Who will yell at refs with passion? Cs Coaching Search

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,459
Jason Kidd is almost the betting favorite? Where is this coming from?
He's famous and Haynes posted his name on twitter (per direct instructions from Kidd's agent) right after the opening was announced. It's an easy way to get free money for the book to have him on short odds. Early stupid money is the best money
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,205
Give me whomever Tatum and Brown agree is their ideal pick. And if that coach has ties to other players around the league, even better. Everything else should be secondary to that imo.
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,838
I want Billups.

I will edit this post as more info comes out.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
15,947
Nashua, NH
Whoever Tatum and Brown want is the right answer, but not knowing that, my favorite from that list is Sam Cassell. Long productive career, played on some championship teams, and has been coaching under Doc for a while now.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,111
Santa Monica
I could see a dark horse like Taylor Jenkins emerge as a serious candidate to be the next HC.

Dave Joerger is another guy I haven't seen mentioned that would be interesting.
 
Last edited:

amarshal2

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2005
4,913
The next HC pretty much has to be black. The Celtics have recently earned something of a reputation as a franchise being not player friendly and being too white. (I think this is unfair but it doesn’t matter what I think.) In the player empowerment era they need a coach who the players are going to be excited to play for and they need someone who will help reverse the perception of being too white. The GM spot is likely spoken for and there are only a handful of white coaches who could probably overcome this (but I don’t think Kerr, Pop, Coach K, etc are exactly lining up). So Id fully expect a black HC and I’d be quite concerned if they went with another white guy.
 

sezwho

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
1,951
Isle of Plum
The next HC pretty much has to be black. The Celtics have recently earned something of a reputation as a franchise being not player friendly and being too white. (I think this is unfair but it doesn’t matter what I think.) In the player empowerment era they need a coach who the players are going to be excited to play for and they need someone who will help reverse the perception of being too white. The GM spot is likely spoken for and there are only a handful of white coaches who could probably overcome this (but I don’t think Kerr, Pop, Coach K, etc are exactly lining up). So Id fully expect a black HC and I’d be quite concerned if they went with another white guy.
Yes, and Ainge’s comments last week and in 2019 pretty much cemented it
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,111
Santa Monica
The next HC pretty much has to be black. The Celtics have recently earned something of a reputation as a franchise being not player friendly and being too white. (I think this is unfair but it doesn’t matter what I think.) In the player empowerment era they need a coach who the players are going to be excited to play for and they need someone who will help reverse the perception of being too white. The GM spot is likely spoken for and there are only a handful of white coaches who could probably overcome this (but I don’t think Kerr, Pop, Coach K, etc are exactly lining up). So Id fully expect a black HC and I’d be quite concerned if they went with another white guy.
fair comment

Billups, Cassell and Howard would be great and were on my initial shortlist.

Since the Boston/race issue impacts all the Boston sports franchises, I'd like to see all the ownership groups team up, break out from the rest of the NBA/MLB/NFL, and do something bigger (like a $100MM scholarship endowment).
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,459
The next HC pretty much has to be black. The Celtics have recently earned something of a reputation as a franchise being not player friendly and being too white. (I think this is unfair but it doesn’t matter what I think.) In the player empowerment era they need a coach who the players are going to be excited to play for and they need someone who will help reverse the perception of being too white. The GM spot is likely spoken for and there are only a handful of white coaches who could probably overcome this (but I don’t think Kerr, Pop, Coach K, etc are exactly lining up). So Id fully expect a black HC and I’d be quite concerned if they went with another white guy.
Yeah. The good thing is... there are a ton of really qualified black coaches, both young and upcoming (Billups, Udoka, Bryant, etc.) and established vets( Hollins, Gentry) who are all just as qualified as a guy like Joerger.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,205
In 2021, you simply cannot outrun your past - this story is now circulating on Twitter. Who knows if this makes Billups an untenable candidate but if recent history holds, he would not be a seamless hire as head coach.
 

oumbi

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 15, 2006
4,167
Having Becky Hammon as the next Celtics coach would be interesting. By all accounts she has a great basketball mind. And she is respected by at least one NBA player.

"One of basketball's most prolific scorers, Pau Gasol wrote an open letter about female coaches with as emphasis on Becky; he said, "I’ve played with some of the best players of this generation … and I’ve played under two of the sharpest minds in the history of sports, in Phil Jackson and Gregg Popovich. And I’m telling you: Becky Hammon can coach. I’m not saying she can coach pretty well. I’m not saying she can coach enough to get by. I’m not saying she can coach almost at the level of the NBA’s male coaches. I’m saying: Becky Hammon can coach NBA basketball. Period."
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,205
I have absolutely no recollection of that story. None.
Nor do I but people on Twitter were suggesting that incident contributed to Billups getting traded to Toronto. Who knows but that trade seemed odd at the time and terrible in retrospect. So perhaps...
 

bohous

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 21, 2005
4,418
Framingham
Whoever Tatum and Brown want is the right answer, but not knowing that, my favorite from that list is Sam Cassell. Long productive career, played on some championship teams, and has been coaching under Doc for a while now.
I'm with you and Perk.

View: https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins/status/1400141911369920512?s=20


Totally forgot Cassell was on the '08 team. But yeah, he's got the resume and I love that he's been sitting next to Doc for the last 6 years. Seems like he's earned a shot.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,996
The next HC pretty much has to be black. The Celtics have recently earned something of a reputation as a franchise being not player friendly and being too white. (I think this is unfair but it doesn’t matter what I think.) In the player empowerment era they need a coach who the players are going to be excited to play for and they need someone who will help reverse the perception of being too white. The GM spot is likely spoken for and there are only a handful of white coaches who could probably overcome this (but I don’t think Kerr, Pop, Coach K, etc are exactly lining up). So Id fully expect a black HC and I’d be quite concerned if they went with another white guy.
Agree strongly with this. Also agree w @DeJesus Built My Hotrod that Tatum and Brown's preference and the guy's league connections should override Xs and Os.
 

riboflav

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2006
9,579
NOVA
I'd prefer Hammon or Lawson but it's a selfish view. I coach girls and would love to brag (also: inspire) that the Celtics hired the first female NBA HC. I also just think the world of both of them.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
SoSH Member
Oct 31, 2013
72,429
My short list is Cassell and Bird

Just behind them is Billips (assuming the rape story is bogus just seeing that now)
And behind him are Pinckney, Hammon and Eisley

that’s about it. So I guess rooting for Mr Testicular Fortitude as the reasonable shot.
 
Last edited:

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,838
I could get behind Cassell. I'm pretty sure he'd be a guy to let the refs know what he's thinking. Which, as we know, is the most important trait for a coach.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,016
If Dallas loses to the Clippers, which may not happen, I'd like to see the C's make a push for Carlisle, if Caucasians are an option. He'd have to walk away from Luka, but he's a former Celtic who'd be working with other young stars in Boston.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
11,996
If Dallas loses to the Clippers, which may not happen, I'd like to see the C's make a push for Carlisle, if Caucasians are an option. He'd have to walk away from Luka, but he's a former Celtic who'd be working with other young stars in Boston.
I think Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the NBA (that 2011 championship was some serious coaching alpha), but I don't see any way he leaves Luka.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,016
I think Carlisle is one of the best coaches in the NBA (that 2011 championship was some serious coaching alpha), but I don't see any way he leaves Luka.
You're probably right. Also, he might not be crazy about reporting to a guy with much less NBA experience than he has.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,016
Hiring an old white dude is probably as close to a nonstarter as it gets in this current moment, especially when there are plenty of other qualified candidates.
That's clearly the conventional wisdom, but do we know Wyc feels the same way? I'd be happy with Cassell or Billups, but I've seen nothing to suggest the C's won't also talk to white coaches, including Larranaga. (Which might just be a courtesy interview.)
 

mauf

Anderson Cooper × Mr. Rogers
Moderator
SoSH Member
Hiring a Black coach won’t move the needle on the C’s race problems, because those problems are a reflection of the city rather than the franchise.

With the C’s current roster, I’d lean toward hiring a coach who played in the league — so, most likely, a Black man. But it’s unfair to think any coach is going to come here and address a situation much bigger than basketball that has been sitting in plain view (at least in the sight of the rest of the country) since the 1970s.
 
Last edited:

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
30,486
You're probably right. Also, he might not be crazy about reporting to a guy with much less NBA experience than he has.
A guy with much less experience and whose job he's taking.

I'm sure candidates - particularly from outside the organization - are going to wonder how involved Brad's going to be with coaching. It's certainly an unusual situation being hired by a guy who just said he would be happy having your job.
 

CSteinhardt

"Steiny"
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 18, 2003
3,201
Cambridge
I think Hammon is going to make a great head coach, and she's my top choice absent any other information. Ultimately, though, I think the most important factor is how much Tatum will buy into the new coach.
 

Pablo's TB Lover

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 10, 2017
5,959
I'm with you and Perk.

View: https://twitter.com/KendrickPerkins/status/1400141911369920512?s=20


Totally forgot Cassell was on the '08 team. But yeah, he's got the resume and I love that he's been sitting next to Doc for the last 6 years. Seems like he's earned a shot.
I'd love Sam Cassell and his big testes dance on the sidelines. Hammon would also make me happy and more seasoned than Lawson at this point, 7 NBA seasons to 1.

Just looking at that twitter screenshot though, Perk is definitely America's intimidating dad with that expression and always wearing the suit. If you see your name in the twitter description or chyron on ESPN or NBC Sports Boston, you better hope it is for an endorsement. Having Perk disappointed in me would cut deep...
 

Eddie Jurak

canderson-lite
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 12, 2002
44,475
Melrose, MA
The next HC pretty much has to be black. The Celtics have recently earned something of a reputation as a franchise being not player friendly and being too white. (I think this is unfair but it doesn’t matter what I think.) In the player empowerment era they need a coach who the players are going to be excited to play for and they need someone who will help reverse the perception of being too white. The GM spot is likely spoken for and there are only a handful of white coaches who could probably overcome this (but I don’t think Kerr, Pop, Coach K, etc are exactly lining up). So Id fully expect a black HC and I’d be quite concerned if they went with another white guy.
I think this is about 95% accurate. I don't think it is clear yet what the reorganized Celtics front office is going to look like. Danny Ainge held the title of GM and the early rumblings suggest that Brad Stevens will not. Will there be a different GM who reports to Stevens? If so, will Stevens be a hands on guy who is the de facto GM whether or not he holds the title or will Stevens be more of a hands off type who oversees the GM but lets him run things? If the latter, you could see the Celtics hiring a Black GM who would have the authority to hire a white coach. But that seems unlikely.
Agree strongly with this. Also agree w @DeJesus Built My Hotrod that Tatum and Brown's preference and the guy's league connections should override Xs and Os.
I am a little bit skeptical of "Tatum and Brown's preference." They should be in the loop and the team should absolutely not hire a coach who is a nonstarter for them. That said, they can't be choosing the coach, either. The coach needs to be someone who can get the best of them. I don't so much mean "motivate them," necessarily, but both of them are still developing and they need a coach who will be good for their continued development. That can't be an asshole who is the oil to their water, but it is not necessarily their preferred candidate either.
 

Humphrey

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 3, 2010
3,163

EL Jeffe

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 30, 2006
1,314
I am a little bit skeptical of "Tatum and Brown's preference." They should be in the loop and the team should absolutely not hire a coach who is a nonstarter for them. That said, they can't be choosing the coach, either. The coach needs to be someone who can get the best of them. I don't so much mean "motivate them," necessarily, but both of them are still developing and they need a coach who will be good for their continued development. That can't be an asshole who is the oil to their water, but it is not necessarily their preferred candidate either.
I'm also skeptical about the "Hire whoever the Jays want" angle, for a few reasons. One, Tatum and Brown (at least from the outside) have very different personalities. What makes anyone think they're going to share the same #1 choice? Or have some sort of super strong opinion? Even if they did somehow share the same strong preference, and that coach was hired, does that really mean anything in terms of staying down the line? Outside of maybe Duncan/Pop, what NBA player makes loyalty decisions based on their coach? I just don't think there's much evidence that players care about the coach all that much...unless they simply can't stand the coach--and in those cases, ownership fires the coach.

At the end of the day, the team needs to win while the Jays need to feel good about their roles on the team and their fit in the NBA landscape. The team needs to hire a coach who can win and build a good culture here--that will only be borne out over time. Making a choice now to appease the Jays when they can't contractually go anywhere for a while seems foolish and short-sighted. Pick the best candidate--period.
 

RetractableRoof

tolerates intolerance
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2003
3,836
Quincy, MA
I have absolutely no recollection of that story. None.
That's the amusing part of everyone slamming Pitino for his time in Boston. He drafted Billups/Mercer, and this event occurred (or was rumored to have occurred). I don't know who made the decision, but essentially that draft was damaged because of this event - Mercer/Billups were sent out within a year or so if I recall correctly. Was there an environment around Pitino where they felt the team didn't care about their conduct? Were there character issues around the players that made them bad candidates to be drafted to begin with? The lack of production in Boston by that draft is viewed/talked about as a failure of Pitino - but how much of that was on him? Also ironic in hindsight, given how much we know about Pitino's personal um... shadiness.

Aside: Again, I don't know who decided what - but those involved (different from present, i.e. Walker) didn't stay in Boston long after that, contrasted with the Kobe allegation and how the Lakers handled it. If that event doesn't happen, that is one hell of a young core in Boston, instead of the rotating wheel of dealing that occurred in that time frame for the Cs.

That all said, Pitino still deserved 99% of the slamming he got for his time in Boston...

Edit: I thought this was relatively common knowledge, it wasn't heavily covered in the media, because at the time that's not really how sports were covered in general. The ugly stuff was swept under the carpet by the media in general - and that held for all of the teams in Boston (and nationally to be fair). How much was ever written about the points shaving stuff at BC? Think about how little was reported about the Paul Pierce stabbing. Larry Bird broke his hand in a bar fight if I'm not mistaken, and it was 'boys will be boys'. Little was ever written about the cocaine/drug problem the league had for years and years. Sports in general were allowed (continue to be allowed?) some pretty sleazy stuff without being held accountable so that the games could go on. Some things have changed, and a lot of things still haven't.
 
Last edited:

Buck Showalter

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2002
6,652
Citifield - Queens, NY
Hiring a Black coach won’t move the needle on the C’s race problems, because those problems are a reflection of the city rather than the franchise.

With the C’s current roster, I’d lean toward hiring a coach who played in the league — so, most likely, a Black man. But it’s unfair to think any coach is going to come here and address a situation much bigger than basketball that has been sitting in plain view (at least in the sight of the rest of the country) since the 1970s.
I'm certainly not against the inclination to appoint a former black-NBA player as coach (shoot - if I were a baseball GM, a Spanish-speaking candidate would be a prerequisite) who can connect with today's young stars....

Normally - I would say "best candidate available"....white, black, male, female, straight, gay....who cares....but I agree with the sentiment to lean towards the demographic that is the composition of your future / current stars. So no problem there.

What I "do" have a problem with (at the risk of throwing a grenade and turning this thread into a V&N shit show) is the bullshit that's being spewed about The Celtics and the City of Boston as some kinda' northern version of Dothan, Alabama. The Boston of 2021 is not even "close" to the Boston of the 70's with forced busing. The neighborhoods of South Boston, Charlestown and East Boston (which were - by far - white only enclaves with peoples from European descent) are now comprised of a great mixture of people that have minority representation(s) in local government.

Additionally - the police force has made "enormous" strides to integrate via affirmative action....

The Boston Public Schools are "largely" minority and a "ton" of money has been spent on education and resources to make them better.

This may or may not be a popular position....but Kyrie can go screw himself. His father's 4 years of playing basketball on Comm. Ave. in the 80's does not make him some sort of expert on Boston's race relations past or present.

And this may very well be a less popular position....but Jaylen Brown's comments (while deserving of a larger discussion) could be scrutinized also. Within his comments, he singled-out the Boston Public Schools with a hint that it was not serving the minority (African American?) communities in an optimal fashion. That's bullshit...busing, METCO programs, and enormous amount of spending per student have been in full-force for decades. He parachuted into Boston a few years ago....has a $100 million contract to play a game...and now wants to be a catalyst for a sociology discussion? Let's have it - but he better be objective and open to "all" answers for "all" the challenges on the table for "all" people(s).

Interesting week in Celtics-land....

Rant over....sign Sam Cassell.
 

NomarsFool

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 21, 2001
8,157
I wouldn't really like the circumstances of Kara Lawson. It would seem like a lousy move to leave Duke after one season. Also, I personally feel like the Celtics need a fresh voice. So, I wouldn't be thrilled about any of the current or former assistant coaches.