Is your coach holding you back?

[Grang33r]

Wells was on the fan today and talked about JOB a little bit. Wells pretty much said O'Brien will not return next season. Also said, Bird realizes that O'Brien hasn't done that great of a job however doesn't want to put all the blame on JOB but also on himself as well. But he made it seem like a change is coming.

They won't fire O'Brien mid-season though. One reason is, because there is NOBODY on his coaching staff that is capable of taking over and improving this team. Also, with a lockout looming, Pacers can't afford to pay up for two coaches now and getting a new coach before the lockout wouldn't make much sense. So, pretty much, JOB is still here mainly because of finance.

[wavz360]

In response to Grang33r, I have this question have they talked about potential replacements for O'Brien? The Pacers are a top 8 team in the East and theres no reason they shouldnt be .500. Theres a reason O'Brien didnt win in Philly or Boston so I seriously dont understand why Bird would hire this moron in the first place. If hes not out soon hes gonna alienate Collison our first real PG in 10 years, and Granger our franchise player

[Miller4ever]

Welcome to the forum, wavz. I imagine Bird's looking through the phone book for replacements. We just won't hear about them in public because that's how he does things. As far as I know, no names have been mentioned.

[Grang33r]

In response to Grang33r, I have this question have they talked about potential replacements for O'Brien? The Pacers are a top 8 team in the East and theres no reason they shouldnt be .500. Theres a reason O'Brien didnt win in Philly or Boston so I seriously dont understand why Bird would hire this moron in the first place. If hes not out soon hes gonna alienate Collison our first real PG in 10 years, and Granger our franchise player

No they didn't. And i doubt Larry Bird even knows who will be available yet or who he will interview.

Also, to come to his defense, i do think it was a good hire. O'Brien took over a train wreck team that not many people wanted. He did. Indy had massive problems filling seats and selling sponsors and played very dull basketball, and O'Brien came in and atleast made the losing exciting at the beginning of his tenure here with his up tempo play.

Now that we've turned the corner a bit and have some talent here, JOB is holding us back.

[wavz360]

I never looked at it that way but ur right...just based on your analysis, who would be a good fit here from the names available? Ive heard names of coaches with little or no experience like Mark Jackson to coaches with championship experience like Mike Brown. Im just wondering whether the Pacers need a young, energetic coach or a more rigid, veteran coach

[Grang33r]

I never looked at it that way but ur right...just based on your analysis, who would be a good fit here from the names available? Ive heard names of coaches with little or no experience like Mark Jackson to coaches with championship experience like Mike Brown. Im just wondering whether the Pacers need a young, energetic coach or a more rigid, veteran coach

Btw, welcome to the forum! Love seeing new people signing up, we've had some recent activity of people signing up and it's great to talk basketball with new people. Hope you enjoy it and stay around.

As for coaches, i'm sure Bird will look at some guys who have experience, like Mo Cheeks, Mike Brown (as you mentioned), Nate McMillan (If Portland fires him), Sam Mitchell and Jeff Van Gundy. But, i also think the young guys will get a look too, such as Mark Jackson, Tyrone Corbin and Dwane Casey. I don't know which direction is right for us, but i've always liked the idea of Mark Jackson as head coach.

[wavz360]

I know Bird will give a lot of coaches a look but I really think we need someone thats proven...younger coaches generally take over teams that are starting over and this team is a player or 2 and coach away from being a sure playoff team for awhile. Ive also heard Grangers name coming up in trade rumors and I really think until they get a proven coach in here that verdict is still out on Danny. I dont think anyone is really comfortable playing in JOB's system and Granger and Collison are prime examples of players not comfortable in that system

[writerman]

I've said over and over I'd like to see the guy I have hated for years as the dirtiest player ever in the NBA--Bill Laimbeer. I bet he'd jump at the chance to coach a team with a promising young core like ours...He'd be just the guy to work with our young bigs and give this team some much-needed attitude...even if it was in the WNBA, the SOB knows the game and knows how to win...and you can damn well bet with Laimbeer as coach there would be no laying down and rolling over by this team anymore...

[Indy2thaWindy]

I've said over and over I'd like to see the guy I have hated for years as the dirtiest player ever in the NBA--Bill Laimbeer. I bet he'd jump at the chance to coach a team with a promising young core like ours...He'd be just the guy to work with our young bigs and give this team some much-needed attitude...even if it was in the WNBA, the SOB knows the game and knows how to win...and you can damn well bet with Laimbeer as coach there would be no laying down and rolling over by this team anymore...

I thought he was gonna get the Detroit job, but instead they got Kuester, who might be as bad as JOB.

I think Laimbeer would be a decent coach. I'd rather have him than Mark Jackson. Why do people think he can coach? I'm not saying he can or can't but people on here think he would automatically be some great coach. I never got that.

[jowglenn]

Yeah, let's not forget that JOB was brought in to a team that had been completely torn down and was in that limbo where we still had some bad contracts and couldn't completely rebuild yet.

Everyone knew he was a temporary hold-over type coach. He did a decent job of developing some young guys. Rush is finally doing it.

Obviously he's gone after this season. I'd bet huge money on it. There's just no point in firing him right now, because you'd 1) have to get a midseason replacement who probably wouldn't end up being the long-term guy anyway and 2) pay both of them.

I think a big part of Granger's issues this year is that he's given up on JOB. The offense keeps changing, the rotations are (classic JOB) pulled out of a hat at random.

The key is figuring out who will be our future coach and staff. That's huge. I like the idea of Van Gundy and Jackson, but let's be honest, both of those guys have pretty cushy TV jobs and aren't gonna be interested.

I really like the idea of Nate McMillan to some degree. Mike Brown might be a good grab. He worked here before, and Bird knows him, so I would guess that he's actually the most likely one for us to get.

[wavz360]

I just really hope the for the rest of the year O'Brien takes the handcuffs off Collison and lets him play...this team is talented enough to get in the playoffs this year and although they will probably play Boston/Miami/Orlando the playoff experience will be good for them heading into next season with a new coach and a hopefully a few new veteran faces.

[Starkiller]

I wish there was some magical way we could pull George Karl away from Denver.