Do you think it would be interesting to hear an interview like this after next season? Reporter: There was talk that the team had some problems with Carlisle as coach. Care to comment? Francis: He's an a$$, but I'll take 55 wins in a season anytime. I'd rather have an a$$ coach me in the WC finals than have Mr. nice guy and go fishing in May and June. My point is that sometimes an a$$ is what it takes. Pat Riley has been described as one of the biggest @$$holes on the planet, but I would still love to have him coach the Rox.
Another thing on Rick Carlisle. Everyone thinks he's great on 2 scant years as coach of the Pistons, but criticize Van Gundy for having little bredth of experience with the Knicks. So let's compare the two. They both coached in the Eastern Conference with some veteran but overachieving teams. I'd point out though that the East was a stronger conference in the late 90s in Van Gundy's heyday (including a very tough rival in the Miami Heat) than in the '00s where Carlisle has been winning. # of Seasons as Head Coach: Carlisle: 2 Van Gundy: 5+ Career Regular Season %: Carlisle: .610 Van Gundy: .590 Best Regular Season %: Carlisle: .610 Van Gundy: .695 Career Playoff %: Carlisle: .444 Van Gundy: .536 Best Playoff %: Carlisle: .471 Van Gundy: .600 Most Rounds Won: Carlisle: 2 Van Gundy: 3 So, if your concern is who can get you the most wins, why would you want flavor-of-the-month Rick Carlisle over a guy who has a longer and more successful head coach history in Van Gundy?
I'd probably be ok with Van Gundy, what I am most worried about is that we might get "same ol', same ol'" if we hire Dunleavy who is an old buddy of CD.
It would not hurt to meet to guy in person and see for yourself what he's like rather than passing on his coaching talent based on a bunch of speculation. Not all situations are for all coaches. The Pistons management hasn't shown to be very patient. They traded Stackhouse, despite him having his best season, and their lottery pick Rodney White before ever even giving him a chance. The pressure to immediately succeed or be replaced may have gotten to Carlisle. He may find that the Rockets management is much more easy going and it may help him relax, ease up a little, and stop being such a hardass.
A comparison between Dunleavy and Carlisle isn't as fair because Dunleavy has a lot more years and coached some very high-powered WC teams. Then again, he was also stuck with a crappy Milwaukee team for awhile. So, anyway, take this comparison with a grain of salt. I'm just doing this to show that, historically, what Carlisle has done with Detroit is not that extraordinary. # of Seasons as Head Coach: Carlisle: 2 Dunleavy: 10 Career Regular Season %: Carlisle: .610 Dunleavy: .505 (despite 4 miserable years in Milwaukee) Best Regular Season %: Carlisle: .610 Dunleavy: .720 Career Playoff %: Carlisle: .444 Dunleavy: .525 Best Playoff %: Carlisle: .471 Dunleavy: .632 Most Rounds Won: Carlisle: 2 Dunleavy: 3
New Jack, I think you make a good point and I try (and fail) to keep an open mind about that. It is possible, I think, that Carlisle can be less of a jerk or, in some other way, not let it interfere with his performance once he gets a new team and a fresh start. I also think it is possible for Van Gundy to have a good offense and for Dunleavy to command the respect of his players.
That's a very superficial analysis and totally misleading: What was the Pistons' record the year before Carlisle took over? 32-50 Since he took over: 50-32 50-32 What was the Buck's record the year before Dunleavy took over? 31-52 After he took over: 28-54 20-62 34-48 25-57 Rick Carlisle's team was similiar to Dunelavy's Milwaukee team in terms of talent. Carlisle did not have a Magic Johnson Laker team or a Portland team filled with veterans, depth and the highest payroll in the league. Looking at comparable talent and comparable records, Carlisle accomplished much more than Dunleavy. Of course after Dunleavy and Chris Ford left, Karl came in and once again took the Bucks to the playoffs. During the past 25 years, Mike Dunleavy & Ford were the only 2 Bucks coaches not to take that team to the playoffs. Dunleavy didn't have a lot of talent at Milwaukee and his team played that way. Carlisle didn't have a lot of talent and his team went to the Eastern Conference finals. That's the difference.
True, but the Pistons were only 15-13 against the West. Playing primarily against Western teams, they may have had a worse record.
Exactly. Dunleavy will be hired. Dunleavy will shine CD's shoes, bring in the morning paper and knit him a nice sweater. The Rockets, based on talent alone with Yao's natural progression, should win 45-50 games. Then the following year, 45-50 games, and ditto, and ditto until we buy out the last 2 years of Dunleavy's contract to find someone else who can "take us to the next level". Cool.
Only quote I have seen from any player about Rick has been a supportive one from Ben Wallace and this mixed bag from Chauncey. <b>"He (Rick Carlisle) got criticized for not being a personable guy... but on the court, he did a good job with us," Pistons guard Chauncey Billups told ESPN Radio's Weekend All Night show on Saturday. "We were happy with him. But off the court, he just didn't treat pople the right way, and it caught up with him."</b> I can't find the one from Ben, but he said that the criticism to not play the rookies was unfounded and the right decision at the time. I mean, the guy showed up for his own firing press confrence and was magnanimous as could be. Quote form Rick- <b>"You can get into a conversation about what may or not be fair, or you can be excited about being at the peak of your career,'' Carlisle said. "I'll look back and remember the good things and the things that were accomplished by a group that no one thought had a chance.'' "There was never any talk of an extension, there was none from me to Joe, or from them to me. I didn't feel that one was owed to me,'' </b>
91-92 (when they were the 31-52 you cited). Harris was there for part of the season, followed up by some assistant. They did not make the playoffs that year, ending the 12-year streak. Dunleavy then took over and traded a lot of that team for youth, they never worked, then he drafted Ray Allen (but did not coach him) and the Chris Ford tenure pulled the Vin Baker for Brandon and Hill (and they had gotten Ervin Johnson right before), and then Karl came and got Cassell (mid season) and they go to the playoffs with Cassell, Allen, Robinson, Hill, Johnson in his first year. That is some crazy history for the Bucks.
To be fair to Harris, he only coached 15 games (6-9). So in 4 1/4 seasons, he made the playoffs 4 times. This were the Milwaukee Bucks coaches since 1977: Don Nelson - playoffs Del Harris - playoffs Mike Dunleavy - 4 seasons - No playoffs. Losing season every year. As GM, made horrible draft choices. Forced to resign as coach Brought in Chris Ford, a terrible terrible coach. Chris Ford- Hired while Dunelavy was GM and considered worthless. George Karl - playoffs
OK, I misunderstood a bit - I thought you meant to say that there were no non-playoff years before Dunleavy. So, Frank Hamble should be added to the "non-playoff" list. Also, Ford lasted a year after Dunleavy stepped down as GM. Not that it matters. So, I guess you would argue that Dunleavy should not have scrapped the older guys for younger ones when he took over?
92 - Todd Day, 8th pick 93 - Vin Baker, 8th pick 94 - Glenn Robinson, 1st pick 95 - Gary Trent, 11th pick 96 - Ray Allen & future 1st for 4th pick (Marbury) There were often better choices in hindsight, but I wouldn't call the picks horrible. By the way, I don't really care who the Rockets pick as coach, so I am not a Dunleavy supporter.
hell yeah Carlisle is worth pursuing. First year as coach he was coach of the year. 2nd year he pulled his team to the ECF. Why not? If he can make a top defensive player out of EG like he did out of Big Ben, then the Western Conference and the league better watch out! Including the 2003-04' NBA Finals MVP: Tim Duncan!
