Celtics hire Ime Udoka as HC

wade boggs chicken dinner

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Seems like it would be a weird meeting
I assume you mean the meeting where Brad asks Jays/Marcus what he could have done better.

It could be a weird meeting but it can succeed if there's a baseline level of trust between what is basically the employer and employee that the conversation will stay on a professional and not a personal level on both sides.

Obviously, it's super hard for any employee to be honest with one's boss, even when prodded and even if the employee has a ton of leverage. But hopefully Brad's reputation as a straight shooter isn't just PR and the conversation accomplished what is was supposed to.
 

sezwho

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I assume you mean the meeting where Brad asks Jays/Marcus what he could have done better.

It could be a weird meeting but it can succeed if there's a baseline level of trust between what is basically the employer and employee that the conversation will stay on a professional and not a personal level on both sides.

Obviously, it's super hard for any employee to be honest with one's boss, even when prodded and even if the employee has a ton of leverage. But hopefully Brad's reputation as a straight shooter isn't just PR and the conversation accomplished what is was supposed to.
There are also folks trained and processes specifically designed to facilitate this kind of dialogue between execs. I’ve seen them engaged periodically in my professional career with varying success, though I always respect the effort: it represented at least people were trying.

I wonder whether something similar is used here.
 

DJnVa

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Coach seems like he has a little bit of “fuck you” in him, which I like.
I was only able to half-listen, but I think he mentioned interviewing 2 years ago for HC job and how he's really glad he didn't get it now.
 

Ale Xander

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These 2 hires are like hitting a grand slam and then a solo HR back to back.

In Love!

Why Wait, Win Banner 18 in 2022.
 

Gash Prex

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I assume you mean the meeting where Brad asks Jays/Marcus what he could have done better.

It could be a weird meeting but it can succeed if there's a baseline level of trust between what is basically the employer and employee that the conversation will stay on a professional and not a personal level on both sides.

Obviously, it's super hard for any employee to be honest with one's boss, even when prodded and even if the employee has a ton of leverage. But hopefully Brad's reputation as a straight shooter isn't just PR and the conversation accomplished what is was supposed to.
I’m sure Brad and the Jays did their best to have a professional and open conversation - but it’s not easy to criticize (even constructively) someone you like professionally and personally.

Brad said he was able to prod them to say things he already knew. It’s absolutely the right move - just think it would be a strange meeting.
 

benhogan

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2 young pillars (Brown/Tatum) and develop the young 1sts (Nesmith, TL, Langford, PP) around them

music to my ears

no mention of TT as far as veterans (Al and Marcus)...he gone
 

OurF'ingCity

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I also didn't have any idea until today that Udoka had worked with Pritchard in the past. Makes sense given the Oregon connection and not terribly noteworthy in and of itself but it does emphasize how connected Udoka is - some guys/coaches he knows from former playing days, some he knows from international team work, some he knows from Spurs/Philly/Brooklyn experience, etc. Stevens obviously had some connections around the league when he became coach, but nothing at the level of what Udoka seems to have.
 

Jimbodandy

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I also didn't have any idea until today that Udoka had worked with Pritchard in the past. Makes sense given the Oregon connection and not terribly noteworthy in and of itself but it does emphasize how connected Udoka is - some guys/coaches he knows from former playing days, some he knows from international team work, some he knows from Spurs/Philly/Brooklyn experience, etc. Stevens obviously had some connections around the league when he became coach, but nothing at the level of what Udoka seems to have.
Fwiw, I think that speaks well to his mindset, charisma, and ultimately, his effectiveness. The highest achievers are often guys who build those kind of relationships, people-first folks.
 

Eddie Jurak

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Udoka's NBA experience coming into this job is pretty much exactly what we might have asked for. NBA grinder, then got into coaching and won a title under Pop. Then went to Philly to be an assistant and coached Al Horford who is now back in Boston. Then Brooklyn. Coached stars from Duncan, Parker, Ginobili, young Kawhi to Simmons, Embiid, Irving, Harden, Durant. Oh, and one summer got to coach Smart, Tatum, and Brown at the world cup. Oh, and somehow goes way back with Payton Pritchard.
 

nighthob

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Is this partly a result of restrictive immigration policies? Very interesting.
It’s cultural, I mentioned it up thread, but I have a Nigerian-American friend that practices IP law and has an SJD (the legal equivalent of a PhD) and I asked her why she bothered, and she joked that her parents would have disowned her if she “dropped out of college after a mere law degree”.
 

mikeot

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In hindsight, don’t think Brad could have made a better pick given who was available. So many boxes checked, time with Eight Mile the icing on the cake.
 

TripleOT

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I just watched the entire press conference and I was incredibly impressed with the new coach. I loved the “Why Wait” advice to the young stars, and that he said he needed to bring the dog out of a few of them.

He said his team will focus on defense, toughness, and sharing the ball on offense, mentioning that this team was 27th in the league in assists. Spurs style consistent, ball sharing offense, plus dogged defense, is exactly what this team needs.
 

AlNipper49

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I’m sure Brad and the Jays did their best to have a professional and open conversation - but it’s not easy to criticize (even constructively) someone you like professionally and personally.

Brad said he was able to prod them to say things he already knew. It’s absolutely the right move - just think it would be a strange meeting.
I don’t think that productive conversations can ever be easy. This speaks well for everyone involved IMHO
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Other teams have gotten the bigger names but sure feels right now like the Celtics made the best hire.
 

bankshot1

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where I was last at

cardiacs

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Larranaga seemed to be very good as a coach and had thoughtful things to say when Abby talked to him but his fucking eyes always creeped me out.
 

Cellar-Door

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Yeah, I kind of expected that the senior coaches would be gone. New coach is gonna want to bring in his own #2 and probably #3 guy, and if you were at the stage of interviewing for the head coach slot, you want to be a top assistant somewhere over sliding down the totem pole at your current spot.
 

JohnnyTheBone

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Larranaga seemed like a high-quality assistant, but with a new regime coming in it is no surprise that he's exploring other opportunities. I doubt he'll be unemployed for very long.
 

TripleOT

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Sounds like Joe Mazzulla is staying on the staff

with Jay Larranaga & Jamie Young contracts not being renewed

https://hoopshype.com/rumors/
I am not surprised they are retaining Joe Mazzulla.

In today’s Globe:

”Mazzulla, who will be part of Udoka’s staff, was hired as a Celtics assistant in 2019 and is widely viewed as a rising star within the organization.
“
 

Auger34

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I can’t believe I just realized this is the same Joe Mazzulla who played at WVU with Kevin Pittsnoggle. That’s awesome
 

HomeRunBaker

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Sitting next to Stevens, Udoka diplomatically notes that the C's sucked at sharing the ball this season. They ranked 27th in assists among NBA teams.
So weird hearing Udoka try real hard not to throw Brad under the us when the words coming out of his mouth essentially throw his new boss under the bus. Entertaining stuff.
 

HomeRunBaker

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I can’t believe I just realized this is the same Joe Mazzulla who played at WVU with Kevin Pittsnoggle. That’s awesome
Or the same Joe Mazzulla who was dribbling through Rainone Gym in Johnston, RI while in diapers about 2 1/2 years after hearing he was conceived. Feeling real old whenever I hear his name.
 

128

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So weird hearing Udoka try real hard not to throw Brad under the us when the words coming out of his mouth essentially throw his new boss under the bus. Entertaining stuff.
It would be fascinating to read what opposing coaches really thought of the C's last season. They would have to be quoted anonymously, but that wouldn't bother me.