Lloyd Pierce named new Hawks Head Coach

[kg01]

Ummmm...no?

Up until like 2 days ago, that's what you were wanting us to do. #TruthHurts?

1. Is the theory now that I am Herr Doctor?

2. I still think that the most likely scenario is we seek a new coach [once we reach the contending phase]. Lloyd has been fantastic. (Since the end of the Utah SL anyway.)

But more often than not, the guy who starts the rebuild is not the same guy still in place come contention. If I'm wrong, fine, rub it in my face til Kingdom Come.

And, kg, you gotta stop getting so emotionally attached to every coach that come through here. You were losing your mind for the first half of 2018 at the mere mention of Bud departing.

Seems to be the case yet again with Luscious Lloyd.

I like him. He seems great, perfect for this phase of team building. But time will tell whether he's here for the long haul or not.

Either way, I'll be here. Same place I've been for the last 3 Head Coaches, 3 GMs and multiple ownership groups.

It's not an attachment to the coach, per se. It's an acknowledgement that there's no reason to be writing his obituary right now. That's what you prematurely did with Buttz and it's what you're prematurely doing now with CLP ... literally the day after he achieved a pretty significant honor in being named to the USA squad.

It's like you're scared to go all-in as a fan. It's ok, @jamallo. Go ahead and jump in the deep end. I promise @spud and I won't tie these cinder blocks to yer ankles. Well, we might but jay and graymule know cpr so ....

[Jamaaliver]

It's not an attachment to the coach, per se. It's an acknowledgement that there's no reason to be writing his obituary right now. That's what you prematurely did with Buttz and it's what you're prematurely doing now with CLP ... literally the day after he achieved a pretty significant honor in being named to the USA squad.

no. I made that prediction back in September.

My post today congratulated him on the accomplishment. Nothing else.

Spoiler:

Congrats to coach.

Gregg Popovich added Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce to his staff for the United States national team.

"He has made great progression in his coaching career with stops at Cleveland, Golden State and Memphis, and then in Philadelphia before landing the head coaching job with the Hawks last year," said Jerry Colangelo, the director of USA Basketball's men's national team, in the team's official press release. "He has demonstrated the ability in particular to be an outstanding defensive coach."

The 42-year-old is coming off his first year in charge of the Hawks. Atlanta finished 29-53, a five-win improvement over 2017-18, and 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Clearly, Pierce's reputation is coaching circles is growing quickly if he's already receiving a Team USA nod. He's in the same company as one of the greatest coaches of all time (Popovich), a three-time NBA champion (Kerr) and a two-time NCAA champion (Wright).

Bleacher Report

NOTE: A prediction isn't really impressive if you make it when it's obvious and is just about to happen.

[kg01]

It's not an attachment to the coach, per se. It's an acknowledgement that there's no reason to be writing his obituary right now. That's what you prematurely did with Buttz and it's what you're prematurely doing now with CLP ... literally the day after he achieved a pretty significant honor in being named to the USA squad.

no. I made that prediction back in September.

My post today congratulated him on the accomplishment. Nothing else.

Spoiler:

Congrats to coach.

Gregg Popovich added Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce to his staff for the United States national team.

"He has made great progression in his coaching career with stops at Cleveland, Golden State and Memphis, and then in Philadelphia before landing the head coaching job with the Hawks last year," said Jerry Colangelo, the director of USA Basketball's men's national team, in the team's official press release. "He has demonstrated the ability in particular to be an outstanding defensive coach."

The 42-year-old is coming off his first year in charge of the Hawks. Atlanta finished 29-53, a five-win improvement over 2017-18, and 12th in the Eastern Conference.

Clearly, Pierce's reputation is coaching circles is growing quickly if he's already receiving a Team USA nod. He's in the same company as one of the greatest coaches of all time (Popovich), a three-time NBA champion (Kerr) and a two-time NCAA champion (Wright).

Bleacher Report

NOTE: A prediction isn't really impressive if you make it when it's obvious and is just about to happen.

I can't believe we're back on this again. smh

[Jamaaliver]

I can't believe we're back on this again.

That's odd.

It's literally because you and Hazer started talking about it. No other reason.

Congrats to coach.

[Atlanta Hawk Fan]

Man - love that news about his role with Team USA. That could really pay dividends for us a couple years down the line (I suppose maybe even soon but my guess is next offseason at earliest).

[Jamaaliver]

It's hard to know how much it will ultimately matter for the Hawks' future, but head coach Lloyd Pierce just keeps bulking up his list of connections to important figures and movements in the basketball world.

Pierce:

• played with Steve Nash at Santa Clara,
• coached LeBron James in Cleveland,
• helped guide Stephen Curry's early progress in Golden State,
• was the de facto defensive coordinator during Philadelphia's Process
• and is now a member of the USA Men's National Team coaching staff under Gregg Popovich.

If the Hawks decide to speed up their rebuild through free agency, Pierce's wide-ranging links to key NBA figures (and the coaching acumen he's shown to earn it) can't hurt.

Bleacher Report

[shakes0]

As good as Huerter was this yea he was still only the Hawks' 3rd best rookie behind Trae and Pierce.

[Atlanta Hawk Fan]

As good as Huerter was this yea he was still only the Hawks' 3rd best rookie behind Trae and Pierce.

A bit apples to oranges with Huerter and Pierce but both did very well, IMO. Huerter had a rough finish to the year but was generally rock solid. Pierce managed the team quite well and had an excellent first season, though, so no argument on giving him props!

[Jamaaliver]

How coaching Team USA helped Lloyd Pierce



Despite the uncharacteristically early exit for the U.S., spending time in the USA Basketball program provided one of the best learning experiences of Lloyd Pierce’s career. For a relatively green NBA head coach not from the Popovich tree, it provided an opportunity not just to coach a group of elite American players, but to glean insights and lessons from some of the best coaches on the planet. The group spent hours discussing basketball, life and family over dinner and wine – a timeless Popovich tradition.

“I felt like I was cheating the basketball profession,” Pierce said.

The head coach wasn’t the only Hawk involved with USA Basketball this summer. Both Trae Young and John Collins, two of Atlanta’s most important young players, played on the Select Team during training camp, and while neither made the senior team roster, each benefitted from competing against other elite players in the program.

“It’s a unique opportunity,” Pierce said. “They get to puff their chests out a little bit knowing that they’re with the big boys and they’re on a different stage, even if it’s just for a week. And I think they both got something out of it.”

This summer also gave Young, Collins and Pierce a glimpse into exactly what is required of elite defensive players. The trio watched and worked with a pesky collection of perimeter defenders in Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Derrick White and Khris Middleton over the summer, as well as rim protectors like Myles Turner and Brook Lopez.

While the Hawks may never become an elite defense, that group’s tenacity and intelligence as individual and team defenders set a standard toward which to work, and Pierce is hopeful Young can improve in much the same way Kemba Walker did with Team USA.

Pierce is a defensive-minded coach who helped engineer an elite unit for the Philadelphia 76ers prior to joining the Hawks. But in the absence of the overwhelming defensive talent he had in Philadelphia, Atlanta ranked 27th in defensive efficiency last season.

“All of our guys understand that was the knock on us last year,” Pierce said. “We know we can score. We have some capable scorers. For us to advance, for us to progress, it’s going to come down to how we approach the games defensively.”

Fansided

[Jamaaliver]

Lloyd Pierce focused on helping John Collins, the person, through suspension



This offseason, Pierce spent nearly two months with Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich as his assistant coach for Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. Popovich said before Tuesday’s game that he didn’t know much about Pierce prior to him becoming an assistant for that team. Pierce received several recommendations, with one of the strongest ones coming from Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown, who was an assistant under Popovich for more than a decade and hired Pierce as one of his lead assistants with the 76ers. Popovich was very complimentary of Pierce and lauded him for just being a good person and someone he now will be able to call a friend for the rest of his life.

What Pierce learned from Popovich and why he has been one of the NBA’s most successful coaches of all time is that to be a championship-winning coach, you must help your players in all facets, not just on the court. The buy into believing that you have their best interests in mind might be the most critical part of coaching.

Pierce did speak with Collins on Tuesday. The first thing he said to his star player was, “I don’t want to know the details. I just want to help you.”

The Athletic

[kg01]

“I don’t want to know the details. I just want to help you.”

CLP .... you da real mvp.



ETA: That's exactly what I say when I bail my boy @spud outta situations.

[Jamaaliver]

ETA: That's exactly what I say when I bail my boy @spud outta situations.

Is that what they call the County Lockup out on the West Coast?

[kg01]

ETA: That's exactly what I say when I bail my boy @spud outta situations.

Is that what they call the County Lockup out on the West Coast?

Hey, only I can make fun of @spud. Plus you don't see any of us refusing to accept the charges when you call us from the drunk tank every night after bingo. Yeah, we know it's you.

[Jamaaliver]

I don't believe Lloyd Pierce will be fired mid-season.

I don't believe he should be fired after the season.

But with the way the team has underwhelmed so often the last month, his seat has to be getting a bit hot. I expected Trae (and Luka) to suffer a sophomore slump this year. Instead, it's the coach who seems to have taken a step back. Weird rotation patterns, disappointing defensive performances, stagnating offense. There's a lot to evaluate.

Spoiler:

Read on Twitter

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Read on Twitter

I don't believe this is completely his fault. But as coach, the buck stops with him.

I'm interested in seeing what adjustments he makes going forward.

[Jamaaliver]

Stumbled upon this on Youtube...

The still photo in the thumbnail below is of...Lloyd Pierce? (Confirmed it's him at the 2:18 mark)

Watch on YouTube

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

[Jamaaliver]

Long Live Lloyd Pierce.

Read on Twitter

Code: Select all

Pierce’s legacy: As a coach, Pierce’s two-plus seasons with the Hawks were forgettable. His impact in Atlanta was not. Pierce became a leading voice during the social justice movement last spring. He spoke out about police brutality. About racial injustice. About voting rights. He spoke at rallies. He marched in demonstrations. He was involved in the Hawks decision to turn State Farm Arena into a polling station last fall. He worked with the team to make Juneteenth a paid company holiday. Professionally, Pierce will land on his feet: He remains a part of Gregg Popovich’s USA Basketball coaching staff that will compete in Tokyo this summer, and with more than a decade of NBA experience, Pierce will be a sought after top assistant, perhaps even in San Antonio, where Popovich is coach. He will be a head coach again. What he did last year, however, serving as a strong, calming voice during a racially charged time won’t soon be forgotten.

SI.com



Seems like a perfect bookend to this thread...