Cheers! Don Newman (Former SA Asst) Welcome!!

WizarDynasty · Post #1 » by **WizarDynasty** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:03 am

Welcome to the team. One step closer to bringing the San Antonio Dynasty culture to DC. Anyone familiar with him?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/wizards-add-don-newman-to-coaching-staff/2012/07/09/gJQAf6UzYW_blog.html

Post #2 » by **montestewart** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:08 am

WizarDynasty wrote:Welcome to the team. One step closer to bringing the San Antonio Dynasty culture to DC. Anyone familiar with him?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/wizards-add-don-newman-to-coaching-staff/2012/07/09/gJQAf6UzYW_blog.html

He's probably been involved in more playoff games than all the Wizards players combined.

SUPERBALLMAN · Post #3 » by **SUPERBALLMAN** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:31 am

montestewart wrote:
WizarDynasty wrote:Welcome to the team. One step closer to bringing the San Antonio Dynasty culture to DC. Anyone familiar with him?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wizards-insider/post/wizards-add-don-newman-to-coaching-staff/2012/07/09/gJQAf6UzYW_blog.html

He's probably been involved in more playoff games than all the Wizards players combined.

Here's writeup from Bulletsforever.com

http://www.bulletsforever.com/2012/7/9/ ... dy-wittman

Interesting he used to play football.

Post #4 » by **montestewart** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:52 am

I'm glad he comes with that defensive focus, but since that was the perspective that Wittman came from as well, who is the genius designing the offense?

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #5 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 1:54 am

One thing these Wizards will be is the best defensive team we've seen since … I can't even recall a team with this much defensive potential.

This coach comes with a defensive mindset and reputation. This roster certainly matches his coaching emphasis.

EDITED to comment on his coaching bio page:

http://www.nba.com/coachfile/don_newman ... l?nav=page

Last cut of the 1980 Celtics. IIRC that was their McHale draft, one year after Bird was drafted. Newman has a lot of teaching/coaching from HS, college, and as an assistant. Played Canadian football and went back and got his degrees after.

dlts20 · Post #6 » by **dlts20** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:28 am

dont miss the boat. This isnt about a top assistant. This is our new HC if Whittless screws up. This is the Thibbs situation all over again. I think EG still kills himself every day over that because he wanted Thibbs to be the HC the whole time but felt that he couldnt axe EJ just yet without giving him another chance.

This is the same thing just about. He's hiring a guy to already be the top assistant over guys who were alread there. They didnt want to spend the money this offseason on a big name coach. They want the next Thibbs or Scott Brooks. They felt the guys responded under Witt so they will give him his shot.

Meanwhile the can ease Newman into the situation and get him intergrated without the pressure of being the man. If Witt slips up any though then he's out and we have our next Thibbs, Brooks of the future. Atleast thats what they hope.........lol

mohammed10 · Post #7 » by **mohammed10** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 3:43 am

dlts20 wrote:dont miss the boat. This isnt about a top assistant. This is our new HC if Whittless screws up. This is the Thibbs situation all over again. I think EG still kills himself every day over that because he wanted Thibbs to be the HC the whole time but felt that he couldnt axe EJ just yet without giving him another chance.

This is the same thing just about. He's hiring a guy to already be the top assistant over guys who were alread there. They didnt want to spend the money this offseason on a big name coach. They want the next Thibbs or Scott Brooks. They felt the guys responded under Witt so they will give him his shot.

Meanwhile the can ease Newman into the situation and get him intergrated without the pressure of being the man. If Witt slips up any though then he's out and we have our next Thibbs, Brooks of the future. Atleast thats what they hope.........lol

You beat me to it...

Coach in Waiting? Absolutely! Just the San Antonio experience gives him legitimacy and the pedigree.

doclinkin · Post #8 » by **doclinkin** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:06 am

I dunno, i think this gives them a good cop to Witt's bad cop act. Necessary balance. Newman has a rep of being a friendly decent guy, liked by players. But really what's he gonna teach Tim Duncan about frontcourt defense?

Yes it's a lateral move, but by hitching himself to a team on the rise sure it helps the resume if he ever will qualify for a HC job. Worked for Tom Tippeytoe. I don't necessarily see him as coach in waiting, it's entirely possible Witt reached out to him. I do think we should have fun watching him work with our frontcourt Bigs.

Post #9 » by **montestewart** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 4:41 am

doclinkin wrote:but by hitching himself to a team on the rise sure it helps the resume if he ever will qualify for a HC job

I'm not used to lines like that. Maybe this should go in the optimism thread.

closg00 · Post #10 » by **closg00** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 11:38 am

We hired someone from the Spurs org :clap:

Severn Hoos · Post #11 » by **Severn Hoos** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 12:28 pm

Totally non-PC, but..... I wasn't familiar with our newest addition, so I decided to look up pictures to see if I recognized him.

And my first thought was: Did Wes 'n Bernie have a secret love child that we never heard about?

I know, over the top, right?

Post #12 » by **Ruzious** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:11 pm

I don't know Sev, but I'm planning on buying stock in the local Big & Tall Mans' shop.

...and it might be a good time to open up a bakery near the Phone Booth.

popper · Post #13 » by **popper** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 2:59 pm

Severn Hoos wrote:Totally non-PC, but..... I wasn't familiar with our newest addition, so I decided to look up pictures to see if I recognized him.

And my first thought was: Did Wes 'n Bernie have a secret love child that we never heard about?

I know, over the top, right?

Funny as hell. You gave me a great big belly laugh.

Bickerstaff · Post #14 » by **Bickerstaff** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:14 pm

Severn Hoos wrote:

Did Wes 'n Bernie have a secret love child that we never heard about?

I was really trying to place who he looks like, and you're exactly right.

mohammed10 · Post #15 » by **mohammed10** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 5:50 pm

montestewart wrote:
doclinkin wrote:but by hitching himself to a team on the rise sure it helps the resume if he ever will qualify for a HC job

I'm not used to lines like that. Maybe this should go in the optimism thread.

- sad, but qft

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #16 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:05 pm

Severn Hoos wrote: And my first thought was: Did Wes 'n Bernie have a secret love child that we never heard about?

Conan O'Brien does a skit called, "What if they Mated?" Uncomfortable idea of how aside, Sev, I can see how you had that thought.

Severn Hoos · Post #17 » by **Severn Hoos** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:08 pm

I'm sure he's a great guy, just can't get past that initial impression. Now I'll feel bad every time I see him on the sidelines...

And yes, CCJ - let's stay away from the details there!

:-)

Chocolate City Jordanaire · Post #18 » by **Chocolate City Jordanaire** » Tue Jul 10, 2012 6:10 pm

Don Newman was with Milwaukee while Ernie was Bucks GM. Sam Cassell was a player for the Bucks. Sam has to be familiar with him. Should Wittman falter, I wonder if Newman would not become lead assistant to Cassell?

gesa2 · Post #19 » by **gesa2** » Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:16 am

Not sure how old it is, but here's an NBA.com article on Newman. He's done a lot of overseas outreach. Seems like a good, smart guy

http://www.nba.com/spurs/features/100623_rodriguez.html

"He was a guy who tried to win games with intensity and his attitude," Karl once told The Phoenix Times, "and he did win many games because of that." The CBA-CFL experience gave Newman one of the most exotic pro resumes on the planet. The two-sport gig continued with an invitation to the New York Jets training camp. Soon, it was time to follow the inevitable. "I knew I would be a coach," Newman says.

The two-sport athlete began coaching high school football and basketball while working on his bachelor's degree at Idaho. Over the next decade he established himself at four universities before joining the Milwaukee Bucks under Karl.

When he arrived in San Antonio five years later, Karl was calling Newman one of the league's best assistants. "There are tons of ways to skin a cat," Newman says. "My way is to motivate and encourage."

whoever said he would be the good cop to Wittman's bad cop might have it right.

Post #20 » by **nate33** » Thu Jul 12, 2012 2:44 am

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98dai6CC5BA[/youtube]