« Suspensions not a fairness issue | Main | Impressions of Sam Vincent »
May 21, 2007
Will Bobcats hire Vincent and is he ready?
If Dallas Mavericks assistant Sam Vincent gets the Bobcats’ head-coaching job - and I suspect he’s now the front-runner - here are the questions I’ll ask the day he’s hired: IS HE READY? Vincent has never coached an NBA game before. In fact, he’s not even the lead assistant on the Mavs’ bench. I’ll find it a little strange if they hire a guy who’s never coached an NBA team to run a franchise expecting to be in a playoff race next season. Having said that, experience isn’t everything. Pat Riley took over the Los Angeles Lakers from a broadcast job. Lawrence Frank was an obscure assistant who’s done fine in the New Jersey Nets’ top job. The contrarian in me says not to dismiss this automatically as a mistake. IS THIS ABOUT MONEY? Majority owner Bob Johnson made a fortune with cost management at Black Entertainment Television. Vincent figures to accept working on the cheap in order to get his shot at one of these 30 jobs. It fits Johnson’s mode in the past. PEOPLE SKILLS? I know the Bobcats are intensely concerned with retaining the harmony and chemistry of the first three seasons. A friend who covers the Mavericks described Vincent as having "pizzazz.’’ That would definitely appeal to team management. FOM? Remember during the Clinton Administration, when certain officials would be described as a "friend of Bill?’’ Michael Jordan is known for similar cronyism, so there’s a premium on being "friend of Mike.’’ I assume Vincent playing for the Chicago Bulls when Jordan was there helps his candidacy. WHO’S NEXT TO HIM ON THE BENCH? Rookie head coaches do better with veteran assistants. Remember how successful Larry Bird was, surrounded by Dick Harter and Rick Carlisle in Indiana? I’d hope Vincent would have the good sense to hire a smart codger (how about Del Harris?) as his lead assistant.
Posted by rbonnell on May 21, 2007 at 09:15 PM | Permalink
Comments
I think that some fresh blood into the NBA coaching ranks would worth a shot. There are way too many mediocre candidates that recieve multiple shots at a head coach position. My only question is why didn't we contact Dwane Casey? I think that he did a good job in Minn with what he had and was unfairly axed...
Posted by: OneAmaru | May 22, 2007 1:49:33 AM
I think Bernie has done a excellant job with the Bobcats in three season with the club. If you take away the injuries that this team had to endure this season this probably would had been a playoff team. I trust Bernie to help make sound decision in the process of hiring a coach. The Charlotte Bobcats as a organzation has good young talent, cap space, two first round picks and a team knocking on the NBA playoff door. I trust things will work out.
Posted by: Will(Columbia) | May 22, 2007 9:51:39 AM
I think you can go internal here. I would go the Jeff Capel route because of his relationship with the players. You have to love the intrigue here with the Tarheel boss and Blue Devil coach. That is a win-win and the "racial" issues will level off. He is young and would still have the knowledge of Bernie to rely on. I think Bernie Jr. goes to another team to distance himself from the "incident" and strange bed fellow of being under daddy's wing. I vote Jeff Capel.
Posted by: Charlie White | May 22, 2007 10:14:25 AM
We keep hearing that Bob Johnson is commited to winning and will open up the checkbook this offseason. If this is the case why not inverview Larry Brown? I know his tenure in NY ended badly, but he has shown a knack for getting the most our of his teams. I think he would be a great fit for molding the young Bobcats into a playoff team, not to mention his Carolina connections. To not even give him an interview tells me that Johnson is all talk, no action. He seems like Shinn, unwilling to pay the money to win.
Posted by: Steven | May 22, 2007 10:21:24 AM
I'd be ok with Vincent but like you said Rick, so long as he has a Del Harris type on the bench next to him along with a Patrick Ewing type and maybe a Alex English would be nice to round it out.
Posted by: Slam | May 22, 2007 11:10:29 AM
Yeah Dwane Casey would be an AWESOME choice. Who wouldn't want a guy who can go 13 games under .500 with Kevin Garnett on his team.
Larry Brown is not the answer if you don't want to destroy everything that this franchise has worked to take care of over the past three years. He has NEVER gotten the most out of young players.
It looks like the coach will ultimately be something of a no-name, but I like the idea of getting somebody with some life that can make sure this team continues to play with the heart that they have shown over the life of the franchise.
Lastly, Derek Anderson would make a great choice for the NEXT coach of the Bobcats.
Posted by: Michael Procton | May 22, 2007 11:40:16 AM
It does not matter who is the coach unless Bob Johnson opens up his check book to resign his own players or free agents to make the team a winner.
Posted by: michael | May 22, 2007 6:47:16 PM
Bring Paul Silas BACK!!!
Posted by: neal patel | May 23, 2007 2:17:28 PM
agreed on Silas, he did good things in Charlotte.
Posted by: jb | May 23, 2007 4:22:06 PM
It's stupid to even mention Larry Brown, because Jordan and him are two great friends. I'm sure they both spoke over the phone when Larry was released from New York and deep down, only Jordan knows Larry's true feelings about coaching a young and inexperienced expansion team!
Brown has never been one to deal with young kids and out of respect, I bet you that you requested that Jordan not even bother to call him. He doesn't want this job.
Posted by: Todd | May 23, 2007 4:31:02 PM
WTF! is this guy? What happen to Paul Silas? Is Bobcat Johnson really serious about winner? And did MJ sanction this deal?
Posted by: b_cat_fan | May 23, 2007 6:20:19 PM
Im so glad some of you arent the GM of this team. You only go with who ESPN says is good.
Sam Vincent has an excellent record in international play (the European style that is taking over the NBA) and is a young players coach. You gotta look to the future, if you keep doing the same thing your gonna get the same results. Larry Brown is borderline psychotic, Paul Silas is a sidestep from Bernie, and Sam Mitchell was the worst coach in basketball JUST LAST YEAR.
If it wasnt Marc Iarovoni, then Sam Vincent is a great choice
Posted by: Nic Mustache | May 23, 2007 7:06:06 PM
I say hire this awesome sports writer that is extremely knowledgable of the National Basketball Association!!!!
Someone who provides overwhelming insight on original topics. My nomination for head coach of the Charlotte Bobcats is....
Rick Bonnell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And with the 8th pick in the 2007 NBA Draft the Bobcats select Michael Procton. Bobcats will own the East!!!!!!!
D-bags...
Posted by: NoDiplomaRickB | May 25, 2007 2:25:13 PM
Post a comment
Advertisements
