Jim O'Brien is new head coach

[Y2J]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

You know, there are actually 2 basketball coaches named Jim O'Brien. One, the one everyone is assuming, who coached the Celtics and 76ers, And the other who coached Boston College and Ohio State, who was replaced by Thad Matta in 2004. It's almost 100% certain it's the NBA guy, but it would be funny if it ended up being the NCAA guy.

[Kegboy]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

The only thing, and I do repeat the only thing I don't like about him is that he allows and or encourages his players to take a lot of 3's.

Jim and Dick Harter were really the first coaches in the NBA to take advantages of the new zone rules - not by playing a "zone" but by flooding the strong side of the court and blitzing all penetration.

Defensively I'm really, really happy - if Dick Harter comes along with him or if Jim coaches the same system. I also remeember reading training camp reports about how they practiced defense, defense, defense,.

God, we better get some ****ing shooters in here. I don't want to see the likes of Tinsley, Dunleavy and Murphy encouraged to gun it.

I think Harter's long retired. I can't see him coming back.

Buck, I know you like O'Brien, but weren't you the guy who kept saying you wanted to take a chance on a great coach?

[Trader Joe]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

What kind of offense does this man run?

Well in Philly it was the Iverson offense. In Boston it was the we suck.

[Doug]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

My cynical side says he's "disposable". Coach us through our down years, develop players, then we get rid of him and hire somebody else.

I was hoping we'd 'swing for the fences' with somebody like Ivaroni or even Boylan, and not hire, as somebody else put, a retread. Or, if it was a "retread" it was somebody like JVG.

I think this points to JO being traded, FWIW.

[Kegboy]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

You know, there are actually 2 basketball coaches named Jim O'Brien. One, the one everyone is assuming, who coached the Celtics and 76ers, And the other who coached Boston College and Ohio State, who was replaced by Thad Matta in 2004. It's almost 100% certain it's the NBA guy, but it would be funny if it ended up being the NCAA guy.

Considering he was fired amid a recruiting scandal, he'd fit right in with our image.

[Kraft]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

My cynical side says he's "disposable". Coach us through our down years, develop players, then we get rid of him and hire somebody else.

Ding. One word: stopgap.

[Mr.ThunderMakeR]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Utter dissapointment, that is all Im feeling right now. Ill say more when Ive had time to process my thoughts. But until then Im going to hold onto a shred of hope that this isnt legit.

[CableKC]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Good God....what a day so far. I don't know whether I should be happy or not.

Anyone have any speculation as to what this means for our future?

With a coach like O'Brien.....are we rebuilding or retooling?

[maragin]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Lame.

[Unclebuck]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Buck, I know you like O'Brien, but weren't you the guy who kept saying you wanted to take a chance on a great coach?

Yes but I've always like Jim, I really have - I like him more than SVG. Even though I wasn't trumpeting Jim as a candidate, I've mentioned him a few times over the last year or so.

I should turn JMV off

[NuffSaid]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

He was extremely popular with his players in Boston. Players like him at least in Boston.

In Philly there were some other issues going on, but Jim did a great job getting that team into the playoffs, they fell apart when he was replaced

That's the first positive thing I've read concering O'Brien's expected hiring. But man! His name comes so far out of left field...

Strong on defense, tough on his players, had limited success getting the 76ers back to the post-season...they haven't been back since he was canned...

Only 2 head coaching jobs in the NBA. Why does this hiring plus the reported JO trade scare the outta me?

EDIT: I stand somewhat corrected. I'd forgotten that O'Brien had coached the Celtics to the ECF back in 2002. Maybe this guy isn't so bad after all despite having coached only 2 NBA teams. Seems he's had success in both endeavors.

[Roaming Gnome]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Meh!

[RWB]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

So, were the Ps interviewing for the head coaching job or Jim's assistants?

[Speed]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Wow this whole thread reminds me of the ESPN commercial where the guy was talking out of a uniquie orafice. Can people at least kinda gather info or state info, instead of he sucks, wow.

[Frank Slade]

Re: Jim O'Brien is new head coach

Curious as to if recent events and rumors swirling on JO's depature had any effect on certain coaching prospects to reconsider ? Perhaps not, but makes me wonder.