside, or stay in the house.

magicfan4life05 · Post #16 » by **magicfan4life05** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:17 pm

really? I thought Minnesota loves Randy Wittman

Malinhion · Post #17 » by **Malinhion** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:24 pm

Maybe they just see him as the next Mike Brown.

Post #18 » by **revprodeji** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:45 pm

magicfan4life05 wrote:really? I thought Minnesota loves Randy Wittman

Wittman did not originally want the job. He is a good discipline guy, and good for developing young guys, but not a coach (at least yet) that you would try and make a playoff run with. Who knows, maybe he will develop as a coach?

MN does have 2 very interesting assistant coaches that could make a push for the head coach. Jerry Sichting and JB Bickerstaff (just 26 yrs old)

celticfan42487 · Post #19 » by **celticfan42487** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:17 pm

Well we don't know for sure about all of it, but there is a lot of politics that goes in with head coach hiring.

When Doc Rivers was hired and grossly overpaid along with given one of teh biggest assitant groups in the NBA it was mostly because he could be a face to talk to the fans and more importantly be Danny Ainge's yesman to whatever Ainge wanted to do with the roster unlike Jim O'Brien who publicly resigned due to Ainge's trades.

So Tom may not be a head coach over some lesser known players based on wanting too much control or being "over-qualified" who knowes what goes on and yes the ability to get the job done is the most important part but it's not the only factor that goes into it.

TheKingOfVa360 · Post #20 » by **TheKingOfVa360** » Sun Jul 13, 2008 10:39 pm

WashWiz54 wrote:
celticfan42487 wrote:He DEFENTILY does not want to stay an assistant.

he signed a one year contract last year for the Celtics because no one picked him up and even then he was an associate head coach and was in full control of the Celtics defense. He called the plays for the defense and strategy. I'd have to say overall he probuly had the most authority for a non-head coach.

Actually the Wizards picked him up before the Celtics did, but due to internal problems he left us high and dry.

If the Wizards underachieve again this year, I truly hope Eddie gets the ax, and Tom is his replacement.

I agree Tom T is a perfect fit for the Wizards!