Ast. Coach talk- IN: Messina, Kuester OUT: Malone, Shaw

[NOODLESTYLE]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19913

On the heels of his agreement to join the Los Angeles Lakers staff as head coach (still unofficial, technically), Mike Brown may bring in Italian coach Ettore Messina as an assistant.

Messina is considered one of the top European coaches but he's been looking to break into the NBA for some time now.

Messina coached Virtus Bologna to two Euroleague titles (1998 & 2001, the latter with star Manu Ginobili). He also ran Benetton Treviso and CSKA Moscow (winner of Euroleague title in 2006 and 2008).

Most recently he was the head coach for Real Madrid.

Messina is a tough coach with a strong personality. He likes to call his team's plays and has a successful history developing players, especially in the post.

Sources say his goal is to be an NBA head coach but understands full well the road to that begins as an assistant.

During each off season over the past five or six years, Brown would spend two to three weeks overseas as a guest with Messina.

Sources say Brown has asked Messina to join him with the Lakers but a decision has yet to be made.

http://es.eurosport.yahoo.com/baloncest ... icle/2371/

Translated...

Four years later, fate will join Mike Brown and Ettore Messina on an ambitious and not without difficulties. Because the rumor has become news, and as I have known, Messina will accept the offer from the Lakers and will take the American adventure for the next season. The Italian coach, who had been tempted by the Nets and Spurs, will be responsible for straightening the ship angelina and be an important part in the decisions and moves that are going to do in the coming days. Movements of which is pending Pau Gasol himself, criticized after eliminating the Lakers at the hands of the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki.

Rumors flew late afternoon from Los Angeles. The journalist Eric Pincus of HOOPSWORLD, echoed rumors that placed as assistant coach Ettore Messina of Mike Brown in Los Angeles Lakers. The former Cleveland coach Messina met since 2007, when he visited to check their training methods in the technical phase of Sicilian at CSKA Moscow. Apparently, Brown, a great lover of defensive play, was impressed by the methods of Ettore.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ettore_Messina

Ettore Messina (born September 30, 1959 in Catania, Italy) is an Italian basketball coach. In June 2009, he became head coach at the Spanish Liga ACB club Real Madrid. He had previously been the head coach of CSKA Moscow in the Russian League. He has won 4 Euroleague championships as a head coach.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkNQG8On90c[/youtube]
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEaSKjTP-7k[/youtube]

[Jetset]

Regarded as one of the best coaches currently coaching overseas, maybe the best. An offensive mind like his along with the defensive schemes of Brown make me less weary of this recent signing.

[Jajwanda]

Does anybody know his offense yet?

[Gek]

Also makes Kobe happy.

[NOODLESTYLE]

Does anybody know his offense yet?

Apparently the past 2 seasons haven't been so good.

Edit: nevermind about Rubio

[Jajwanda]

I meant more in the sense of the offensive style.

[NOODLESTYLE]

http://twitter.com/#!/wojyahoonba

Mike Brown expected to make bid for well-regarded Dallas assistant Tim Grgurich to join Lakers staff, sources say. They're close friends.

[Mos Def]

This would be a fantastic addition to the staff. It really felt like there was just a bunch of old pruns and 1 inexperienced apple (B. Shaw) on the bench last year. So hopefully we can also get some fresh blood in there as well.

I'm starting to like Mike Brown a lot more because of his focus on defense and the connections he has with other highly regarded people.

At the same time, It's difficult anytime you lose a legend like Phil, so i say we all at least give Mike a chance before writing him (or the team) off.

As Easy as it is to harp on Mike Brown for his inability to win a championship in Cleveland, you only have to look as far as the roster they had. LeBron was great for the Cavs, but his teammates were utter trash.

I think Mike can show a lot more of what he is capable with this Laker squad. Hopefully managment can continue to make some good moves this offseason to address our weaknesses in PG play and bench depth/quality.

[Danny Darko]

likes to call plays? hmmm i like systems, but can anyone point to a play calling dictator has had success in the NBA?

[Qhawe]

Does anybody know his offense yet?

Apparently the past 2 seasons haven't been so good, especially with Ricky Rubio.

Rubio plays for barcelona, and he coached real madrid, so i dont know what your talking about

[NOODLESTYLE]

Does anybody know his offense yet?

Apparently the past 2 seasons haven't been so good, especially with Ricky Rubio.

Rubio plays for barcelona, and he coached real madrid, so i dont know what your talking about

I got confused and mixed up as I've been looking at Ricky Rubio's articles as well.

[NOODLESTYLE]

More about Messina:

http://www.fibaeurope.com/coid_yLb2MxBP ... de_on.html

The Ettore Messina era is over at Real Madrid.
The Italian tactician, who led CSKA Moscow to European and Russian success and was hoping to do the same for Real Madrid, stunned Spanish and European basketball on Friday by stepping down as coach of a club that is just three wins shy of an appearance at the Turkish Airlines Euroleague Final Four.
Messina has left after back-to-back defeats in the ACB at Power Electronics Valencia and Blancos de Rueda Valladolid, and a 95-77 home demolition at the hands of Montepaschi Siena, who are led by Italy national team coach, Simone Pianigiani.
The Euroleague game had no ramifications on the Top 16 standings, with Madrid having already sewn up a first place in Group G ahead of Siena.
Madrid will face Valencia in a best-of-five game quarter-final series, with the Games 1 and 2 in Madrid on March 22 and 24.
Messina's assistant and good friend, Emanuele Molin, has been handed the reins for the remainder of the campaign.
At a press conference on Saturday morning, Messina said: "It's normal and right to thank the club for allowing me this opportunity.
"It has been a very interesting year and a half, with many important experiences.
"This doesn't happen very often to people.
"I respect those that have criticized me and thank those that have supported me.
"I wish the best for the team for the future.
"I have tried to find a union on and off the court because it's crucial to have that in order to get results.
"It has been a difficult spell. We have had irregular results. Better to leave when things are well."
Messina made a controversial decision earlier this year to drop Spain veteran Jorge Garbajosa from the first team because of the potential of Nikola Mirotic.
The Montenegrin-born Spain international has justified the move with solid performances in the ACB and the Euroleague.
"I have been happy with how the team has done," Messina said.
"I have taken decisions during the season but my decisions were based on helping the team, protecting a young team.
"After the team reached the last 16 of the Euroleague, the team stopped playing. When you are fighting for them and for the work done, you expect the players to understand and take a step forward.
"I just hope what is happening will give the team a sense of maturity and a sense of responsibility that it is lacking to become a top team. I am convinced that the team can be in the final four."
Messina wanted to make it clear that he had given up a lot just to help Madrid.
"I have sacrificed a one and a half year contract and being in the final four in 15 days," he said.
"If I have done that is to bring unity.
"Perhaps one day I will return to coach here."
Now Molin has the biggest opportunity of his career.
Messina's long-time assistant has a chance to lead one of the giants of Spain.
"The new coach is capable of doing great things," Messina said.
"He is a friend before a great coach.
"I am happy because if the club thinks it is good to have continuity, then it means the technical side has done well."

[Doormatt]

Italians are generally great tacticians, at least when it comes to soccer.

i hope it translates to basketball as well.

[snaquille oatmeal]

Italians are generally great tacticians, at least when it comes to soccer.

i hope it translates to basketball as well.

didn't Artest say he wanted to add flopping to his repertoire.

[Saint18]

We gonna need all the help we can get offensively.

[ibraheim718]

This is a great move for you guys if it happens.

[NOODLESTYLE]

More past articles about Messina:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... ups/1.html

Through the eyes of Ettore Messina. Long regarded as the best coach outside North America, is
Messina now free to pursue a career in the NBA?

If so, he insists he would come to the NBA to serve as nothing more than an assistant coach.

"It would be interesting," Messina said Wednesday from Spain, where he shocked European basketball by resigning as coach of Real Madrid two weeks ago. "But I need first of all to see if I could be a good assistant after many years of not being an assistant. And then it would have to be made clear that I am not going there to steal anybody's job."

Messina does not delude himself about becoming an NBA coach. Whenever the topic has come up over the years, he has shot it down quickly by referring to the fundamental differences between the leagues of Europe and the NBA.

"It might be an interesting opportunity," said Messina, a 51-year-old Italian who speaks excellent English. "A few years ago I didn't see it like this, but now, getting older, you understand. You see it differently because experience gives you a different point of view."

http://www.projectspurs.com/2011-articl ... spurs.html

As you may recall, back in March, famed European coach Ettore Messina was able to visit with the San Antonio Spurs and spend eight days on the Spurs bench as an observer.

However, according to solobasket.it, Messina and the Spurs met at the Euroleague Final Four where Messina could be offered an assistant coaching job with San Antonio:

The trip to Texas, as we read about "Republic", is likely to be repeated at the beginning of next week after Messina met again with the leaders of the Spurs in Barcelona at the Euroleague Final Four.

The Italian coach has not ruled out a future in the NBA San Antonio and could offer him a job as an assistant to Popovich and then take over one or two years.

Though it is unlikely he would take over the coaching reigns for the Spurs seeing how another highly qualified coach has been sitting next to Gregg Popovich for years - Mike Budenholzer - Messina says if he were to come to the NBA it would strictly be as an assistant coach but doesn't rule out the possibility of becoming a head coach.

[Mass Rig]

I had the chance of meeting Messina a couple of times and interview him. The guy is a mastermind. One of the smartest people I've ever met. Not only he is technically superb, but he understand social psychology and psychology like no one else. He is a great manager, and not only a great coach.

[BEazy]

If Ettore become a assistant coach for Mike Brown then I'm already starting to like him and his badass connections!

[picc]

If Ettore becomes head coach with an assistant like Mike Brown then I'm already starting to like him and his badass connections!

Fixed.