[raybeasParticipant]

Jim O’Brien’s contract is up at the end of this season. I hope he will not be resigned (even if they have to get rid of Larry Bird to do so). Here are some candidates with Pacers/Indiana ties that I hope will be interviewed.

 

Sam Mitchell –  Former Pacer. NBA Coach of the Year (06-07).

Mike Brown –  Former Pacers Asst Coach. NBA Coach of the Year (08-09). 1 NBA Finals apperance (06-07).

Lawernce Frank –  Indiana U student manager under Bob Knight. 2 NBA Finals apperances (01-02, 02-03).

 

Others to consider: Mark Jackson, Steve Alford.

Do Not Consider!: Kelvin Sampson

 

Any thoughts, responses, criticisms, or other candidates welcome.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Jim O’Brien is a Larry Bird yes man. That’s the only reason he’s kept his job for this long. Both he and Bird need to go at the end of the season. It’s time for the Pacers to go in a different direction. Thank you for your services… Goodbye.

Of that list of coaches, I’d go with Mike Brown. He’s a better coach than what people give him credit for. He’s familiar with Indianapolis. He’s a great defensive coach, whom I think the players would respect. I think the Pacers would be a good situation for him where he’d just be able to coach and not have to worry about a megastar’s ego. I’d love him here.

[omphalosParticipant]

Lawrence Frank is a great candidate, they need to fix their defensive schemes and he is doing a great job with Boston already.

Mike Brown is another good defensive coach, but his schemes aren’t very imaginative, and without a star player he’d struggle.

Mark Jackson could be the hometown hero to finally get a chance at coaching there, but I’d be hesitant about hiring a first-time head coach for this young team in a critical phase.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

Any coach who coaches LeBron James isn’t going to have an imaginative offense because LeBron is the offense. He’s mostly isolation. Mike Brown played to LeBron’s strengths, which was dominating the ball. The sets ran in Cleveland aren’t that different than the sets being run in Miami… It’s all spread offense and pick and roll.

Most coaches in the NBA would struggle without a star player on their team. We’ve never seen Brown coach without a star, so we don’t know how he’d do. His teams play defense, so that along would win them games. Brown has had nothing but success in the NBA as a top assistant with the Pacers/Spurs and as a head coach.

I actually think Brown would show he’s a better offensive coach without a megastar. There’s decent balance on the Pacers with Collison, Granger and Hibbert.

 

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

To be honest… I don’t see a big difference between Mike Brown and Nate McMillian.

[jjonzParticipant]

Check birds decision making. he did a great job of getting cap space. but made a mistake by drafting T.Hasnbourgh. Should of drafted A point man. J.Holliday/D.Collison/Ty Lawson/. I would have drafted J.Holiday.  Keep T.Murphy. Then they would have 4 10+ million. i think i read some where they have 20+ mill this summer instead of 30+ mill. Think about this J.Holiday/BRush/DGranger/TMurphy/RHibbert.

 

But for next coach i would pick M.Jackson

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

The Pacers’ issues of the mid 2000’s are well known, but it was Bird’s decision making that put us in such a salary cap bind. Truth is, Bird really hasn’t made good decisions via the draft or free-agency… Or even with his front office moves.

Murphy could rebound and hit the three, but he couldn’t defend. Why do you think he isn’t playing in New Jersey?

Jackson has ties to Indiana and would be a great player’s coach, but has no coaching experience.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

"Mark Jackson could be the hometown hero to finally get a chance at coaching there, but I’d be hesitant about hiring a first-time head coach for this young team in a critical phase."

We gave Lawrence Frank his first start at a Head Coaching position. I know it’s the NBA, but someone has to give him a shot & I think Indy should be the ones to give it to him. He would be a great mentor for the young PG Collison, after all Mark Jackson was one of the great PGs who lasted in the league. I think by him being a player in Indy, he would already be a fan favorite for the job. I’m quite sure if he would get the job, we could look foward to seeing Lance Stephenson getting some burn, maybe even as a back-up PG to Collison. 

[raybeasParticipant]

but this a very weak free-agent group. Any decent RFA has already signed an extension (Noah, Horford, even Conley), and the unrestricted pool is very shallow. I’d like to see them throw $6-7 million at Oden and see if Portland will match it. As for coaches, I think Brown would be the "safest" choice. Anyone who would coach to the players strengths and not try to force them into a "system" would be an upgrade.

[raybeasParticipant]

Just saw the banner on ESPN. No details yet.

[Wavy BagelsParticipant]

It’s about time!

[ProudGrandpaParticipant]

Yeah, they’re firing him right now.  Did you know this when you you started this post?  Thank goodness.  McRoberts scores 20 in three quarters and Obrien benches him for Jeff "Geriatric" Foster for most of the 4th while the game was still in reach.  Foster used to be my favorite player, but that was about 10 years ago!!

 

They should hire my health teacher, Mr. Harrell, who is actually tha coach of Indy’s ABA team and former UIndy assistant.

[B FreeParticipant]

Ty Corbin and Mike Brown are named as top choices

[HitsterParticipant]

There have been rumours that GM David Morway is under pressure, but with Larry Bird still there and apparently reluctant to return to the bench, the power vacuum at the top when Donnie Walsh moved on is still there.

I’d love a combo of Mike Brown as Head Coach wth Kevin Pritchard as GM and Larry Bird taking on a less hands on role. Laurence Frank may still be remembered for the 0-16 run at the Nets and may feel that he’s better remaining in Boston as he is rebuilding his reputation there and may be in a position to replace Doc Rivers if he ever stands down as he’s hinted he may do to spend time with his famly.

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