How does O'Brien keep his job for 2011

[8305]

His player rotations are defy logic and at times it looks like he's lost this team. But in all fairness this has not been a playoff team during his tenure. They have accomplished about could reasonably be expected.

This summer the Pacers should be a very desireable destination for a good coach. The opportunity to upgrade will be there I think. How good a season is needed for O'Brien to keep his job?

[Wizop]

he keeps it if Bird keeps his provided Bird does not think he has been here so long that the team has stopped listening to him.

[jnzook]

pacers need to bring in sam mitchell

[colts2004]

pacers need to bring in sam mitchell

WHYYYYY!!!!! only way we will get over the top is with a top name coach.... like in the past we had larry brown, larry bird etc

Only way JOB keeps his job I think is if we make the playoffs.... Even at that, I still think he needs to go

[Scoot McGroot]

he keeps it if Bird keeps his provided Bird does not think he has been here so long that the team has stopped listening to him.

I would think that he possibly keeps it if he makes the playoffs and shows tremendous strides. If he doesn't make the playoffs, it's an easy termination. IF he does make the playoffs, it just muddles the situation but guarantees nothing.


I don't see Bird being obtuse enough to tie his career as a GM to Jim O'Brien of all people.

[kdawg531]

Hopefully JOB is in his last year here... the things he does and says make absolutely no sense at times. Bird knows this but also knows that with an extremely young team there isn't much he can do, as firing JOB for a new coach would waste money and probably wouldn't change the way this team wins.

Next year, our guys will be improved, they will all have changed attitudes, and with one or two major free agent adds we will be working our way to the top of the Eastern Conference.

As of right now, Mark Jackson seems like a great replacement for JOB, and I hope Bird (if he's still in office) will interview him and give him and look.

[8305]

I agree if we dono't make the playoffs its an easy terminate decision. Its a reasonable expectation for the Pacers to makd the playoffs this year. Get beyond the top six (Celtics, Heat, Magic, Bulls, Hawks and Bucks) and I don't see a team that has as much going for it as we do. So the basic expectation would be make the playoffs. Once there a quick exit really doesn't do much for me either. This out come would seem to tell you upgrade if you can.

But, what if somehow the Pacers squeeze past Milwaulke (get the 6 seed) and have a really competitive first round series. Maybe even win. In other words we over achieve. Does O'Brien keep the job then?

[chube]

My guess is making the playoffs, above the 8th seed, over 40 wins, and a competitive first-round series MIGHT save O'Brien his job.

And kdawg, we wouldn't be wasting money if JOB is fired after this year. This is the last year of his contract, so the decision comes down to is JOB worth investing more money in?

I think considering the mess that became the team post-brawl, Bird and JOB have done mostly what they can do. Now if they can pass it off to somebody else, we might be in good shape. I'm more anti-JOB than I am Bird though. Bird has drafted decently - Hibbert, Rush, Price, George looks okay so far, Stephenson maybe, and Hansbrough figured to be a rotation player and he's a solid one at that,

[Scoot McGroot]

As of right now, Mark Jackson seems like a great replacement for JOB, and I hope Bird (if he's still in office) will interview him and give him and look.

How would you know that Mark is a great replacement? What's his coaching style? What's his offensive or defensive system? Is he a speed it up or slow it down type coach? Do his players love playing for him? How deep of a rotation does he play?

I'm not saying he won't ever be a head coach, nor would I necessarily be against him coaching here. It's simply silly to say that he "seems like a great replacement for JOB" when, for all we know, he could emulate JOB's system. He could want a Jamaal Tinsley pound the ball for 20 seconds and then fire up an ill-advised shot offensive system. Hell, we just don't know. The guy's never coached before. At any level.

[aquatic92]

If this team made the playoffs, it would not be because of JOB. He's done after this year, whether or not we make the playoffs. This team got worse the moment Carlisle got fired and we brought in JOB. (I'm disregarding Carlisle's last year when he was forced to run an up-tempo style that was completely against what he had been coaching the years before that.)

It's time for Bird to coach this team or he should be gone as well.

[Miller4ever]

If we make it to the Eastern Conference Finals, then Jim O'Brien can keep his job.

[Scoot McGroot]

It's time for Bird to coach this team or he should be gone as well.

Why? Why should the GM have to coach the teams? GM's put together a roster and coaches coach. That's the way it's always been, and only recently have reached this era where the GM has to "come down to the court to deal with their mess".

This mess isn't a roster issue. I think we all agree that we've got some nice pieces now, for the first time in a while. We've got a franchise type PG in Collison, some young pieces at the swing spot in Rush and George, while still having a great young SF in Granger. Then, we've got Roy Hibbert at the 5, and some nice young rotation type PF's in Hansbrough and McRoberts. Isn't the issue production and coaching? Why does Bird inherit "those" problems?

I'm not saying the Bird is immune, but ultimately, this roster isn't half bad. It's not tremendous, but it's got some talent, with some room to grow.

[8305]

Quinn Buckner was a guy people thought would be a great coach. He possessed many of Mark Jankson's qualities. Played the point, was always a good teammate and leader, very articulate. Then he got the job in Dallas and it was a disaster.

I thought Larry was a really effective coach and he had no experience. But, at this point in time i'd vote for the known quantity if we make a coaching change. If I had to pick a guy today it would be Mike Brown.

[Solid]

We would have had a really hard time finding a first rate coach to take us on when JOB did.
I thank him for his service.
He sat through the an ugly mess and his team has thrown a lotta junk in the general direction of the backboard.
But it is, or will be at seasons end, time for a change.
I don't think there is any need to beat a dead horse so I will here after try to remain patient, respectful, and confidant that some one more to our liking will be hired.

If however (I really can barely imagine it) Larry rehires that gentleman then it would indeed be time to drop kick his a..
I mean perhaps he should then likewise be encouraged to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

[Indy2thaWindy]

Why wasn't Lester Connor looked at this offseason instead of being let go. The players seemed to listen to him a lot more and he force the ball down to Hibbert. Why couldn't we have kept him?

[kdawg531]

As of right now, Mark Jackson seems like a great replacement for JOB, and I hope Bird (if he's still in office) will interview him and give him and look.

How would you know that Mark is a great replacement? What's his coaching style? What's his offensive or defensive system? Is he a speed it up or slow it down type coach? Do his players love playing for him? How deep of a rotation does he play?

I'm not saying he won't ever be a head coach, nor would I necessarily be against him coaching here. It's simply silly to say that he "seems like a great replacement for JOB" when, for all we know, he could emulate JOB's system. He could want a Jamaal Tinsley pound the ball for 20 seconds and then fire up an ill-advised shot offensive system. Hell, we just don't know. The guy's never coached before. At any level.

To answer your questions, I KNOW Mark would be a great replacement because, well, who wouldn't be? I don't know any of his coaching styles or attributes but he has never coached before, so who knows?

The fact is, I watch many games that he commentates and the guy simply knows what he is talking about. If he happens to play the same style of other coaches we have had, then hell we wouldn't hire him and we would find someone else. If that happens at least I will finally realize I was wrong in this thread.

I don't appreciate the comments towards me in your reply. The things I said are not silly. You're acting like I'm randomly selecting someone to be the next coach. The reason I'd like him to step in starts at the fact that he is someone I am comfortable with, based upon how he speaks, and his past as a player here.

I've recently been asked why I rarely post on this site but have been a member for so long. Prime reason right there.

Oh and chube, I apologize for not clarifying my post on wasting money in future years for firing JOB. At the time I was thinking if we fired him now or before the season ends, not after his contract had expired.

[Scoot McGroot]

As of right now, Mark Jackson seems like a great replacement for JOB, and I hope Bird (if he's still in office) will interview him and give him and look.

How would you know that Mark is a great replacement? What's his coaching style? What's his offensive or defensive system? Is he a speed it up or slow it down type coach? Do his players love playing for him? How deep of a rotation does he play?

I'm not saying he won't ever be a head coach, nor would I necessarily be against him coaching here. It's simply silly to say that he "seems like a great replacement for JOB" when, for all we know, he could emulate JOB's system. He could want a Jamaal Tinsley pound the ball for 20 seconds and then fire up an ill-advised shot offensive system. Hell, we just don't know. The guy's never coached before. At any level.

To answer your questions, I KNOW Mark would be a great replacement because, well, who wouldn't be? I don't know any of his coaching styles or attributes but he has never coached before, so who knows?

The fact is, I watch many games that he commentates and the guy simply knows what he is talking about. If he happens to play the same style of other coaches we have had, then hell we wouldn't hire him and we would find someone else. If that happens at least I will finally realize I was wrong in this thread.

I don't appreciate the comments towards me in your reply. The things I said are not silly. You're acting like I'm randomly selecting someone to be the next coach. The reason I'd like him to step in starts at the fact that he is someone I am comfortable with, based upon how he speaks, and his past as a player here.

I've recently been asked why I rarely post on this site but have been a member for so long. Prime reason right there.

Oh and chube, I apologize for not clarifying my post on wasting money in future years for firing JOB. At the time I was thinking if we fired him now or before the season ends, not after his contract had expired.

I'm sorry that you feel this was personal. It was not meant to be, nor was it. Nor was it meant to be directed solely at you.

It was simply a question asked of the board at large. Mark Jackson is a constant demand of most fans, and I simply asked why. Then, I articulated the questions that come up when other coaches are bandied about, and I simply wonder why Mark Jackson would get a free pass on questions that exclude other guys from the positions.


I do wonder what kind of a coach he would be, but at the same time, I strongly feel that just because he was a former player doesn't mean he will be a great coach. Red Auerbach was not a player himself, nor was Greg Popovich. Yes, Pat Riley and Phil Jackson were long-time NBA players, though. It can go both ways. However, just being a star player doesn't guarantee effective coaching, and in many sports, it leads to poor results.


I'm sorry that you took this personally. Don't.

[kdawg531]

Mark Jackson would not get a free pass on interviews based on the fact that we as a board have interest in his services. Larry Bird will do his job and interview the next coach thoroughly. Other than during those times and when, as a coach, he begins to coach games, nobody who is not interviewing him for a job will know his coaching style.

[aquatic92]

It's time for Bird to coach this team or he should be gone as well.

Why? Why should the GM have to coach the teams? GM's put together a roster and coaches coach. That's the way it's always been, and only recently have reached this era where the GM has to "come down to the court to deal with their mess".

This mess isn't a roster issue. I think we all agree that we've got some nice pieces now, for the first time in a while. We've got a franchise type PG in Collison, some young pieces at the swing spot in Rush and George, while still having a great young SF in Granger. Then, we've got Roy Hibbert at the 5, and some nice young rotation type PF's in Hansbrough and McRoberts. Isn't the issue production and coaching? Why does Bird inherit "those" problems?

I'm not saying the Bird is immune, but ultimately, this roster isn't half bad. It's not tremendous, but it's got some talent, with some room to grow.

Well for one, he has coached in the past so its not a completely insane proposition.

Secondly, since we went down hill, there has been 1 constant, Bird. He built/destroyed/plastered this team. It's his "3 year plan" where years 1, 2 , and 3 all share striking resemblances. Look at all of the failed moves during his tenure (Harrington, GS trade, Solo, BRush for Bayless, Shawne, etc.)It's his fault this team has lacked any sort of direction for those past 3 years and no, we still do not have a real plan. We're getting better only because it would be almost impossiblefor us to be any worse. Half of our team wont be back next year most likely, and only 3 guys are guaranteed to be here long term. He isnt inheriting "bad production and coaching", he brought in those players who arent producing and the coach who cant coach. Our coach is awful and ontop of that, we have no idea what kind of coach we'd want/what system would be feasible with this team.

Bird can join JOB unless he wants to actually coach this mess and prove that this plan is/was working. He doesnt HAVE to, but he should be canned if things keep going the way they are going. Making the playoffs in the eASt this year would be a the lack of more than 6 capable teams instead of us being a bona fide playoff team. At least when we finish 9th we have a CHANCE in the lottery.

[Miller4ever]

Can I be honest? He may be better than O'Brien in some respects, but I'm really not sure if Mark Jackson is the answer.