Ferry's First Decision: Head Coach

[Jamaaliver]

Just hours after our postseason loss to Indiana, DF must decide whether to extend Larry Drew or go in another direction at Head Coach.

Milwaukee informed their (Interim) HC within a day that he would not be retained.
Larry Frank was fired by DET the day after the season.

And with DET already inquiring about SAS Assistant Coach Mike Budenholzer, it would be prudent for us to make an announcement sooner than later.

Exit interviews with players are Tomorrow, Saturday May 4th.
I expect an announcement no later than Monday and for us to pursue Budenholzer (among others) early next week.

This is all, of course, assuming L Drew is not re-signed.

Thoughts?
Predictions?

[FCNATL85]

As crazy as this might sounds, I would love for LD to have a crack at it with a new crew of players.

Not his fault if players are not making the easy shots or are making poor decisions.

The question really is: what is the plan for Josh Smith? If Josh stays, then we need a new coach as LD has not been efficient in dealing with Josh (and others') temper, shot selection or even consistent effort.

Game 4 was great for Josh in terms of effort. In other games, he was transparent in D at times, very complaisant...
Since Danny Ferry has announced that he want "quality people": Horford, Jenkins, Scott fit that bill...after that it is wide open!

[ATLHawksfan21]

I say we let Drew go. There is no need to rush the signing of a new coach though. We need to have a better picture of what the team is going to look like and hire a coach that fits the players. I think we may actually have a chance at CP3 and Dwight after their teams early exits this year. Having a vacant coaching spot and giving them the option to pick their coach could be key in landing them.

[FCNATL85]

CP3 maybe but Dwight no.
What are they early exit but most importantly production tells you?

I do not want D12 in ATL for sure but in both cases you will will have to keep sufficient players around and, good support players like:
Korver
Harris
Teague in CP3 case
probably Zaza
probably Ivan
are as good as gone!

Smith is gone except maybe if we get CP3 and go after a decent C in the draft by moving up

Adams ?- Dieng ?- FA - Horford
Horford- Scott- Dieng
Smith- FA- Covington (2nd)?
FA- Jenkins
CP3- FA- Wolters (2nd)?

[ATLHawksfan21]

CP3 maybe but Dwight no.
What are they early exit but most importantly production tells you?

I do not want D12 in ATL for sure but in both cases you will will have to keep sufficient players around and, good support players like:
Korver
Harris
Teague in CP3 case
probably Zaza
probably Ivan
are as good as gone!

Smith is gone except maybe if we get CP3 and go after a decent C in the draft by moving up

Adams ?- Dieng ?- FA - Horford
Horford- Scott- Dieng
Smith- FA- Covington (2nd)?
FA- Jenkins
CP3- FA- Wolters (2nd)?

You are crazy to not want Howard if we could land him and CP3. This team would be the 2nd best team in the league and have a good recipe for beating the Heat

Paul/Lou Will
Korver/Jenkins
A Shane Battier type player (shoot the 3, plays above average D)
Horford
Howard

A team full of shooters would allow Howard to work one-on-one in the post like he used to do in orlando. A frontcourt of Howard and Horford would be dominant on the defensive end. Paul could run the PnR with both Howard and Horford and have tremendous success doing it.

[Skyhawk1]

I think L. Drew did a very good job for us this year. When you look at our roster, we have come as far as we could, to me that's all you could ask. He's got a talented but uncoachable PF that thinks he's Ray Allen and can shoot from anywhere. His best player is reliable but doesn't have the hunger to be great (Al), his PG has had a good season but is still very inconsistent. Korver is liability on D and we didn't have a true SG after Lou went down with the ACL injury. Without Zaza and Lou, our bench got very weak. I'd keep him if it were my decision. To me, among all the problems we have, coaching is probably the least important.

[parson]

If we paired Howard and Horford, we could afford to start Korver at the 3. That'd free up the 2 position to be pure offense, Lou Williams and Jenkins, depending on the situation. Add a big defensive 2 and a quick defensive 3 (maybe the same player?) to the bench and we're golden.

Howard and Horford make this team a contender. Chris Paul would make us unstoppable. I don't think MIA could beat that.

[Jamaaliver]

Interesting. Seems the support for LD is a little stronger than I thought.

I think it'd be a mistake to let players pick their own coach. other than Kobe and Phil Jackson....has that ever worked out well?

I believe Ferry has to find a coach whose style matches his own vision. They can build the roster together with long term goals in mind. We want our version of Popovich to lead us for the next decade.

Think Dimitroff & Mike Smith
or Schuerholz & Bobby Cox

I'd say this is probably the most important decision Ferry makes. IMO

[parson]

Interesting. Seems the support for LD is a little stronger than I thought.

Maybe, or maybe it's just professionals saying, "You protect my job and I'll protect yours."

[Jamaaliver]

Interesting. Seems the support for LD is a little stronger than I thought.

Maybe, or maybe it's just professionals saying, "You protect my job and I'll protect yours."

you lost me.

I meant support from fans here on the Boards.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Interesting. Seems the support for LD is a little stronger than I thought.

I think it'd be a mistake to let players pick their own coach. other than Kobe and Phil Jackson....has that ever worked out well?

I believe Ferry has to find a coach whose style matches his own vision. They can build the roster together with long term goals in mind. We want our version of Popovich to lead us for the next decade.

Think Dimitroff & Mike Smith
or Schuerholz & Bobby Cox

I'd say this is probably the most important decision Ferry makes. IMO

If you have a shot at landing Howard and Paul, you do it. If they want to pick their coach, you let them. A combo of Howard, Horford Paul would compete with any team inthe league no matter who the coach is.

[Jamaaliver]

If you have a shot at landing Howard and Paul, you do it. If they want to pick their coach, you let them. A combo of Howard, Horford Paul would compete with any team in the league no matter who the coach is.

I don't know.

A team of Gasol, Kobe, Nash and Dwight barely made the playoffs.

A team of Paul & Blake Griffin (with a great supporting cast) never even won a 2nd round playoff game.

There is a reason Kobe only had success under Phil Jackson. No other coach got him past the 2nd round of the playoffs.

OKC, another team modeled after SAS, lost a top ten (15?) player and ended up with the #1 seed in the West. because they have a top flight coach who'll lead that team for years to come.

That's the goal. A sustainable franchise that transcends individual players.

Who's more important to Boston long-term: KG or Doc Rivers?

Phil Jackson lost the most dominant Center in the last 20 years, but managed to win 2 more titles. With Pau Gasol and Bynum. CLEAR downgrades from Shaq in his prime.

Great players win games.
Great teams win Championships.

[Jamaaliver]

C-Viv tweeted that personnel decisions (including HC) won't be made for 'several' days.
But, I'll stick with my prediction of Monday.

Ferry's had all season to observe. If he's going to make a change, he'll need to get the official search started quickly...before other teams start poaching our candidates.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Interesting. Seems the support for LD is a little stronger than I thought.

I think it'd be a mistake to let players pick their own coach. other than Kobe and Phil Jackson....has that ever worked out well?

I believe Ferry has to find a coach whose style matches his own vision. They can build the roster together with long term goals in mind. We want our version of Popovich to lead us for the next decade.

Think Dimitroff & Mike Smith
or Schuerholz & Bobby Cox

I'd say this is probably the most important decision Ferry makes. IMO

If you have a shot at landing Howard and Paul, you do it. If they want to pick their coach, you let them. A combo of Howard, Horford Paul would compete with any team inthe league no matter who the coach is.

And that's when you end up looking like the Lakers of this year.

I'm all for signing FA's, but investing so much into a guy like Howard, who isn't a skilled big man, is what turns a dream scenario into a nightmare situation. We have plenty of cap space, so lets not use it all on 2 max FA's.

Honestly, what do we do, when people start hacking Dwight, and misses over two thirds of his attempts? Howard is not the force that people make him out to be. I will take CP3 in a heartbeat, but I would rather see us take Pekovich, Jefferson, or maybe Splitter, and then bring back Smith unless he wants max money.

[Jamaaliver]

And now that I think about it, other than LeBron or Durant....I'd take Coach Tom Thibodeaux over any player in this league.

I'd take Belichik over Brady.

I'd take LaRussa over Pujols.

I'd take Phil over Shaq.

[ATLHawksfan21]

Don't even try to compare the lakers to this possible team. First off, the lakers were injured all year. Howard wasn't happy because Kobe dominates the ball so much. nash contributes next to nothing now. That LA team had no 3 pt shooters which equaled no spacing and teams were able to double Howard at will.

Paul always tries to get his teammates going before he looks for his shot, to a fault at times. This team would have tremendous spacing which would allow Howard to do work in the paint when only being guarded by one defender. It would be a 2 seed at worst if everyone remained healthy.

[ATLHawksfan21]

And now that I think about it, other than LeBron or Durant....I'd take Coach Tom Thibodeaux over any player in this league.

I'd take Belichik over Brady.

I'd take LaRussa over Pujols.

I'd take Phil over Shaq.

Phil over Shaq? You cant be serious.

[azuresou1]

Not sure how I feel about LD: On one hand, whenever I listen to what he has to say, everything makes sense and is exactly aligned with what I would say. On the other hand, I don't see him getting through to the players, and I HATE his in game rotations and lineups.

Overall, if I were Ferry, I'd look for a new coach, not because LD is a bad coach (he's not, he's very average), but because you want to start truly anew. I'd make a sales pitch to JVG. If he's not interested, I'll give Brian Shaw a shot.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Either one of the Gundy's would be good for us.

[azuresou1]

Shaq says a lot of dumb things but SVG truly is the master of panic. I don't want him as our coach.