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"It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace
"You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob Neyer -
re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Mike D'Antoni to interview with the Rockets this week, per @ESPNSteinLine.Comment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
More Coaching News per Woj
After a meeting with ownership and the front office on Monday, Houston Rockets interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff has informed team officials he’s no longer a candidate for the head-coaching job, league sources told The Vertical.
The Rockets are beginning to line up candidates in what promises to be a wide-ranging search, league sources told The Vertical.
Houston owner Les Alexander and general manager Daryl Morey met with Bickerstaff on Monday, as well as Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Sam Cassell and Houston assistant Chris Finch, league sources said.
Other NBA teams have started reaching out to Bickerstaff about lead assistant coaching positions, and that’s where he’s transitioned his focus, league sources said.
After taking over following Kevin McHale’s firing in November, Bickerstaff went 37-34 as interim head coach, earning the eighth seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Houston lost 4-1 to defending champion Golden State in the first round. Finch has been regarded within Rockets management as a future head-coaching candidate. He led the Rockets’ NBA Development League affiliate in Rio Grande to a championship in 2009 before joining Houston’s staff in 2011.
Cassell is a popular former Rockets player for whom owner Les Alexander has a strong fondness. Cassell has been an assistant coach in Washington and Los Angeles for the past seven years.
Former Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy remains prominent on the organization’s list of candidates, league sources said.
Conversations with potential candidates are expected to include several prominent college coaches, sources said.
Among the NBA candidates with whom the Rockets are working to set up interviews are former Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek and Charlotte Hornets assistant Stephen Silas, league sources said. There could be 10-15 – perhaps even more – candidates interviewed in the process, league sources said.
Indiana Pacers: Coach Frank Vogel’s contract has expired now that the Pacers’ season has ended, league sources said, and president Larry Bird has left many around the league, including Vogel, with the belief that a coaching change could be coming soon.
Vogel was paid approximately $2.5 million in the final year of his deal, league sources said. In a market devoid of many successful head-coaching candidates, Vogel could double that salary on his next job.
Bird has scheduled his season-ending news conference for Thursday at 11 a.m. ET in Indianapolis, but so far hasn’t engaged Vogel in discussions about the coach’s future with the team, league sources said. Bird told Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star that he owed Vogel a decision soon while there were other head-coaching jobs available for him to pursue. Bird also said he needed to discuss Vogel’s future with owner Herb Simon.
The fact that Vogel could be dismissed is surprising to league executives and coaches, who believe that he has long maximized the Pacers’ talent – especially this season as a No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Indiana lost a Game 7 at No. 2 seed Toronto in the first round. Vogel has reached the Eastern Conference finals twice in his six seasons as head coach, with a 250-181 overall record and a 31-30 record in five playoff appearances.
Los Angeles Lakers: New head coach Luke Walton is starting to construct his coaching staff, and the most prominent on his short list of candidates is Brian Shaw, league sources said.
Shaw was a longtime assistant under Phil Jackson, and most recently the head coach of the Denver Nuggets. Lakers executive vice president Jim Buss resisted Shaw as a head-coaching candidate before the hiring of Byron Scott, and many in the league doubt his enthusiasm over having another Jackson loyalist rejoining the coaching staff.#RespectTheCultureComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Man, Jim Buss sounds like a dude that's a little too overprotective of his sister. Like maybe he wants to be with her or something. Worried about a Jackson loyalist joining the Lakers? Dude needs to get some self control."It may well be that we spectators, who are not divinely gifted as athletes, are the only ones able to truly see, articulate and animate the experience of the gift we are denied. And that those who receive and act out the gift of athletic genius must, perforce, be blind and dumb about it -- and not because blindness and dumbness are the price of the gift, but because they are its essence." - David Foster Wallace
"You'll not find more penny-wise/pound-foolish behavior than in Major League Baseball." - Rob NeyerComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
I'd think he's worried she's gonna let Phil's people back in, then Phil's gonna come back in, then Jim's gonna be out.Originally posted by G PericoComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
And just like that Frank Vogel has been fired.
Wow.Indianapolis Colts
Indiana Pacers
Indiana Hoosiers
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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2016 Offseason Thread
Wow indeed, man...
SMH#RespectTheCultureComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Coincidentially, McHale withdrawing himself from consideration for the Kings job minutes before the Pacers press conference.
Nevermind...Bird says he wouldn't ask Kevin to work for him.XBL & PSN: zasbury25Comment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Wake the **** up Phil!Originally posted by Jay BilasComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
That's a damn shame. Vogel is a good coach. I'd take him over Hoiberg for sure.
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Per David Aldridge
Meanwhile, Wiz announce that John Wall underwent procedure on his left patella tendon, should be ready for camp:
bit.ly/1T3qOxK#RespectTheCultureComment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Bird could have left out the Vogel calling multiple times to change his mind part. I appreciate the honest but don't think sharing that nugget of info was necessary.Comment
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re: 2016 NBA Offseason Thread
Thought the same thing. Bird is cold.
Man this sucks. Ill try and give Bird the benefit of the doubt but the last time he fired a top coach that coach went on to win a championship not long after while we got stuck with Jim ****ing O'Brien. Who is out there anyway?Indianapolis Colts
Indiana Pacers
Indiana Hoosiers
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
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