Phil Jasner has the scoop today. Monty Williams, ex-Sixer, current Portland assistant, is apparently on the Sixers radar for their vacant head coaching position. Quick thoughts and poll after the jump.
Williams began as an intern for the Spurs for one season, and he's been an assistant coach under Nate McMillan in Portland. When we're talking about assistants making the leap to head coach, I can't help but use the coach they've learned under as a barometer for the type of coach they will hopefully become. It may or may not be fair, but usually there isn't much else to go on. Of the assistants mentioned, Williams is very, very low on my list.
Many people have been impressed by the job McMillan has done in Portland, I'm not really one of them. Last year, his team got bounced in the first round, with home-court advantage. This season, the Blazers were headed for the lottery until Andre Miller ripped McMillan a new one, and basically demanded playing time. Up to that point, Steve Blake was starting most of the time. Eventually, Blake was found to be superfluous enough to be traded.
McMillan has taken four teams to the playoffs, only one past the first round. He's got a big who plays small, an SG who can't seem to play with a PG who actually runs the offense, a training staff that can't keep anyone on the floor. The record is impressive, but I'm just not impressed with his grasp of the game.
Fairly or not, that's the lens through which I view Monty Williams, and I don't want him. Vote in the poll below, and leave your thoughts in the comments.
By the way, it sounds like Mark Jackson may be flaking out a little bit. He canceled the scheduled interview and now the Sixers are waiting for him to reschedule. Personally, I hope the Clippers or Bulls hire him and save the Sixers from themselves.
Yeah, I disagree with Aldridge playing small being the best way to use him. I'm also not sure how much credit McMillan should be getting for actually playing some guys due to injury who should've been playing all along.
I have no idea why, but I voted yes. I think I just did it because I know he won't get the job and the sixers are probably just tossing an old friend's name in the pile to give him a better chance at getting another job in the future.
You can't blame a coach for his players getting injured unless he rushes them back (ala Eddie Jordan). Also, the players he has at his disposal - a big who plays like a small and a ball-dominant SG - are more of a reflection on Kevin Pritchard than McMillan. The point about Andre Miller's playing time is valid, though.
For the injuries, I'm not really blaming him so much. With LA though, I do. He's capable of playing down low, in fact he's good at it, but McMillan allows him to settle for jumpers constantly. A coach can, and should demand that his big get down on the blocks. This is on Roy as well, IMO.
Doc Rivers deserved the credit for Boston's championship triumph over Kobe and the Lakers two years back, but Thibodeau did nothing in that title run to hurt his reputation as the sport's leading defensive stopper. The knocks against him read like this: 1.) Thibodeau's never been an NBA head coach; and 2.) Some executives actually wonder if he's too committed to his work -- that's right, too committed -- to make for a balanced leader. In other words, the married-to-the-job likes of Thibodeau, a bachelor, could end up running himself and his team into the ground. 'Which is ridiculous,' said one NBA source close to Thibodeau. 'You'd think teams would want to hire someone who works hard, and yet that's a perception Tom's had to deal with.'"
Sounds like backwards thinking to me. TT or the fence for me.
I only want this guy coaching if his assistants are Gerald Honeycutt and Benoit Benjamin. I thought the Sixers were intent on making a "splash" with their new coach, I'd classify this as more of a belly flop...No thanks
Don't think the Sixers could afford taking a chance on Jackson or Williams after what happened last year with Jordan. They need a guy with some experience, at least as a No. 1 assistant.
Did you see Iguodala received two second-team votes for the NBA all-defensive team? He was the only Sixer to receive any votes. Holiday could end up getting votes pretty soon if he keeps progressing.
Iguodala has received between 2 and 5 votes for the All-Defensive team every year he's been in the league. Frankly, he deserves more, but he won't get higher vote totals unless (a) his PPG gets him recognition [the Bobby Abreu/Gold Glove effect] or (b) the team does well enough to get him regular national exposure [the Bruce Bowen syndrome -- and I'm guessing Sefolosha benefited from that this year].
Calipari seems to want to be able to do in the pros what he does in college.
He wants to go to the team that gets Lebron and then cherry pick cut-rate FA's. That way his will win, but coaching won't have that much to do with it.
He realizes that a good coach is not as important as having superior players.
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd
Points
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando 28 1 57
Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston 23 4 50
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland 20 5 45
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 13 8 34
Forward Gerald Wallace, Charlotte 11 8 30
2009-10 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd
Points
Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio 8 5 21
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami 8 4 20
Forward Josh Smith, Atlanta 6 8 20
Forward Anderson Varejao, Cleveland 2 11 15
Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City 3 8 14
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in
parentheses): Jason Kidd, Dallas, 12 (4); Marcus Camby, Portland, 12 (1);
Ron Artest, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 10, (2); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 9
(1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 8; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 8 (1); Arron
Afflalo, Denver, 6 (1); Kenyon Martin, Denver, 5 (1); Kevin Garnett,
Boston, 5 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix, 4 (2); Joakim Noah, Chicago, 4;
Kendrick Perkins, Boston, 4 (1); Shane Battier, Houston, 4 (1); Andrei
Kirilenko, Utah, 3 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 3; Trevor Ariza,
Houston, 3 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 2; George Hill, San Antonio,
2 (1); Jermaine O’Neal, Miami, 2 (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 2 (1); Lamar
Odom, L.A. Lakers, 2 (1); Luis Scola, Houston, 2; Manu Ginobili, San
Antonio, 2 (1); Nicolas Batum, Portland, 2; Caron Butler, Dallas, 1;
Chauncey Billups, Denver, 1; Jared Dudley, Phoenix, 1; Kevin Durant,
Oklahoma City, 1; Raymond Felton, Charlotte, 1; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 1; Pau
Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 1; Chuck Hayes, Houston, 1; Brendan Haywood, Dallas, 1;
Al Horford, Atlanta, 1; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 1; Ersan Ilyasova,
Milwaukee, 1; Stephen Jackson, Charlotte, 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Chris Paul,
New Orleans, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1; Earl Watson, Indiana, 1.
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He's got a big who play small - but maybe that's the best way to use him?
You gotta give mcmillan credit (i think) for managing all the injuries...
On another note, for those who miss him, pat croce wants back in the NBA
Yeah, I disagree with Aldridge playing small being the best way to use him. I'm also not sure how much credit McMillan should be getting for actually playing some guys due to injury who should've been playing all along.
I was more thinknig of the rotating injury of centers they had to deal with.
I'm not saying he's a good coach any more than i thought mo got a 'raw' deal when he was in portland...
You mean that new sport he invented didn't pan out?
I have no idea why, but I voted yes. I think I just did it because I know he won't get the job and the sixers are probably just tossing an old friend's name in the pile to give him a better chance at getting another job in the future.
You can't blame a coach for his players getting injured unless he rushes them back (ala Eddie Jordan). Also, the players he has at his disposal - a big who plays like a small and a ball-dominant SG - are more of a reflection on Kevin Pritchard than McMillan. The point about Andre Miller's playing time is valid, though.
For the injuries, I'm not really blaming him so much. With LA though, I do. He's capable of playing down low, in fact he's good at it, but McMillan allows him to settle for jumpers constantly. A coach can, and should demand that his big get down on the blocks. This is on Roy as well, IMO.
An article about TT from ESPN New York:
Doc Rivers deserved the credit for Boston's championship triumph over Kobe and the Lakers two years back, but Thibodeau did nothing in that title run to hurt his reputation as the sport's leading defensive stopper. The knocks against him read like this: 1.) Thibodeau's never been an NBA head coach; and 2.) Some executives actually wonder if he's too committed to his work -- that's right, too committed -- to make for a balanced leader. In other words, the married-to-the-job likes of Thibodeau, a bachelor, could end up running himself and his team into the ground. 'Which is ridiculous,' said one NBA source close to Thibodeau. 'You'd think teams would want to hire someone who works hard, and yet that's a perception Tom's had to deal with.'"
Sounds like backwards thinking to me. TT or the fence for me.
Of the assistants available for hire...my hire would be Budenholzer given the years he's been with Popovich...nuff said!
I only want this guy coaching if his assistants are Gerald Honeycutt and Benoit Benjamin. I thought the Sixers were intent on making a "splash" with their new coach, I'd classify this as more of a belly flop...No thanks
Don't think the Sixers could afford taking a chance on Jackson or Williams after what happened last year with Jordan. They need a guy with some experience, at least as a No. 1 assistant.
Eddie Jordan had experience, as a head coach even.
Did you see Iguodala received two second-team votes for the NBA all-defensive team? He was the only Sixer to receive any votes. Holiday could end up getting votes pretty soon if he keeps progressing.
Who was the second team center? I'd say Dalembert deserved some votes there.
Tim Duncan.
Iguodala has received between 2 and 5 votes for the All-Defensive team every year he's been in the league. Frankly, he deserves more, but he won't get higher vote totals unless (a) his PPG gets him recognition [the Bobby Abreu/Gold Glove effect] or (b) the team does well enough to get him regular national exposure [the Bruce Bowen syndrome -- and I'm guessing Sefolosha benefited from that this year].
NBA source: "Don't see it", when asked if Calipari would be in the Sixers' mix.
Not unless they win the lottery.
Calipari seems to want to be able to do in the pros what he does in college.
He wants to go to the team that gets Lebron and then cherry pick cut-rate FA's. That way his will win, but coaching won't have that much to do with it.
He realizes that a good coach is not as important as having superior players.
Not much news, but here's today's blog:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/opinions/blogs/intell_blogs/tom_moore.html
2009-10 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE FIRST TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd
Points
Center Dwight Howard, Orlando 28 1 57
Guard Rajon Rondo, Boston 23 4 50
Forward LeBron James, Cleveland 20 5 45
Guard Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 13 8 34
Forward Gerald Wallace, Charlotte 11 8 30
2009-10 NBA ALL-DEFENSIVE SECOND TEAM
Position Player, Team 1st 2nd
Points
Center Tim Duncan, San Antonio 8 5 21
Guard Dwyane Wade, Miami 8 4 20
Forward Josh Smith, Atlanta 6 8 20
Forward Anderson Varejao, Cleveland 2 11 15
Guard Thabo Sefolosha, Oklahoma City 3 8 14
Other players receiving votes, with point totals (First Team votes in
parentheses): Jason Kidd, Dallas, 12 (4); Marcus Camby, Portland, 12 (1);
Ron Artest, 11 (3); Deron Williams, Utah, 10, (2); Kirk Hinrich, Chicago, 9
(1); Andrew Bogut, Milwaukee, 8; Luc Mbah a Moute, Milwaukee, 8 (1); Arron
Afflalo, Denver, 6 (1); Kenyon Martin, Denver, 5 (1); Kevin Garnett,
Boston, 5 (1); Grant Hill, Phoenix, 4 (2); Joakim Noah, Chicago, 4;
Kendrick Perkins, Boston, 4 (1); Shane Battier, Houston, 4 (1); Andrei
Kirilenko, Utah, 3 (1); Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City, 3; Trevor Ariza,
Houston, 3 (1); Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia, 2; George Hill, San Antonio,
2 (1); Jermaine O’Neal, Miami, 2 (1); Joe Johnson, Atlanta, 2 (1); Lamar
Odom, L.A. Lakers, 2 (1); Luis Scola, Houston, 2; Manu Ginobili, San
Antonio, 2 (1); Nicolas Batum, Portland, 2; Caron Butler, Dallas, 1;
Chauncey Billups, Denver, 1; Jared Dudley, Phoenix, 1; Kevin Durant,
Oklahoma City, 1; Raymond Felton, Charlotte, 1; Marc Gasol, Memphis, 1; Pau
Gasol, L.A. Lakers, 1; Chuck Hayes, Houston, 1; Brendan Haywood, Dallas, 1;
Al Horford, Atlanta, 1; Serge Ibaka, Oklahoma City, 1; Ersan Ilyasova,
Milwaukee, 1; Stephen Jackson, Charlotte, 1; Nene, Denver, 1; Chris Paul,
New Orleans, 1; Tayshaun Prince, Detroit, 1; Earl Watson, Indiana, 1.
Kidd got 12 points? Wow.
"The all defensive team made up of guys only from playoff teams"
Gerald Walalce? Really?